From The Embers Novels & Stories

There was no mistaking the raw hatred that simmered beneath the surface, a turbulent storm of emotions that threatened to consume her. Mercedes, seemingly unaware of the burning intensity of her sister's stare, stepped further away from the campsite and into the enveloping darkness of the woods. The crackling leaves and the distant hoot of an owl were the only sounds that accompanied her departure. Esmeralda's eyes followed Mercedes until she disappeared entirely from view, swallowed by the shadows of the unforgiving wilderness. In that moment, as the flames of the campfire flickered and cast eerie, shifting shadows around her, Esmeralda's heart was a cauldron of resentment and loathing.

The Void Hunters had arrived in force, their presence turning the sky into a writhing mass of anti-light that hurt to look upon directly. The assault began, striking first at the Realm of Embers, a world where phoenix-folk had dwelt for millennia, their cities carved from crystallized flame and their culture built around eternal renewal. I watched from Hollowshade's mirror-pool, the scrying surface rippling with images of unspeakable devastation as flames that had burned for ten thousand years were swallowed whole in moments, leaving only a bleak, echoing silence that stretched across continents.

Keegan could see her hands shaking though, so he grabbed one of them and held it in his. “Absolutely. I want to know everything about you.” Rubbing his thumb across her hand. Letting the sparks between them soothe them both. His eyes conveyed his sincerity and that was what was truly hard to deny. In a rush, Ember decided to try just this once to let someone know a piece of her. Hoping she was right and could trust this feeling. “Honestly, I’m running until I can find answers as well. I don’t know what I am. I have control over heat, fire, and smoke. I am trying to find out the truth behind it all as well. I was captured when I was young. How young I’m not even sure. I don’t know if I have a

Esmeralda threw off the blazer that had been covering her head and arms, then scrambled to get off Austin to rush back into the room. Austin instantly understood what had happened while his attention was elsewhere. He gritted his teeth and held Esmeralda back by her arm. "Your parents threw out here for a reason. Why're you going back in?" "They're still there! I have to get them out!" He saw his young self in her. "They're gone! They're buried in burning rubble!" Smoke started to fill the entire floor. The fire was spreading. More ominous cracks and creaks warned everyone of the imminent danger.

“Ember, can I use a memory to spark the fire?” “I guess, but you need to learn properly.” “Great,” I said, rubbing my hands together, before flames burst out of them. Which shocks everyone. I smile at the results. “What are you thinking about?” Ember asks. “That bitch Amber from school.” The heat in my body intensifies and the flames start to get higher. “I am thinking about my mom on the day of her death.”

She couldn’t do much to help herself if she was blind. “It’s wolfsbane, since white wolves are not susceptible to silver. Obviously he knew that with being so close to the king.” Lume supplied helpfully. Ember sat up and extended her hands around her to see if she could find something of value. It seemed she was lying on a large bed, judging from the scent the place had been recently cleaned. She kept feeling around her until her hand touched a wall. She decided to follow the wall to explore her surroundings. There was no point sitting in a heap and crying right now, since she wasn’t sure what to expect. She had to gain information that could help her. Knowledge was power, as they sai

Aric's arms tightened around me as I wept, my body shaking from the force of it. Soon he released, and Ember and Elara's arms came around me. We went down on the ground and wept with our arms around each other, not caring we were in the middle of the field with half the kingdom staring. "He can't be gone," Ember kept whispering, her voice trembling. "He can't be gone." Gods, I was tired of losing people. I was sick and tired of it. My body, heart and soul were tired of it. "The fire's out," I heard somebody shout.

his words come out, calming the sea of vultures Without waiting for more questions, he guided me to the waiting car like nothing was wrong Inside, I breathe in not once. Not twice but continuously “They know everything," my voice barely above a whisper " They know what they are told,” he replied. Veronica started a fire. What better way to handle this other than making it burn brighter?” I stared at him," When…did…you… "Do you want to know the truth, Emery?" He asked suddenly I nodded, still staring at him in awe “Fire can't fight itself," he began, leaning in, his eyes serious

When Ember finally arrived, she hurriedly parked her car in-between some trees, to keep it away from sight, looking around to make sure, no one was secretly watching, she ran towards the direction of the mansion Her knees felt weak below her, as she saw, the state of her family house. The condition of it was beyond anything she could have imagined. The once-beautiful estate, with its pretty gardens and elegant architecture, was now reduced to an abandoned site, filled with ashes. Ember’s heart ached and her body whimpered, as she took in the scene, the reality of her loss hitting her like a physical blow. ~~~Ember~~~ "Ember" a voice called out, breaking me from my daze. I turned around to se

He held her tightly, shielding her from the flames as he made his way back through the inferno. Each step was a battle, the smoke choking him and the heat threatening to overwhelm him. But he pressed on, driven by the thought of saving her. “Stay with me, Calista,” he begged, his voice hoarse. “Don’t you dare give up. Don’t you dare leave me again!” The flames roared around them as if mocking his efforts. His legs burned from exertion, and his vision blurred, but he refused to stop. He burst through the door, stumbling into the cool night air. Firefighters rushed to him, spraying foam and water to keep the flames at bay.