An Ember's Tale

Chapter Forty-One

Ember was standing on a beach with her toes in the water and her heels on the sand. She watched the distant sky with a slight frown. A soft breeze flowed through her as she closed her eyes and embraced the warmth of the setting sun on her. The sound of the gentle waves crashing over the water and lapping over the beach soothed her until all she could feel was unrequited bliss.

"I thought you would be happy here," a familiar voice said from beside her. "It's better than the reality before you."

Ember opened her eyes as she looked at Fiammetta next to her. Her skin was significantly paler than it had been the last time she had seen her. Her dress had changed to a bright golden one that reflected the sunset. This time, she wore a faded crown with one large golden jewel on the top.

"Why am I here?" Ember asked.

"Because I want to prepare you," Fiammetta stared out at the distant sun, her eyes reflecting the fading light. "What is about to happen is going to break you, Ember. So I wanted to give you one last moment of bliss."

"Will," Ember swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "Will my brother be okay?"

"I can't tell you that," Fiammetta shook her head. "My only advice is: the hardest choices are often the right ones."

"I can't do this," Ember shook her head. "I can't be the person everyone expects me to be. I'm not some great hero sent to save everyone. I can barely even save anyone, or even myself."

"That's why you are," Fiammetta looked over to her. "One day, you will see that. Sadly, this day, you will always remember as the worst one of your life."

"I don't want anyone to die," Ember shook her head. "Please, there has to be another way to prevent Akull from getting what he wants."

"You can't prevent what has already been written," Fiammetta shook her head. "I am sorry, Ember. Truly I am. You're a good soul- remember that."

"Wait-" but Fiammetta turned into golden dust before she floated away into the breeze.

Ember turned back around, but she was back in Akull's throne room with her heart pounding in her ears. She watched Akull press the sword firmly into her brother's neck while his swollen eyes looked over to her. She turned back to Rosealinda and Mark as the water reached their waist.

"Who will you save?" Akull asked her. "You're running out of time."

"You would kill your daughter?" Ember asked with wide eyes.

"She betrayed me long ago," Akull shook his head. "I had hoped marrying her off would get rid of her, but I suppose killing her would just make it easier."

"You're sick."

"And you're wasting precious moments," Akull scolded as his cold eyes gleamed. "Choose."

"And if I don't?" Ember stepped toward him. "You'll kill all of them?"

"Yes."

Ember pursed her lips before she looked back at Mark. He was staring at her with flashing eyes while the water rose to his neck. 'I'm sorry, she mouthed to him before she turned back to Akull.

"I want to offer you a deal," she told him.

"You have nothing I want," he smirked.

"But I do," Ember nodded. She grabbed her dagger from her boot and stuck the blade at her neck. Tears stung her eyes as her hand shook. "My life. Let them go, or I will die."

"This again," he gestured dramatically before his smirk remained, but Ember could see the sudden shift in his gaze. "You're bluffing."

"Am I?" she pressed the blade harder into her neck until tiny drops of blood began to drip down. "Do you want to risk that?"