02 Wrath of Flames Read online

  After the most recent experiences, Ethan smiled. “You are all welcome over at any time if you’re in our neck of the woods.”

  “As are you and Kanade at our place, but tell Dress so you don’t come in with my legs wrapped around my husband.” Nell chipped in.

  “Ditto.” Kanade boldly winked.

  “Ha! I finally put a chip in that prudish shell of yours, Girl.” The Nymph crowed. “Before we know it you’ll find sex isn’t something to be seen as scandalous. It’s marvelous for exercise and fulfilling. Too bad your kind isn’t aroused by anyone other than your soul mate. We could have had fun together.” This time Kanade blushed in full and the tension blanketing them lifted, especially as Ethan was just as red from embarrassment.

  “Magnus, does her propositioning another ever shock you?” Ethan asked quietly to the six foot tall Ogre.

  He near jumped out of his skin as the hugely muscled man billowed a laugh from deep in his belly. “Hardly. Nymphs are highly promiscuous, Nell especially.” Magnus spoke normally since he hid nothing and his wife smiled her pearly whites. “She doesn’t find males as attractive after we had our first romp and her eyes changed from green to brown, but she loves women, especially bringing them to our grove so I don’t feel left out. I just let her do her thing and it makes her happy. Ethan, if you ever reach our ages you find yourself looking back and laughing at how innocent we see you and your mate. Human society has hurt you more than helped. They can show murder on TV, but show a pair of naked breasts and people get all uptight. And sex, we all are products of it. How else would we be alive? I do not like killing, but people will be more accepting of it than finding out Nell sleeps with her biological sisters almost as much as me.” He smirked at Ethan’s expression. “That’s what I’m talking about right there. Society says that is immoral, but for my wife and other Nymphs, it is just another day of fun and excitement. Human’s cannot understand an immortal’s rampant desire to make love…”

  “But I can.” Ethan said.

  Magnus flicked a few strands of silver hair behind his shoulder. “Your eyes tell me you do. Just take my advice, Kid, sex isn’t bad. It is one of the few and pure pleasures that any being can have or experience. Talking about sex isn’t going to make anyone here think any less of you. In fact, talking about it makes us laugh and enjoy each other’s company. We all have done it and I guarantee once you and Kanade start loosening up about it, Nell and Floa will quit teasing you.”

  “Don’t count on it!” Nell piped.

  “Great, six months of torture.” Kira sighed.

  “What six months?” Ellen asked as her arms were crossed under her ample bosom.

  Kira realized all were now interested. “Oh, I’ve begun the cleansing ritual and I can’t even masturbate for six whole months. Right now I’m fine, but I know I’ll get over what the Incubi did to me and really want a man in my life. I have to have six months of clean celibacy before I can invoke runes throughout these next few months to find my soul mate or see a picture of what he or she will look like.”

  “She?” Ethan asked out of simple curiosity.

  “Aye.” Kira admitted. “Some soul mates are of the same sex. Only Spirit Guides always take on mates of the opposite sex, but mother told me my tendencies will likely make my true love a male. I like women, but men more.”

  “Well said, Child.” Morgane inserted herself. “Ethan, Magnus is correct. I too can look back and laugh at how innocent I was when I first met Merlin. Before the Medieval era I was raised to believe sex a sin if spoken, but now it is easy to slip in a comment of Merlin’s prowess or how lovely it would be to see Lady Kanade in all her glory. As long as the comments are tasteful or in good humor, you needn’t be shy.”

  “I’ll take it under advisement.” And in his head he thought Maybe one day, but for now I’m still going to be me. My sex life is no ones damn business.

  From the corner of his eye he noticed Kanade giving a sideways glance and agreed with his personal thought with the slightest nods.

  Blake took the opportunity to say “Ethan, I apologize for my actions.”

  “No need. Really. You could have been more patient, but I didn’t see any killing intent in your eyes after you realized my differences.”

  The Naga smirked with lipless lips and showed a slight amount of tiny teeth. “Only a student of mine would have seen the difference.”

