Different Yet The Same

Chapter Twenty-Eight

-Spark-

"Get up!" I hear a girl yell. I groan and pull the covers over my head. "I said...GET UP!" She bellows.

I shoot up and stare at her. She actually isn't a girl at all but a little demon.

"Now Bea!" An older demon scolds. "Behave."

"Yes Mom." She mumbles. Then hops off my bed.

"Greta! Bea! Are you behaving?" I hear a third demon yell.

"Yes Mommy!" Bea calls back at the same time Greta says. "Yes Berta!"

I giggle at the sight of them all.

"Bea..." Greta whispers. "Go get Berta then stay in the closet and pick an outfit for the pretty girl okay?"

"Yes." Bea squeaks before scurrying off. Greta stares at me wide eyed. Then Berta scuttles in and looks at me. They look at each other, then back at me.

"Oh no!" They scream in unison. "You're not Ember!"

My eyes bulge, how can they tell?!

"What are you talking about?" I say putting on my best imitation of Embers voice. "Of course it's me."

They look at me quizzically. "Oh Hun, we know that you're not Ember." Greta smirks.

I give up. "Okay fine I'm not Ember." I huff. "How could you tell?"

"Well..." Greta pipes up. "Don't take this the wrong way sweetie, but you don't carry yourself the same. You're not as confident and powerful as Ember, you're gentler."

"Also, Ember never giggles." Berta exclaims bluntly.

I nod. "You do have a point."

Greta looks at me. "So if you're not Ember, who are you?"

"Oh..." I say embarrassed. "I'm her sister Spark."

Their eyes bulge. "You're Spark? Why are you in Hell?!" They screech.

I quickly relay the events and the accidental portal switching. They asks me a few more questions, about my bloodline and how my 'adventures' have been.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Bea calls out from the closet. "I have an outfit for the pretty girl!"

"Then come show us!" Berta calls. Bea quickly scurries out of the closet a mass of fabric clung in her boney arms.

She lays it out on the bed, looking proud in her choice.

She has chosen a pair of black jean shorts with small rips on the front, accompanied by a black and white striped long sleeve shirt.

"Well..." I say admiring the outfit. "You have quite the eye for fashion." I exclaim.

"Thank you pretty girl!" Bea says, wrapping her arms around my leg in a death grip. "One day I'm going to be as pretty as you!" She says, a smile taking over her face and lighting up her eyes.

I smile down at her, at her innocence and genuine happiness. She's an innocent child, stuck in Hell.

I pick her up, carefully balancing her between my hip and my arm. "No." I say to her. "You'll be even prettier than me." She giggles at this and I look into her flame coloured eyes.

She may be a child but her eyes betray years of wisdom and patience, experiences that have shaped who she is.

"Alright." Berta says. "Off you go little one." She pushes Bea out the door with Greta.

Once they have left I turn to Berta. "How old is she?" I ask.

"Well, she should be 16 years old." I'm puzzled by this comment but can tell this topic pains Berta so I leave it alone.

"A-are you going to tell Lucifer who I really am?" I blurt out.

"What?!" She says shocked. "Of course not! We are not cruel people." She looks at me. "Although we will not tell, it won't be long until they find out. You must leave her as soon as you can!"

I nod. "I agree. I just need a portal."

"Right." Berta continues, tapping her twisted fingers on the table beside my bed. "I know! Ember and Coal are very close simply convince him to make a portal for you!" She takes a second to think and then continues. "Now don't forget. No one, and I mean no one can know who you are. As of now you are our honorary Ember until you bring her back." With that she toddles out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.

Sliding into the outfit Bea picked, I cautiously open the door. Before I'm picked up and flung over someone's shoulder.

I'm about to scream out for help but then I remember I'm supposed to be Ember. So instead I try and wiggle free with no luck.

"Haha. You'll have to try harder than that babe." I hear Coal laugh.

I can't help but smile.

"Coal! Put me down!" I bellow.

"Not a chance." He smirks.

Besides my attempts to wriggle free, and my kicks and flailing arms. Five minutes later I'm still stuck on Coals shoulder.

"Coal!" I yell frustrated beyond belief. "Put me down right now or I will rip of your-"

"Wow!" He says. "No need to be so feisty. Beside we're here." He plops me down, a satisfied grin sneaking it's way onto his face.

I grunt and spin around.

Now to say that it was beautiful would be an understatement. This place is magical. The trees surround us like a fiery wall. Their leaves dancing and swaying, alight with an inner spark. There is a blanket and picnic basket set out in the middle of it all. I take a step forward and feel something under my foot, I look down and see a path made of rose petals leading to the blanket. Completing the ensemble.

"Coal..." I gasp. "D-Did you do this?"

He nods. A genuine smile forming on his lips. He leads me over to the blanket and sits down.

He looks at me, the candle light reflecting off of his skin, bringing sparkles to his eyes.

"Ember..." He whispers looking into my eyes. "I've always known that once I found you I would spend the rest of my life with you, protecting you. I just never imagined that I..." He looks down a slight redness on his cheeks. "That I would fall in love with you."

My breath catches.

He looks back up at me. "Ember, my life has been a void, pulling in all the happiness and love. I grew up in a world of darkness. Then I met you." He smiles. "You brought a light into my life. You are such a determined, confident, powerful person. I never thought you would see me as anything more than a protector."

I stand up, tears streaming down my cheeks. He kisses my nose then continues.

"Your hair, I want to tangle my fingers in your hair. Your waist, I want to hold you close and never let go. Your lips, I want to kiss them for eternity. Your eyes, I could get lost in their emerald green colour and never want to come out. Everyday that I get to see you is a day I would fight for. I will fight for you forever. I never want to leave your side. I never want to let you go, and I never will."

He looks me again in the eyes. "Ember, I have something I've been wanting to ask you..."