Ember Rising Light (Book One)

by C.K. Mullinax

  Chapter Sixty Eight

  “You do realize that the only way Ember could’ve killed us was by having a heart attack. None of us would’ve survived that…” Willow offered to me while I stood inside the dark garage fluctuating between total relief and an all-consuming panic attack.

  “A little warning about that chaos that just occurred out there would’ve been mighty nice. You could’ve said something like, ‘Hey Tray, the agenda’s all planned out. We’re gonna rob you of a few months of your life – just so you know…” I replied, thinly.

  “No, I couldn’t do that. We needed to test your abilities just as much as Ember’s. We can’t explain it, but we believe you suddenly have a more predominant will to kill for her now. That’s a very powerful force to contain,” Willow informed me.

  “How is it I can feel so comforted and consumed by madness at the same time?? I didn’t think that was even possible…”

  Willow stood silently and allowed me to have a minute or two in order to get control of myself. I crouched down like a baseball catcher and tried to just breathe deeply. It took fifteen minutes, but I finally had myself back in check by the time I stood up.

  “I would say I’m sorry, but …” Willow stated and left the rest unspoken.

  “You’re right. I know it had to be done…” I replied when I realized they were correct in their assessment.

  I did have a will to kill for Ember and although it was unexplainable, it was also a fact I couldn’t ignore…

  “You both lived through it. She also did a fantastic job of controlling her abilities even though she was scared outta her mind. Do you at least feel a little bit more hopeful about us making it through this thing tonight?”

  “Yeah, I do. I will say however that the ring of terror out there was a ridiculous way to help me feel a little bit better…” I stated, sarcastically.

  “Well, you’re extremely complicated and very stubborn. We couldn’t think of another way…”

  “You could’ve at least told me about the Vaydem vestment. You know the one that fully COVERS her body…”

  “Now comon’ Florida, where’s the fun in that??” she impishly replied.

  “So tell me about the dress…”

  “Not until you say, “‘Oh Willow, you are my beautiful queen and I am your lowly, humble man servant…’”

  “You realize that’s playing dirty…”

  “Say it,” she commanded and batted her gorgeous blue eyes at me for effect.

  “I have so many things to tell you, but I’m fairly certain that’s not one of the things I had in mind to say…”

  “If you wanna know about the Vaydem ceremonial dress then, you have to at least admit that I was right…”

  “You don’t have to bribe me on that one. You were right and I was a foolish jerk. You knew you were gonna win the argument with me – didn’t you?”

  “Yes, I did know that I would win, but that’s not the point…”

  “It’s mine though. I need to know exactly how you KNEW you were gonna win that outfit argument with me. I didn’t even know you were gonna win it.”

  “I’ll never reveal my female secrets to you. I also think you’re crazy to believe I ever would. You’ve been away from our gypsy lifestyle too long, haven’t you?”

  “It’s been a long time since our days of playing hide and seek at the carnival together, but it hasn’t been that long. I’d just hoped that maybe you’d be willin’ to take pity on me for stealing a good ten years of my life tonight.”

  “Okay, okay you win – I’ll tell you…”

  “So, how’d you know you’d win the ‘totally-over-the-top-revealing-outfit’ argument with me??”

  “I’ll tell you about the dress…” she stated and then giggled.

  “I knew that was just way too easy…”

  “Aunt Celeste made the vestment herself. She started creating it right after you called me in a panic and told me what Krista had requested. We kind of had this sneaky suspicion that you’d eventually agree to the party.

  “I’m the one that hand-stitched the runic symbols on the purple ritual ribbon that’s on the inside of the dress. I also hand-painted the runic symbols on the beads for her hair. I made what felt like two thousand tiny beads, but somehow she still discovered that there were only six actual patterns. She did that in less than five minutes too. She’s scary sometimes…”

  “She’s scary – you and Celeste practically give me a flippin’ stroke and SHE’S the scary one?!” I exclaimed.

  Willow only smiled in reply.

  I’m never going to catch her if she stays so many steps ahead…

  “The runes have the powers of clarity, protection, calm, will, courage and the most important one, containment. By opening the Vaydem ring of power with Ember standing at the Apex, her spirit light channeled through the ritual ribbon and charged the runic powers. Uncle Rave coated the bonfire with an essential oil that was designed to ‘cry out’ to Ember’s spirit light.

  “When her spirit light couldn’t release itself into the flames through its usual avenue, it tried to escape another way. The beads in her hair and around her wrists stopped it from exiting her body. The tattoos around her ankles do the same thing. Once we were certain the containment ritual ribbon was working, we instructed Ember on how to channel the light back inside. Then, she made it fade on our direction.”

  “She channeled that powerful spirit light and absorbed it back inside her body…” I stated and then, looked at her in surprise.

