Chasing Embers | 1

12 | R a g a n

Again, please note the new character pov change. Thanks for reading!

— 

I paced the floor, thousands of thoughts flooding my brain. Ember and Hunter had gone out to lunch, leaving me to think about what had just happened. Ember had been a Zian. We had discovered that, but it didn't make sense with what Hunter claimed. I wanted her to try again for her sake. I had no idea that she could have possibly discovered another power. Yet, it made sense. Ember had been with Waverly and saw what she could do. That was one of the qualities of being from House Valarious. One had to see to mimic. Ember had also seen me use my power, allowing her to shake the building when she became upset.

Still, it couldn't be possible. Lord Hatis had killed off every Valarious. At least that was what we were told to believe. Although I knew it wasn't true, I didn't expect to ever see one again. I came to the conclusion that she needed to be protected. If people knew she existed, they might come after her. I thought of someone in particular but immediately shoved him out of my mind. I never wanted to see him again. He was the author of my pain and my ruin.

I knew Ember had to stay here. She would be safer with me, as long as she kept low. I would help her learn other powers, make her stronger. I saw hope in her. Hope for Auchterton. But then I thought about her emotions. I would have to be careful. Fear could easily overtake her. I could see it, her delicate feather of energy against the brutal winds of fear. Then again, her fear made her powerful. Training Ember would be difficult, but in the end, I knew it would be worth it. Her training would have to be different from how I had ever trained anyone else.

Something else kept bothering me, though. There was something strange going on in Auchterton, something big. Maddox had gone quiet. His rule seemed to hang in the air, everything still. The large screens that ran the daily news and announcements kept going on repeat. Production in the capitol seemed to slow, according to Hunter. Sightings of demons seemed to occur more. Something big was coming. It made my head hurt trying to comprehend what was brewing. Only the gods knew, or did they?

I thought about what happened to House Valarious. Did the gods anticipate that? Were they allowing us to be tortured? Did they even care? I became angry at the gods for everything they had done to me. They had ripped my family apart, killed my mother. They had thrown war and death upon us. I was living in poverty in a world that should've been thriving.

I thought about the rebellion. Those who participated despised Maddox and his rule. I felt they sensed something greater, too. The rebels were growing, not just in size, but in power. I had been asked to join a while back, but I chose to stay out of the fight until necessary. I knew what would eventually unfold. If I joined the rebellion, there would be an uproar in the capitol. A civil war would break out. I would wait for the right time to get my revenge on those who ruined me. The rebels told me they were my friends, that I was always welcome. Eventually, I would join. When I joined, it would not be for a better rule. When I joined, I would kill the ones who made me what I am.

The windows around me shattered, reflecting my burning anger. Glass fell to the floor in pieces so small I knew they couldn't be fixed. The small shards cut my skin, blood slowly rising. It was not the first or last time my anger would destroy.

When Hunter and Ember came back, I was sitting in the middle of the room, the shattered glass surrounding me. My hair was sweaty and matted, pieces of glass tangled in it, and my hands were bloody. I didn't look at the pair as they entered silently. When I stood, the walls around us shuttered.

"We start your training tomorrow. I'm going to go make preparations. Don't follow me. Two googly eyed lovers don't belong where I'm going." And with that, I brushed past them and out of my home, glass falling off my shoulders.

—

The bar was dark inside. Only a few dull lanterns hung on the walls, the only light source. The space was packed with drunken people that yelled as they talked. There was a dingy, alcoholic smell to the bar, and I wrinkled my nose. As I shoved my way through the crowd of people, I saw the man I was looking for. Dante Arser sat at a table in the back alone, a hood pulled up around his face. I identified him by the long, gory scars that stretched up his bare arms. He held a bottle of crockery, one of Auchterton's strongest liquors. His day must have been hell. I braced myself for his drunkenness and sat in the chair across him.

He grumbled when he saw me, lifting his hooded head. "What does the little lady want this time? Have you come back to take my money again? 'Cause you won't get it without a fight."

I leaned back, seeing the raging fire in his eyes. "You're going to do me a favor, Dante." I couldn't express my need for him. It would give him power over me.

Dante pulled his hood back, exposing one of his other large scars that ran over one of his fiery eyes. He took a swig of his drink before giving a low chuckle. "And why would I do that, little ducky?"

