Collection

Ember

It was 36 degrees out, and yet I was sweating under my light sweater. Her fire-red waves swayed in the wind. Her brows furrowed to show her focus on the sight of the pistol aimed between my eyes. Her wavering determination was evident by her shaking grip. Her breath was ragged and heavy, and came out in puffs of white steam.

"Baby.... Baby, please, it doesn't have to be like this," I pleaded.

"No! I'm through with this bullshit! " She snapped. She choked her words through sobs, her emerald eyes burning with the desire within that no amount of tears were able to put out. "It ends, now, Michael! It. Ends. Now." She steadied her grip on the pistol's handle.

She turned her gaze to the horizon, the pistol still aimed at me, watching as the moon finally peeked over the sea. She turned her attention back to me with a crooked smile.

"My 16 years of humanity are over. My powers will be returning shortly, and I will repay you for taking advantage of my powerlessness for years!" she screamed the last word, and I jumped with fright.

"Heather, please, baby..." My voice was a whisper now. Her eyes glowed with the fire finally surfacing. Her tears dried up suddenly and her face straitened to a cold, hard expression. Slowly, and then all at once, her hair rose up around her head, crackling and whipping with flames.

"Heather..." My voice barely sounded. Flames burst from every pore of her body, yet she was unburned.

Her voice boomed so loud it rang my ears. "I'm through with you, Michael. You will be-little me no more. I am not your slave. I am not your equal. Compared to you, I am a god." She raised her arms and she rose off of the ground, her feet pointed downward as the flames lifted her. The bright blue flames licked away the ruby red dress she wore, leaving her body bare and exposed, the ashes of the dress falling to the ground. She released the pistol, which clattered against the pavement. "I have no need of your puny weapons anymore."

"Heather-"

"No..." She smiled her small crooked smile, "Tsk, tsk, tsk..." she shook her head slowly, taunting me. " Heather was the Human... No, sweetheart, I'm not human anymore. I'm back to my full, former, fiery... glory." She spoke slowly, "My real name... Is Ember. And you," She pointed at me, "are soon to be nothing."

Then everything happened so quickly; I dove for the pistol and scrambled for the handle. I jumped to my feet and aimed at her head. She smiled again and opened her raised hand, facing her palm at my face. She let out one small chuckle. The last things I remember were a river of red-hot fire billowing towards my wide eyes, and the smell of cooking meat as the I was engulfed in flames.