Embers

by Karen Ann Hopkins

“Actually, they weren’t my friends,” I said.

  Since I wasn’t about to leave Ember, I decided to be honest with Ila.

  “There’s been a fracture in our community. In the past we were always gentle with our victims, keeping them in a trance while we fed. They didn’t even realize what was happening to them. We picked the type of people that the human society wouldn’t miss much—criminals and the like. It made the whole process easier to bear.” I breathed in and continued, “Recently, many began developing a craving for the hunt, and our leader allowed it. Needless to say, the blood lust is upon them now. They’re out of control, stalking the town’s people.”

  Ila’s face showed no emotion as I spoke to her, except for an occasional twitch of her lip.

  “I knew of their plans to go to the lake. I went there ahead of them to make sure Ember wasn’t among them. But she was there, and I took her away, to protect her.”

  I didn’t think it was necessary to mention the interlude in the woods with Kimberly and Donnelly.

  “And you left the other humans there unprotected?” she said in a soft voice, barely reaching a whisper.

  I shrugged, unable to take back my actions and undo the outcome. Bending down, I touched Ember’s face. She was the only thing that kept me from falling apart and feeling the emotions of remorse.

  Her lips were slightly pursed and she was taking deeper breaths. “When will she wake?” I looked up at Ila, who was staring at me with razor sharp appraisal that raised the hair on the back of my neck.

  “She will sleep for a long time. Why are you here, Sawyer? What do you want with Ember, except a romantic tryst?”

  Angered, I rose to my full height and looked down at the Watcher. I had no doubt she could kill me as easily as Ember could.

  “I want more from her than romance,” I said in a low determined voice, “She will eventually be my bonded mate.”

  Ivan, who was standing by the door quietly observing, gasped and said, “You can’t bond with a human! It’s impossible,” he proclaimed.

  “Do you want her for yourself, is that it?” I asked in a low voice, trying very hard to control the jealousy that snarled within me.

  “No, of course not, she is my friend, and I don’t want her to get hurt,” he said defensively.

  “Well, in case you haven’t noticed, the only one hurting that girl is herself,” I said pointing at Ember.

  Ila looked between Ivan and me and said, “Let’s get back to you, Sawyer. Are you truly serious about your intention to bond with Ember?”

  “I can’t live without her. Once I can convince her that she belongs with me, I’m going to take her far away from here, to somewhere we can live in peace.”

  “Unfortunately, you’ll never live in peace, I’m sorry to say. Ember’s destiny is another path, a dangerous one…to hell and back.” She spoke as if she was a prophet foretelling some doom to come, reminding me of Garrett’s similar, yet more zealous proclamation. Of course, Ila and Garrett probably grew up in the same time period, making them a bit more dramatic than those who’d only been on earth for the last two centuries or so, like myself.

  “I will not allow you to put her in danger,” I threatened, meeting her gaze.

  For the briefest instant, my eyesight was clouded and a much younger, lovely blonde woman stood before me. She was dressed all in white and the brightness that shimmered off of her nearly blinded me.

  I blinked and the old Ila was standing there again.

  “The end of the world as we know it approaches and Ember is destined to be a part of the collapse. When heaven and hell have their final battle, Ember will be there.”

  “That’s impossible.” I shook my head. The old woman was insane.

  But the grim look on her face told me she believed what she was saying wholeheartedly.

  Without hesitation, I rushed the words out, “Then I will be there by her side.”

  Her laugh filled the air and I saw Ivan cringe from the corner of my eye. The sound made a chill crawl over me.

  I swallowed hard and met her gaze again.

  “You and your kind are descended from Lucifer, the greatest of all the fallen angels. When the time comes, you and Ember will be fighting on different sides.”

  Revelation 12:7

  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the

  dragon and his angels fought.

  Sawyer ~ Thirty-Nine

  I sat down in the closest chair and dropped my face into my hands, rubbing furiously.

