Hidden Embers

by Amanda Perry

  A quick glance at the clock on my bedside table shows it’s already five in the morning. There’s no point in trying to sleep now. I pull myself from bed and grab my clothes for a shower. Cassie insisted on packing for me, and I didn’t mind giving her a little bit of happiness. She may have gone overboard with three suitcases, but we’re taking an SUV and a truck. Dad said it should all fit.

  After having a long shower, I dry my hair and dress for the day. Cassie picked out a pair of comfortable jean shorts and a plain v-neck gray top for me. With a yawn, I head down to the backyard for more practice.

  No one knows what the council will make me do for the test. They don’t ask a lot from anyone for the testing. They only want to see that the Elemental has learned the basics. Any other advancement comes with time and practice.

  Normally for Fire, they simply pull the heat from the room and catch a small item on fire, then put it out. For Water, they require transferring water from one source to another. For Air, they ask for a noticeable gust of wind. When they test Earth, they want a seed sprouting. These are the normal tests, but it could be completely different for me, though.

  I don’t know how long I’m out back, sprouting seeds, causing gusts of wind, singing the edges of paper, and pulling small amounts of water out of the pool. Before I know it, Leanne calls me in for breakfast. After we all eat and chat about the trip and the number of stops we should make, I help Cassie clean up the dishes.

  “Okay, kiddo.” Dad claps his hands together to get my attention. “Time for one more round before we head out. Jaxon and Caleb will be loading the cars while we make sure you’ve perfected everything.”

  I nod and follow him outside.

  First, he directs me to focus on a branch on one of the trees in the backyard and have it grow longer. After I accomplish that, he breaks the branch off. Handing it to me, he has me make a small ember on the stick by the pool in the backyard. Then, I use a tiny gust of wind to turn the ember into an actual fire on the stick. He tells me to use water to extinguish the fire before it burns the stick completely.

  I’m panting by the time I’m done. The tasks took a lot out of me.

  “Hey, kiddo,” Dad calls, rushing over to me as I lean down with my hands on my knees trying to stop the world from spinning. “What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

  “Yeah.” I gasp out. “I’m just a bit out of breath.”

  “Did it really take such a big amount of energy out of you?” he asks, with concern.

  “Uh,” I start to answer, but I’m interrupted by Caleb’s voice shouting my name.

  Before I even raise my head he’s right in front of me. “Baby! What is it? What happened?”

  “Nothing, Caleb.” I stand straight, though still panting, and grin at him. “I’m just tired and a little winded.”

  “Why are you so tired? We all went to bed early last night. Did you have another nightmare?” he asks, putting his hands gently on my shoulders.

  “No, I didn’t have another nightmare. I just couldn’t sleep, that’s all,” I admit sheepishly.

  “Baby, why didn’t you wake me?” He looks hurt, but I don’t understand why.

  “Because I didn’t want to bother you. You looked tired last night, and I don’t want to be a burden.”

  “Ah, shit.” He lets out a frustrated sigh, pushing his hands through his hair. “Baby, I promise you’re never a burden on me or anyone else. The only reason I didn’t put up a fight about you going back to your own room without me was because I thought you’d want a bit of alone time. I don’t want to overwhelm you, baby. This is a lot of crazy shit to take in, and I wanted you to have time to process it all. If I could, I would buy us an apartment and move you in with me tomorrow, but I have a feeling that’s a bit fast for you.”

  “And for me,” Dad grunts and turns toward the house.

  I snicker and put my arms around Caleb’s waist, pulling him toward me. I’m not sure what gives me the courage to be so forward with him, but I need to be touching him right now. “I think moving in together right now may be a bit much, but I would really like to share a room. It appears I have issues sleeping without you.”

  “Your wish is my command.” He winks down at me, causing a blush to stain my cheeks. I notice his eyes darkening again, and I have the sudden urge to kiss him. I think maybe he wants me to kiss him, too, because I feel him lean down slightly.

  “Guys, let’s go! We have a schedule to keep.” Cassie’s voice breaks the spell, and we reluctantly pull apart.