  That sounds dangerous…

  “This was a pre-test in a very controlled setting. You can calm down because she was never in any real danger. You were standing in the Uphold position of the spiritual ring. By the way, that is the ONLY position that can remove the channeler’s vestment!” Willow exclaimed and looked slightly offended.

  “I didn’t know I could touch her. The whole time I felt like I was frozen to the ground by some kind of electrical force. It held me in one place. I couldn’t move in any direction…”

  “Ember didn’t need your assistance or you would’ve been as free as a bird in an instant. The stance of your spiritual position forced you to hold your ground so to speak.”

  “I felt an odd kind of energy surround me the instant the ring started to channel. Then, I couldn’t move and I couldn’t speak either. Let’s see how well you’d do if you were standin’ in my position. You were able to move and talk the whole time – remember???”

  “I’m not one bit sorry for that. You were specifically selected for the Uphold position of the circle. The actual power of that position is PROTECTION. It’s the ONLY position that can sustain and live through the energy ripple from the channeler. You would’ve known what to do if you sensed Ember was in any trouble – I promise you. That odd energy you felt is a Vaydem ceremonial tether. This tether provides a direct link to her channeling power at all times while the dress is being worn. You can absorb her energy and assist her with controlling her powers. Once the dress is removed though that particular tether will be destroyed…”

  “I sure hope that ceremonial dress is wash and wear because if that’s the case, she’s never gonna take it off…”

  “Her powers can only be contained within the runes for so long before they become uncontrollable. They’ll destroy her from the inside. You can absorb only a small fraction through the tether. The primary channels are still being contained within the ritual ribbon – that means they are gonna be locked inside her body. The runes can withstand the channels for eight hours at most. The party will be over in about four. We’re intentionally manipulating her spirit light, powers and essence channels for you.

  “Ember’s Vaydem ceremonial vestment is Aunt Celeste and Uncle Rave’s gift to YOU on her birthday. They want you to make it through this situation alive because they really care about you. All the runes took days to prepare. The containment ribbon will wipe Ember out physically.
The vestment can’t be used to control her powers whenever you panic from the slightest little thing. We do this because we know her spirit light and powers can withstand temporary containment for her overall protection and your sanity,” Willow explained, seriously.

  “I kinda figured there’d be a catch with that part of it – not wash and wear, got it…” I said in a joking manner.

  The humor was being used to mask my sudden struggle with my own overwhelming emotions.

  They planned and then, created this vestment as a gift for me…

  I wasn’t used to being able to rely on anyone other than myself – it felt so good…

  “She’ll need to release the built up powers immediately after her party. That’s the reason Aunt Celeste is currently setting up a similar circle in a secluded outside area of the Vaydem sacred grounds. It will be positioned on the North West ritual land near the community building we’re gonna be in. That way, we won’t have to burn a central bonfire or spend three days in ceremonial cleansing like we did for the one here. The rites have already been permanently consecrated on that ground.”

  “I didn’t realize everything that went into plannin’ this gift for me. So how many more secrets have you got up your other sleeve?” I asked as I battled my emotional tidal wave.

  “Of course you didn’t realize any of it – I’m the world’s best con artist. I also told you, I’m not gonna share any of my female secrets with a guy who won’t readily admit to being my lifelong servant.”

  She added that to lighten the mood, but I still felt guilty all the same. The silence grew into a gargantuan trench between us.

  When the power ring was first opened, I felt a tether between me and Ember. I could hear what she was thinking. I heard her shouts of terror when she thought we were all going to get burned alive. That unknown tether was the only reason I had managed to remain as calm as I did once the Vaydem spiritual ring released me. But, I would never be willing to admit that to Willow.

  Eventually, she resumed telling me about the vestment because I couldn’t seem to find my voice. Guilt has a way of doing that to me.

  “The black ribbons contain a resist weave that’s like a spiritual suit of armor. Since Ember will be prohibited from channeling out because of the runes, we have to prevent any ‘outside energy’ from channeling in to her.”

  “Well, the suit of armor part doesn’t work very well. This new tether still reaches through them. In fact, I can still hear what she’s thinking…” I informed her.

  “I said outside energy – as in all those unknown people who will be swarming around her tonight. Nothing can get through to her unless she’s experienced it before. As an added bonus, I have conditionally included something in the vestment for you,” she enticed me.

  “What is it??” I questioned with anticipation and sounded like a kid waiting to open my first gift on Christmas.

  “The purple ribbon that has to stay against her skin is called a cunning ribbon. I created it and hand threaded it through the vestment so it forms into loops around her. The ribbon has to be touching her skin. Oh and the ends have to be touching as well, in order for it to work.

