Innocent Midnight

IM 8

The large brut from the day before was grinning evilly while holding Ember’s Cricket by the tail, it chirped frantically trying to claw at the thick fingers wrapping around its poor extension.

    “You let Cricket go now” Ember growled fists clenched at her side, while her eyes locked with the nasty beast of a man.
    “Or what?” He taunted, pulling Cricket up to his face like he was going to lower him into the man’s mouth.

Russ moved a little taking two steps to freeze, he could feel the swirling vortex of power leaking into his pours. It was like a title wave as it crashed over him, blinking profusely Russ looked back at Ember. Her skin seemed to hum faster then a hummingbirds wings, the once glowing tanned skin was now covered in deep blood red tattoo like markings.

Like a snake they wrapped around every inch of her body, pushing power up and over Ember’s head which in turn grabbed her long black locks snapping them. The clerk gulped taking a step back hitting the wall, chuckling at Ember the man made the fuzzy little pet cry out further angering Ember.

    “LET HIM GO” The sound of her voice seemed to grow dark, thick with malaise that even Russ was rearing for the stupid man’s life.
    “Make me” Waving his fingers for her to attack, Ember seemed pleased with his proposal as she shot off the wooden floor fists flying.

As Russ’s eyes tried to keep up with the fastest movements he’d ever seen, it occurred to him that he’d never asked Ember if she could defend herself. Clearly she could. Long legs cracked against the man’s skull making his finger loosen enough for her pet to flee, dropping into a squat Ember slide her leg against the floor taking the larger man’s feet out from under him.

The crash of his body weight shook the whole place, knocking over a picture or two. Ember rose glaring her bright red eyes at the fallen man, grunting he tried to pull himself up only to receive her foot on his chest. Russ jogged the stairs quickly coming around to get a better view of her, it wasn’t till he noticed her wicked smirk showing large white fangs.

Though she was meant to look ferocious Russ couldn’t help thoughts of how stunning she looked, power was nothing but an accessory to Ember- wielding it like a goddess. Blue flames pulsed from her palms reminding Russ she was going in for the kill, unlike him Ember wasn’t going to stop. Running to her side Russ wrapped his arms around her small waist pulling on her to back up, she thrashed growling a sound he’d only heard from wild animals in the night.

        “No Ember, let him go” Russ pulled again trying his damn-ness to rock her off the brutes chest, but the little woman had a solid hold on her footing.
        “He hurt Cricket” Ember snarled allowing the flames it ride her forearms, gasping in both awe and terror Russ gave it one more shot.
        “Ember Cricket is safe, we should head out. Don’t you want to find that person?” Slowly Russ felt the wave of power slithering back to which it came, her body rocked in his hold before Ember’s breathing steadied. Lifting her foot Ember placed it next to her other one, looking up at Russ her eyes had returned to their normal fire.

        “Russ?” Ember blinked as Cricket came out of his hiding spot, rushing to dip into her shirt.
        “Come on Ember” Huffing Russ pulled her out of the building, they needed to get the heck out of there before someone called the authorities on them. This town was mostly quiet, but when things did get out of hand very strong measures were put into place to stop them from growing any further.

Being pulled along by Russ wasn’t something Ember really careful, but he had this look about him that told her to just suck it up. Maybe she went a little far with wanting to rip that jerk to shreds, he had after all messed with her little Cricket. It wasn’t Crickets fault that he wandered down the stairs without her in search of something to eat, just to stumble upon that beast of a man.

        “Russ?”
        “Not now Ember” Hissing at her with one eye sending her a pointed look Ember huffed, if they were in so much trouble why not run. Shaking her head Ember new why they weren’t running, Len had drilled that little piece of information into her brain as a small child. Running from supernatural beings was not only stupid, but very unwise. The thought of a chase drove them insane and all reason let them- had they had any to begin with.

Following him the winding path in utter silence was starting to tick on Ember’s nerves, she had thought that with company they could kill time by talking- but Russ wasn’t speaking. He finally stopped at a small lake taking a breather, arms folded Russ turned to her face hard.

        “Ember what are you?” His tone was that of curiosity, but Ember could smell his fear. Ever since she was little she could pick up on others emotions, able to read their faces and smell their feelings. Len had never been able to explain to her why, or he chose not to. Leaving her with more questions.

        “What do you mean?” Raising a brow, Russ’s frown deepened before stepping right in front of her. He grabbed her arm pulling up the sleeve, turning her arm this way and that.
   
        “Your markings where did they go?” Tossing Ember’s arm back to her side, she rubbed it feeling self-conscious.
        “They only come out when I feel”  His eyes softened tremendously, sighing Russ nodded.
        “Are you fae Ember?” She shrugged, honestly she hadn’t a clue.  Ember knew she was part human, and that Len had given her special abilities but to her other half…she new not.