  They made it to the main hall where many were coming out and putting up decorations, but unlike before, all who looked now simply smiled or waved in Ethan’s direction. Each of them were allowed to head straight to the elevators Kira pressed and all of them entered the spacious crate to head up.

  Chapter 2

  The elevator went ‘Ding’ as it reached the second floor where the medical wing stretched far and wide. Ethan knew that this place was heavily shielded by magic so only Pixie Translocation powers or entering via elevators or stairs could be accessed. Emergency personnel were always at the ready whether the issue was physical or mystical in nature and there was little that couldn’t be saved from. Also some magic would allow any elevator throughout the castle to appear once the emergency button is pressed and arrive instantly. It made for swift and timely treatment. Many on staff were Witches or surgeons, especially Pixies who’s smaller hands were excellent for operations.

  Kanade blinked and said “It is quieter than before.”

  “All thanks to your husband’s efforts.” Morgane Le Fay smiled as she stepped out first. “There have been so few attacks since the battle that those who could be saved, have. Most over in that line are for minor injuries.” She pointed a hundred feet away where a short line of patents were being seen to promptly. Behind the High Witch though was a wide desk where waited dozens of doctors and nurses behind computers ready to pull up a patient’s records and treat that much more quickly. Behind them was Dressor.

  “Impressive!” Ethan commented.

  “We have the finest healers and technology in the entire world. You may believe all Order does is fight, but there are different specialties in this house. You are of the warriors while I am of the healers and teachers. When time permits, I come here to use my talents to heal. Thanks to you, I’ve never heard this ward so quiet after a breach.” Morgane’s dress swirled around her as she turned around and glided right up to the desk and held out a hand without saying a word. An Amazon woman passed a tablet over, much like what was given to Ethan and Kanade. Morgane’s slender fingers touched the screen and moved a few things around before saying to the older looking, but still fit Amazon. “I’m going to take the thirteenth examination room. See to it I’m not disturbed.”

  “Very well, Lady Morgane… You are seeing the entire team coming up behind you?”

  “Not at all.” Her British accent didn’t look away from the screen. “Just Ethan Volorum. His team will wait in the waiting area.”

  “We’ll be right out here if you need us.” Ellen said as her hooves clopped on the shiny tile floor. The team gave Ethan encouraging looks before following her to a spacious lounge filled with TV’s and thousands of books lining the shelves. Ethan felt that the area was a cozy place and offered plenty of distractions to keep people from worrying too much. He also watched Magnus go to a desk so they could look at his shoulder.

  “This way you two.” Morgane said and her soft footfalls were much quieter than his and Kanade’s.

  She led down a few easy hallways to navigate till reaching an enormous door twenty feet high and ten wide. Ethan still struggled to come to grips at just how large everything is just so everyone can be accommodated. Morgane Le Fay pressed down on a silver square which read ‘Open’ and the door slid into the doorframe with barely a hiss.

  A sheet covered table inside the room turned out to be an exam bed, but was large for all kinds of creatures to be placed upon. The room had a clean, slightly citrusy scent, not the pungent disinfectant kind hospitals use. A pair of large seats and a bed sat over in a corner. Ethan felt his heart clench
as it looked a lot like what Storm-shadow laid on in his room with Star-bolt. To one side had a large, clear glass case filled with medicines and potions which were easy to distinguish as many glowed all manner of colors. Behind the exam table was a large dome while above glowed a bright light that left almost no shadows anywhere. In the back of the room were several high tech machines along with a microscope and many other tools a doctor may have need of. Then the door shut behind him without making a sound. “Ethan, be a dear and flick the red light switch.”

  Simple enough. He did it and looked around, but concluded the light over the door opener was on and meant it was occupied.

  “Now please take off all your clothes and any jewelry you have on.” She said without looking up from the screen.

  Kanade nodded for him to do so when she saw nothing sexual in the High Witch’s actions. She was seeing him as a patient and nothing more, but Ethan said “But I cannot take these off.” He lifted his wrists to show off the bands which translated every language and known writing into what he perceived as English.

  “He’s correct. It will take a week for me to strip the enchantments I’ve placed so he can speak any language.” Kanade said.

