Embers of Magic

I Drool In My Sleep, Apparently.

“You drool when you sleep.” The kid teased as I woke up, feeling stiff all over. I peeled eyes open, gripping onto the warm blankets tightly. “Where am I?” I asked the kid, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

“My name is Eliot. Mommy found you sleeping outside.” He said as he tilted his head. “Your hair is on fire. Doesn't it burn?” He asked while checking if it was warm, poking the red.

“Just a little.” I responded with a slight smile as I stood up, trying to make my way to the door as Eliot sat on the bead, staring at me. I slipped through the doorway while holding onto the walls got support. My legs felt like Jell-O – my arms even worst – and my head still felt as if it was stuffed with cotton. My split lip made it slightly harder to open my mouth but that pain I could manage. The constant throbbing pain through my shoulder and side was what crippled me.

I grabbed onto the railing of the stairs and tried climbing downwards. I could hear the verse of isn't she precious playing softly in the background and smelt the cinnamon pancakes from the kitchen.

“Oh, you're awake.” A woman said as she walked towards me, holding her swollen stomach. She held her hand out to me, helping me down the last few steps. “What happened?” I asked.

“My husband and I went to the store when we found you collapsed outside the bathroom near by.” She said while stroking her hand through my hair. I was tempted to pull away but her touch felt warm, familiar and motherly. “My name is Emma, by the way. May I know yours?”

I looked down. “It's Em – I, I mean Ruby...” She smiled gently as she led me towards the kitchen table. “When was the last time you had a decent meal?” She asked, sitting me down. I shrugged as she placed a plate in front of me with a glass of orange juice. “Do you know what happened to you last night?”

I shook my head. “I've been losing  hours.” I confided in her without thinking about the consequences. It was true, though. Throughout the time I had been missing, there had been hours that's slipped by. Times where I just became so automated that every action I made was on autopilot – as if I were doing trivial tasks such as brushing your teeth.

“Poor child. You must be exhausted.” I nodded as I stared down at my plate, pushing bits of pancakes around with my fork. She smiled again as she placed her hand on my shoulder, exactly like Zahir did. I pulled away. “Stop! Stop! I'm not like you!” I yelled as I pushed myself off the chair, holding my ears closed and shutting my eyes. My back hit the wall as I slid down. I opened my eyes again, not seeing the kitchen I was sitting in a few moments but my room at my old home.

The walls quivered as a black figure started seeping through the wall, eventually taking the shape of an empousa – her hair dancing in flames as he single bronze leg glimmered.

“Get out of my head! Get out!” I kept yelling as I began clawing at the floor, pressing my back into the wall, trying to get away. I knew this wasn't real, it couldn't be. But, I was so afraid, exhausted and so broken that it made no difference whether it was real, or not.

“There there, child. It's alright.” She comforted me, weaving her fingers in between mine. I shut my eyes before opening them again, focusing on her touch. I settled down before looking down and hugging my knees.

“Are you alright?”

I shook my head as I leaned my head onto to her. “I'm sorry.”

“What's wrong?” She asked. I couldn't answer her, however. Even it I did, there would be no way she'd believe any of it. Not that the gods were real. Not that I was the girl who opened Pandora's box. None of it. Tears started rolling down my face as she placed her hand behind my head, hugging me. I felt more valuable now then ever before.

“I see. Well, whatever it is, you're safe now.”

“Safe. I... ” I stuttered. The song on the radio switched as the next segment began, news segment. Emma's head turned towards it as it spoke of arson attacks in Arizona.

“That's the sixth one this week... ”

“Arson? What's been going on?” I asked, trying to brush my tears away as Eliot walked down the stairs. Emma stood up and switched the radio off, noticing my agitation.

“Please. I need to know.”

She sighed. “A while back, Arizona began experiencing a bunch of random arson attacks. Random houses. Buildings. Stores.”

“How long has it been going on?” I snickered, still trying to clear the tears from my face as Eliot hopped into my arms. I ran my fingers through his hair as he reached out to his mother's belly.

“Good morning, little brother!” He yelled as his mother giggled. I stared at her as she looked pensive, trying to remember the answer to my question.

“Let's see now... About a week and half, maybe? Maybe a little more then that.” I looked down, remembering Zahir's words about a week and a half ago. Arizona was where my grandparents lived. He was smoking me out by getting to them.

“How far is he going to go... ” I whispered to myself as Emma stared at me, confused. “Do you know anything about these fires, my dear?” I nodded.

“I need to go to Arizona.”