  “Well?” Ila said impatiently.

  “I need a minute to adjust…give me a second,” I growled back.

  “We don’t have many minutes, Sawyer.”

  When I looked up, Ila’s sadistic smile was gone. It was replaced by a stony stare that made me sit up straighter.

  “What do you want from me?” I said with apprehension.

  “Oh, I don’t want the least thing from the likes of you. As far as I’m concerned, your kind are diseased, a cancer on this planet that should be eradicated.” She paused and glanced at Ember, hesitating. “It’s obvious from your reaction to the news of your origins that the Hammonds didn’t share the truth with you.”

  I shook my head. “No. I was told that we were descended from the offspring of angels, but not from the devil himself.”

  “Blasphemy,” Ila spit out. “How could you believe such nonsense?”

  Shrugging, I said, “It sounds a lot better than the alternative.”

  “Lies…they lied to you.”

  “Yeah, I know, but it doesn’t matter. I can take Ember away. I can keep her safe.”

  “Ember can’t be hidden from her fate. She can’t escape it. No matter how far away you take her, destiny will find her.” She paused and spoke softer, “She hasn’t been here very long, and look at all that has befallen her. She’s started up a romance with one of Lucifer’s children and become friends with a Growler. She has killed. For someone as young and early into her training as Ember is, she should never have been able to do what she did today. No Watcher could draw or handle that kind of power unless they were older and more experienced.”

  “She did though. I saw it with my own eyes,” I argued.

  “Oh, I believe you. I’ve seen the girl do amazing things with the power, before she should have been able to even grasp the idea. The power comes so naturally to her in both fire and earth, it’s alarming to me… and I sense there is much more yet to come.”

  “What do you mean?” I wasn’t really sure I wanted to know.

  “I’m not certain, but I feel she is touched by air and water also. If that is the case, then she will be the most powerful Watcher born in a millennium.

  “The balance on the earth has shifted and evil is rising. Mark my words, the end is near. The angels are gone, and the Watchers are the only ones who will be able to stand up to the dark forces when seals are broken and they’re released.”

  If she’d told me the same thing the day before, I would have laughed, but after seeing what Ember did to Kimberly and Donnelly, I felt compelled to believe her. There was also the conversation I’d had with Garrett, who said pretty much the same thing, only he was looking forward to it.

  “If what you say is correct, and Ember is part of some greater scheme, then I will be there by her side. I don’t care if the devil is my kin. My allegiance will be to Ember—and only Ember.”

  “Come out on the porch with me. We need to talk.” She saw that I was reluctant to leave Ember and said, “Don’t worry, the wolf will watch over her.”

  I glanced at Ivan and he nodded his head. I knew that he would protect her with his life. After another glance at Ember’s face, I followed Ila out the door. She pointed to a chair and I took it. Angus was lying a few feet away, staring at me, but overall he was subdued.

  “Ember will need a guardian, someone to watch over her and take care of her when she uses the power. She needs a person who can keep her grounded and thinki
ng rationally, a person who will support and love her; someone she can always count on and trust, even when the world seems to be falling apart.” She took a deep breath and puckered her lips in distaste before going on to say, “But what she really needs, more than anything else is a creature like you, Sawyer. An abomination that will do whatever it takes to keep her safe—even if it means killing humans that might go against her. You see, in Ember’s heart, she still believes she’s one of them. That will change in time, but not soon enough for my liking.”

  She looked at me searchingly, and asked, “Can you be her guardian? It won’t be easy. She’s strong willed and stubborn and all kinds of trouble will be drawn to her.”

  The answer came easily. “I know how stubborn she is.” I paused and met Ila’s stare, not flinching when once again, the curtain she kept herself cloaked in lifted for an instant, giving me a glimpse of her true form, bathed in bright light. “I’d give my life for her, and we aren’t like humans. We don’t change our minds about the mates we’ve chosen. I’ll love her forever.”

