Tarnished Embers Book Novels & Stories

Thick curtains were draped at the windows, their once rich material now worn at the edges. His gaze swept the bookshelves, fingers running over the spines. The library was large and full of politics, history, and strategy, information that could be useful. A lesser man would have torn the shelves to pieces in his rage, but I restrained myself. There could be something I could use here. Something I could use against them. From the window, smoke poured out into the darkness, drifting up from the burning remains of Ember Fang's homes and businesses. I searched for even a glimmer of remorse in myself.

CHAPTER 158 — EMBERS OF THE FALLEN The city’s skyline burnt with a quiet, smouldering fury. Streets that had once carried laughter and life now twisted into jagged paths of blackened concrete, scarred by Bishop’s fragment-fuelled rampage. But Riven stood at the centre, crown key in hand, heart pounding, eyes scanning the horizon. He could feel every pulse of Meridian, every breath, every heartbeat vibrating through his body. The city’s consciousness was alive, but it hung on the edge of fear.

Right then, Blazewing breathed fire across the surface, and the glass shimmered instantly, clearing to reveal an image. Raven and Snowviper. Still confused, I glanced at him. He explained, "This is a treasure of the Phoenix Clan. It works kind of like your human surveillance stuff, but better. No internet or power needed." I nodded slowly, then fixed my eyes on the moving picture. Raven was draped against Snowviper, sweat pouring down her face. She whined over and over, "It's so hot—I'm dying! Snowviper, aren't you supposed to have cooling powers? Use them already!"

“Who are they?” Kael’s jaw tightened, his words looming heavy with gravity. “The ones who burn without purpose. The ones who forgot what fire is for.” With that, he turned away, gathering Ember’s belongings with swift, practiced hands, a sense of urgency imbued in his every movement. Ember’s pendant pulsed once—soft, warm, like a heartbeat reminding Isla of an inner light. It shimmered faintly in the half-light, and with an imperceptible shift in the atmosphere, the monitor beside the bed flickered, then went dark.

Zavian I was very interested in the reason why they needed me to lug this heavy fucking book. I hadn’t touched this book in years. I haven’t needed to. I personally didn’t know any of the Meridian. So, needless to say, when Emerald asked me if I have a book with all their symbols within it piqued my interest. I could see why Emerald would be interested in it, but when she said that Devon and Nate asked her to ask me about the book, I found that weird. The fact that no one outside the magic community had even heard, so when she said that, I was intrigued.

I ran towards it and stared as it glow like an ember. "This must be the ember of love!" I exclaimed. "You're right Princess," an unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke. "Who are you?" "I am the ember of love waiting to be flourished by you. When you learn how to turn that ember into a blazing flame of affection then you could easily defeat Velion," she told me. "But how?" I really have no idea on how to use that ember of love. "It's all up to you. Remember to listen to your heart and everything will go according to how destiny planned it to be." Those were the last words I heard from her before I opened my eyes to see the worried faces of my friends and aunt Athena.

I use my better judgement and hold off until I get to the casino. Forty-five minutes later I’ve checked into my room and am now getting my belongings organized for the night. I don’t plan on leaving the room, so I start the shower and turn on my portable speaker. I sit on the bathroom floor that is now covered in the extra pillows from the bed and let the sound of water and music sooth me. I let my head fall back against the wall and start trying to unravel the emotions that have me on edge. As my emotions rise, I feel my eyes start to blur from the tears that are building up inside of them. I take a deep breath to calm myself and then I open a bottle of Martini-Rossi and light a cigarette.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN – “The Kiss That Burns” The Emberfall garden lay hushed in the night, its roses glowing faintly with emberlight. Moonlight spilled in fractured streams across the stone paths, but even the pale glow of the sky seemed dull compared to the restless shimmer of the fire-roses. Their petals pulsed faintly, ember veins flickering as if they, too, were listening for something.

Wasn’t I putting my life at risk at this rate? I don’t care anymore, I just want a car to hit me and throw my body into the woods. There is nowhere else for me to go. My loved ones have left me. My life was really a mistake. My parents were right. I should never have been born. Never. I have no hope of living anymore. Everything is falling apart. What did I do to deserve this? Why is everyone abandoning me? Is my life so cruel to me because of something I did in my past life or something? Whatever I did in the past is in the past. It doesn’t have to affect me right now.