Fire Elemental: Karrick1

[teardropdangel]

Chapter Three Karrick: Suicidal Mission


I am Karrick, son of Kaiven, heir to the Kaemen thrown, disicple of darkness, prince of evil. I do not say things in bitterness, but in sweet relish and simple fact. I take the utmost pleasure from knowing that I come from a powerfully, unwavering witch-heritage lineage. My family has lived on the Other Side for centuries, our blood never tainted with those of the mortals on the Human Side; which are the tendencies of many of our kind as of late. There are, of course, some exceptions, such as very distant cousins who might have been mixed with vampire blood at some point, but they don't count. The bulk of the Family is mainly pure blooded Shadows. Do not take me wrong. I have absolutely nothing against humans, I'm rather fond of them actually. It is that fondness that irritates his parents, Kaiven and Sheera. As you may already know, his father, Lord Kaiven, is the leader of the radical rebellion of the Other World. He despises humans unconditionally, for what reason exactly escapes me. He calls them the 'inefficient' race. In his opinion, they are rather humble creatures, whom I, for one, look up to. Their complexity, their rationality, their somewhat clairvoyant and sometimes naive view on the world, justice and innocence. Their intricate sense of values and beliefs, all boiled down into what they call humanity.

Ironic, isn't it, how the Human World reflects our own in so many ways. The same age old story of good versus evil, light against dark. Yes, believe it or not we do have our own folktales, hymns, and hisths. We even have our own little Nostradamus, though we call him Narsident. He foresaw the Great Burning of the Shadows Coven 1666. Kyra, a witch of no more than eighteen years of age, set fire to the Coven of the Ancients, a coven of wizened Shadows set up to regulate and pass judgment on Shadows gone bad. The Supreme Court of our World, so to speak. The coven had wronged her by denying her lover's passage back into Other World, for Kyra's lover had been charged with using dark magick (which in his opinion, was probably true if you knew the background of Saffire Dilious). So, in retaliation, Kyra commenced in burning down their Motherhouse.

Brace yourself for the irony. Ready? Kyra is his ancestor. (My great-times ten grand-aunt, if memory serves.) A Kaemen of noble blood. The Kaemen Family is infamous thoughout history for our blatant use of black magic. Kyra is just an example. Kimvan the Horrible, Kaielli the Temptress, and Killeen the Death Reaper are all very favorable cases. The Kaemen Family has been down in history for centuries for our use of the dark arts, and I do believe we will continue on to be the most notorious Family in distant years. You must be wondering, well why haven't we been stopped? There has to be some anonymous force by which we must answer to and be punished for our hideous crimes, you protest. Why don't other Families rise up against the evil Kaemen Family? The simple fact is that throughout history, the Family had become lost in the records of Dark Magick. The Kaemen Family suddenly disappeared, going from loathing devils to whispered hisths. The truth is I do not really know why the suddenly loss of interest in his Family occurred, but I do know that the public had turned a blind eye to our prodigious activities.

Now, his father, Lord Kaiven, has risen to reclaim our eminent title by igniting a mass civil war.

But, why I am I telling you this? The thought has plagued me more than once, and do tell me if and when you may come up with an answer. So I will distract hisself no longer and weave you the story of lost siblings, lost love, and lost souls.
* *


Outside, Karrick could see the sun was just beginning to rise, the storm of the night before had calmed and ushered in a radiant morning. If he'd cared to do so, he might have heard the birds songs of praise to Mother Earth. But he didn't. He had awoken up to the dark, dreary silence of the Kaemen Palace once again as he did so in the past twenty one years of his life. It was a curse to have such a royal residence with no light from within. The Palace itself seemed as if it were deliberately blocking out any happiness with its dark halls, its depressing and tedious demeanor. As usual habit, he was already dressed in formal royal custom, sitting at his office desk, receiving his first cup of adrenaline from his maid, Ganet. He suppose humans have the equivalent, coffee. He sat at his office desk, looking over the day's meetings in his planner.

"My lord," Ganet murmured, curtsying and offering the sliver platter with his ever dependable jolt of daily awareness.

