Chapter One
Blaze
“Run Firecracker!” I run down the black stone and iron halls. I can hear August right behind me. I feel the stolen food beneath my leather jacket, and lets just say that it doesn’t exactly feel pleasant.
“Get back here #092 and #007.” The cooks yells. But we don’t stop. We run until we round a corner and I slide to the floor. August falls on top of me. Two black army boots stand in front of us.
“Aww crap.” I curse.
“August, I’m disappointed.” The man says in a gruff voice. I know that voice. The director.
“Sorry Dad.” August rolls off me, and like the gentleman he is, doesn’t lift me up.
“Thanks a lot jerk.” I mumble. The director holds out his hand.
“#092. The food.” I pull the loaf of bread out from under my jacket and place it in his hand.
“I have a name you know.” He presses a fresh new mark to my wrist. Now there are four lines, the first two starting to fade. August holds out his own wrist and exposes seven marks.
“Go to your quarters #092. August,” His voice is a little strained. “You’re coming with me.” He follows reluctantly and I walk off to my room. Once I get back to my empty quarters I think. My thoughts are rebellious and angry like they always are. If the director thinks that he can control my life, he’s wrong. Living off a legend of a hero that will save the Drage, forcing us to wait for whoever they are. He’s so bent on the idea he neglects his own son, what if he’s the hero? I smile at the irony. Another thought of who the savior could be crosses my mind. What if it's me?
“Someone's deep in thought.”
“Yeah, you should try it sometime.” He slides down next to me.
“Well I guess I could use a few pointers.” His dark brown eyes study every inch of my face. “What are you thinking about.”
“The ‘prophecy’.”
“Oh no, not you too.”
“No, not like that, I mean, what if it is real? I mean what if it's you?”
“And what if it's you?” We sit in silence before he talks again. “We should run away.”
“Pfft, and we’d be dead by morning.”
“No. We could go to school, hide our wings.”
“August, I hate to break it to you but if the dentures don’t find you first, your father will. He can track us, in case you’ve forgotten, numbskull.”
“Then you go. I can stay here, burn the rest of your belongings before the Venatores find you. If either of us deserves to go, it’s you.” I rest my head on the wall.
“I have no desire to go if you don’t. I’d be leaving behind my best friend.” I’d be leaving you, my perfect half, my soulmate. He smiles and pulls me in close to him. The gesture almost takes my breath away, before I realize what he’s doing. He puts me in a headlock and messes up my hair. This creates a huge fight. Somehow under the course of thirty seconds of our fight he’s pressing me into my cot, his wings covering us like a curtain.
“Is that so? A part of me is glad your not going to go, you’d be taking my heart with you.” He leans in close to me. I smirk.
“Glad to see you feel the same.” I close the space between us and feel his lips on mine. Catching him off guard, I press him against the wall, using my wings to keep out heads at the same height. His lips ease into mine and move a bit along the corners of my mouth. A set of heavy footsteps makes me pull away from him. Thankfully no one comes into my quarters.
“Wow.” August whispers in my ear. “I’ve been wanting to do that for forever.” I smile guiltily.
“Me too,” He smells like some sort of cologne and Sanctums’ halls. His hands rest on my waist and I keep my hands on his neck. “Although now that I think about it, if we find some place on the forbidden forest not too far from Sanctum, we may be able to not raise any suspicions.” With his strong and gentle hands he tips my chin up. A smirk spreads across his face and he traces my lips with his thumb.
“You know what Firecracker? That idea isn't half bad.” He kisses the side of my mouth and I can feel his smile. I could get used to this. All that is left of our plan are the long nights of planning and passion.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
