Kane and Ishmael Get Mad

Kane stood outside the door to his uncle's town home with a feeling of dread in his limbs.

From his birth, Kane had been raised never to go against the main family. He was not permitted to question them, or even to complain. He simply had to do what he was told.

He'd done that. He didn't complain when Rhana had bullied him or put him in his place. He hadn't complained when his mother told him Rhana's notice was an honor. He'd done as he was told when he was told.

However, he could not- would not let them take Kylara from him twice.

Growing up, she'd been the one bright spot in his world. Her smile had been the only thing he'd had to look forward to since the day she'd taken his hand and dragged him to the woods to play tag.

That had been the first time someone wanted to play with him. It hadn't mattered that he was already sixteen and she only eight. She had simply taken his hand and smiled up at him with her large blue eyes.

No one had smiled at him in years. His mother had smiled at him when he was young, but even she had stopped after a while. She barely spared him a glance now.

Kane had known that little girl would one day stop too, but he wanted her smile as long as she'd give it to him. Everyday he'd wake up hoping to see it and fearing it would be gone. He knew, one day, Rhana would poison her too.

However, as the years passed, Kylara's smile didn't fade. Nothing Rhana did made any difference. Kylara kept smiling at him until that day. Perhaps, if she'd stopped like everyone else, that day wouldn't have happened and her mother would still be here.

Yet, Kane knew he wouldn't have made it without her smiles.

Kane swallowed and fisted his hands.

He'd have to earn her smile this time, but she would give it to him again.

"Don't you dare cave on this, Kane." Ishmael said coldly in his mind.

"Never." Kane replied firmly.

He opened the door to his uncle's house and entered. A servant showed him to the parlor where everyone was waiting for him. Kane was already 15 minutes late. He and Ishmael had come to an understanding about Kylara. Ishmael had agreed to let her get to know him, before he made any more aggressive and questionable moves.

Kane's eyes fell on the two groups in the parlor. His uncle, Duke Essenvir, sat in the center of the far couch. Rhana smirked beside him. Kane's hand clenched. He knew Rhana had a hand in this Mating Agreement. Forcing him to claim someone he didn't like, was something that would amuse Rhana immensely.

Behind his uncle stood his father. His father was only a Marquis and a branch family member. In public, he was not entitled the same respect as Kane's uncle. Kane's father glanced at him in anger for a moment before nervously smiling at Count Thorton, who was seated on the sofa opposite them.

Miss Abagail Thorton was also seated on that sofa. As the servant announced Kane, she turned and gave him her prettiest smile.

Patting the open seat to her left, she said, "Darling, you're late. You must come sit beside me to make it up to me." The way she batted her eyelashes at him, made Kane swallow bile.

This female knew he didn't like her. She knew he wanted someone else and she even worked with Rhana to manipulate the situation in her favor. She was false and despicable.

Kane kept his face calm as he replied, "I can't stay. I just came to say I won't sign."

Miss Thorton's face froze as his uncle became livid.

"What is the meaning of this, Kane?" The Duke demanded, "I have selected this female as a suitable mate for you."

Kane stiffened and lifted his chin, "I am in love with someone else and that is who I will claim, even if she is unsuitable."

"My Kitten!" Rhana exploded from his seat, "Even now you are coveting her! She is mine!"

The Duke placed a hand on Rhana's arm with a small smile.

"It appears that your cousin hasn't heard the news, yet, Rhana. Tell him quickly so we may end this charade." The Duke said. His eyes gleamed with anger as he looked at Kane.

"I have accepted Mr. Goldleaf's offer for my Kitten," Rhana began. The Duke coughed and Rhana sighed, "for Miss Adamare. He approved me and we signed the Mating Agreement an hour ago." Rhana smiled triumphantly at Kane. "She belongs to me now."

Kane felt as if his stomach was a stone that fell to the bottom of an icy lake.

Inside his mind, Ishmael shrieked, "Kill him," over and over.

"Now, Kane, since your qualms have been silenced, it is time for you to sign your Mating Agreement." Kane glanced at Rhana and wide fiery eyes. For once, his feelings were aligned with Ishmael's.

