Touch of Flame

Ravina was so hot with anger mixed with embarrassment like she had never been before. But again, no man had ever treated her like this. This man was deranged. She didn’t even care to fight him. She just wanted to disappear. Cover her face. She was so conflicted in her anger that she punched him once, the bloody thick-skinned dragon. Her fist probably felt like a pillow to him.

Ravina did the only thing she could do. She dug her nails into his back and scratched him. He shivered. “Oh, I like that.” He drawled.

“Bastard!” She called him wishing she had put a pin in her hair today so she could stab him.

Once they were back in his mansion he took her upstairs and she realized he was taking her to his room.

“No! Where are you taking me?”

“Where I want you to be,” he said and then tossed her on his bed.

The blood that had pooled down to her face finally drained down her veins but her face was still hot with anger and embarrassment.

She pushed herself up on her knees and turned to him. “What is wrong with you, you savage beast?!” She yelled, her hair still a mess and falling over her face. She pushed it back angrily.

Malachi stared at her grimly. “You haven’t even seen the beast yet.”

“Oh no? Then I don’t want to ever see him. I don’t want to know how much of a barbarian you can be.”

“Barbarian?”

“Yes. Move out of my way!” She tried to get up and walk away but he grabbed her arm.

“Let go!” She ordered.

“Or what? Will you bite me again?” He pulled her closer to the edge of the bed and now grabbed both her arms. She tried to wriggle out of his hold but to no avail.

“I might.” She threatened.

“I suggest the lips next time,” he told her.

p、and a-n、o、vel “I don’t want my mouth near an animal’s.”

He found her remark amusing.

She tried to get away from his hold again and he released her just when she tried to push. She fell back on the bed. “I told you to stay away from my brother.”

“Why?”

“Because I say so.”

“Then why don’t you just tie me up?!”

His eyes darkened. “Don’t tempt me.” He warned.

It was as if he truly contemplated it. Did he really think that would help?

They just glared at each other for a moment. “Can I go to my room?” She asked.

“Yes.”

She rushed out of bed and went to lock herself in her room. She got into bed remembering that she forgot to ask Aaron if he could help her find her sister. With a sigh, she closed her eyes.

She could feel that she was tired from not having slept well last night but she knew falling asleep wouldn’t be easy nor would sleep be good. Since she had nothing else to do inside the room and leaving was not an option since she didn’t want to see the barbarian, she stayed in bed, and somehow after a while of boredom, she fell asleep.

She dreamt of standing in the rain and there was a man standing beside her. She turned to him and thought he looked familiar. It was a young Chanan.

“What bothers you, Arshan?” He asked her.

“I had a dream where I found all of my plants died. It was strange. Dark and haunting.” She told him. “What does that man?”

“It means you will die in the arms of your beloved,” Chanan told him.

Arshan sighed relieved.

The next moment he was dying in the arms of his beloved, but she was the one to drive the knife into his heart. A heart that pained for another reason. A heart that broke and bled knowing it was his beloved who stabbed him. He had many questions but he could not speak them as his soul slowly left his body. Only his tears could speak, falling down his temples.

Why, beloved? Why send me away with pain? Why separate me from you?

Ravina opened her eyes, tears streaming down her temples. She touched her chest, the pain cutting through her. She sobbed in silence in the dark room and when she found a little relief, wiped the tears away. Oh, Lord. She could really not find peace. Her head throbbed.

Standing up she tried to find her way in the darkness and once she reached the door she opened it slowly. The hall was lit, so that was good. She tiptoed out and slowly made her way to the kitchen downstairs.

First, she found water to drink and smeared some over her face then she thought of occupying herself with cooking. What could she actually make besides soup? Porridge.

She decided to make a paste for her skin instead. Hopefully, she would find all the ingredients she needed but she doubted it. She looked through the shelves but there were some jars very high up. She took a chair to climb and took down the jars. Some of them were at the back so she tiptoed to reach them, only her fingertips touching.

Close. She tried again, stretching her limbs as much as she could and she was able to move the jar a little closer. A few more attempts and when she finally grabbed it, she leaned on the shelf too much and it came off.

“Woah…”

She lost her grip and her balance, falling off the chair and the shelf falling right on top of her with the few jars left. She used her arm to cover herself as a shriek left her lips.

The shelf and jars hit her and she pushed them away with a groan.

“Ravina!” Only a moment later Malachi was there. He rushed over.

“Ah… I am fine.” She said grimacing.

She pushed herself up but the pain that shot up from her ankle up her leg caused her to fall back again. “Ah!”

Oh no!

Malachi crouched. “Your leg,” he said lifting her gown to take a look. Except for some redness around her ankle, there was nothing else visible.

“I am fine,” she said pulling her gown down. She made another attempt to stand up but as the pain returned and she was about to sit down again, Malachi carried her up.

“I… am fine,” she insisted her cheeks flushing.

“But your leg is not,” he said calmly. He took her to the parlor and sat her vertically on the comfortable sofa near the fireplace.

“I will bring the physician,” he said.

“And what does your physician know? Does he know about the healing of human bones or muscles?”

He became thoughtful. “Right. Maybe you know something.”

She looked at her ankle. She had probably sprained it. She knew what she had to do.

“I do. I need some things.” She said.

“What do you need?”