Half of Ruby

Chapter 13

"I'm telling you for the last time, Janeka, we're fixing you and Janus!"

"Neither of us want to be one cat again!" yowled Janeka. She lashed out with her side of the body, and Ember barely avoided her razor-sharp claws as the she-cat hissed at her. "Aren't we entitled to control our own body?" 

"We don't know whether or not that potion you drank is safe for cats like you." Ember hissed in frustration as her hood slid off her head again. I'm doing a lot of hiding recently. 

"Well, we feel fine," complained Janus. The tabby had resigned himself to his fate, hanging like a rag doll in Ember's arms, while Janeka struggled to escape the confines of her grasp. Good thing Flame knows the side alleyways of Salem.

"Oftentimes," sighed Ember, "symptoms of poisoning don't show until much later." 

"Yeah?" challenged Janeka. "And have you ever taken a poisonous potion?" 

Ember rolled her eyes. "Do you think I would still be here if I had? It's just common knowledge." 

Flame puffed as she caught up with Ember. "Could you slow down? Not everybody has long legs like you." 

Ember glanced over her shoulder at the Omega of her Coven. "We're trying to get to Astratroix, fix Janeka and Janus, and get back to the house before Ash returns. I'm sorry, but I can't slow down." 

"We have a few hours." 

Ember glanced at Flame. "You have the money, right?" 

"For the sixth time, yes. Maybe something magical will happen if you ask me again." 

Ember rolled her eyes, but didn't respond. In fact, she'd hidden her own purse inside her cloak, for fear that Flame would lose hers, or that they wouldn't have enough money to pay Astratroix.

"Are we almost there?" asked Ember. 

Flame nodded, porcelain cheeks flushed red from running all the way across town. A splash of freckles decorated her delicate features. Large emerald eyes glowed under long auburn lashes and a flowing waterfall of amber hair. 

"Ember?" said Flame. 

"Yes?" 

"Well, I have a question. I was wondering why Ash never lets you deal with humans." 

Ember started and Flame spluttered as she skidded to a halt. 

"Watch it!" yowled Janeka. 

"I..." said Ember, "...I thought you already knew the answer to that." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Well," said Ember, "I can't hold a conversation with strangers. And I'm not good with money. I have a soft spot for humans." 

Flame snorted. "You can hold a conversation with us. You're organized and you have a good memory. And your so-called 'soft spot' makes it easier for people to deal with you." 

Ember blinked. 

"Well," she said, "...well...my soft spot is also easier for people to take control of...." 

Flame rolled her eyes. "Nobody can take control of you, Ember," she said. "Not if you don't want them to. If you can talk back to Ash, you can talk back to anyone." 

Ember smiled, picking up the pace again. Oh, Flame. Both an ingenue and a rebel. How I wish I were you. 

"Ash might as well be the mother of our Coven, Flame," she said.