"I'll kill you." Kane said. His voice sounded as hard and cool as a sword being drawn from a scabbard.

Rhana laughed and the Duke smirked.

"Kane," the Duke said with amusement, "you would surely lose. You are and have always been too weak to attract a partner. My son's partner is the ninth most powerful Fire Spirit our family has contracted. You have no partner-"

"I have a partner." Kane snarled. He felt a ping behind his left eye and shook his head as a wave of energy jolted through it. He covered his left eye with his hand.

The Duke waved a hand, "Who then? Amos, Miraden? You maybe could attract Ylierin at best."

"Let me kill them all." Ishmael said in a voice that sounded almost like Kane's. Kane frowned as he felt his lips move in time with Ishmael's voice.

Kane swallowed hard. His throat had become tight with the effort it took to restrain himself.

"His name is Ishmael." Kane replied. He lowered his left hand. Two swords of blue flames appeared in his hands.

The Duke stood abruptly. His face had become pale and he put on a sickeningly sweet smile as raised his hands palms out.

"There is no need for this, Ishmael, Kane." The Duke swallowed. "We can discuss this rationally."

"Like hell we can!" Rhana snorted. "He just threatened me."

"Rhana-"

"It's alright, Uncle." Kane said with a cold smile. "I'll make this quick for both of you. We are family after all."

Rhana snarled and drew his sword while flames leapt up around the Duke. Kane smiled and allowed Ishmael to share control with him.

Kane felt his body burning and looked down at his hands to see them turn a glossy black color as blue flames rippled over them. Kane/Ishmael looked up at the Duke with a smile.

His legs strengthened by Ishmael's possession made him a blur.

"They are using body possession, Rhana." The Duke shouted, "Stay alive for five minutes and you'll win."

"That's not going to happen." Kane/Ishmael sneered as he ran their father through.

Kane looked at the corpse burning on the floor with a faint feeling of regret. Then he dove to the side as Rhana's sword struck down where he'd been standing. He rolled to his feet and charged Rhana.

Kane/Ishmael's swords were blurs of flame as he lashed out. The growing number of wounds on Rhana were instantly cauterized and even just coming close to hitting him, left large swatches of burned skin on Rhana's body.

"How does it feel to be burning alive as a Fierous, Cousin?" Kane/Ishmael snarled as their swords locked together. Rhana's eyes widened as a burst of blue flames exploded from Kane/Ishmael. Rhana's sword wavered and Kane/Ishmael's blade bit deep into his right collarbone.

Rhana yelled and dropped to his knees. His sword dropped to the ground as he couldn't hold it anymore.

Kane/Ishmael glared at him, "You took everything from from me, even her for a time. This is payback for all the torture you inflicted on me."

"Father!" Rhana screamed as Kane/Ishmael's sword swung for his neck.

A swirling spear of water slammed into Kane/Ishmael's side, carving out a deep, bloody crater. Kane/Ishmael turned his glare on the Duke, who was surrounded by four other spinning water spears.

"Descendant," Ishmael said breathlessly, "that was naughty."

One of the swords disappeared from Ishmael's hands and he placed his now free hand over his deep, heavily bleeding wound. Ice spread from between his fingers, stopping the bleeding. Then he turned to the Duke and smiled.

A blue-white cloud appeared in a circle around Ishmael. "Have you heard of the spell Deep Freeze?" he asked softly. The Duke's pallor became white.

"Please, Ishmael-" the circular cloud shot outward freezing him mid sentence. Kane/Ishmael glanced around for the despicable female and her father, but they had obviously escaped through a hole in the far wall.

Kane/Ishmael was about to go after them but staggered.

"Dammit! We're out of time." Ishmael snarled aloud. "Kane, give me control or we'll die." Kane blinked his rapidly fluttering eyes. Slowly, he surrendered his body. As his mind faded, he could feel Ishmael stumbling around in their body. Kane wanted to help but the darkness pulled him under and he was gone.