  “Are they only for translation?” Morgane asked. “There’s no tracking spells or protections? Anything like that?”

  “Only translation and they resize to the owner. It is why the bracelets are not any tighter than they’ve ever been before. It is a good thing for I didn’t fathom him growing.”

  “Then as long as we do not speak to activate the runes the processes will not be corrupted.” She sat down the computer and opened a few drawers to withdraw two vials, a syringe and an cleaning swab.

  Meanwhile Ethan stripped to the buff and sighed as he took his boots off. “Blessed relief.” He said.

  “Then don’t put them on again if they hurt, Darlin’.” She folded his clothes and bit her bottom lip as she found it hard not getting aroused. Three days without him made her hunger much stronger, but it was worry for him that kept her from tearing off all her clothes and taking him right then and there.

  “Alright, now hold still while I take some blood samples.” Morgane said and his vascular system didn’t even need to be halted. She stuck it right in the vein with no troubles from her patient and was glad he didn’t have an aversion to needles. Blood rushed in the vials easily and was over just as fast. She wiped the puncture and blinked when it didn’t continue to bleed.

  The face she made had him say “I always clotted fast.”

  “Gathered that from the scars on your back and from the needle.” She said and turned to look at Kanade blushing like an apple. “Love, your man isn’t the only one who likes it a little rough. Merlin’s back would look much worse than Ethan’s if I didn’t use my healing potions. Would you like some for him?”

  “This man” Ethan pointed to himself. “likes his back just the way it is. If she removed my scars without me aware, I know just how to make her give me more.” He rumbled proudly while one hand covered his genitalia.

  “Ah so you are one of those.” Morgane nodded as if it all made sense now.

  “One of what?” He asked in confusion as she got up and poured a single vial into one of her machines.

  “Those who are proud their mate marked them. More of the aggressive species, especially among the males, show wounds inflicted by their women as a badge of honor. I’m just surprised Kanade can wound you.”

  “Probably because it hurts so good.” He decided and Kanade blushed again and loved how she worried her bottom lip and fanned her face with her hand.

  “Hmmm. Well, while your blood is analyzed, crawl into the middle of the table and lay flat on your back, arms at your sides and legs stretched. Get comfortable, Love. The thorough scan will take a few minutes.”

  In the buff, Ethan crawled in and laid flat to stare up at the set of bright lights and tried not thinking about anything. Morgane snapped her fingers which glowed a soft green and the circular dome over thirty feet across moved by the arm which could be maneuvered into place by hand if one didn’t have magic.

  A thought popped into Morgane’s head and she turned to the Enchantress. “Kanade, do you think you could inscribe the Total Silence rune on the dome so we may speak. I haven’t the power above a standard silence. I do not like worrisome quiet and it is eating you up, Love.”

  “Let me look at the runes already in place from your last Enchanter.” She sat her man’s clothes down in a chair and approached the clear glass Ethan smiled at her from behind. It was so tender and loving, her spirits lifted. Kanade’s sparkling eyes took in the inscriptions and how it melded together for whoever was enclosed within. Her mind went to work and spent the next ten silent minutes deciding just how to make no two spells counter each other. “I believe I can add it to the Serenity rune without infringin’ on the Tranquil one while linkin’ them so they activate in unison.” Kanade reached forward and placed a lone finger on an area of smooth glass that lay untouched and her normal golden eyes, black pupil and whites glowed with an immense blue which meant she was going to use an enormous amount of power which would make the rune permanent rather than be used up after several uses and need to be reapplied. Only Spirit Guides had the power to make permanent spells upon objects. The tip of her finger glowed a bright bluish white and the smooth section of glass was etched into by her near limitless Spirit Energy. The strokes were quick and the intricate rune of Total Silence was burned into it. Her eyes returned to normal once she was finished. She nodded to both people.

  “I’ll activate it and see if it works.” Morgane Le Fay made a quick gesture with a glowing finger and four runes began to burn an off-white. “Ethan, can you hear me?”

  “No, but I can read your lips.”