  I sigh and mumble, “I love Cassie like a sister, but I sort of want to push her in the pool right now.” I hadn’t meant for him to hear, but Caleb obviously did because he coughs, trying to mask his amusement.

  When we make our way to the driveway, three new cars sit outside the garage.

  “Whose cars are those?” I ask Caleb.

  “The black Ford is mine, the white Maserati is Jaxon and Cassie’s, and the blue Lexus is your dad and Leanne’s. The red BMW you’ve seen is kind of the family car. We all use it when we need it, even my parents when they’re here. I guess you’d never notice the others because we only use them for trips like this or when we live in our apartments,” he explains all of this while helping Jaxon finish loading the suitcases into the truck Caleb claimed as his and the Lexus he said is Dad and Leanne’s.

  His black truck has a cover on the bed for the trip. We stuff it full and lock it up. Dad and Leanne’s trunk is also stuffed full with the rest of the things we need on the trip up to Sacramento.

  Once the vehicles are loaded with the last of the luggage, Jaxon and Caleb close the garage doors.

  I notice a sleek black and chrome motorcycle in the corner of the garage just before the last garage door gets closed. “Whose motorcycle?”

  “That, my beautiful girl, is my Harley Davidson Street 500.” He grins down at me. “Isn’t she pretty?”

  “She?” I try to hide my laughter, but fail miserably.

  “Yes, smart ass.” He puts his arm around my shoulders. “I don’t have a name for her yet, though.”

  “How about Bertha?” I suggest with a straight face.

  “You think you’re hilarious, don’t you?” He mock-glares at me.

  “Maybe.” I shrug and turn toward his truck. I only take about two steps before he grabs me from behind and lifts me off the ground, causing me to let out a high-pitched squeal. “Caleb! Put me down!”

  “I don’t think I will.” He shakes his head, gripping me tighter. “I think I’ll carry you to Sacramento.”

  He marches down the driveway with me in his arms, shouting and wiggling the whole time.

  “As adorable as this little scene is, we have to get going,” Cassie, once again, interrupts Caleb and me.

  “Pool,” I whisper, causing Caleb to burst out laughing as he carries me to the truck. He puts me in the passenger side before he hops into the driver’s seat.

  “I would love to see you toss Cassie in the pool, but I don’t think we have time for that if we want to stay on schedule, baby.” He winks and grabs my hand. “Let’s roll.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The first two hours of the drive are uneventful with me sleeping for most of it at Caleb’s insistence. Caleb only wakes me to tell me we need to make a stop to top off on gas and stretch a bit. Once the tanks are full and everyone stocks up on snacks and drinks, we hit the road again.

  “Want to play twenty questions?” Caleb suggests as we pull onto the freeway.

  I eye him suspiciously. “How does that work?”

  He grins. “It’s nothing bad, babe. We just ask each other a bunch of questions.”

  Shrugging, I agree to play. “Sounds fun.”

  For the next three hours. I learn his favorite color is black, he likes country music and classic rock equally, he hates rap and hip-hop, his favorite season is summer because he gets to make the bonfires at the beach, and he loves Stephen King.

  “For the record, I love the Beastie Boys, but t
hey don’t qualify as hip-hop in my book,” he insists. “Plus, there was that kick-ass scene in Star Trek with their song Sabotage.”

  “Star Trek?” I giggle, shaking my head in disbelief.

  He sends me a playful glare. “No laughing, it’s a good movie.”

  “You like Sci-Fi movies?” I continue with our question game.

  He nods. “It’s my dirty little secret. I’m a sci-fi geek.”

  When it’s his turn to ask questions, he learns my favorite color is bright blue, my least favorite food is top ramen—for obvious reasons— I share his love of country music, and I’ll read just about anything I get my hands on.

  “Would you read Stephen King?” he asks enthusiastically.

  Giving him a wide grin, I nod. “Sure, I’d read it. I can’t promise I wouldn’t get scared, though. Scary books and movies are fun until it’s night time and the lights are out.”

  “I’ll protect you, baby.” He winks.

  Blushing, I switch the subject by turning the radio and searching for the local country station. By the time we make it to our next stop, we’re singing loudly along to Kenny Chesney.