"Thank you, Ganet," he said absently, as he gratefully took the first sip. Pleasure shuddered through his system, and he felt reenergized. He was nearly half way through with it when he noticed Ganet hadn't left.

"Is there something the matter, Ganet?"

Her spine straightened at the use of her name, for she had been gazing curiously at the cup in his hands. She did not know what the elixir was, of course, for he only entrusted the recipe to the cooks. She quickly fumbled with another curtsy before she spoke. "Your highness, I was informed to tell you that Mr. Samiel was back and had the utmost interesting information to be shared with you. He requested that you meet him tonight at nine, though he did not say where, sir."

Samiel Arcanie. A former servant at Kaemen Palace, second degree witch and Karrick's agent.

"No need, Ganet. I know where." Karrick leveled his gaze with hers and held it until she fidgeted with her hands. "Ganet, I would appreciate it if you did not repeat that message to anyone else."

She gulped and nodded. "I understand, his lord."

She hurried out the room with such a haste that had him shaking his head in empathy. That type of behavior was not uncommon, though he only meant to intimidate the girl. He knew the servants feared the Family. His father lorded over the poor inferior attendants with the merciless tool of fear, controlled them with it. In result, it was only logical to fear the rest of the Family as well. His father's means are cruel, but even he had to admit they were effective. Loyalty out of fear often was, though he do not prefer it. Then again, what choice did he have in the matter? He was only the heir to the thrown, crown prince of the Kaemen thrown. Until his father died, until the day he will become ruler, he would be only another slave to the bidding of Lord Kaiven.

A knock at the large door had him pausing. "Who is it?"

"Milord, it be Midis."

"Enter."

A short stumpy man of no more than four feet with carrot top hair and warts covering his carmine face walked in respectful paces toward his desk. Midis bowed. "Milord, it be your father who be wanting a word with you's. Milord Kaiven be not in a chippy mood, daresay."

He sighed. It wasn't very often he received word from his 'darling' father. Why would he request his presence at such an early hour?

"Tell his highness that I should be up in a few moments."

"'Fraid that can't be, sir. The Lord be wanting you's now. Milord ain't in a chippy mood, just as I be saying. The walls be trembling with milord's anger."

He heard it then also. It was a low thumping sound, almost as the sound of a hammer striking a nail, only amplified. "Alright, then. I will be up."

Midis bowed again, deeply, then started his timid trail back towards the door.


He went to the Gathering Chamber. The Gathering Chamber was normally used for social occasions and political conferences. Its plain formal decor always reminded him of the Human World's courtroom, though the six navy blue tainted windows on either sides seemed out of place. There were four separate chestnut colored tables about two feet long with accompanying chairs. The chamber walls were painted cinnamon and His Highness' exalted thrown like seat painted a disgusting red.

Father was there with no one other than his sister, Avaria, and his mother, Sheera. Marvelous, he thought, dismayed. A bloody royal family reunion, he thought. Their family did not associate with each other very often and if they had to it was usually a forced union. Kaiven sat on his thrown with an invisible crown that was permanently attached to his head of jet black hair. His eyes used to be black until five years ago when they turned a deep blood cerise color. Sheera, who stood at her king's side rather than sit, had long sliver hair reaching to her ankles. She never wore it down because of the obvious complications. Avaria was seated at the first table closest toward Lord Kaiven's thrown. With her head bent and her flowing platinum hair grazing her cheeks concealing no doubt a pouty face, he instantly knew she had opened that mouth of hers.

"Karrick," Kaiven acknowledged his presence. "Take a seat," he invited. He looked at Kaiven cautiously. Karrick heard the underlining string-taunt anger beneath that calm, restrained voice. Shit. He knew someone was in trouble. Namely, hisself. He took the seat across from Avaria. She looked up at him through apologizing, pleading teal eyes. If he had any doubts as to what this meeting was about before, they would have been dispersed then.

"Karrick," Kaiven started in his all powerful almighty tone. The voice sounded with authority, the voice of a man who was well aware of his worth and his power. That alone irritated him to no end.

