CHAPTER 15 FINDING GRISKO
Zara’s POV.
“So are you going to tell me what we are doing?” Flame smiled sheepishly at me.
“ No, I am not. But it is a lovely surprise, I promise.” As we ride, I look out the window realizing we are headed to the stadium. It was where Flame made all his formal announcements to the Tribe.
“Flame.. What are you announcing?” I ask. He smiles mischievously and shrugs.
“I don’t know what you mean. We are going to an apple orchard..” I glare at Flame.
“You made me do my hair and get all dressed up to go apple picking? Yeah, I totally believe that..” Flame laughs at my sarcasm.
“Alright! You’ve got me! I am planning on announcing our mating tonight!” Flame’s excitement changed to concern at the fear on my face.
“Flame my pack has had a pretty difficult time here. Your tribe is very prejudiced..” I bite my lip and look out the window of the carriage at the stadium. Workers run about preparing things for tonight's announcement.
“Zara, the only way to make them move forward is to move forward in front of them. And your pack has not been innocent.. They are-” I cut Flame off.
“Just as guilty as the tribe members, I know.”
“It will be okay. We will punish both your pack and my tribe for any crimes equally.” I smile at his words.
“Our pack..” Flame grins at my words.
“Our Tribe.” Flame sighs and looks out the window of the carriage.
“Why did we take a carriage and not a car?” I ask.
“Cars are bad for our earth. Unless they are necessary we do not use them.”
“Oh, wow.. That's really cool.”
“When we get out we are heading in to spend the day in the stadium's suite. Okay?”
“Okay.” When the carriage stops in front of the large marble steps up into the stadium I take a deep breath before Flame opens the carriage door for us and steps out. My stomach knots up when I hear the cheer from the crowd.
“Come on..” I jump as Flame's hand appears in front of me. I take it and allow him to help me out and up the steps of the stadium. The crowd cheers again as we walk up the marble stairs and in through the large doors.
“Wow.. This is beautiful..” Flame smiles at my appreciation of the beautiful hall.
“It is much more beautiful since I had it cleaned and remodeled..” I frown, confused.
“What did it look like before?” Flame looks surprised and points over to a set of concrete stairs. I freeze remembering being dragged up those stairs. Yes the hall's walls had been engulfed in flames at the time and the stairs had been stained with blood and ash, But there was no denying it. Those stairs were where I had been whipped. There was a landing at the top where Flame’s father had his throne..
“Oh..” I frown at the stairs deeply as I relive it all. Feeling the heat of the fire on me as I was whipped. The hands of the guards. Hearing Flame’s screams of panic while he tried to get to me.
“Zara?” I jump.
“Are we going up to the suit?” I ask immediately, to hide the flashback from Flame.
“Yes, we are. Come on..” Flame wraps an arm around me and begins to steer me to a different set of stairs. These are large and have a red velvet carpet covering them. Matching curtains hang on either side of the wall. As we walk up them, I hear the muffled tap of Flame’s dress shoes with every step we take. All I can think about is being flung off the lower parts of the canyon. The hopeless dread and terror I felt as I was beaten by huge rocks and heavy river current. I can still remember Grisko’s face when he found me, bleeding and bruised on the bank of the river. A tight knot of guilt wrapped itself around my intestines. Causing a wave of nausea.
“Flame- Please I need to-” As I go to pull away and go back down the stairs I am stopped by Bruce. Blood rushes to my ears as I am outraged.
“Why are you not searching for Grisko? What the hell!” Tears of anger spring to my eyes. Bruce speaks as if I am not there. Anger roars to life inside me at the dismissal.
“Sir, I have located the alchemist.. He is.. In the hands of the enemy.” Before Flame can speak I am running back down the steps, and through the hall. I have almost made it to the door when I am caught around my waist by the large hands of Bruce.
“Let me go! I need to find him! Let me go!” I scream. Punching the arms of the man holding me. He picks me up and swings me over his shoulder. Walking back towards the stairs I came from. Thrashing desperately I try to get Bruce to let me go. Instead, I am shot with a calming dart. It is like a tranq dart but for your body. My body relaxes, going limp but my mind doesn't. Panic flows through me immediately. Desperately I try to move, but my limbs are like weights. When we get back to Flame on the stairs he frowns at me.
“Zara, You are going to go lie down. Bruce will get him back..” the tears come hot and fast now. Bruce walks up the stairs and dumps me unceremoniously on a bed wrapped in purple silk. I can’t even move to fix myself. Flame comes over and leans over me.
“Do you need to move darling?” I glare at Flame. Tears leaking from my eyes. “Okay, Okay..” He reaches out and begins to gently straighten me on the bed. Laying me out flat on my side. Tears dripped from my face onto the bed’s silk sheets. I lay there helpless. I want to move. I need to move. My limp body shakes with sobs as I try to roll myself over.
“Stop trying to move. The more you struggle the more the panic sets in.” How fucking dare he. How dare that bastard do this to me. I hate him.
“I'm sorry, Zara, but you need to think about what could happen.. Someone powerful enough to capture Grisko is running about out there. You are not safe.”
“Fuck you.” The words are garbled from my mouth not working properly. Flame turns, looking at me. His eyebrow is raised with a grin on his face.
“What was that princess? Fuck you? Okay, If you insist!” I freeze as I hear Flame move about the room before climbing on the bed behind me.