NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: SCORCHED MEMORIES
CHAPTER 7: "SCORCHED MEMORIES"
Thrain's weary footsteps echoed through the deserted corridors as he trudged back to his quarters, the weight of his existence bearing down on him like a physical force. The label of "loser" had long been branded on his soul, courtesy of his father's unrelenting disdain. The same father who had callously dispatched him to defend Dragon Spine's Mountain, secretly hoping the perilous task would be his undoing.
Yet fate, it seemed, had other plans.
Thrain's thoughts swirled with the memories of his time on the mountain, where an extraordinary series of events had unfolded. What was meant to be a death sentence had surprisingly become a blessing in disguise, forging within him a resilience he never knew he possessed.
As Thrain navigated the familiar corridors, his gaze inadvertently drifted to her - the fiery-haired girl his brother had recently apologized to him for. Her striking features still lingered in his memory: piercing emerald eyes, a smattering of freckles across her cheeks, and wild copper tresses that cascaded down her back like autumn leaves.
She stood poised, her slender frame halting his progress. "Hi, Thrain," she called out, her voice tinged with a hesitant warmth.
Thrain's expression remained stoic, his heart hardened by the weight of past betrayals. It had been ages since they last spoke, and the memories of her scorn still stung. Her words had cut deep, labeling him a loser, and her actions had left scars.
Now, she dared to address him with familiarity? His instincts screamed warning: this was a serpent wearing a gentle smile. He wouldn't be swayed.
Without a word, Thrain continued walking, his footsteps steady and deliberate, leaving her and her false cordiality behind.
"Thrain," Meryl called out, her voice gentle as she reached out and grasped his hand from behind.
He spun around, his eyes blazing with contempt. "Oh, for the love of the gods, what does this treacherous vixen want now?" he thought, his mind seething with resentment.
"What do you want, Meryl?" he snapped, his voice icy as he wrenched his hand free, the gesture a stark rebuke.
For a moment, they locked gazes, the air thick with unspoken tension. Meryl's emerald eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and hurt, but Thrain's expression remained unyielding, his heart still raw from past betrayals.
"Damn her," he cursed silently
"I just wanted to congratulate you," Meryl said, her voice laced with a sweetness that grated on Thrain's nerves. "You know, for surviving the battle and also, as a bonus, awakening."
Thrain's eyes narrowed, suspicion etched on his face. "Save your empty words, Meryl. What's your true motive?" he spat, his tone biting.
Meryl's smile faltered for an instant before she recovered, her expression a mask of innocence. "No hidden agenda, I promise. I'm genuinely happy for you, Thrain."
Thrain snorted, disdainful. "Happy for me? You've made your disdain clear in the past. Don't pretend now."
"Your congratulations ring hollow, Meryl," Thrain spat, his voice venomous. "You act as if we're old friends, unchanged by the past. But you tore us apart when you chose my own brother over me."
Thrain started to walk away, his back to Meryl, but she persisted, following closely behind. Her refusal to leave him be ignited a firestorm within.
His eyes blazed with infuriation, breath quickening, chest heaving, as every fiber of his being pulsed with rage.
A newfound energy coursed through his veins, primal and potent. It was as if the very depths of his soul had been stirred, unleashing a maelstrom of fury. The air around him seemed to vibrate with his anger.
Thrain's hands clenched into fists, and a searing heat began to build within them. His vision tinged with a fiery haze, he felt the energy bursting to be unleashed.
With a snarl, he raised his hands, and flames erupted from his fingertips, dancing in wild, orange tendrils. The blaze roared to life, a manifestation of his unbridled wrath.
Meryl halted, her eyes wide with alarm, as Thrain's fiery aura enveloped him, a warning to keep her distance.
Thrain started to walk away, the flames still dancing around his fists.
As he moved, he caught sight of Hitel, his brother, standing behind her, watching.
Thrain's gaze lingered for a moment, his expression unyielding.
He continued walking, leaving Meryl and Hitel behind, the flames swirling around him like a living entity, never faltering or diminishing.
Meryl's voice was barely audible, a whispered thought to herself, "So it's true, he's awakened... and his flames are... different."
******
Hitel approached Meryl, his strides purposeful. "What were you doing with him?" he asked, his tone low and even, but with an undertone of possessiveness.
Meryl didn't turn to face him, her gaze remaining fixed on Thrain's retreating figure. "Just fulfilling my curiosity," she said, her voice airy and nonchalant.
Hitel's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. He noticed she hadn't bothered to acknowledge him, her attention still on Thrain. A spark of jealousy ignited within him, despite knowing he had no right.
Memories of his past betrayal resurfaced, the pain he'd caused Thrain still festering. Yet, he couldn't shake the sting of Meryl's apparent interest in his brother.
"Curiosity?" Hitel repeated, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Is that all?"
Meryl's silence was her only response, her continued focus on Thrain's disappearing form a subtle provocation.
Thrain burst into his room, slamming the door behind him. The flames still dancing around his fists cast flickering shadows on the walls. He didn't notice, lost in the turmoil of his memories.
Years ago, when he was still unawakened, Meryl had entered his life. She'd smiled at him, laughed with him, and made him feel seen. Thrain's heart had swelled with affection, blind to the truth.
His brothers, already awakened and physically strong, had tormented him, calling him a loser. But Meryl's presence had been a balm to his wounds.
Their relationship had blossomed, or so he thought. Yet, behind his back, she'd sought out his brothers, leaving Thrain shattered.
The pain and betrayal still seared his soul. "I finally understand why Ryker always hated that girl!" Thrain screamed, his voice echoing off the walls.
In a fit of rage, he lashed out, unleashing the flames. They spread, consuming the room's furnishings. The fire crackled, hungry and destructive, growing stronger with Thrain's anger.
Maids rushed in, buckets of water at the ready. One approached cautiously, "Lord Thrain, please..."
Her gentle plea pierced Thrain's fury, calming the storm within. He took a deep breath, and the flames began to subside, mirroring his dwindling rage.
As he exhaled, the fire dwindled, then died, leaving behind a room scarred by the intense heat.
Thrain stood amidst the charred remains, his chest heaving. The maid's concerned gaze met his, and he nodded, acknowledging her intervention.
In the silence, Thrain's thoughts clarified. The past still hurt, but he vowed to move forward, forged in the fire of his newfound strength.
Thrain surveyed the ravaged room, a reflection of his turbulent emotions. Amidst the ashes, a realization dawned: his flames were inextricably linked to his feelings. Unharnessed, they raged like his anger; calmed, they subsided like his sorrow.
"A connection," he whispered, "but no control."
Thrain's thoughts drifted to Ryker, his absent mentor and friend. "If Ryker were here, he would've taught me so much," he mused, a pang of longing in his heart.
"Meryl may have wronged me, but her reappearance has unexpectedly clarified something within me."
"Maybe that bitch did me a favour afterall." Thrain smirked