Ember's Awakening

Chapter Nine

    Ember stared into the glowing orange flames, her thoughts wandering to the morning conversation with her aunt and Gran. An audible POP from the log in the fireplace stirred her from her musings. She glanced around the shop smiling. All their hard work was coming to fruition.

The shop was complete and set up for opening day. The only thing left was hanging the sign that had been delivered shortly after their arrival.

It was still in its crate, waiting for them to unbox and hang it outside the shop.

Ember eyed the crate, chewing on her lip, wondering which design her Aunt Arwen had decided on. She knew that any of the designs would look great, but she hoped her favorite and personal design was the one her aunt had chosen.

Ember tried relentlessly to get her aunt to give her a hint as to what the sign looked like, but the stubborn woman wouldn't clue her in on which one she picked.

"Are you sure you don't want to take a peek at it? Don't we need to make sure it arrived safely, that it isn't damaged?" Ember huffed, causing a bubble of laughter to erupt from the back of the store.

Arwen appeared next to Ember, a crooked smirk dancing on her lips. "I'm sure, sweetie. I have seen the finished product. Mr. Geirham sent pictures, and I've looked at it."

Ember's head snapped up. Her eyes became two slits as she scowled at her aunt.

Arwen snorted a laugh.

"You cheated," Ember grumbled, slapping her thigh in mock frustration.

"You'll live," Arwen said dryly, smiling at her niece. "You will see it first thing tomorrow. Have patience, girl."

Ember folded her arms over her chest. She wanted to see that sign.

Arwen turned towards the front of the store, her back facing the still pouting woman. The smile fell from her face as soon as her niece could no longer see her. "Why don't you go explore our village a bit before the rain starts up again? I'll finish up here and meet you at home."

Ember dusted the front of her skirt, brushing away any soot she may have gotten on the pretty folds while kneeling in front of the fireplace.

"Take your cloak!" Her aunt called after her as she made her way towards the door.

Ember smiled to herself, stopping at the door to grab the dark moss-colored cloak, then slipped outside.

She could see the dark clouds in the distance, rolling towards the village.

She paused, taking a deep breath; the air smelled like rain and the briny sea that surrounded them. But there was something else, Something familiar that she couldn't quite pick up on, unknown.

But strangely familiar.

She pulled the cloak tight around her and headed towards the pub.

"Ember, Wait up!" A voice stopped her in her tracks.

She hadn't seen anyone since the night of the festival. But living in a village as small as this one, she knew it was bound to happen sooner or later.

"Hey, Conor," Ember said, turning slowly.

He stood, a basket in his arms, full of bread, meats, and what looked like eggs. Conor smiled sheepishly. "I was going to come to see you the night after the festival, but my sister thought you might need some time to...." He paused as if searching for the right words.

"Some time to adjust," A female voice said from behind her.

Ember glanced back and saw Selia glaring at her brother.

"Well, yes, that night was unexpected, to say the least," Ember replied, turning so she could see both of them at once.

"So, how are you faring with all of this," Selia questioned, clutching a book to her chest.

"I'm managing. I have my Gran helping me, and I grew up running the shop with my aunt. Learning things from her along the way that I didn't think I would need to know."

"Well, if you would like to visit Conor and me at our home, it isn't very far," Selia relaxed slightly, a shy smile spreading across her pixie-like face.

Ember crossed her arms, looking between the two standing before her. She wanted to be angry at them for the night of the festival. She barely knew them.

"Why don't we pop over to the pub," Conor suggested, glancing at his sister and then back to Ember.

"Oh, ya! That does sound grand. Have you been yet?" Selia asked excitedly.

The smile on her face was so genuine that Ember could feel her resolve begin to fade. Conor had the same open look, and for some reason, Ember felt like she already knew them. She knew that she could trust them. That they were her people. Plus, her Gran did say that they were forbidden from telling her anything.

What she had learned so far meant that their oath was binding.

A Witch's Oath.

Ember sighed, giving the two of them a small smile. "Okay, sure. I haven't been there yet since we just moved here. I've been so busy with the shop and then the whole birthday thing happened. It was where I was headed before Conor stopped me."

The three made their way to the pub in comfortable silence.

Stepping inside the old inn, it looked just as Ember imagined it would. Dark wood surrounded her, from the floors to the wooden beams through the ceilings. So far, it was a common theme in the village.

Ember loved it.

Suddenly she felt as if she were plunged into the middle of the forest. She could smell the trees, the earthy aroma from the leaves and bark, the dirt and foliage. But quickly, the scent of the food wafting from the kitchen overtook her senses, making her stomach rumble, making the odd sensation pass as quickly as it began.

Ember noticed that things like that happened to her here on the island quite a bit.

Nothing like this had ever happened in any other place she lived.

The Island was very different. She was very different.

Ember knew that this was just the beginning.

There was more to come. More to discover.

About herself. About her new family and about her new home- here on the Island.