Embers of Magic

Road Trip

“The wheels on the bus goes round and round!” Eliot yelled at the top of his lungs as we drove into Detroit. Admittedly, I had planned to sneak out the night to leave on my own, but Emma had insisted on taking me as far as she could because she had to make sure I was okay, or something like that. Despite knowing it was only put their lives in danger, the company comforted me. Seeing Eliot and his mother left me hoping I'd have a second chance with my father after all of this.

A hot gust blew into the car as it suddenly rolled to a stop, bellowing and rumbling like a beast who hasn't been fed. “This happen often?” I asked Emma as I unbuckled my safety belt. “No. Not that I know of.” She sruggerd in response. I lowed my eyebrows as I stepped out of the car, inspecting the car. As I reached the back, I saw a narrow line of fuel running from under the car.

“Watch out!” Hecuba yelled as I ran towards the back door of the car, tugging it open as fast as I could and frantically began battling with Eliot's straps. “Emma, get out! Now!” I said as unbuckled him. “What's going on?” She questioned and I shook my head violently. “I'll explain later!” I bellowed as I lifted Eliot.

My heart nearly shattered as the windscreen crashed inwards with a sharp crack, followed by the whistling sound of an arrow ripping through the air and tearing into the seat next to us. I gritted my teeth as Eliot stared at it in shock. “Emma! Take him and run!” I yelled, ripping the arrow out of the seat.

The shaft of the arrow seemed pretty standard, so did the red and black fletching. The arrow head frightened me. Black steel with serrated hooks and a diamond tip. I've heard of this kind of thing before. Low grade diamonds were sometimes used on the tips of bullets, giving it the ability to tear through body armour like tissue paper. That shot was meant to kill. I peered over the seat with my eyes glimmering with aggression, staring down at the archer that readied himself for the next shot. I charged.

“Ember, summon me!” Hecuba bellowed as I continued running. I could feel the tar below the souls of my shoes heat up, temporarily sticking then dripping off like water. “Thanks, but I have some steam to get off!” I responded.

The archer took aim at me. His eyes were so focused now that nothing seemed to be able to break his concentration. The second arrow whizzed towards me, cutting through the air. I slipped sideways as the arrow grazed my check, ripping up the delicate flesh. I flinched, yet continued moving forward, sweeping my hand through the air and hurling a ball of fire towards him. He stumbled in shock, nearly dropping his bow. I gripped tighter onto the arrow as I rushed towards him, lunging as soon as got close enough.

I flew through the air, pressing both my knees into his chest as I stabbed the arrow in between his shoulder blades, earning a sickening cry as his back hit the ground. The blood that seeped out of his shoulder began to sizzle and boil, giving off a sharp coppery scent. “Did Zahir send you?” I yelled as steam began curling off the edges of the arrow. He yelled even louder as he tried pushing me off.

“Answer me!” I yelled. I could feel the arrow heating even further now, glowing in an ominous red hue. “Ember, behind you.” Hecuba warned and I turned around, letting go of the arrow. I swept my hand across the ground as a wall of fire trailed behind it, engulfing the girl that charged towards me. “Rebecca!” The archer yelled in concern. His voice still bled with pain.

“Tell me, or she dies!” I yelled again.

“No!” He bellowed. “We not!”

“Then why try and kill me?” I asked as I allowed the fire around Rebecca settle down, focusing again on the shaft of the arrow, heating it up. “Why attack me if you're not with him?”

“Because, he needs you! Therefore we're better off if you're dead!” He yelled. “You son of a... ” I responded, grabbing the shaft again, yanking it out, allowing the serrated edges to rip through his flesh. “Just go!” I yelled as I looked towards Emma, seeing the fire.

The book stood up, trying his best to fight through the pain before limping towards Rebecca who passed out because of the heat. These two weren't fighters, even though the attacked me. My heart sank as I realized what I did. “Why are you wearing Zahir's uniform?” I asked as my eyes lowered. The boy kneeled down next to Rebecca as he checked her temperature.

“We have no choice.” He spoke. “But, I have no reason to explain that to you. You're just a monster.” He wasn't wrong. I nearly killed both of them without a second thought.

“Fair enough.” I said as I kneeled down next to Rebecca. I placed my hand onto her check, testing her temperature. “Take your hands off her!” He yelled. “Shut up.”

I could feel her temperature soaring the same way that I could feel the fire back in Gelida. I closed my eyes, breathing inwards as I drew her heat back up through my fingers. I exhaled. “Rebecca, right? Can you hear me?” I whispered as she began peering her eyes open. She looked at me and nodded before her eyes fell onto the boys shoulder. She hopped up instantly, forcing him onto his back before holding her hands over his shoulder. A bright glow lit up between her fingers. The burn marks around the wound began fading, closing the wound itself eventually.

“You're a healer.” I said as I got up. “You two should leave. Or, I will kill you.” I spoke harshly as the two let their gaze drop. “We can't... ”

“Why in Hades not?”

“You spared our lives. We're in your debt.” Rebecca responded as she continued to heal the boy. “You could have killed my brother and I, but you didn't. Perhaps, you're not the monster we thought you were... ”

“So you expect me to save humanity now, don't you?” I asked, coldly. “I have to close the pithos and defeat Zahir like the hero in some lame book. Listen here, I'm not a hero. I'm humanities worst enemy.” I said as I walked towards Emma and Eliot.

“Take Eliot and get away from here. Stay away from Arizona.”