Grimm Fantasies: Cinder Princess

Pollen

Ashley woke suddenly, her name whispered from somewhere far off. She opened her eyes. It was still dark out; a symphony of crickets sang to them and everything was covered in golden dust that shimmered in the flickering light of the crackling fire. She sat up some, she'd been using her arm to support her head after Naiya, who was pressed against Ashley's back for warmth, has stolen Ashley's pillow and was hugging it close. The young siren was also covered in the strange dust.It almost looked like,

Pollen...

Ashley blinked in confusion than turned her attention to the golden flecks on her skin. It tingled, making her skin numb. She tried to brush it off, only to have it smear across her skin, making it look like she'd just covered herself in gold leaf. The tingling intensified as the gold smear dissolved into her skin. Ashley's gut twisted up in worry, the others were on the other side of the fire, she looked up to check on them.

At first, Ashley's mind didn't understand what she saw on the other side of the camp fire. Karen's sleeping bag lay empty beside Mara's black one that cocooned her, it wasn't surprising, Karen only needs a two nights and day of sleep every month so she keeps watch all night, most nights. Ashley found herself restless some nights and had wondered if she could be the same.

Mara and Karen's sleeping bags were laid out on a thick, large blanket at Haven and Hunter's head. Ashley found Karen straddling her brother and looking at him like she was about to do something sinful. The source of the golden dust was her hair, it drifted from her flowing golden stands.

She leaned in closer to Haven.

Ashley sat up suddenly, a stuttered complaint escaped her lips, that was wrong.

Whatever it was.

Karen jerked back and looked at Ashley with black soulless orbs. Her mother's funeral popped into her mind and her chest tightened. Before Ashley could do anything else, Karen had moved. One moment she was straddling an unconscious Haven to holding a cross bow bolt to Ashley's chest. She hadn't seen the other girl make a single movement.

"How are you awake?" She glared at Ashley, pressing the tip just above her right collar bone.

"I-what?" Ashley responded. They stared at each other, Ashley had no clue what was going on. Karen pulled the bolt away and moved back.

"You're really strange." Karen said as she blinked. Her eyes returned to the vibrant sky blue Ashley was used to.

That unnerved Ashley.

"I'm not hurting him," Karen said as she slipped the bolt back into her knee-high boot. Ashley sat up as Karen moved to poke the fire. She hadn't realized it, but the gold dust was gone.

When and where did it go?

"Jace is dreaming about a siren from a past life. She was beautiful, loved like a sister...seems like no matter what life he's in, he's kind," Karen smirked as she glanced over the fire at Haven, Hunter had rolled onto his side and pulled Haven into his arms, Ashley frowned at the fairy's words, "I've been eating his dreams for a while now; they haven't seemed right these past three months. I don't think the memories belong to him, they don't feel right, everything is lined with a darkness like a nightmare but their pleasant dreams." Karen's face looked troubled as she stared into the fire.

Ashley shifted and moved closer to Karen but not before making sure Naiya was properly covered so she didn't freeze, she was cold blooded. She didn't sit close to the fire because siren's get dehydrated easily, sitting by a fire could kill Naiya so she used Ashley's body heat and chemical heat pack hand warmers to stay warm at night, she would usually have her pod to keep warms, but she was alone. Ashley had tried to get them to go to a hotel but Haven was more at peace sleeping under the stars and so they slept outside.

"These dreams are making new magic." Karen sighed, "He did this kind of thing before when he was little, but all the time. He dumped out massive amounts, enough to give anyone enough power to do almost anything they want. He's not giving off that much now because of his medicine but he's pushing out more and more as time goes on."

"...You're worried." Ashley breathed out and looked over to the boy in question.

"Magic is like water, all the magic on Earth has always been around, changing countless times from one form to the next. But Haven creates magic, powerful magic." Karen leaned in close and smirked, "It's said that only gods have the power to do that. It's why we imprisoned our gods and why I'm here with Haven now." Ashley frowned and looked at Karen.

"You're just using him?"

"Yes, but I love him and gave him my heart." Karen's eyes went distant, "If he finds out about this he will never forgive me. I've already betrayed him before."

"I won't say anything." Ashley said, the promise locked into place, like a key turning in a lock as the words left her lips. Karen nodded and smiled gratefully.

"You have my gratitude," Karen stood up, adjusting the strap on her gun holster around her waist, "Get back to sleep, I'm going to go make my rounds." Ashley looked up at her. She felt like there was more to say but no words came to mind, so she nodded and slipped back under the thick blankets with Naiya and cuddled up against her, feeling her arms and head to make sure she hadn't gotten to cold. She then pulled the blankets closer around the younger girl and settled in.

~~~~

Yet again Ashley is sworn to secrecy, but this time its voluntary at least. Though I think Ashely would keep both things to herself without the promises, she doesn't trust anyone, well maybe Naiya but that's because I'd planned for them to stay in the room with the two wolves longer, like years longer, but I'm shortening it down for now because I want to finish up and edit Little Red. Since I've got the whole of Summer to bug my sister to help me. She's really good at editing, her meticulous notes tends to help. Like I'm talking she writes text books of notes for her classes. So I figured I might get her to read Little Red and have her help me expand without so many loop holes and stuff. Plus she's better at math than me (she does long division for fun) so I'm gonna ask her to help me figure out the timeline issues and maybe she can help me figure out Angelic Villain's problem(s).