"Father," he replied, mocking his tone. A giggle escaped Avaria before she wisely smothered any others that might have come.

Those red eyes slitted for a moment then dissolved into the previous placid expression. "I do not value sarcasm, Karrick, nor do I care for it. You will keep whatever ill-mannered comments you have to yourself. Do I make myself clear?" He continued before he could respond. "Now, it has come to his attention that you have been interested in finding your illegitimate sibling. Is that correct?"

Karrick nodded, choosing honesty over the many denials running through his mind.

"If you don't mind my asking so, not that you have a choice in the matter, but what do you expect to accomplish by finding this person?"

"If you don't mind my saying so, with all due respect, it is none of your business," he said, without thinking, leaning toward his natural charm.

This time Kaiven did not bother to veil his anger. The chamber shook. Sheera stumbled and grasped hold of the edge of Kaiven's chair for balance. "Insolence! Effrontery! This is what you show me when I can strike you down at any moments chance."

"Yes, you can with your power," he said softly, trying to repent for his brusque language before. There was only so far he was willing to push him. "But you won't. For I am the only male heir you have."

"Believe me when say that is the only reason I put up with your audacity," Kaiven thundered.

"Darling, calm down." Sheera put a soothing hand on her husband's shoulder.

Kaiven ignored her crooning words, though his anger had cooled. His face eased into a passive facade. His speech came with a more fluent elegant superiority. "I command you to put a stop to your quest. The child was a mistake and mistakes ought to be forgotten. Though it concerns me as to how you received word of this child, I will demand that you stop with this senseless quest."

"Senseless?" He was fuming with fury. "How so? I want to find a lost sibling, your illegitimate offspring, and bring about some justice to this person." Shoving his chair back, he rose from his chair, a direct defiance. Avaria gave him a warning glance which he feigned ignorance to. "You label it as senseless. Senseless is the fact that we're even having this conversation. Where were your senses when you slept with another woman while Mother was pregnant with Avaria?"

Sheera gasped, her hand shooting up to cover her heart. "Karrick! How can you say such a thing?"

"It's true, isn't it? I've done the calculations, Mother. You were pregnant with Avaria at the time."

"Enough of this insolence." Kaiven shouted. "You will not carry on with your activities. Avaria has informed me that you had the help of Samiel Arcanie."

"Samiel has nothing to do with this-"

"If you value your friend's life, I suggest you do as I say."

He scowled. "Is that a direct threat, Father?"

"No, it is a promise. This conversation is over."

The tone of finality in his father's voice did nothing to dampen his rage. "This is far from over, Father. And that is a threat."
* * * * *

"Karrick, may I come in?"

He sighed in annoyance, looking up from the pages of his book. "Come in, Avaria."

Avaria, the traitor, entered his office. Her lustrous hair was a stunning shock to his eyes as the rest of the room was darkly lighted and he pressed two fingers to the lids of his eyes.

Avaria's gaze wandered nervously around his room, chewing on her bottom lip. Her cerulean eyes landed on his bureau, then on the framed picture he had taken of the two of them when they visited Other World. Avaria had half the length of hair as she did now. Back then, it only reached her little past her shoulders. "Karrick," she started hesitantly, "I'm really, very sorry about telling Father about Samiel. I swear that was the only thing I told him about. He said he already knew what you were doing and-"

"It's alright, Avaria."

"And that I should just confess," she rushed on. "Then he threatened I tell Mother about Larind and I and- What?"

"I said it's alright. He would have found out about Samiel another way." He paused for a second, digesting her words. "What do you mean by 'Larind and I'," he demanded.

She let out a restrained gush of relieved breath then broke into a bright smile. "What do you think I mean?"

"You and that gangbanger Larind? Have you gone mad?" Larind was a reckless member of a notorious misfit gang, the Craven. Larind and his gang had been hanging around Tenafly, a tavern/pub/club, lately but he hadn't noticed Avaria and Larind together.

"That's right. I'm madly in love with him."

"Right. The same way you were in love with Stefan Charm and Tortora Lomir?"

