Alex looked at him, bewildered.
“Ah, so you don’t know everything. An ifrit’s eyes only turn gold when they’ve found the one they need to protect. A calling beyond the voices of the wronged, a calling of the soul, and that is a powerful thing. There’s nothing quite like it.”
“What does that have to do with anything? Nothing can survive a Phoenix’s flame, especially not when its magic turns berserk,” Alex interjected.
“Nothing, except their soul mate.” Reuben nodded towards the smouldering remains, where a dark figure could be seen emerging from the flames.
Tess cupped her hands over her mouth as shouts echoed from the medics who rushed forward.
Alex watched as the orange hue of the fire seemed to part around the dark figure emerging from within. Conrad’s pace was slow, his feet barely clearing the debris he navigated, yet his focus never faltered. In his scalded arms, barely covered by a jacket, was his sister, her limp body pressed tightly to his chest. Medics, hovering on standby, began to stir, watching his difficult progression to the grass garden. As soon as he was clear of the ruined and crumbling building, it was as though his strength faded. His legs grew weak and he dropped to his knees, still cradling Ashley closely. This was the signal the gathering medics had been waiting for. A signal they had fatally misread.
The medics crowded around him, attempted to advance, to take Ashley from his protective grasp. The look in his eyes should have warned them of their error. Even Alex could see the fierce protectiveness in his gaze. They should have known he wouldn’t let them take her away. Fire curled around them, drawn from the building to encompass them in its protective storm. Alex had only seen this manner of reaction twice before, and in both instances a preternatural had been wounded to the extent they had to draw strength from their origin, and this power was anything but rational. It knew only the desire of its child, and Conrad’s sole focus was on defending Ashley.
“I thought you said the flame wouldn’t hurt him,” Alex whispered, as Reuben drew level with him to watch the unfolding events.
“No, I said it wouldn’t kill him, but even with their connection it probably took everything he had to withstand. He probably didn’t even realise how hurt he was until he reverted to human form.”
Alex stepped forward, quickly shrugging free of Reuben’s touch as he reached out to restrain him, as if he knew what he had in mind. When he reached the group of medics, he saw two of them were now armed with tranquiliser darts, their hushed tones discussing a tag and snatch retrieval while their comrades took aim, their rifles steaming from the cold enchantment shielding the darts to ensure they would reach its target. The pink hue of the fletching sung of their second mistake—they were already greatly underestimating his strength. Those darts would be about as useful as sending a docile mouse to fell a serpent. It would simply bait him.
“Mine,” Conrad growled, his vision snapping towards one of the medics who had dared to take a step forward, his dart gun raised, ready to fire.
“Sir, please calm down, we’re here to help.” The medic tried to placate him, his trigger finger twitching as he lined up the shot. The dart released, striking the ground with a dull thump to discharge its contents. The medic looked up at Alex, whose fingers still rested on the barrel of the lowered weapon.
“I’ll take it from here,” Alex stated. “Be grateful. If you’d hit him with that, we’d all be dead. Use your common sense and do as the man asked. They’ll not be coming with you in any scenario, so you may leave.” His voice was firm, holding an authority he hoped they dared not ignore.
“But, sir!” the medic in charge began, only to be silenced by his cold interruption.
“That’s P.T.F. alpha Ciele,” Alex announced, tapping his charred jacket to bring their attention to his rank, “and the young lady there is under our protection.”
“But—”
“Dismissed.” The medics exchanged a look of bewilderment, before silently deciding it was better to keep their distance.
Once they had departed, Alex crouched level with Conrad, amazed to see the golden embers of his eyes burning possessively. “Conrad.” Alex raised his hand placatingly as Conrad’s grip tightened on Ashley, shielding her. “I need you to let me see my sister so I can check her.” He kept his voice soft, non-threatening, as he slowly slid his feet forwards, closing a little more distance between himself and the barrier of swirling flames.
“I know you need to keep her safe. That’s my job, too, as her big brother.” Alex edged forward again, sweat beading his brow as he reached out tentatively. The fire surrounding them dissipated into a fine cyclone of smoke, granting Alex permission to approach. Carefully, with slow, smooth movements, he placed his hand on Ashley. He saw Conrad’s muscles tense, but the soft reassurances leaving Alex’s lips seemed to be working. Pulling a small light from his pocket, he knelt forwards, shining the beam into her eyes, watching for the dilation of her pupils.
“Conrad, did my sister regain consciousness after the burn-out?” He kept diverting his vision from Ashley to look into Conrad’s eyes, using his name and reinforcing his relationship to the figure he was protecting.
“Yes,” Conrad whispered, earning a quick smile before Alex continued his examination. Alex could see him relaxing as the understanding that they were safe began to register. Sensing the alteration, he touched Conrad’s hand gently, feeling the strong tremors of exhaustion. The more aware he became of the world beyond Ashley, the harder it would become for him to push aside his exhaustion.
“We need to get my sister somewhere safe now, so can you help me to move her?” Even despite his returning cognisance, Alex knew better than to try to take her from him, as doing
