Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
EMBER LEANED AGAINST THE phone screen, gazing at her mom who was taking out all of her origami flowers and butterflies and placing them around the kitchen with a fond smile.
"Mom, are you there?" Ember asked frantically, and Matteo rushed over from his robot toy to the phone on the dining table. He lifted it, and tears welled in Ember's eyes at the sight of her favorite little boy. "Hey, Matty! It's so good to see you again. You lost your other tooth!" She chuckled.
"I did! But didn't you already know—" Matty began questioning, but Ember shook her head, cutting him off.
"Matty, I have a very important mission for you," Ember said sternly, and Matty straightened up, saluting the phone. "I need you, General Matteo Kai Bianchi, to take me to our mom," Ember said, hands pressing against the screen again. Matty nodded, marching into the kitchen.
"Miss Mama, it's Ember!" Matty said, handing the phone to the woman at the kitchen counter.
Alessia looked down to see her daughter on the phone screen and took the phone with a smile. "Thanks, you little soldier." Alessia ruffled Matteo's orange hair, and he went running off into his roof. "Hey, Piccola! I didn't even hear the phone ring. Oh! I love the new hair. It's a great look for you."
Ember gazed at her mom, and tears welled up at how homesick she suddenly became. "Mom, it's so great to hear your voice." She smiled softly.
"Oh, it's great to hear you too..?" Alessia tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, leaning against the counter. "What's wrong?"
"Luz and I found out who's been setting up those traps and he's hurting... some friends of ours." Ember halfheartedly lied, sighing. "But first, I need to tell you the truth about the last few months. You might want to sit down for this." Alessia walked over to the kitchen island, taking a seat in of the chairs, a concerned but attentive look on her face. "Do you remember dad mentioning a place called the Boiling Isles?"
🪄 ꒰ 🕯 ❁ 🌙 ꒱ 🔮
"YOU KNOW," Alessia began as she and Matteo stepped out of the car, looking out onto the Gravesfield History Center. "if you wanted me to pick up you, Luz, and your friends you didn't have to elaborate story about the demon realm." Alessia smiled warmly before snickering. "It doesn't exist." She lied through her teeth, smiling warmly.
"I'm not making it up, Mom!" Ember exclaimed, and Alessia chuckled as Camila pulled up in her car. "I wouldn't lie about something like this."
