Embers to Flames (Fates Entwined #1)

Chapter Twenty

We make our way back to the capital and the city streets are bustling with activity. Theo holds my hand, his fingers intertwined with mine, as we walk with purpose. Approaching the palace gates, a group of elven guards recognize us and salute. One of them steps forward and delivers a message to me.

“Princess Rosanhi, urgent news from the King. His Grace graciously awaits your presence in the throne room,” the guard says, his voice steeped with reverence.

I raise an eyebrow at the title, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. “Princess Rosanhi… That will take some ge tting used to,” I will the thought into Theo’s mind, who chuckles softly beside me.

Inside the palace, the air is heavy with anticipation. We walk through the grand halls and make our way to the throne room, where the King awaits us. Approaching the throne, our steps echo throughout the room. Theo releases my hand, and I feel the loss of his firm and confident grip. We bow in respect to the King, our heads lowered, our eyes fixed on the marble floor.

“Princess, please come forward.” The King’s voice trembled with sorrow and urgency as he met my gaze. His eyes are filled with unspoken pain, a heavy burden hanging between us. “I fear I have terrible news to share. A devastating fire has ravaged your beloved home on the island of Bahulya.” He pauses, his emotions threatening to overcome him. “And I regret to inform you that your grandmother’s cottage was consumed by the flames. There is… there is no sign of her survival.”

The world around me stops spinning as the King’s words hit me like a physical blow. A deafening silence fills the room, as if time has frozen in that very moment. My entire being is flooded with an unbearable mixture of grief, anger, and disbelief.

Not Meemaw. Not her. Please not her.

Not the wise and compassionate woman who raised me. Who taught me everything I know. How can she just be gone in an instant, reduced to ashes and rubble ?

A tear escapes from my eye and rolls down my cheek, and then another, and another, as I fight to control the overwhelming emotions that threaten to consume me. The tears stream down my face, as my mind is overcome with images of Meemaw’s cozy cottage, the familiar scent of her cooking, and the soft warmth of her embrace.

I let out a sharp, gut-wrenching scream, my legs buckling beneath me, and Theo catches me before I hit the ground. The room begins to spin once more, but now in a blur of colors and shapes as I gasp for air, my chest tight with agony. Theo wraps his arms around me tightly, his steady heartbeat against my back trying to soothe me through this excruciating moment. The heavy silence in the room is almost palpable, and I can feel the weight of every person present bearing down on me.

I wipe the tears from my face and notice that the King has risen from his throne and approached us. He is standing before me, his regal bearing softened by his concern for my well-being. He reaches out a hand to steady me, his gentle touch, filled with compassion.

“Your grandmother was a beautiful soul, and she will be sorely missed. But know that you are never alone in this world. We will support you through this time of grief, and I promise that we will find out who is behind this.”

His words, though well-intentioned, only fuel the fire within me. The image of my grandmother’s cottage in flames, her life cruelly snuffed out, is too much to bear. My hands clench into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I struggle to contain the storm of emotions raging inside me.

“Don’t… presume… to know anything… about her soul,” I seethe at the King, my face twisted with fury. “I will not rest until I find the monster who took her from me. And when I do, they will pay for their sins in blood.”

My heart begins to shatter once more as my thoughts move to Eulee, I had left her with Meemaw. “And what of my wolf? Where is she?”

The King’s expression softens as he shakes his head, “I’m afraid I have no information on her current whereabouts. It is possible that she may have been inside the cottage with your grandmother.”

My tears continue to spill relentlessly down my cheeks, I turn to face Theo with a sense of urgency. “We need to go, now. I have to see it for myself.” I implore him, my voice trembling with desperation.

Theo grips my hand tightly as he pulls me up to stand, his eyes fixed on mine “I believe it would be quicker to travel by air.”

