By Flame And Darkness

The sun blazed with fiery embers of bright red as it descended towards the realm beyond the horizon. The intense heat of the desert sands began to cool, bringing the chill of night as dusk approached. For miles and miles there was nothing but dark sand, endless, clear sky and a figure covered in the finest silk.

Udiya stared off into the distance, her golden eyes unseeing of the land before her as she kept time of the movement of the sun with her heartbeat. For centuries, she had come to walk upon every grain of sand in the place her people had called home for eons. She knew it better than the feel of her own skin. Now, with her bare feet tucked beneath the warm grains, she could not find the solace she had once known.

Today was the day of her bonding, something she had dreaded from the moment her father had told her the news. Bonding among the Jinn was a timely and complex process that could take years to finalize. However, as the time of war was slowly fading into memory, the great tribe of Ifrit wanted nothing more than peace and prosperity. Which, to her great misfortune,  included the time honored traditions of marriage.

Even if it meant joining with the unnatural.

A brisk wind from the east blew across Udiya’s heated skin, the Freed Ones seemingly sensing her troubled emotions and memories of the past. The edges of her fingernails buried themselves in the palms of her hands sending sharp pains spiking up her arms. It was a reminder, she knew that she was still alive and contained in a body to preserve her spirit. With that body came duty - to her tribe, to her family, and to the name of all that was Jinn.

Udiya had not taken the news well of her impending bonding. She had served all her life to the protection of her people, fighting wars against limitless adversaries like the humans with their magick tricks and want for power, the werewolves and their insanity for the moon, the vampires with their lust for the lifeblood they had lost long ago. The species of creatures she had battled were endless; however, she had hoped that one day she would be free to live a life not bound to the earth but in her truest form. The announcement nearly shattered all her dreams.

The marriage decree was crumpled in her hand as she stormed through the palace’s gilded doors, shoving them into the surrounding walls. The king’s meeting immediately came to a standstill at Udiya’s out of character outburst. The entire ornate room filled with the Jinn elite held silent for they were all too shocked and intrigued to see what would happen next.

Udiya slammed the parchment down on the king’s desk, nearly snarling in her father’s passive face. “What is the meaning of this?” She spoke through gritted teeth. “Why am I being congratulated on the streets about my impending bonding? A bonding, I might add, that I have no recollection of agreeing to.”

The Ifrit King steeped his fingers as he gazed at the face of his only daughter. It was to be expected that she would not take the news well. Nevertheless, as the heat of anger flamed higher in her golden eyes he knew his battle was going to be much harder than he had anticipated.

Not taking his sight from hers, the king ordered his council to disburse. “Take your leave in the gardens. We will continue this meeting shortly.”

“As you well know I have been in communications with the Vampires since the war has ended,” the King said after the two of them were left alone. He leaned back in his padded throne and prepared himself for the incoming fight. “The Vampiric King and I have been discussing a treaty between our people. It has been tedious working out the details, as you know they can be rather contemplative when it comes to making decisions. However, we have finally come to settle our differences and are ready to sign a truce… with one stipulation.”

Udiya shook her head and chuckled. The sound was far from mirthful. “I am the gift to sweeten the pot like Aladdin’s golden lamp.”

“By the laws of the Vampires, this is a best way to ally our people with them. Bonding is forever, and such ties can not be severed lightly.”

“You would have me married to… to… a night creature? You would have me joined with our enemy for all eternity?”

“Daughter,” the King said tenderly as he reached forward to take her hands in his. “As my child you know the politics of the Jinn and the ancient traditions we hold as law. But, as my top general, you know the sacrifices we have had to make in order to survive in this world.”

Udiya turned away. Death was understood as a way of life even to such immortals as the Jinn. All her existence she had seen it happen to the others around her, and when the time to protect those she loved came, she even dealt the final blow. It was the faces of those slain, however, that haunted her slumber. Doing what was necessary did not always leave one untainted.

Defeated but stubborn, Udiya pulled back from her father’s touch, hiding her emotions away under a mask of neutrality. “Is this an order, Your Majesty?”

The King sighed in resignation. “I did not want this situation to turn to this.” He scanned her dark face once more before picking up his quill and turning back to the stack of decrees on his desk. “On the night one moon cycle from this day you will be bonded with the heir to the throne of the Vampires.”

Udiya could not move. Noticing her continued presence, the king paused his reading and glanced up at her with a dark brow raised. “You have been so ordered, General. Leave me now and tell my council to join me once again.”

A sharp tingle ran along Udiya’s spine at the first moments of dusk. Inhaling the crisp air, she knelled before her handmade altar made of rich, red clay and bowed her head to the sand to begin the ceremony, giving thanks to Freed Ones for all blessings both past and future. As the last of her prayers drifted off with the wind, one by one, she placed simple wax candles along the edges of the altar, unlit until the final closing.

Calm mixed with anxiety as she performed the old ritual. Slowly, Udiya began to unwind her swathed body from the confines of deep purple and brown silk wraps, leaving her body bare except for a piece of muslin over her waist and chest. Words of the ancient Jinn rolled off her tongue like a sacred melody as the air around her shimmered and sparked. Each verse of the incantation flowed together in a primeval dance, releasing her from the human flesh into the formless fire of her true self.

Tilting her head back with arms outstretched, eyes of gold glowed and swirled as she peered at the stars and fading sun. Udiya stood on the edge of nothingness and infinity, the feelings just as exhilarating as the first time those many centuries ago.

Then why could she not fully let go?

“I am free.”

