Different Yet The Same

Chapter Twenty-Three

-Ember-

Blood. That's all I see, it clouds my vision, it fills my nose, I can practically taste it.

A fiery vengeance fills me, coursing through my veins like blood sparked with fury and hatred for all those who have wronged me.

"Ember!" I hear someone call out to me but I'm to consumed in my need to destroy, I drown them out with ease.

I should of known. I should have known! She is so sweet and innocent and caring. I should have seen it coming, she's so perfect, she's...an angel.

Then what am I? The opposite of that?

I'm a danger to Spark, to my mom, to everyone I love.

I punch and kick with an unknown strength. Then...my body is being burned, it feels like it is being set on fire, like I'm being burned at a stake.

I let out an inhuman roar. I look around, red clouding my vision, then I feel nothing more. My instincts take over. I lash out. Spurting fire at everything and everyone. Everyone is my enemy.

Am I a monster? Maybe, but I couldn't care less. I fight, I burn and I destroy.

I can't do this...I can't hurt people. I'll only be proving to them what a monster I am. I try my hardest and somehow tame the burning inferno inside me.

I open my eyes an am met with a horrific sight.

The whole part of the building has been torn to pieces. Walls ripped apart, ceilings crumbling down, like an avalanche threatening to burry everything beneath it.

The floor is a blaze in multiple spaces. Forming a sea of fire. Lucifer is curled in a less damaged corner of the room, whimpering softly. Coal stands at the door. Clothes burnt through. Face, arms and legs covered in burns and ash.

He looks at me, eyes sympathetic, but glazed over with a think layer of anger and hurt. He clenches and unclenches his fists a few times before, looking away from me.

"Coal..." I cough, voice hoarse, throat dry. He looks at me with hatred. Then he sees the tears I can feel running down my cheeks and his expression softens.

"Ember. Hey it's okay." He try's to calm me down, but I won't take it.

"No it's not." I cry. "It's not okay. My sister isn't even my sister. We're two different species." I growl.

"That may be true, but she's still Spark and you're still Ember." He points out. "She's still your kind, loving, gentile sister. You're still her fiery, protective, determined sister. You're still the same people. Just with different parts and pieces." He finishes tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

He pulls my face up so he can see my eyes and continues. "You're still the woman I love and treasure. You're still you, no matter your past. All that matters is who you are right now."

He sighs and leans in, pressing his lips against mine. Now, kissing someone doesn't have the stereotypical visible fire works, but it stirs a jumble of fireworks inside you, exploding millions at a time. Lighting up in an array of different colours.

My mind is still trying to process what he said but there's one thing I know I will hold onto forever...You're still the woman I love and treasure.

I love.

He loves me.

With this realization, it's exactly how it is stereotyped. You get a feeling of weightlessness, a happiness you can't deny. An urge to smile just because you can.

I pull away and wrap my arms around his neck, staring deeply into his eyes which display an undying love and affection, an admiration that he has for me, a one of a kind emotion.

He tilts his head in question and I smile biting my lip.

"I love you too." I whisper, giving him a hug, enjoying the feeling of his arms wrapped around me, of being held close.

After a few minutes. I speak up. "Coal. I think I need to visit my mom."

He looks taken back but recovers quickly. "If that's what you need to do, then do it." He says. "When will you go?"

I look back at Lucifer who is sitting on the corner rocking back and forth slowly. "I think now would be a good idea." I conclude.

"Okay." He says standing up. We slowly maneuver our way around the fire and fallen debris. Then as soon as we get to the door we sprint as fast as we can to my room.

I beat Coal with ease but don't gloat...to much.

After packing an overnight bag, Coal walks me to the door, hand in hand. "You're sure you have to go?" He asks pouting.

"Yes." I say sternly. "I have a lot of questions that I think my mom will have the answers to."

"Okay." He sighs. Then embraces me once more before I walk off towards the cliff where I first came.

"I love you!" He calls after me once I'm half way down the street, countless demons turn to stare at us but I don't care.

"I love you too!" I holler back, blowing him a kiss, and with that I'm on my way. Ready to go back...home?

Is that what I would call it? They say home is where your loved ones are. Well, my moms on Earth and as Coal told me Spark went to Heaven, and then Coal is here. So...where is my home?

Is it Hell? Heaven? Earth? Or somewhere between the three, but why place would that be?

With those troublesome thoughts, I begin my trek back to my mom, and to the answers I crave.