I nod, my heart pounding in my chest as we make our way out the palace doors and Theo begins to shift into his Dragon form. I watch in awe as his skin transforms from flesh to shimmering scales, his limbs stretching and contorting into powerful wings. He leans down, allowing me to climb up onto his back. As he takes to the sky, I cling to him, my heart soaring alongside his mighty wings.

The wind rushes by as we soar over the mountains, their immense peaks evoking a sense of purpose within me. The treacherous path demands determination, but I’m resolute. My heart pounds as we approach the remnants of Meemaw’s cottage.

“ I’ll keep watch out here,” Theo’s voice echoes softly in my mind. “Don’t worry, take all the time you need.” I sense a gentle rumble of reassurance as I dismount from his back.

The remnants of the cottage before us is a haunting silhouette against the twilight sky. The once vibrant and lush garden is now a charred expanse, with blackened stems and leaves crumbling to ash at the slightest touch. The air is thick with the acrid scent of smoke that clings to the back of my throat, a stark reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded.

The cottage itself is a skeleton of its former self. The stone path that leads to the front door is fractured, with heat-scorched flowers lining the way, their colors bleached by the intensity of the fire. The door itself lay off its hinges, a burnt testament to the ferocity of the blaze that had consumed all in its path. The walls, once adorned with climbing roses and ivy, are now scorched and bare, the wooden beams exposed and smoldering. The roof is caved in, leaving a gaping hole through which the darkening sky peeks through. Fragments of the life that once thrived here are scattered amidst the debris: a half-melted candlestick, the charred remains of a rocking chair, a singed photo frame with the glass cracked and the image within lost to the flames.

I step closer, the ground crunching under my boots, a mosaic of destruction lays out at my feet. I can barely recognize the kitchen where Meemaw had lovingly prepared countless meals. The hearth, once the heart of the home, is now just a blackened pit. Pots and pans that had hung above, ready for use, are now twisted shapes, melded together by the heat. The table where we had gathered for so many joyful occasions, is reduced to a few charred legs and a pile of ash.

Everywhere I look, memories flicker like ghosts in the ruins. The laughter and warmth that once filled the space seems to echo in the hollow emptiness. It was a place of love and learning, now silenced and still. As I stand amidst the wreckage, a chilling breeze begins to blow through the ashes, carrying with it the scent of burnt wood and the faintest hint of singed fabric. I shiver, not just from the cold, but also from a deep sorrow that wells up inside me.

A soft rustling of leaves and twigs underfoot stirs the silence. I pause, my breath catching in my throat, as a familiar figure emerges from the edge of the forest. Theo stands tall and vigilant, his posture exuding an air of unwavering protection. His eyes glow like molten gold, sharply focused, reflecting a fierce determination. With his wings slightly unfurled and his muscular tail swaying gently, he is ready to act should anything threaten my safety.

“It’s alright Theo,” I whisper through his soul.

Bright blue piercing eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, time stands still. Eulee bounds towards me, her paws barely touching the ground. I kneel down, wrapping my arms around her thick fur, the steady beat of her heart syncing with mine. “I thought I had lost you too,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. Eulee nuzzles my cheek, her soft whine a balm to my aching soul.

Theo lowers his massive head close to mine, his scales shimmering in the moonlight. “She saw everything.” His voice resonates in my mind.

“How can you know that?” I ask, looking back and forth between him and Eulee.

“There exists a bond deeper than sound between animals,” He begins, his voice a gentle thrum in my mind. “It’s a connection that transcends the spoken word, a language of the heart and soul that only those who share the wild’s breath can comprehend.”

I watch, fascinated, as Eulee sits attentively, her eyes never leaving Theo’s. Then, she leans into me, her presence a comforting weight. I realize that this silent conversation has been happening all along, a symphony of the wild that I am now privy too.

“So, what now?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

“She wants you to see what she saw. I can show you when you are ready. ”

With a nod, I rise to my feet and dust off the ashy residue that clings to my clothes. Inhaling deeply, I mentally prepare myself for what is about to come. “Show me,” I say firmly.