The words which flowed from her mouth were half-hollow to her ears. Finally, she had the freedom she always wanted, yet her thoughts kept turning back to him.

The music from the takht blared from her as Udiya stepped out onto the empty balcony off the palace wing. The celebration of the upcoming bonding had both Jinn and Vampire alike rejoicing for close to a week. Had she not known better, she would have believed the species had been close companions for centuries instead of lifelong enemies.

For her, the transition could not be made so swiftly.

Gazing down into the palace’s royal gardens, Udiya wrapped her scarlet silk shawl closer to her body for warmth. Gone now were the days of uniform and coarse cotton. Now she would have to play the part of wife and ruler. It was just another reason to loathe her intended.

Her full mouth pressed into a sharp line at the thought of her soon-to-be mate. He was far different from the man she was used to, fully embracing the life and technology of his human guise. After talking with him in small snatches of conversation, exchanging meaningless words to fill in uncomfortable silences, she learned how well spoken and educated he was. It was in watching him from the shadows that she learned how his personable nature masked hawk-like sight. He watched everyone and everything, cataloging every nuance should the information be useful later.

“He’s a warrior,” Udiya remarked to the wind, seeking the Old Ones for guidance.

She could see it in the way he held his lean muscled body, the stillness of one who hunted. Marked on the luminous pale skin of his hands and face were fine scars from sword wounds, and missed silver bullets. It was his intense stare however, that captured her awareness. She had seen that eyeshade of pure cobalt blue once before - on the field of her last battle.

“Where does your mind run to, Princess Udiya?” spoke a deep, lilted voice from behind.

Udiya turned sharply and cursed herself for being so lost in thought. Peering at his expression, she could see her intended was amused at her disturbance. She straightened at the sight of his smug face, her lip curling in distaste, thankful that her thin veil covered most of her face.

The vampire took a step closer, staring into her with his unearthly eyes. “Or should I address you as General?”

“You may call me as you wish Your Majesty.”

For the first time in their short acquaintance, he turned from her, off into the starry night, the moonlight highlighting the sharp planes of his face. Gone was his usual arrogant expression, replaced with something more natural. To her shock, she recognized his emotion as desolation, an emotion she was all too familiar.

“Must we do this?" he asked as the quiet of the evening seemed too much. "Can we not talk without warring?”

Udiya was taken aback. Those were the last words she imagined him ever speaking. Caught off guard and vulnerable, all she could do was stare at his haunted face.

“The moment I heard of our marriage, I hated the very mention of the word Jinn. I had my life and my work, which is always in threat by your kind. You are my sworn enemy. This was the last place I wanted to be.”

Sighing, he ran his fingers through his straight white blond hair, only to have a strand fall back into his eyes. Udiya fought the sudden urge to tuck it away.

“But more than the hatred I feel inside I want peace. War has ruled my world since I was a boy. My only wish is to know what it is like to taste tranquility before my death.”

He looked at her now, in heat and intensity. “For these past two weeks I have tried every known trick to get you to open up to me. My charming ways did nothing to penetrate your shield and my insults only fueled your silence. How can we bridge this gap between us?”

Udiya took a step back, pressing her back to the marble rail. Without moving, without touching, he hunted for her compliance. She did not want to feel sympathy for him, did not want to understand him, but something inside her very soul so wanted to heed to his words.

“What do you want from me?” Udiya demanded.

The vampire smiled slightly, flashing a glimpse of his pointed fangs. He took the remaining steps toward her so his could trail his fingers along her veiled jaw. A shiver ran down her spine. “Say my name, Udiya and then we can begin to trust each other.”

The sound was barely a whisper, her voice forcing itself out against her suspicions and fear, being wrenched out from deep inside, Udiya spoke.

"Pierce."

Red and orange licks of fire pulsed off Udiya’s skin as she passed a flaming hand over the candles, lighting each wick. The scene glowed in dim light as the night sky stood overhead with twinkling stars.  All was perfect and beautiful, yet she did not feel right standing at the altar alone. It was as if a part of her was missing.

Here, in the sands of her home, she called once more to the Freed Ones to hear her prayers. Her voice rose in waves, crying out to the heavens above. There was no freedom here, with her spirit empty.

A presence from behind her made Udiya’s heart stop. Before turning from the altar, she knew who stood there waiting. Giving into his request, she had done the one thing she promised never to do. She allowed herself to trust a vampire. But caution was her old companion. Risking her life would cost dearly. Risking her heart would be the end of her.

“Grant me a wish, fair jinni,” his lilting voice asked.

The small joke earned a trembling smile from her lips. Udiya felt a calloused hand brush the long, black curls over her shoulder, clearing her neck from obstruction. Swiftly, she turned, her fiery eyes wide with fear. “Pierce... the fire…”

Ignoring her warning, the vampire stroked both of his hands down the smooth skin of her arms and hands, linking their fingers together. “Grant me, oh jinni,” he whispered in her ear. “An eternity. With you. Give me the honor of your love, Udiya.”

The sweet touch of his lips against hers released the last of her shields, surrounding them both in smokeless, burning fire. With her heart's surrender, the vampire gently sank his teeth into her neck, taking her lifeblood into his body. By both ancient rites, their two souls entwined, achieving the impossible through fire and darkness, bonding them forever.

As the vivid crimson and blue flames of their bonding lit up the pitch-black sky, the two long-sworn adversarial races shouted in cheer from the palace gardens; and, for a night, peace reigned.

Word Count: 2405
1st Place in "Invalid Item" 

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