An Ember's Tale

Chapter Twenty-One

 Ember woke up to a scream piercing her ears, but it wasn't until it echoed throughout the walls and rang throughout her head when she realized it was her own. She sat up and rubbed her aching temple as silent tears rolled down her cheeks and caused her eyes and cheeks to swell and redden.

The door burst open, revealing Mark despite the dim moonlight and the spots in the corner of her vision. His shirt was messily buttoned, and his trousers had one pant-leg rolled up. His hair was more tangled than usual while his flashing gaze met hers in the silver light streaming into the small room.

"I heard a scream," he said dryly. His deep voice sent deep shivers up and down Ember's spine as her gaze locked with his. "Are you alright?"

Her mind flooded with their earlier conversation as she bit her lip. Her tears stilled, but they clung onto her cheeks stubbornly as her heart raced in her chest until it was all she could hear. Whether it was from the sailor in front of her or her dream, she wasn't sure.

"I'm fine," she lied, but her lips began to tremble. "I'm sorry I woke you."

Mark's gaze shifted down to her trembling arm as she quickly grabbed it and forced a smile.

"You're a horrible liar, Red," he told her as he began to move closer.

Ember squeezed her eyes shut as her body continued to shake. "Is that such a bad thing?"

A comforting hand clutched hers as she slowly opened her eyes to find her gaze consumed by violet eyes that made her see a million things all in one, fleeting moment as she searched through the storm lurking beneath the eyes that always seemed to lead her down dangerous paths.

"No," Mark sat on the edge of her bed with a conflicted gaze. "It's not a bad thing."

His hand still held hers, but he looked distantly out into her room as she bit her lip harder until it too was swelling.

"Mark," she spoke softly. "About earlier-"

"No," he shook his head. "We don't have to talk about it."

Ember placed her other hand over the one holding hers as he looked at her the way she had hoped he would have looked at her earlier. She smiled softly, and in the dim moonlight, she could see his eyes darken.

"Mark," she looked down at their hands. "I was so worried about you. I was afraid I would lose you... and not just because you're helping me get to the Forbidden Island, but you're my friend. You probably know more about me than my brother, and losing you would have been too difficult to bear-" she paused when Mark's hand tightened around hers, and she looked back up at him. "I wanted to wait for you. It wasn't a manner of time or not caring, or even recklessness. I think it was the first time I stopped to make a decision, but last time we faced the General, I almost lost you then, and I couldn't risk it, so I-"

Mark grabbed her and pulled her close as his arms wrapped around her. She sat there, frozen for a moment before her arms gently wrapped around him as she rested her head against his shoulder. She couldn't help but smile when his hands held her tighter, and the space between them closed.

"You don't have to explain yourself, Red," he told her. "I should have never made you feel guilty about it in the first place."

Ember smiled wider, and for the first time, silent tears rolled down her cheeks, but they were tears of relief and contentment rather than heartbreak or tragedy.

"Well, I'm glad we aren't fighting anymore," she told him. "I hate being mad at people."

Mark chuckled against her skin that sent slight tingles all over her body. "And how mad were you, Red?"