CHAPTER 43: FIRE LORD

"Something’s wrong. I can’t."

"Hey, calm down. Everything will be alright." As she spoke, she got off the bed and walked closer to him, but he stepped away before she could touch him.

He didn’t want to risk hurting her.

"Why do you keep stepping away?" She asked as she once again tried to come closer.

She wanted to hug him, to make him feel better.

"Just don’t touch."

He yelped as he accidentally touched a curtain, and it burst into flames.

"Oh my god!" Eliza shrieked, and ran to the hallway to grab a fire extinguisher.

Luckily, the fire didn’t have enough time to spread before she put it out, but three curtains were gone.

"What the fuck just happened?" She stared with wide eyes at her husband, especially at his hands.

"I don’t know. I woke up feeling hot, I tried to take a shower, then the faucet melted."

Sweat was dripping down his body, and he was red all over.

"Umm.." For several seconds, they kept staring at each other, before she got over her shock enough to get into action.

"Come with me."

They moved to the door and she paused. "Wait. Let me make sure the coast is clear."

She moved into the hallway, and instructed the staff to clear out from the house till she called for them. Then she led Alrik to the backyard, and made him jump into the pool. Within minutes, the huge pool began to get warm.

"What on earth?"

She moved to the bar area beside the pool bar, and grabbed the icemaker. This one was smaller since it was just for serving drinks by the pool. The industrial sized icemaker was in a storage unit in the house with other things that could be used for catering larger events. She would need help for that, but Alrik was naked in the pool.

She threw in as much ice as the smaller appliance could make, and moved to get help.

"Gaya. There’s an emergency. Whichever of you is closest to the house, please come as fast as you can."

"What’s wrong? Are you in danger? I thought you both were home. The house is secure."

"It’s not a security threat. I have no idea how to explain without sounding crazy. Just get here soon. No danger. But something is wrong with my husband."

She ended the call, and made arrangements for two staff members to wheel in the industrial sized icemaker as close to the pool as possible, then she took over from them. It wasn’t easy to move despite the wheels attached because of the size, but she managed just fine. She connected the water line, and turned it on as close to the pool as the wiring could go, then positioned it to release the ice directly into the pool. Ten minutes later, ice cubes began dropping in.

Ten more minutes later, the pool temperature moved from hot, to warm, then lukewarm. She sighed in relief as she dipped her finger in.

"We’re here! What’s..."

"Wait. He’s naked." Eliza called out, and Alrik waved at her.

"Let them in. We’ve all been naked around each other at one point or the other at war camp. You’re more concerned about my nudity than I am. I don’t think anyone can see my lower half so well while I’m immersed." He said and she sighed.

"Alright. Come in."

Gaya, Ren, and Kellan walked in looking worried.

"The others are on their way. Though we have no idea what’s going on, but it sounded serious over the phone. I know you wouldn’t call sounding so frantic if it wasn’t a true emergency." Gaya said.

"I sent the staff away from this area, but still keep a look out. Until we know what’s going on, it’s better to keep this a secret. Though I’m sure they’re already whispering after seeing the industrial icemaker." Eliza sighed, finally able to sit now that she wasn’t alone to deal with the issue.

"You still haven’t told us what’s wrong. And why Boss man is in a pool with a big icemaker chucking out ice cubes at him." Kellan said.

"That was the only way to keep his temperature regulated. Dip your hand into the water, and see for yourself." She said, and Ren crouched close to the pool’s edge.

"Whoa." He said as he removed his fingers and stood.

"The water is warm, or should I say cool. That’s weird. With all this ice floating around, and being dumped in, I expected it to be freezing.

"Exactly. Something’s wrong. He set our curtains on fire. Melted off the shower faucet, and he’s burning so hot that ice cold water feels lukewarm. Toss something in for him to touch. You need to see it with your own eyes, or it would be hard to explain."

Gaya squeezed her handkerchief into a ball and threw it at Alrik. As soon as he picked it up, it dried within split seconds, then set on fire, before turning to ash and drifting off in the wind.

"What... the .... Fuck!" Kellan blinked three times, then turned to face the others.

"We all saw that, right? Because I had a drink about an hour ago. Maybe I had some delayed drunkenness or something."

"Relax, Kel. We all saw it." Ren said and sat beside Eliza.

"Yesterday, on our way back from my parent’s home, he suddenly had a migraine and passed out for hours. I’m just now realising I forgot to inform the rest of you. They couldn’t find anything wrong with him, so I brought him home, and I skipped work to take care of him. He’s been fine, till I woke up to this. What the fuck is happening?" Eliza said, but no one had a response for her.

Gaya immediately went online to try searching for possible causes or solutions, while the others just watched Alrik float in the pool.

"I’m freezing now. I think it’s okay to leave the pool." Alrik said as his teeth began to chatter.

They all watched cautiously as he approached the small ladder at the pool side. He touched it, but it didn’t melt. So he held on and climbed out of the pool. Eliza brought him a towel, and he wrapped it around his waist. She touched him slowly, first his biceps, then his face, before hugging him tight.

"I’m okay."

"Don’t even say that. None of this is fucking okay. I’m so close to losing my mind over here, so don’t say you’re okay. You just melted who knows how many tonnes of Ice." She snapped as she pulled back to look at him.

"We’re here. What was so urgent that required us? And why couldn’t you explain over the phone?" Mira said as she walked in with Bruno and Ansa.

"And why is there an icemaker chucking ice in the pool? This better not be a prank party. I was worried sick." Ansa said with a frown.

"It’s not a party. He..." Gaya began to speak, but she paused because she had no idea how to even begin the conversation.

"See, I told you it was hard to explain unless you see it with your own eyes." Eliza said, and Alrik chuckled.

"Glad to see you find the situation amusing." Kellan rolled his eyes.

"You’re freaking out more than me. I should be the one more worried." Alrik responded.

"Can someone please explain what’s going on? We just arrived, remember. And we’re lost." Bruno said.

Alrik turned and with a goofy smile, he said. "I’m a firebender. From now on, call me fire lord Alrik."