  Once we make it to Modesto, we grab some lunch at a burger place off the freeway. We all sit around, talking, eating, and enjoying each other’s company. It mirrors such a normal family trip, and I love it. As a kid, I would notice families appreciating their time together. The parents would be hugging their children and chatting happily with them. Even now, I see families enjoying each other’s company. It’s awesome to finally be part of one of those families.

  After we eat and clean up, we head for the cars again.

  I turn to Caleb. “I’ll meet you at the car. I need to run to the bathroom.”

  “I’ll go with you,” he offers.

  I wave him off. “I don’t think management would appreciate you hanging out in the girls’ bathroom.”

  Nodding, he continues on to the car while I use the restroom.

  As I come back out, something slams into my side. It surprises me so much, I cash into the wall and need a second to catch my breath.

  “Grab her, dumb ass!” a male voice hisses from behind me.

  Someone grabs me from behind and pins my arms, making any kind of movement nearly impossible. It only takes a second to realize what’s going on, and I try to scream as loud as my voice will allow.

  I only manage a high-pitched squeak before someone clamps their hand over my mouth and nose, cutting off my air supply. I panic, trying to kick at whoever it is holding me. I’ve never been in a situation where I felt I should fight back, but I’ve watched Caleb and Jaxon play fighting once or twice.

  Jaxon has been trying to teach me hand-to-hand self-defense, but none of it stuck with me. I try and remember what I’ve been taught and thrust my elbow backward as best I’m able to with my arms pinned. I hit something soft and hear a muted grunt.

  “Hold her still! If we don’t get her to Samael in one piece we’re screwed!” a second male voice yells behind me. “Come on, the back door is this way. We can sneak her through there to the van.”

  Great, there are two men trying to kidnap me and take me to my stepfather. How did they even find me? What does Samael want with me?

  My panic rises as my air supply quickly runs out, causing my lungs to burn painfully. I try to thrash and break away, but the man holding me is twice my size and impossibly stronger.

  Black dots appear around the edges of my vision as multiple voices shout from the end of the hallway.

  Maybe someone noticed the crazy people trying to drag me away! I think, just before everything goes black.

  ~

  “Baby, please, open your eyes,” Caleb’s strained voice breaks through the fog of my mind. His tone sounds broken, and my chest tightens. “Mark, make her wake up.”

  “She’ll be fine, Caleb,” Dad’s soft voice comes from someplace above my head. “You know Leanne used to be a nurse. She checked her out, and she’s fine, she just blacked out.”

  “Baby girl,” Caleb whispers in my ear. “Let me see those pretty eyes. I need you to open your eyes for me.”

  Finally, I break through the sleepiness and crack my eyes open. “Ow,” I groan as the fading sunlight hits my eyes, making a horrid headache known.

  “Oh, thank God,” Caleb breaths out, and I’m suddenly pulled into his warm embrace. “You scared the absolute fuck out of me, baby girl. You are never allowed to pee alone again.”

  A few chuckles come from around us as I try to open my eyes again. The light doesn’t hurt my head as bad this time, and I’m able to tell I’m lying in the back of Dad’s car. My head must have been on Caleb’s thighs before he picked me up. Now, I sit sideways on his lap, and he wraps both arms around me and buries his face in my hair.

  “What happened?” I bury my face in Caleb’s chest, wanting to go back to sleep.

  “You almost got kidnapped by a few Fallen assholes,” Jaxon growls from his spot beside the car.

  As soon as he says this, the memory of the two men in the hallway comes rushing back, and I stiffen involuntarily. Caleb’s arms tighten around me, and he rubs a soothing hand up and down my back, trying to calm me. “They’re gone, baby. You’re safe.”

  “What happened to them?” I whisper softly, though I know at least Caleb heard me.

  “My guess,” Cassie chimes in with a wicked grin on her face. “Their ashes are being swept up as we speak.”

  “They’re… de-dead?” I turn and gape at all of them with wide eyes.