        “Do they only come out when your mad?” Ember nodded, she’d not really no any other feelings.
        “I can see them, but Len says they only come out when I have deep feelings” Russ leaned against a tree taking out his pipe, filling the small opening with a dark brown leafy substance he flicked a lighter over it. The smell was pungent and Ember wrinkled her nose, whatever it was she didn’t care for it.

        “Well whatever you are, you’ve got a hell of a power. Best try to keep that to yourself Ember” Taking a drag from the pipe Ember titled her head, Russ sounded concerned for her and that was new.
        “Am I not to show?”
        “No, someone might get the idea in their head that your useful for some foolish plan, don’t trust other Ember they’re not all good creatures.” Ember nodded looking around, a scuffling from Cricket caused her eyes to lower. He was sleeping soundly and yawned with a squeak, that pipe smell grew closer making her look up.

“We better get moving, you caused quiet a show back in town. Don’t need anyone following us.” He patted her head before walking off, Ember grinned running after him.


~~~

        “Alpha?” A knock at his door rose his irritation, glaring at the second in command.
        “What?” Hissing at the tall man. Ever since finding that mix breed, he was livid for leaving her behind. She was doing gods knew what with gods knew who, and it was stirring his beast into a frenzy. He’s eating habits were irregular, sleep hardly came when he tried and his foul mood swings were starting to even bother him.

        “A letter from the head master came” He waved the man in, holding his hand for the white letter with round blood red seal. He’d been expecting this for a while now, an invitation to the royal affairs. A very large deal indeed seeing as how the Head Master was the top of the food chain, if you wanted anything in his realm you needed to pass his chambers first. Dean was second in command, and would soon take over the title- if all worked right. But it hadn’t….the Head Master wanted a successor to have their other half, that way they were completely whole both body and mind.

Overwhelmed with the other soul he was given Dean had shot his chances right out of the water, no sooner realizing what he had done when her smell in the area had vanished. Scouts were ordered to search ever forest hovel, every den and house within the surrounding area only to come up short. All Dean had now was the slowly fading memory of her, that rich ebony hair and stunning eyes. His fist crashed against the desk, startling his second.

“Is that all” He snapped making the mans head bobble.
        “Then leave” Hissing. Fleeing faster then a jackrabbit his door closed, leaving him once again to his thoughts. Her…..
She was beautiful, such elegance and finesse…and he’d thrown it all away. Fool.



~~~~

They played a game- Russ grumbled- twenty bloody questions, but Ember liked this game.  His answers where vague but still answers none the less, giggling at his discomfort Ember continued to annoy him with more.

        “Favorite color?” Russ sent her an annoyed look, giggling Ember poked his shoulder.
        “Green is it?”
        “Nude” He jested earning him a shove from her, chuckling Russ shook his head.
        “Are you always so dirty?” She asked laughing, Russ shrugged.
        “When I can be” Laughing with her Russ suddenly stopped grabbing her arm, it yanked her backwards.
        “Russ?”
    “I can’t go any further Ember.” Looking at his tight jaw Ember followed his gaze to the dark forest ahead, a half broken wooden sign in dried blood read ‘Quod illi qui intrant, docebit’

    “Russ what does that say?” His jaw clicked from the teeth grinding, slowly his eyes laid on hers.
    “Those who enter, die” Ember looked back at the sign, before asking her question.
    “Does this path lead to the Red Saplings?” Russ signed releasing her arm, pulling out his blade and scrapping the sheath against the steel.
    “Ember!” He dead panned, slicing a small branch off a tree just a few feet from the sign, the limb hit the ground allowing the center to ooze a red substance.
    “This is the Red Saplings”


A taste of metal hit her taste buds confirming the substance to be indeed blood, it formed a sticky pool on the fallen leaves. Blood dripped down the dark bark of that same tree, cleaning his blade off Russ slide it back to his sheath.

        “They bleed?” She asked still shocked.
        “Yes, you also kill” Ember’s head snapped to Russ, just what did he mean by they ‘Kill’
       

        “If you touch them, the tree’s themselves come to life wrapping their branches around your body. They bleed because they suck the blood from their victims bodies.” Ember swallowed the bile urging itself to pour from her throat, she didn’t think trees were capable of such distaste.

        “Why can’t you go with me?” She was starting to feel her palms sweat, every nerve was on fire.
        “Because of my blood, the master will smell me once I cross that thresh” His hand pointed to a set of trees that looked like a small arch over the path, Ember bit her lip- going alone was always the plan. But she liked Russ’s company.
        “Who is the Master?” Russ shrugged dropping to a squat, rubbing his hair with a few fingers.
        “No one but his pack knows”