Page 27 of Hellfire

I had my work cut out to teach her everything I knew—information that took me years to acquire. “They’re dark glasses that cover your eyes and make it easier to see in bright sunlight.”

“Yes, please, brother.” She blinked a few times and glanced at our path ahead.

“It’s a further walk,” I warned. “Do you think you can handle it?”

“I think so.” Her gaze looked lost but also curious.

I tugged her in the opposite direction, down the row of winter plants the local council had sown.

Bells chimed in the war memorial, signaling midday, the noise startling my sister, her gaze snapping in its direction, her hand tightening on mine. I remembered that reaction well. My body going through the motions of panic, expecting shadowy figures to emerge from behind the red brick monument to capture us and take us back to Camus’ castle fortress.

“They can’t hurt you anymore, Mary.” I patted her hand. “Camus’ forces were severely weakened in the djinn army attack.”

“He’s still out there.” She rubbed her arm again.

I saw that same pain in my face every time I glanced in the mirror. I just wanted to strip it out of her, burn it, and kiss it goodbye.

I let go of her hand and moved in front of her, stopping her. “He can’t hurt us. I’ve tethered you to my spell, and if he tries to kill us, he dies too.”

She gave an uncertain nod.

I changed the topic to distract her. “Luna’s coming for lunch today. You remember?”

“Oh, that’s right.” Starvation and a lack of nutrients created a brain fog that would take her months to clear when eating the right food.

“I’m making nachos. It’s my favorite.” I smiled, an easy expression to lessen the tension in her shoulders. “I think you’ll love them too, Little Bug.”

“What are nachos?” Her question almost prompted me to crush my cone. My siblings missed out on so much by being caged in that godforsaken place.

“You can help me make them.” I patted her hand, fighting my guilt for not getting her and Luke out sooner.

She wouldn’t eat much. No more than a few mouthfuls when her stomach filled up quickly. Each day we worked on getting more into her, and I fed her a regime of herbs and vitamins to heal her wounds, fight off infections, and give her optimal health.

She gave me a gentle smile. “I would love to be of service for the princess.”

I stopped in front of her again. “No, Little Bug. You don’t serve anyone but yourself. Do you hear me?”

She bent her head and said pliantly, “Yes, brother.”

I lifted her chin and peered into her slightly darker gray eyes. “You’re not in trouble, sister. You’re out of there and don’t have to live by those rules anymore.”

A smile lifted the corner of her lips. “I’ve missed you.”

My parents didn’t give a shit about her or my brother. They were forced to breed to expand the Brotherhood’s dwindling numbers and rebuild their warrior class after a skirmish with the Guild. Except Mary and Luke weren’t strong enough, both born prematurely, since my mom didn’t eat well and drank too much, and they were never picked as soldiers and used as servants.

“Missed you too, Little Bug.” I wrapped an arm over her shoulders and guided her to the mall.

It took us a solid thirty minutes to reach our destination when it should have only taken ten minutes. We had to stop a few times on the way for Mary to sit on an outdoor chair, catch her breath, and rub her sore legs. My hands curled into fists at how Camus treated her and Luke. I’d burn his hair from my tethering spell and make that bastard pay.

Our little excursion resulted in a pair of red sunglasses for my sister, and her needing a nap to rest from the exertion, instead of being able to show her how to make the nachos. We had plenty of time to do it again.

I prepared the dish thirty minutes before my princess’ arrival, then showered and changed, dabbing on some oils to smell nice for my lady.

Mary stumbled out of bed, woken by the noise I made.

“Sorry to wake you, Little Bug.” I stroked her messy hair.

“Why didn’t you wake me sooner?” She rushed to the mirror, smoothing her hair. “The p… Luna will be here.”

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