Fire On Fire
Chapter twenty one - Cold

My heartbeat sped up and I sat up.

"How...?" I asked. Ace could tell what I meant because he elaborated further. He moved back and sat down beside me.

He took a deep breath.

"I saw how the flames didn't burn you Ava."

"I felt you. I knew what you went through. That night I heard you scream, we bonded."

"Demons can't bond with humans so it would be impossible for us to bond unless you're not entirely human"

Everything he said made sense, the bond, how the flames hadn't burnt me...how my parents died...

"I..." was all I could manage to say. Ace turned his head toward me.

"I know it's a lot to take in. I tried shutting you out because I didn't want you to get hurt. I didn't wanna hurt you Ava"

My mind felt open and finally, everything made sense, I was finally out of that confusing state.

"Am I like you...?" I found myself asking. Ace considered for a moment then shook his head.

"Possibly, but if you were I would've sensed it. You might be half demon"

"It would make sense...I was adopted..." I stated softly. Ace turned to look at me once more and I elaborated.

"The night my parents died was when I found out, four years ago" The memory made my eyes sting and I fought against crying.

"It would explain why that bitch wanted you"

"What would she have done to me...?" I found myself asking.

"Nothing good."

"She would've drained you for your power"

"Used you for experiments. A half-blood demon isn't something you come across easily. That being said she must've been tracking you since you were born"

"Which means you're in more danger than we thought."

He stood up abruptly and offered me his hand. Taking it, he pulled me up and then started getting dressed.

I was in danger. My life was in danger. I stood there, shocked, unable to move.

Ace moved toward me quickly snapping me out of it.

"Hey, Ava, I won't let anything happen to you, don't worry" he said softly and pulled me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and I could feel his promise through our bond. He was telling the truth. And in his arms I DID feel safe. I felt like nothing bad would ever happen as long he was beside me.

"I can teach you, how to protect yourself and use your power so you can feel safer" I wanted to tell him that I already felt safe around him but instead, I nodded.

"Ace...I need to know where we're going . I don't wanna be shut out again" I said as I looked up at him and into his eyes. He nodded and swallowed hard.

"After I broke free from the Elven queen's control, I wanted to see my kingdom. That night we met, that was the night I first broke free, the first night I tasted freedom in 400 years. I just...I wanted to see... I wanted to see how bad it was" he finished.

He was so strong. I would've probably just given up, but he didn't. He lost everything but he still kept going.

"Come on, we should get moving mikrí flóga" I blushed at the pet name. I didn't know what it meant but it sounded cute. Don't judge.

I dressed up and we started moving.

As we walked, the air grew significantly colder and small flakes fell from the sky.

"Looks like a storm, we'll make it if we keep moving, there's a town not too far from here, I have a friend there"

Wait. Ace has friends!? Hmm...

The sky grew darker and within a few minutes the whole forest floor was covered in thick snow. I would've enjoyed it if I wasn't freezing cold. I started shivering uncontrollably.

Ace quickly took off his coat and draped it around my shoulders.

"Don't worry the town is close-by"

It wasn't.

By now we had been walking for hours and I couldn't take it anymore. Ace easily walked through the snow but my stubby legs were too weak to push any further. My knees buckled and I fell.

"Ava!" Ace yelled and in an instant he was beside me. He caught me and picked me up, holding me close to his chest. It was too cold...I couldn't feel anything. My toes and fingers were numb.

"Ace...I'm so cold.." I managed to breath out.

"I know baby, I know"

"Fuck" I heard him whisper something foreign under his breath.

"What...Language do you speak...." I trailed off mumbling. I was fading in and out of consciousness, until in the end, everything blacked out.

I woke up and the first thing I saw were warm candles. I was wrapped up in a big thick blanket. I tried to sit up but my head started pounding.

Where am I...? What...

Then I remembered, the cold, blacking out , Ace.

I stayed there for a while and waited for the pounding to stop. I got up and threw the covers off. I was in a dimly lit room, candles illuminated the furniture, two bedside tables, a loveseat, a dresser and a mirror.

We must've made it to the town. I got up and studied the room, it had wooden floors and a four post wooden bed. There was a big window where the loveseat was situated and I took careful steps towards it.

The sky was dark, even darker than before and the slow falling snow had turned into a harsh blizzard. A shiver ran down my spine and I hugged the shawl closer to me.

Wait. Shawl?

I looked down. Yep. I was in different clothes. Warmer ones nonetheless.

A long sleeved brown dress with a black bodice, hugged me at the top and flared out to where it stopped, at my knee. It had a few frills underneath. I was also wearing pants that hugged curves a little too well. On my feet I had on a pair of warm socks.

A pair of boots lined with black fur caught my eye near the bed. I walked over to them.

"I suppose these are mine now...?" I questioned aloud. I sat down and slipped them on.

"Huh...a perfect fit"

"I wonder where Ace is" I mused.

A loud roar of laughter caught my attention and that's when I noticed all the noise coming from downstairs.

I cautiously opened the door and popped my head out. Nothing but a dimly lit hall and a few other doors. A hotel..? no...an inn...? I walked down the squeaky wooden stairs and popped my head past the wall.

The smell of booze, food and the sound of music hit me like a sledgehammer and I reeled.

Warm laughter filled the room, wooden tables decorated the whole room and people were eating, drinking, singing, dancing and playing what seemed to be

"Poker?" I voiced out.

Behind a counter stood a tall woman, talking to a few customers.

She had long brown hair, mocha skin and beautiful amber eyes.

She seemed to had noticed me and flashed me a sweet smile, waving me over. Slowly I walked over and took a seat on one of the stools.

"Heya! How're you feelin' ?" She asked while she poured me a bubbly looking drink.

I accepted it thankfully.

"Much better thank you so much" I answered before taking a sip. A bunch of tropical flavors burst into my mouth, bubbling down my throat.

"Oh wow this is amazing!" I said aloud. The bartender chuckled.

"There's more where that came from" She winked as she extended her hand out to me.

"Falia" She introduced herself.

"Ava" I said as I accepted her extended had, she chuckled, a warm sound.

"I know, Ace brought you here" she said as she got back to cleaning the cups. I took another sip of my drink and my eyes widened.

"You know Ace??"

"Of course I do dear, we go way back, say...500 years ?" she finished. I didn't know he had friends, I thought everyone he loved was killed...Then again she didn't look like a demon. So that made sense.

Wait... He did mention a friend earlier.

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