  The cunning ribbon creates a tether between the two of you. So, you can hear her thoughts. It also gives you an ability to channel through it and will amplify whatever you offer. All you have to do is direct it to the cunning ribbon.

  The only channels that will be streamed tonight are yours, since she’s wearing a separate containment ribbon. So, this gives you additional control over the situation…”

  I swear by all that’s in me Willow I’m going to kiss you, passionately!!

  I could hear Ember’s thoughts, direct my channels through that cunning ribbon and get my obliterations amplified! I’ll be in full control because she’ll be safe inside a spiritual suit of armor. I could be in charge of what people around her see…hear…feel…think…or for some – fear…

  The possibilities were endlessly mind blowing…

  “Okay, now that I let you have your fleeting instant of total world domination – Tray style – you need to hear me out…”

  I wanted her to say something like, “Certainly Tray, I give you complete dominion over this entire party. We will all bow to your every command”. What she did say was…

  “Your little girl will feel exactly what you’re doing, when you do it. This is a two way street. When you use obliterations or channel through the cunning ribbon, she will hear your commands and sense what you’re streaming. So, unless you want her to have a total meltdown on you or throw a “gimonsterous” fit – I expect your word that you’ll respect her wishes first and foremost. We’re only observers unless necessity demands we do otherwise. That’s the condition of MY gift to you on Ember’s 16th birthday – take it or leave it…”

  “There’s always gonna be a catch with you – isn’t there??”

  “Give me your word or I’ll pull the plug – or rather, the cunning ribbon out of the dress in this particular case.”

  “I give you my word of honor, Willow my Queen, Ember’s wishes will be honored first and foremost…” I stated respectfully and bowed to her.

  I would likely be bowing to her forever from this moment on…might as well get comfortable in the position.

  “Your word is accepted – you may now have the privilege of escorting your Queen to the party…”

  “You know, you thought of absolutely everything…” I said in amazement.

  “I don’t know why you seem so surprised. It kind of hurts my feelings – like you’ve forgotten ‘me’ somehow…”

  “I’m just still reeling from this whole night. I’ve been doing this for so long, all by myself. I could never forget you. I swear that on my life, but it seems that I have forgotten how to trust…”

  “Tray, you’re not the only one that has to learn to trust again – ya’ know…”

  “I know and I’m sorry for that. I never meant to desert you, especially the way I did it. I’ll try my best to not repeat that mistake and vanish on you again. I still need to tell you those stories because I promised to share them with you. We’ll talk all night, tonight – that is, if we make it through this impending doom on our collective horizon. I need to tell you so many things…”

  “I noticed your selective ‘wording’ because I’m a con artist just like you – remember? You didn’t promise to ‘not ever vanish on me again’ – you just promised to ‘try your best’. I gotta say that’s not very encouraging…” Willow stated and I could see the emotions behind her stormy eyes.

  “It’s something…unexplainable…whatever it is makes me believe that I can’t offer you that promise right now because I couldn’t keep it. I’m really sorry. I can promise that I will come back for you the moment that I’m able. Will that promise do for now?” I asked her and prayed it would be enough.

  I just couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of approaching darkness – something huge is waiting, shrouded in the shadows. This unknown evil was coming at me in my immediate future. The threat felt real and it might just take me away from Willow again. I would never make her a promise I knew I couldn’t keep.

  Willow hedged and looked very close to tears.

  “Let’s deal…” I stated and would sweeten the offer.

  She turned her head sideways to let me know she was listening intently, but she didn’t say a word.

  “I promise to return to you as soon as humanly possible if it turns out that I gotta leave for whatever reason AND I swear to never use my obliteration ability on you ever again, no matter what…do we have a bargain?” I presented her with my deal.

  I put all my cards on the table. They were the best I could offer for now.

  “Deal…” she replied.

  I smiled at her and probably would have sighed in relief too, but she was looking at me so intently. I held my breath and waited.

  “You’re not alone with Ember anymore…” Willow stated s
oftly.

  I looked at her and tried to convey with my eyes that I did know that. I just couldn’t seem to say the words out loud.

  I thought I might just jinx myself if I did…

  “You won’t have to run. You have us now and we’re here for you both…” she offered when I didn’t say anything.

  It was wholly unexplainable, but somehow it still felt like a promise that I would end up having to break if I made it.

  And breaking a promise to Willow…would kill a part of me...

  The silence grew again…

  I looked at my watch a few minutes later and it read doom-o’clock…

  We turned off the lights in the garage and prepared to go inside, get Ember and meet our collective fate.

  “So what will you tell her when she asks you “the question” tonight?” Willow asked me as we walked back into the house.

  “You’re not the only one who can keep a secret you know…” I said playfully, as I smiled and winked at her.

  She’s gonna hear…the absolute truth…