Embers of Magic

She's Not Crazy. Everything Else Is.

By the time we reached Josh Ryker’s house, I could feel the girls fever raising. The burn marks on her arm seemed even worse now that she was even more exhausted then before. I limped over the door and knocked as hard as I could, trying to yell out his name before I collapsed against the frame in exhaustion.

Josh quickly answered, first taken back by shock but eventually gathered himself and slipped out arms over his shoulders. I pulled away after we made our way inside and dropped onto my knees. “Josh. Help her. Please.” He nodded as he moved towards the kitchen table, sliding his hand across the surface clearing it out as everything hit the ground with a thump. He set her down and rushed to one of the cupboards.

Josh wasn’t a doctor or anything, but he knew his way around patching people up. He works as a life guard from time to time and tends to take his job seriously. People love him for that. They could depend on him. He was the only I could trust now. I got up and limped towards the two slowly as my vision blurred out.

“Ember. If you want me to help her, please sit down and rest. I need to focus.” His words were filled concern but the cut through me. She was the one to drag me out of that museum, throwing herself into danger to protect me, yet I caused her this pain. And now, Josh was the one to help her, not me. I felt useless, yet sat down, understanding what he meant.

He rushed to get the bandages as he cut her shirt off away from the burns – he momentarily took a step back. At first, I thought it was because of the severity of the burn but then saw his reason for surprise. Her torso and arms were covered in scars, some more fresh then others and some at least a few years old. I teared up looking at her like this, imagining what her life must have been like. My thoughts quickly interrupted as her scream shattered the silence in the room – Josh stood flinching over her with his hand, covered in a gel, against her wound.

“Josh, you’re hurting her… “

“Ember, it’s okay… “ she whispered through the pain, clenching her teeth together. Josh knew what he was doing. I shouldn’t question him. I sat back down in the chair, not realizing I stood up. I continued to watch as Josh continued to patch her up. When he finished, he turned to me, checking for any burns. Of course, there was none. It was as if the fire hadn’t touched me – yet, I felt as if I ran two marathons.

The girl twisted off the table so that her feet hung over the edge as she sat up. Her scars trailed across her like shooting stars, slowly fading into the sky. Josh threw his jacket over her shoulders to cover her before he suggested we both rest. The girl nodded. “Their magic is less powerful during the day.”

“Magic?” Josh questioned, no doubt looking of she injured her head. If I hadn’t seen what happened yesterday. We filled him in on everything, from when I reached the museum and reunited with Felix and everything else that happened until we reached his door. Josh became dangerously quiet from the beginning, absorbing everything until he eventually stood up and walked across the room, picking up an old phone of himself and his brother. Back then, the two looked exactly the same. Same happiness in their eyes, same everything. Now, looking at them, it was hard to tell that they were brothers apart from their physical features.

Josh was bigger built, his skin slightly more tanned from the countless days on the beach and surfing, his hair slightly lighter. Yet, none of which were really as noticeable as their eyes. They had been exactly the same shade, yet Josh’s seemed warmer and more welcoming. Felix’s were gripped by anger, sorrow and loneliness that I could never comprehend.

“You say you saw him.” He spoke, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“Yeah.”

“Felix has been missing for two months. He left stating that he was tired of being weak.”

The statement sent a chill through me. It was because of Felix’s words that the Pithos had such a strong grip over me. Could it be that he wanted this all along? That he sought to control the power sealed away in it? No, it can’t be. I brushed the thought aside as I saw the girls gaze fall on me. She noticed something was wrong, yet didn’t bring it up.

“I never caught your name.” I spoke to her.

“I don’t see how my name is important.” She stated coldly.

“I’d like to know the name of my friend. So, please tell me.” I responded as her eyebrows momentarily shot up and her gaze dropped to her combat boots. “Zarah Alzil.” She answered.
Josh nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. The name is Josh. Mother was a huge Josh Groban fan.”

“Who?”

I laughed a bit at the scene before getting up to make myself coffee. I never like the stuff but I needed to wake up and fast. If Zarah was right about their magic being weaker during the day, it seemed safer to rest during the day and stay moving during the night. We also needed to leave his house before nightfall. I wasn’t about to drag someone else into this world.

“Zarah, how do you feel?” I asked as I continued to brew a strong cup of coffee.

“I’m feeling better, my liege. I’m sorry to have caused you trouble.”

“You don’t need to call me that. Also, I’m the one that should be apologising to you. I’ve put you in harms way more time’s then I can count in one night. What’s worst, I did this to you.” I said is I pointed towards her arm.

“It’s my purpose to protect you.”

“Then, let me return the favour. Let me protect you, too.” I said. After seeing her scars, I wasn’t prepared to throw her into danger any further. I was determined to make sure she no longer needed to feel that kind of pain. She hesitated, but eventually nodded in agreement.

“We should rest.” Josh stated. Zarah and I both stared him confused before he continued. “I’m going to bring my brother back.”