I smirked at the nickname. "This one is a game changer, Dante."

He rubbed his scruff, interested. "How so?"

I struggled to form the right words. "I can't tell you. Not quite yet. I can't risk you and your drunken babble mouth. But I will say this: she is special, nothing like I've ever seen."

Dante frowned. "I'm not getting into trouble again because you think someone's special. You're going to have to give me more than that, ducky."

I leaned toward him. "I've been told she received a message from the Goddess of Mimicking."

Dante laughed loudly, maybe a little too loud. Heads turned our way. The liquor was getting to him. "And who told you that crap?" He cackled.

I lifted my chin. "An eyewitness. She is going to be a weapon against the government, Dante. I've seen her. She will be powerful. She can change our world, but only with your help. The fire is her fuel, I know it already. She will need it before anything else. She is more than you think."

He scratched his chin, an eyebrow quirked. I could see him considering. "You're in over your head, girl," he finally decided. Dante's bottle was empty. I was out of time. He stood.

I wasn't going to let him get away. Grabbing his arm, I twisted and pushed the side of his head down on the table. More people glanced in our direction. I leaned towards his ear. "If she succeeds," I whispered, "you'll be a hero."

He grunted, bringing his free arm towards my gut. Pain seared my core but I fought back, kicking his knee. He punched me again. I was going to have to use a different tactic, meaning I might have ended up going home with third degree burns.

I focused on the pulse of his wrist beneath my fingers. Slowly, I pulled, making his heart crack ever so slightly. He screamed. By now, everyone was silent and looking.

"I'll keep going, Dante. If you try to burn me, I'll end your life right here," I threatened.

With a red face, eyes squeezed tight, he gave in. "Alright, alright I'll do it," Dante forced out.

I released my hold on all of him, stepping back. He collapsed on top of the table, wheezing. Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I gave a satisfied smirk. "My place, tomorrow at noon. You know where it is. Don't be late."

With that, I turned and walked out, everyone watching as I left.

—

Dante did not disappoint. He swept aside the rags that made up my door and strolled into the room only minutes before expected the next day. He seemed to be in a better mood, and sober, due to his change in posture and lack of a frown.

Ember and I had been sparring when he waltzed in, and I think he took her by surprise because I ended up nailing her in the jaw. Her attention had shifted to Dante, which didn't shock me. Dante had the figure of a giant. He was very tall, with broad shoulders and large biceps that he showed off with a black leather vest.

I patted Ember's jaw where I hit her, giving a smirk. She narrowed her eyes at me. I motioned to Dante, who was leaning against the wall. "Ember, this is Dante. You're going to train with him today."

She looked worried. "Hi," was all she said. Dante raised a hand in welcome. Oh boy. I walked over to stand next to Hunter, who seemed to take a liking to my old table. He tilted his head at me like a small puppy, eyes curious.

I leaned toward his side. "This'll be interesting."

He leaned back, looking straight ahead as Ember and Dante exchanged words. "How did you get him to agree to this?"

I shrugged, smirking. "A little bribery. A little violence."

Hunter turned his head, raising his eyebrow. "Spare me the details. You're incredulous, you know?"

My smile grew. "Yeah, I know."

We watched as Dante opened his palm, revealing a small flame that grew from his hand. When he turned his hand over, the fire moved with him. Dante closed his hand in a fist, walking over to stand behind Ember. He seemed to be moving along quickly, but I knew this was just the start.

"Feel the air around you, harness it. It is yours to control. Do you feel it?" Ember scrunched her brow, trying to focus.

"Feel the energy in the air. Wrap it up in a ball in your mind. Bottle it up tight. That ball of energy should rest on your palm. Feel it, Ember. Feel the power, the strength within you. Use it on that ball. Release your own energy. Think fire, Ember. Think fire." I heard the passion in Dante's words. He loved the fire.

She nodded, closing her eyes. I could see Dante nodding behind her as if he could see the energy. Ember moved her hands, forming a circle.

Hunter leaned toward me again. "Do you think it's working?"

I quickly shushed him, moving my attention back towards the two in the middle of the room.

When Ember opened her eyes, all that came up were sparks. As soon as they appeared, they were gone. But sparks were a start, and they always led to a flame.