Page 51 of Fire Bound

We pass multiple empty offices and what look to be medical exam rooms. As we pass the rooms full of exam tables, Jax’s body goes stiff next to mine. When I instinctively reach out my hand for his, I have to silently scold myself. Jax is so distracted by what’s around him, I’m almost positive he missed it.

Seeing this place really puts in perspective how different our childhoods were. I already knew they were, but having the visual of just how different they were is like a gut punch. The things I would complain about as a child or even now are so inconsequential compared to this.

“They probably cleared out everyone a while ago and they’re only back now to clean up loose ends.”

Flicking my eyes toward the stream of gasoline that puddles on the ground around us, I nod in agreement. “Setting the whole place on fire is definitely the easiest way to do that.” We pass rooms that are jail cells disguised as hospital rooms. Some of the beds are still here, white sheets neatly tucked in them. “The arson investigators are going to be so confused when they discover there was a medical facility hidden in this shithole building.”

“There will barely be any of it let for the humans to figure anything out,” Jax explains as we move through a rounded room made up of more jail cells. Instead of metal bars, they’re glass boxes. “They’ll think it’s weird, but there won’t be anything for them to track or investigate further.”

There’s a loud switching sound as the lighting all around us changes as every glass wall that we’re surrounded by changes from see-through to a shiny reflective surface.Mirrors.

“We like to keep things tidy,” a disjointed voice I’ve never heard before suddenly answers. “You don’t get as far as we have by leaving loose ends.”

Jax’s eyes begin to glow as he whips his head around looking for the source but based on the low ominous growl coming from his chest, he knows that voice.

“Jax, my boy, how you’ve grown,” the voice praises. “Did you like my presents? I thought the boy would be a fun little… addition to the party.” A man appears out of nowhere. His reflection is plastered on every single one of the mirrored surfaces. I suddenly feel like I’ve found myself at a funhouse. “We were so close to having a good time, but you had to ruin it,” he scolds, tsking under his breath. “Couldn’t you have let him play a little longer? I wanted to see what he’d do to her.”

My eyes dart around, bouncing between each of the reflections. With the weird lighting, I’m struggling to figure out where the actual man is.

I’m about to ask who the hell this guy is, but before I have the chance, Jax is spitting out a name like it’s coated in venom. “Kaius.”

“In the flesh,” Kaius purrs before bowing slightly at us.

Whether I was searching for him or not, if I walked past Kaius on the street I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from staring at him. His hair is longer than mine and is dark brown like Winslow’s. It’s stick straight, and he has a pretty severe widow’s peak. His eyes are pale blue, the same color as one of Winnie’s. She definitely looks more like her mother, but unfortunately some genes are hard to shake. All the men in my life are over six foot, the necromancer looks shrimpy compared to them even though he’s technically medium height. His thin body is dressed in an elaborate, almost ornate, black suit. The silk vest he wears under his embroidered jacket is patterned in a floral design. A chain hangs from his pocket, presumably attached to a pocket watch. He even has a cane. His palm rests over the decorative metal top.

Having caught me looking him over, Kaius twists and turns like he’s showing off his outfit. “First impressions, Remington?”

“Honestly?” I ask, pursing my lips. “You look like a rejected member ofThe Addams Family. I feel like you really need a top hat or a monocle to complete this look.”

Kaius stares at me with a pensive look on his face before his lips slip into a creepy, gleeful smile. “Howfun. I see why you like her, Jax. She’sriveting,” he muses. “Even if she did kill one of my little birds. Those take a lot of power to make you know, you can’t just go around ripping out throats willy-nilly like that.”

“Why are we having this conversation through mirrors?” Jax interjects angrily, staring at one reflection instead of trying to look at them all. “Why are we having this conversation to begin with? This isn’t a fucking meet and greet. Get out here, Kaius, I’ve been waiting months for this moment.”

Kaius begins pacing. As he moves, it’s like the reflections begin to circle us. “Patience,” he chastises. “I want to talk to you about something first, but if you still feel the need for bloodshed after, we can arrange that.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I demand.

Kaius stops pacing so he can look me in the eye. His head cocks as his gaze looks over me. “Do you know how old I am?”

“Should I?”

“No, but I suppose I probably should. I have walked this earth for a very long time. Well before witches were creating curses and vampires were hiding from the sun, I was here. I’ve tasted all the foods, I’ve heard all the songs, I’ve watched the technology progress. And do you know what happens after a while? You become bored. Dreadfully bored. Nothing is new or exciting, there is nothing keeping that spark inside of you lit.” I knew Kaius had the ability to steal souls from others and keep them for himself. Stolen life force keeps him going and if he keeps it up, he’s basically immortal. I just hadn’t realized just how long he’s been at it. “That’s what happened to me. Nothing caught my interest, but then Sterling came poking around and for the first time in centuries, my curiosity was piqued. I wish I could stand before you and tell you I truly believed in Sterling’s scientific advancements or his uninspired mission, but the truth is I was bored and I wanted to see how far Sterling could go with all of this. So, I stuck around, I used my power for his gain, and I allowed him to use me when he needed.” Kaius yawns like he’s exhausted. He scrapes his hand over his open mouth before continuing. “I’m no longer amused. It was fun for a minute seeing what he was capable of doing, but once again, it’s all grown old, and I no longer have a desire to participate. It’s time I move on to my next adventure.”

Jax and I look at each other, confused, before looking back at the necromancer. “So, what are you saying? You’re prepared to walk away from Sterling? To turn your back on the man you’ve been loyal to for almost thirty years?”

“Loyal is a strong word.” Kaius’s thin lips purse. “It was more of a…” He snaps his fingers until he finds the word. “Symbioticrelationship. He kept me entertained and I kept him alive. The relationship is no longer working for me.”

“You’re here to burn down one of his buildings, you’re obviously still team Sterling,” I remind him. “And you had dead bodyguards waiting downstairs.”

“I had to keep up appearances before I got what I wanted.” He shrugs unapologetically. “As for my little birds, I don’t have claws or teeth, dear, and I left my sword in the seventeenth century. Plus, I do find great joy in watching others fight for their lives. I really miss the gladiator times,” Kaius tells us, sounding almost wistful that the days of the arena are long behind us. “Oh, but watching you try to save the boy was truly thrilling to watch. Bitter end but fun while it lasted.”

Only a man with no soul or empathy could find enjoyment in resurrecting a child only to have him killed a few hours later. Only a psychopath like Kaius could findentertainmentin what Sterling has done.

“What is it that you wanted?” Jax asks, not sounding convinced.

Kaius pulls out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket. “This...” He sounds almost proud of himself. “Sterling has been a busy boy, moving all his pieces around on the chessboard. He’s also foolishly tasked me with doing the same. Divide and conquer, I think was his plan. On top of destroying our buildings, I’ve also been moving his test subjects to different hidden locations. Although, I’m not exactly moving them to the locations we’d agreed on. I thought it may be wise to have a couple bargaining chips on the off chance I needed someleverage. You know, just in case things turned south after he discovered I was no longer fascinated with his experiments.” He pauses and looks over Jax before glancing my way with inquisitive eyes. “Though, even after all this time, you still manage to keep me captivated. You are a curious creation indeed, Jax. Not even Sterling could have predicted you’d become this when he created you. A fun surprise for all parties. None of our other demon hybrids were remotely like you, and trust me, we tried. Sterling spent over a decade trying to create another being that can control the flames, but alas, there isn’t anyone like you.”

A snarl escapes from Jax. “Well thank hell for small miracles. The world and its people are thankful for his inability to replicate me.”

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