Embers

Amber

After I crashed into Dusk I didn't remember where to go. I was supposed to be heading toward Elizabeth. But I had no idea where she would be, honestly I didn't even know why I wanted to see her. I guess I didn't really know anybody else and she seemed like an authority figure. Dusk seemed nice, but it's not like I could just ask to tag along with her. I didn't want to anyway, I liked being a lone wolf, I was rather used to it. I decided to walk around for a while instead. It was so empty that I walked for ages without seeing anybody. I don't think the place accommodated as many people as it was equipped to. I was almost to tempted to open a few doors when Avery came around a corner.

"Hey," she beamed.

"Hello."

"You seem bored. And you're lonely."

"Reading this?"

"I'm not reading your mind, no. Sorry, I also have a gift for reading body language," she giggled cheerily, she had to be 14.

"Well, yes, very bored."

"I can fix that. I'd like to introduce you to everybody. Don't worry there's not that many here," she hesitated, "yet."

"Okay, that'd be...nice," I gave a small smile and followed her through corridors. This place felt never ending.

Eventually we arrived in a sort of social room. There was food and windows that looked out to the sky and the tops of mountains. There were chairs and tables and everything seemed very homey. I looked around. Sitting at a table looking out a window was Dusk, next to her was a short black haired girl, she was dressed all goth like and was scribbling something on a piece of paper. Standing around drinking tea was Elizabeth with a white haired woman. The white haired woman noticed me staring and gave a glair, I looked away slowly. Colette and Adeline sat in what looked like a heated discussion behind some book cases. One by one they all noticed I was standing here. Each looked at me with expecting eyes, I wasn't sure how to feel.

"This is Amber," Avery beamed, I almost forgot she was there. Everyone smiled, some a lot more genuinely than others.

"Hey," I said quietly. The small goth girl slowly walked over to me. She gave a cute smile that showed her dimples.

"I'm Ingrid," she waved shyly. I smiled. I wondered what she could do, magic wise. She looked to the floor shyly and then turned and returned to her seat. My eyes opened wide and obvious amazement was shown on my face. I gulped it down and turned to Avery.

"Oh yes, those. Ingrids kind of like different. She's more of a breed, and instead of being bred from witches, like most of us, her heritage is more like a tribe. She's connected to the animals."
I stared at Avery in surprise, and she just smiled. I was amazed. Ingrid had huge black wings that were folded closed against her back, kind of like a-

"Bat," Avery read my thoughts again. I shut off emotion from my face, and hoped that I had shut her out of my mind aswell.

"Whose that?" I pointed to the white haired woman, whose back was turned to me. Avery stared at her with distrust.

"Henley," Avery had disgust in her voice. I could tell that there was something about her she didn't like, but I didn't know what, I don't think she knew either.

"Amber," Elizabeth stopped her conversation with Henley and glided over to me.
I gave her a smile but wiped it off my face as soon as Henley joined us.

"Amber," Henley smiled,"I've heard so much about you. Saving us from a war apparently?"

"We've not looked into that fully yet," Avery cut in. Henley gave us both a sly smile. I felt uncomfortable but the need to stand my ground was stronger then ever.

"So what is it you do?" I asked almost rudely.

"So the hero has an attitude?" Henley shot back.

"This hero won't be saving you," I lowered my voice so only Henley could hear. She was standing in close proximity, which is part of what made me feel so uncomfortable. Henley looked taken aback but then returned to her sly smile.

"I'm another one of the witches. I learn many skills," Henley boasted.

"Oh yes, Henley is very talented," Elizabeth smiled proudly. They were around the same age and apparently Henley had worked some magic on her because she did not seem to notice now iffy Henley was.

"I'll bet," I smiled as genuinely as I could. Even though I didn't trust Henely, I knew nothing about her and I wasn't in the position to start making enemies.

"Can I show Amber the practise room?" Avery was bubbling with excitement.

"Not yet, take her back to the discussion room and show her what you saw. I'm sure she'll make a decision on what she wants then," Elizabeth said seriously. She glided back to her previous position and continued chatting to Henley.
Avery's excitement had died a little, but she was still enthusiastic as she grabbed my hand and led me out of the room. We hurried back through corridors without speaking a word. In the end we were back at the room with the round table I had first met Avery in, and the blind on the window was still shut.

We both sat at the same time.
"Give me your hands," Avery ordered softly. I obeyed. She took them in hers and her eyes began to shine. Like any normal person I freaked out. But I realised I couldn't think of myself like that, normal. Because I wasn't, I suppose.

Slowly Avery began to blur. The whole room began to blur, and like that it was gone. Suddenly there I was, like in a movie. I sat and watched the vision. There was me, and the others, and several new people I hadn't met. There was fire and death, but finally there was happiness. At last the vision faded and the room returned back to me, as clear as day. The vision however did not leave my thoughts. That was me, fighting and possibly winning, there was no doubt about it.

Avery watched me from across the table and then finally spoke.
"There is another. It shows a battle field and friends that will be accumulated in the years to come. And it shows you, once more winning the battle with fire, and emotion." Avery always sounded so smart when she was speaking of these things, like when she was telling me of the witches. Her 14 year old was gone and she was wise and all seeing.

"I don't know if I can do that, anymore," I looked down in my lap, there was only one time I had used such emotion in my fire that she spoke of in the second vision. Good things hadn't come of it, and I'd closed down most emotions ever since.

"What happened?"
I didn't know if Avery needed to ask this. Could she tell the past? I felt like she already knew, how else would Adeline had known about it.

"Someone close to me died, my father. I was six and I didn't know what to do," I looked down at my lap the whole time, "something just cracked and the fire just burst form my body," I started to whisper, "it killed my mother."
Avery didn't say anything for a while. Then she cleared her throat and spoke.

"You don't have to do that again Amber. We have everything you need to learn to control it, and to fight with it, if you choose. We need you, and you need you."
I breathed heavily and sat still for a while. It reminded me of the cliffs. How I hid my magic, and marvelled at it for only seconds before I could no longer hold my breath.

"Okay," I finally agreed. Avery smiled sympathetically. She then pressed a button that opened the blind covering the window. I stood and looked out of it. My facial expression glowed as true wonder moved through my thoughts.

"Woah," I breathed.