She brushed off the past obsessions with a flick of a wrist. "Whatever. Stefan Charm is a superstar, which gives me about 30 percent chance of him asking me out on a date, seeing as our Family's name proceeds ourselves. As for my Tortora, I can still have him."

"He's a fictious character for crying out loud, Avaria."

"Your point exactly is what? But I do believe I will stay faithful to Larind."

"For now," he muttered, glancing down at his book.

"I can't help it if his tastes are varied." She picked up a file on his table. An eyebrow arched delicately as she read the file. "Princess Jizania's report?"

"Yeah. She's accomplished phase one in the plan."

Avaria narrowed her gaze, in mild contemptment. "She's gotten engaged to Prince Ryan. How'd she manage that?" she asked. The words hinted the unspoken question: Who'd she sleep with?

He laughed shortly, ironically. Princess Jizania, a.k.a. the Princess Spy, was in fact gorgeous. Down right mouth-watering, to be honest. Avaria had a problem with Jizania because they were once after the same guy at one time. They'd become arch-enemies ever since. "Her parents arranged an agreement with Lord Lucien and Lady Catherine. A betrothal."

"A betrothal?" She hooted with laughter. "Well, that's direct. She must be perfectly irked that she didn't get the chance to seduce him," she said in satisfaction. "How did Prince Ryan agree with the marriage?"
"As far as I know, he hasn't. According to the report, he hasn't even met with her yet. Also, word around is that he has a girlfriend."
"What's new?"
Prince Ryan of the Wolvien Sector, of Calryn Family, was notorious as the Playboy prince, changing girlfriends as often as he did new motorcycles. "No, I mean it seems like he's finally sticking to one girl."

Avaria gasped. "Prince Ryan? With one girl? Who?"

"Some Between. But the betrothal can't be broken, it written is Royal Decree. So he has to fulfill it. But our Seth is becoming a nuisance in the equation."

"What did Father say about it?" she asked, tentatively.

"He said that it was a good start," he said, bitterly. The fact the he still yearned for his approval alarmed him as much as the hurt and festering anger did. "Not only does the man not give me rightful credit at having conspired this plan, he doesn't show the slightest interest in it. The outcome of this mission will effect the sway of Powers, but he seems dedicated to putting me down."

"Karrick, you know how Father can be. He may be jealous and doesn't want you to know." Pressing her palms to the desk, she leaned forward, her hair sliding over to cover the sides of her face. "But I know that you're doing everything you can to preserve this Family, possibly more than Father." She paused as if to emphasize on the point. "I want you to know I appreciate that."

Taken back, he said nothing.

"When Da snapped, you basically picked from where he left off. You saved the Family from Da's madness. And you were only sixteen at that time. Sixteen and ready to take over the role of Lord. Now, that he's better, Father probably thinks highly of you, but is too proud to show it."

"I'm concerned about him," he confessed. "Five years ago, his madness left him paralyzed and restrained to a bed. Then, miraculously, he recovered. You said that he got better. I say he got worst. Do you hear him mumbling to himself at night? It seems as if he's lost it, Avaria, I swear."

She nodded slowly. "Yes, I heard him once, but I had brushed it aside. But then servants began talking of it." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "They say that a spirit has taken over Da."

"Where would they get that idea from?"

Shaking her head, Avaria worried her lower lip. "What do you think of it?"

"I don't know." He rolled tension from his shoulders. "I honestly don't know. It would answer some of our questions though."

"Karrick, what if Father is possessed, what's happened to the real Da?"

"Again, I don't know the answer to that." He saw her face was tight with concern and hastened to soothe. "Avaria, we're not even certain that he is possessed. Mother would have come forth by now if it were really serious. Let's focus on finding out what's wrong with him, then take action, okay?"

She nodded in a resolved fashion, determination set in her chin. "Okay. Are you continuing with the search for our other sibling?"

"Yes, without a doubt. The possibility that Father may be terminally ill doesn't stray me far from his path."

She sighed "Doing so will anger him. I hope you know what your doing, Karrick."

"Don't worry for me. Everything is under control."