Embers || Ikemen Revolution || Sirius

Chapter 1 ~ Portals

"I'm heading out now," I said, waving to my boss at the confectionary shop I worked part time at. My dad doesn't want me to overwork myself, but I wanted to help out and make some money on the side of my school studies.

"Be careful out there," my boss called from inside the kitchen. She was like a second mother to me, fussing over me to make sure I was careful. "Stay on the big streets and don't wander off!"

"Got it!" I walked out of the shop with a sigh, smiling up at the full moon. My smile froze on my face as I recalled the dreams I've been having lately.

Amon was there, with Cradle burning to the ground, but something was very off about him. My brother will never harm Cradle, he loves the place, even if some of his memories of it were bitter. And his eyes are never black. Sometimes when he uses magic, they turn red, sure, but not black.

I ran a hand through my copper hair, ruffling it a bit on instinct. It was a bad habit I had when I got nervous, or stressed.

"Coming through," I suddenly heard a voice call out.

I turned around just in time to see a white haired man bump into me. For a split second I thought it was my brother, but his hair wasn't this short, was it? And his voice shouldn't sound like this?

"Ow," I muttered, rubbing my head with a frown.

"My goodness," the man called out, helping me up. "My deepest, sincere apologies, miss. I didn't mean to bump into you! I would oh so love to treat you as an apology, but I must leave now."

I blinked after the weird man as he hurried away. Even his clothes are a bit unusual, such a fantastical looking outfit in this modern age.

I shook my head, rubbing the sore spot with a wry smile. I pushed myself up carefully, only to find that the white haired guy had dropped a pocket watch. It was golden with a blue gem in the center, polished with care. It looked vaguely familiar, but I can't place why.

"Hey, mister," I called out, but the man was already hopping away in a hurry.

I frowned, shoving the watch into the pocket of my skirt as I ran to catch up with the man's long strides. Damn it, why did I have to be so short? Eventually, I saw his figure in St. James's Park, except once I blinked, he was gone.

I stopped short for a moment, thinking about what happened with more care.

A white haired guy that dressed funny, had a familiar pocket watch, and just disappeared in a park? At night?

I looked around St. James's Park closely.

Mum and dad would always lead me and Amon over to Cradle at night, since the ride was apparently dizzying. And after the day mum and Amon didn't return from their trip to say goodbye to their family and friends in Cradle before definitely moving here, (mum probably died, she even left a goodbye letter saying that she knew it was going to happen. I've gotten numb to her loss) dad refused to even mention the Land of Magic ever again. But I can always remember the faint smell of nature as we left.

Was that guy someone from Cradle!? What was he doing here!?

I pulled out my phone to check the time. It was just a minute or two past midnight. I sent my dad a quick text, telling him that I was going to find my brother as I walked to the hole in the ground, illuminated by the moonlight.

Taking a deep breath in, I jumped into it, squeezing my eyes shut, praying that luck was on my side.

The fall really was dizzying when I opened my eyes, so I kept them shut. Eventually, I felt my body grow light for a moment. I opened one golden colored eye to see Cradle sprawling underneath me. It was amazing, and beautiful. I can't believe my parents didn't let me witness this myself!