  “Before you make this decision, you need to understand exactly how a guardian is made and what they lose in the process.” I nodded my head for her to continue. “A ceremony is held in which the guardian and the Watcher take a blood oath. That part might be a little tricky with your nature,” she admitted.

  “Ember will enter your mind and allow you access into hers. It takes a little while, and by the time it’s over, she will have seen and experienced everything that you have in your lifetime—and the same for you with hers. The problem with you, my boy, is that you have lived much longer than her and experienced atrocious things that you will be allowing her to see. That portion of the ceremony won’t be as bad for you as it will be for her, but when it’s over, you will no longer own yourself. Ember will.”

  “What do you mean own?” I didn’t like that word very much.

  “It will be difficult for you to be apart from her. The connection that binds you will be there until one of you dies. You will always sense where she is and how she feels. The bond can only be broken by death…and if Ember dies before you, you will be driven to madness.”

  None of what she said changed my mind. I would go mad if I was away from her anyway. Whatever nasty business she had to deal with, I’d be there watching her back. There was no question in my mind about it, but I was apprehensive to have her look into my past. How could she witness, and experience the things I had, without thinking I was a monster? She’d be repulsed by me.

  “If she sees my past, she won’t want me to be her guardian,” I whispered.

  “She’s stronger than that. She’ll have you as her guardian, and then she’ll face the consequences,” she answered surely.

  “I guess it’s up to Ember then.” When I looked at Ila, she was smiling.

  “I would like to offer myself as guardian to Ember also.” Ivan had been eavesdropping at the screen door.

  Anger flared within me, but Ila just chuckled. “Someday, Ivan, you might choose to serve Ember in that way, but for now, you are too young to make that kind of decision about your future. If you’re bound to her, you will lose the opportunity to find a mate, and if things go the way Sawyer intends, you would be alone. You can help Ember by being her friend, and staying near her.”

  Ila rose from the rocker and headed down the steps, saying “Come, Ivan, why don’t you help me with the chores.”

  “I would like that.” Ivan ran to join her.

  Ember was still soundly asleep when I entered the cabin. I didn’t want to disturb her, but I needed to be close to her. Gently, I lifted her shoulders and sat down, placing her head on my lap. I caressed her face and hair, thinking how lovely she was. I couldn’t imagine life without her. Feeling quite content, I closed my eyes and slept with her.

  2 Corinthians 11:14

  And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

  Sawyer ~ Forty

  I woke to a crashing noise coming from the kitchen. Ivan was helping Ila set the dishes on the table, and he’d already dropped one. I rolled my eyes in aggravation at the wolf’s clumsy attempt at being a waiter.

  Ember was still nestled against my chest. Her breathing was shallow though, and she was beginning to stir.

  “So how did the milking go?” I asked the two in the kitchen.

  “It was interesting,” Ila answered in a terse voice.

  Ember’s eyes fluttered open and she yawned. She stretched out straight. The action had an abrupt effect on me. I suddenly wanted to kiss her, but before I could do anything, she realized she was on top on me and jumped up. It was way too fast a motion, causing her to wobble. I caught her before she fell.

  “What on earth are you doing here, on the couch with me?” she squeaked and wiggled out of my arms.

  “You don’t remember?” I couldn’t help lifting my eyebrows suggestively. I laughed at the look of horror that immediately formed on her face.

  “No, we didn’t…did we?” She brought her hands to her face and peeked at me through spread fingers.

  “No, silly, I’d certainly hope you’d remember that.”

  Ila cleared her throat, and Ember’s head jerked in her direction. Her cheeks flushed a deeper red when she saw Ivan standing there also.

  Ila crossed the room to stand before Ember. “My dear, don’t you remember what you did to the Demons in the woods?”

  I watched tensely as the memories flowed back to Ember, her eyes growing wide. She glanced at me, and I was next to her in a heartbeat, holding her small hands between mine.