Theo’s eyes glimmer in response to my words, and I can almost feel the power of his mind connecting with mine. Without another word, I close my eyes, my heart pounding with anticipation as a torrent of images floods my mind. It’s like stepping into a river of memories, each one a unique scene playing out before my inner eye, the same way it had in the cavern before. Except this time, I am seeing from Eulee’s eyes, the world appearing much larger and more imposing.

I can sense the love and warmth Eulee has been surrounded by here. The sound of laughter and the smell of rosemary and hot baked honey butter biscuits. Meemaw is a vision of peace and adoration as she sits upon her rocking chair, reading and sipping steaming tea. She glances down at me as I lay at her feet. She smiles with a soft and tender twinkle in her eye.

A wave of anger and fear wash over me as Obscuro Elves suddenly invade the cottage, led by none other than… Prince Ruvyn. His imposing figure looms in the center of the room, his eyes glinting with a chilling intensity. Without hesitation, I lunge towards him like a savage beast, sinking my teeth into his flesh until blood fills my mouth with a metallic tang. But before I can revel in my victory, Ruvyn unleashes a seething cry and blasts me with a bolt of dark sound magic, se nding me hurtling through the air with an agonizing force that leaves me gasping for breath and unable to move.

Meemaw rises to her feet, “You may think you’re going to win Ruvyn, but evil never prevails. For every shadow you cast, a thousand lights will rise to banish it. You will never extinguish the hope and love that protect this land.”

Ruvyn’s hands dance through the air, a dark cloud of energy swirling around them, picking Meemaw up off the ground and closing off her ability to breath. She struggles to break free, her face contorted with pain.

“Ah, still clinging to your quaint beliefs, witch?” Ruvyn takes small steps around the room, his hands still controlling the dark energy as he continues speaking. “Hope is but a fleeting whisper against the thunder of power. And love?” He lets out a low bellowed laugh. “A fragile illusion. I am the storm that will break this world, and Rosanhi will be able to do nothing… but watch it crumble.”

Ruvyn’s magical grip tightens around Meemaw’s throat until her body goes limp, lifeless in his grasp. He lets her fall to the ground with a thud, her eyes staring blankly. Without a second glance, he turns and strides out the door, barking orders at his acolytes to set the cottage on fire. The smell of smoke and crackling flames fills the air as I lie frozen and helpless. The pain in my chest and the stench of burning wood and flesh consume me.

The inferno consumes the wooden beams with insatiable hunger, engulfing them in a fiery dance that sends plumes of thick, black smoke swirling into the sky. Just when all hope seems lost, the heavens open up and release a torrent of cool, heavy raindrops. Each one sizzles on impact as they drench the scorching wood. The rain intensifies, transforming into a relentless downpour that hammers against the remains of the roof and walls. Fierce winds howl through shattered windows, driving the rain in ferocious sheets that extinguish the flames with a furious hiss. Amidst the chaos, a figure appears from the shadows. Meemaw—in a spectral form. With a graceful wave of her hand, she summons a gentle breeze, lifting me from the ground and healing my wounds with a magical touch.

Her voice is soft but firm as she speaks, “Eulee, you must rise. The darkness has not won this day. The Obscuro Elves fear the same light that shines within Rosanhi. She needs to know that. She needs to learn to harness that light and bring an end to this dark reign. Show her what happened here tonight. Bring her to where it’s hidden.” Meemaw stares into Eulee’s eyes… my eyes. And then her veil of light dissipates into the floor, leaving behind a small scorch mark etched with a mysterious swirling symbol.

As the last image fades, I find myself back in the present, my heart pounding and my breath in short gasps. I stare into Theo’s large and shining eyes. My chest warms at the memory of Meemaw’s voice and that scorch mark. I push aside chunks of charred wood and debris until I find it—a small spiral scorch mark etched into the floorboards. I trace my fingers over it, feeling the residual heat from whatever caused it. Meemaw was a… witch?

Bring her to where it’s hidden.