The Ember Within

Secrets in Shadows

Sharon's voice echoed from the doorway, shattering the stillness. "Scarlet, are you ready?"

Deviously planned I was attending the event as Sharon's manager like always swathing all other plans that I had through my job. I glanced up from the mirror, my heart racing. Tonight was crucial for the Rebels; another mission loomed. Everything was meticulously planned under the guise of Calista, and now I was stepping into the role of the lead in the mission as Scarlet.

Unlike olden times, for the first time the absence of goblins was a relief, especially after our suspicions about one serving as Edward's spy. But as one can expect without them, the danger felt even more acute, the stakes soaring higher than ever.

Failure meant not just our deaths but the exposure of key Rebel members, potentially spelling our destruction.

I stood, my gaze fixed on my reflection. The woman staring back at me in the crimson velvet gown was barely recognizable. Years of missions had transformed me, hardened me. The girl with bright blue eyes and flowing blonde hair was a distant memory. Now, I was a warrior, a leader forged in fire.

"Is everything ready according to plan?" I asked, turning to face Sharon. 

He stood confidently in a tailored black suit, the rich hue contrasting sharply with his warm brown hair, which fell in soft waves just above his ears. His blue eyes sparkled with intensity, holding a depth of emotion—determination and sacrifice intertwined.

"Everything's in place," Sharon confirmed, adjusting his watch. "Jackson is ready, Madame Sofi is disguised, and Shawne and Aiden will enter the hall at eleven sharp."

I handed Sharon a small vial. "Give this to Madame Sophie. It's the illusion potion; the one she needs to wear throughout the night."

Madame Sophie was the driving force behind the Rebels, overseeing all accounts, mission costumes, new member recruitment, and other essential activities. In her thirties, she had striking hazel eyes and very fair skin, flawless in many ways, her unwavering resolve to combat the torment she had faced led her to join us, the Rebels being one of our most trusted members since the very beginning.

"Scarlet, this mission is riskier than any we've undertaken. If..." he began, but I interrupted him.

"Let's go," I said, rising from the chair.

"I won't let this mission fail. Not after Edward brutally killed Richie and Irin. I will avenge them, no matter the cost." My voice was steady, but a tremor of emotion crept in, Arin and Richie had been more than comrades; they were friends, their laughter now silenced forever.

As I gazed at the bright moon shining through the window, my resolve hardened. The memory of their bodies, bloodied and broken, clawed at my heart. I had assigned them to a trap, unaware of the danger that lay ahead, and their deaths haunted me.

"You know the moon doesn't shine because it wants to. It simply is—the only light in a dark night. Keep going, even if I'm not there. The Rebel must continue at all costs, with you as its leader if necessary. This isn't a request, Sharon Dane; it's an order. Ensure you follow it." I gave myself one last check before moving to the door.

As I met Sharon's gaze, disbelief flickered in his eyes. He understood the weight of my words knowing I had said them before, but this time, they were real and final.

Minutes later, urgency propelled us out of the building. Sharon's carriage awaited, its engine humming softly. We piled in, and I unfurled the Red Palace map, the one protected by the Red Swan. "We don't have much time," I urged, outlining our strategy.