  “It’s all right. They weren’t friends of mine, but you should have told me what you were going to do. There are creatures in that part of the forest protecting the compound, and they would have killed you,” I said.

  “You would have stopped me,” she accused.

  “Damn straight. I definitely would have stopped you. What were you thinking, going there alone, not telling anyone? When I saw you fall to the ground, I thought you were dead. If I hadn’t arrived, and brought you back here, the others would surely have found you.”

  She thought about what I’d said for a moment. It was fascinating to watch the look of stubbornness shift to guilt. “Thanks,” she finally said.

  “You must never do something like that again. Do you understand?” I told her in the most coaxing way I could muster.

  “Why did you come and get me at the lake on Saturday?” She ignored what I’d said and lifted her chin. She looked sideways at me, suspiciously.

  I shrugged, and said with a forced grin, “Wasn’t that obvious?”

  “Did you know the others would be hunting?”

  She pulled her hands away, her words gaining volume.

  Here it comes.

  I walked to the screen door and looked out. A low rumble could be heard in the distance and the wind had picked up. “There’s a storm brewing,” and I meant more than just the weather.

  “You didn’t answer me.” Her hands were on her hips, her eyes glaring.

  “Yes, I knew they’d be hunting, but all I could think about was getting you to safety,” I answered quietly, not meeting her gaze.

  “Hannah died—and three others!”

  I stood silently while she shouted at me. I had expected this reaction from her. Before it escalated though, Ila intervened.

  “Ember, you’re lucky Sawyer was there to help you. He can’t control what the other Demons do. If he’d marched over there and told your friends that there were monsters on the prowl, they would have laughed at him. So get off your high horse, young lady.” I felt sorry for Ember when Ila barged on, “And what you did, going down there and attacking them, was the most self-centered thing you’ve probably ever done in your short life. If you’d been killed, from either the Demons or the fire, how do you think I would have felt, or Sawyer or Ivan, or your poor brother up north? You feel culpable yourself that you didn’t recognize the threat.”

  To say I was surp
rised, would be putting it mildly. Tears began streaming down Ember’s face, making tracks in the soot on her face. I quickly moved to console her, but she threw my hand off her shoulder, and stalked to the bedroom.

  “I’m taking a shower,” she said stiffly, slamming the door behind her.

  “That went well,” I muttered.

  “Dinner’s ready.” Ila slammed the potatoes onto the table, plopping some out in the process.

  We ate in uncomfortable silence. Occasionally, my gaze would meet Ivan’s, and the pup would shrug. He focused on the food, cleaning his plate to the porcelain, and attempting not to draw Ila’s attention.

  When Ember finally emerged from the other room, she was wearing the same sweats and fitted t-shirt I saw her in before. Her wet hair rested against her shoulders, making large dark marks on her shirt.

  Ember swallowed hard and said, “I’m sorry, Ila.”

  “I know, dear,” Ila replied.

  Without another word, Ember came to the table and began picking up the dishes. The young Watcher worked alongside the old one, while she munched on a slice of bread.

  Watchers. It was still hard to believe that we were all basically the same thing, only they were lucky enough to be related to the good angels. I’d never really thought much about whether angels were real, but it made sense; if such evil as the likes of me existed, then why not angels? But where had they all gone?

  The steady drum of the rain hitting the tin roof soothed my senses. There were too many thoughts swirling through my mind. When the light in the room suddenly dimmed, my head jerked up.

  Ila signaled for Ivan to follow her into the other room where she spoke of opening up a cot to get the kid settled in for the night. Ivan slept a lot lately and ate even more. I figured he was getting ready for a growth spurt. Judging from the huge yawn he attempted to cover with his hand, I was betting that he’d be asleep within less than a minute of going horizontal.

  Ember took a seat at the side of the couch furthest from me. She ignored me, staring at her hands while she rubbed her fingers together in what appeared to be a nervous fit. I could feel the heat emitting from her, so I knew that she wasn’t afraid.