  “Sis, they would’ve killed you or us if we’d let them live. You have to remember those guys had no souls,” Jaxon reminds me sympathetically. “If they ran, they would’ve just told whoever sent them where you are and the protection you have.”

  “It was Samael. I heard them say they were going to bring me to him. I don’t understand how he was able to send the Fallen after me? Is he an Elemental, too?” I’m so confused, and my head feels fuzzy.

  “That explains a lot,” Dad grumbles quietly, lost in thought. “If he’s sending the Fallen after you, he may be one himself. We’ll bring it up to the council. We should get going though. We’ve already caused a small scene carrying an unconscious girl from the bathroom area. We don’t need anyone calling the cops and complicating things.”

  Everyone nods their agreement, and we head to our cars. Dad hands me a pill bottle as he passes by and after reading the label I realize he remembered my migraine pills. The pain already started to dissipate, so I put the bottle in my purse and wait it out for a few more minutes.

  Before he can make it far, I hurry up to my dad and hug him. “Thank you for remembering those.”

  He hugs me back, but doesn’t respond.

  A quick look at him shows his eyes shining and I realize something I said or did must have gotten to him. “I’ll see you at the next stop, Dad.”

  I know my dad wouldn’t want me to mention him getting choked up, so I pretend I don’t notice. Letting go, I spin around and head back to Caleb’s truck.

  Jaxon turns to me just before getting in the other car and calls out, “Oh, Sis! We’ll be talking about why you froze up and didn’t use your hand-to-hand training to fight those pricks.”

  Uh oh.

  ~

  As we continue our drive, Caleb keeps sending glances my way, and it makes me nervous.

  “Are you okay?” I finally ask when I can’t take it anymore.

  He barks out a humorless laugh and gawks at me. “You’re seriously asking me if I’m okay when you’re the one who was almost kidnapped and possibly killed?”

  I’m startled first by his outburst, then by a sheen of tears in his solemn eyes. I’m not sure how to calm him down, and I’m starting to question why I have such an uncanny ability to make grown men cry.

  “Caleb,” I start, but don’t finish as I notice he pulls over to the side of the road.

  We’re behind Dad, Leanne, Jaxon, and Cassie. They probably won’t notice us fall a bit behind. B
efore I can ask him why he pulled over, he reaches over and unbuckles my seatbelt. I tilt my head in confusion, but he ignores it. Grabbing my hips, he lifts me onto his lap. In the background, Brad Paisley’s Then plays softly on the radio and I find myself wishing we were back to singing along to the songs and having fun. Caleb being upset gives me the urge to fix it, but I don’t know how.

  “Baby, when Jaxon and I went to the bathroom and I saw those guys dragging you away, then you passed out like that…” His voice roughens and fills with fear. “I couldn’t handle losing you, I can’t even think about it.”

  I turn toward him and grab his face in my hands, making sure his eyes lock with mine. “Caleb, I’ll never leave you. You’re stuck with me, for as long as you want me.” I will him to believe me. “I promise, you don’t have to worry about losing me. I’m right here, and I always will be. Until the day you tell me you’re done.”

  He gazes into my eyes for a few moments before letting out a shaky breath. “I love you, Riley.”

  He whispers the confession so quietly, I almost don’t hear him. Almost.

  My eyes widen, and my jaw drops open at his confession. “I—”

  “Wait.” He puts a finger to my lips, stopping me from speaking. “You don’t have to say anything right now, or ever, if you don’t want to. I know it’s really soon for this, especially with you not feeling the true bond yet, but I couldn’t handle you not knowing anymore. You mean everything to me, and I need you to know that. I need you to know you’re my whole world now, you’re my Soulmate. I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side, through the good and the bad times we know are coming. I want your beautiful face to be the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see before I close my eyes at night. I want to see your perfect smile every single day and know that I’m the reason for it.”

  He pauses and takes a shaky breath. Setting his hand on my tummy, he locks eyes with me and continues, “I want to see your belly round with our babies. I want to argue about whose turn it is to change the smelly diaper. I want to hold you close on our children’s first day of school because I know you’ll cry. I want to sit next to you and cheer them on together at every dance recital, school talent show, and sporting event.”