  “One way sound?” Morgane asked and hid her lips behind her hand. “Kanade, don’t react to what I’m about to say. I need to see if he’s lying.” The much taller woman dipped her chin. “Ethan? How about a three way with me?” The Enchantress’s eyes bulged, but Ethan showed no sign he heard. Her hand went down and she said “He would have reacted at that for sure. Kanade, I wasn’t serious. Now Ethan, lay back and rest and try not to move.” She spoke slowly so he could read her lips and he laid down. “Program will now begin.”

  All the runes began glowing, filling the room with a soft hum. Then there came a sudden beeping from her tablet. “Perfect timing. The blood results are in…”

  “Lady Morgane, what is wrong?” Kanade said as she noticed the normally calm and collected woman go rigid.

  “I need to sit down.” She announced and held her forehead as she walked to the back and nearly collapsed into an adjustable seat. Morgane breathed slow and deep with her eyes closed. In a more collected tone she said “Out of my head, Enchantress.”

  Kanade knew the other woman had felt her power, those especially sensitive to the inner working of magic always could, but didn’t seem mad. “Forgive me, Lady. I was worried you were going to faint after reading my angel’s report.”

  “I almost bloody did, Child. Just give me a moment to let my mind realize Merlin hasn’t played another of his tricks.” Is all she said. True to her word she recovered and lifted the screen and shook her mane of red curls. “It is true.”

  “I’m worried over here.” Kanade reminded. She held herself tense like a coiled spring with large wings half outstretched, a classic Spirit Guide show of fear.

  “Oh, sorry.” Morgane made a gesture and a large chair appeared at her side. “Sit next to me.” Kanade did after doing a few calming breaths. The High Witch held the tablet up so both can see and she can talk the worried wife and explain what all the number and figures mean. “I’ll start by what I’d expect to be normal. First he recently drank a large volume of liquid and alcohol.”

  “We drank all the sodas in our fridge alon’ with polishin’ off a six pack of beer.”

  “Good, but that just confirms what I’m reading.” The older woman took another deep, stead
ying breath. “He’s eaten high sugary foods, carbohydrates and protein as well as the formula of solution to ease the shock of magic you introduced into his body.” Again Kanade nodded. “Then be ready for what I’m about to say.” Wooden armrests literally cracked beneath Kanade’s inhuman strength. Morgane merely looked at the splinters and knew the chair was ruined and would need to be replaced, but didn’t say anything. “I truly cannot logically say Ethan is human any longer.”

  A chill shot down Kanade’s spine and her wings lost all tension. “What?” came the whisper.

  “The analysis of his blood is altogether like nothing I’ve seen. His testosterone levels is off the charts and has more stem cells flooding his system than any immortal in our records, including even your own. His body is saturated with concentrated growth hormones a hundred times more potent than a rapidly maturing Pixie. His adrenaline levels are higher than a Nagai fighting to the death. The chemicals running through his veins are all natural as well. Truthfully Ethan shouldn’t be conscious, let alone alive. I’d wager if he got in a fistfight with an Amazon at the levels I’m seeing, my points would not be on her.”

  “But.” Gold eyes turned to the dome being filled with mist now in the next stage of the process.

  “I’m not done.” Morgane said in complete seriousness. “What is in this report is why he has a headache and his joints hurt, but there is also something more troubling.” The redhead took another calming breath and licked her lips. “There isn’t even traces of the Spirit Energy you did on him, nor is a potion I personally concocted which greatly extends human longevity. It just disappeared.”

  “What do you mean, just disappeared?” Kanade’s accent thickened.

  “I mean it is gone. Untraceable. The longevity potion is meant to bond and be reproduce with every cell in a human’s body to retard cell degradation, but there isn’t even a residue or shadow he took it and the superior technology can scan all the way to the genetic level and still can’t pick up anything. He somehow metabolized it. I wondered why when I first searched for any lingering effects the Demon plants the Kitsune may have used, but he was pure and didn’t require a purge. Some magic should have been present back those few days ago from the contents I saw him drink with my own two eyes after taking the Warrior’s oath. Only now I have statistical proof. If I were just reading stem cells higher than any known living being I’d just believe he was naturally immortal. But with testosterone and everything else… I’m worried his life is in danger.”