Chapter 1

Stop the witch hunters. That was my job, my destiny. I had to end witch hunting once and for all, but how? Prue was no help. I hadn't heard from her in weeks. It'd been nearly three months. I had fought at least a dozen demons since then. All I had done was bring down one witch hunter coven. I just had to convince the head hunter. I'd used good witches as examples. Then I showed them my power. I hadn't threatened to kill them just that if they didn't stop killing and torturing witches then they'd regret it. The last I checked the coven was scattered across the country now.

This evening I was working in the cafe in my apartment building when I happened to overhear two customers talking.

"Well now she's alive but she's probably weakened. Other witches are weakened after they're tortured and I know where some witches are. Want to go after dinner?"

"We have a meeting with the council. We can't go hunting tonight."

"I couldn't help overhearing, but you're a hunter coven?" I asked flashing the crest I wore of the Salem coven around my wrist.

"What are you doing out here?" the boy my age asked.

"School," I said, "Parents weren't happy but hey got a good deal. Mind if I drop by the meaning tonight? I've been searching for another coven for weeks but couldn't get to one."

"That's because one disbanded due to a witch threat. Heard she was pretty powerful."

"How big was it?"

"The coven was probably around ten families, ours is based in this city, there's two left in California. We're about twenty families. How big was Salem's?" The girl who I learned whose name was Ashlee asked.

"Forty families at least, it was nice meeting you. I have to get back to work."

"Why don't you come to the meeting tonight. Join us," Aaron asked. I called to my boss, a knower of magical beings, said it was alright. My boss was a former witch but her powers had been stripped by a demon and she was left human. I took off my apron and left with the two hunters.

"Welcome," the head hunter said to the group of hunters.

"I've called you hear because we are on high alert. A witch, unnamed is rumored to be disbanding covens." There were many whispers.

"It's seems we have a newcomer among us." He looked at me and I stood up.

"My name's Ally, you all have heard of me. I'm a hunter but I'm also a witch and I'm here to tell you what your doing is wrong." He laughed.

"Your in a room surrounded by hunters foolish girl. We all have weapons." Their weapons disappeared due to an advancement in my powers.

"Not anymore. You will do as I say or you'll regret it. Killing us is wrong. We already have demons to deal with, which by the way we are protecting you all from. If it weren't for us you'd all be dead." Coincidentally a demon attacked just then.

"How convenient," I muttered as the demon threw an energy ball at the head hunter. I reversed it onto the demon. He died.

"See? If I wasn't here, he'd be dead." People started to mutter and someone, a teenager younger than me stood up stating I was right.

"Sit down child! The demon could have sensed her!"

"Oh please, you're all covered in the magic of the witches you kill. Demons can smell you just as easily as they can smell me."

"She's right Darren, we have to change," an older woman said, "We've gone on far too long. We've lost hunters because of what we do. It's time to stop. I've tried to tell you this a million times." There was more mutter, of approval it sounded like.

"What will you do to us if we refuse?" Darren asked me.

"We aren't refusing!" a man said standing up, "We'll disband, like the other group. Leave California."

"Shut up Alec!" Darren said.

"I won't kill you if that's what you're wondering but I'm sure the Charmed Ones won't have a problem with it." Bringing up the three most powerful witches in history made everyone go quiet, even Darren.

"I say we take a vote," Alec said, "Disband and only keep in contact for friendly reasons or stay together and risk our lives. Jennifer is right. This has gone on too long." Hands rose, every single hand except Darren's.

"I'll talk about you, warn the other groups."

"No you won't," Ashlee said, "I won't let you. Dad, we kill people for a living how is that not wrong." I was utterly shocked what had changed her mind so fast? And everyone else's? Aaron sat beside me and spoke up.

"She's right," he said softly, "It seemed right. It's what we were taught. But it was wrong. You saved our dad from his death. We owe you a debt." It sounded unreal. Just an hour ago he was talking of killing a witch.

"We owe you a debt, no more killings. Not by my hand," he said giving me a smile. And I smiled back and for the first time I noticed his bright green eyes.

"You are a child Ashlee, you can't stop me from doing anything."

"Then we'll all stop you," Alec said. Others stood up facing their Elder. He started to run but was grabbed and I walked up to him.

"Say nothing and I won't let the Charmed Ones touch you. They have powerful human friends," I didn't know this but assumed they did.

"So either you stay quiet or go to jail. I know hunters leave some sort of trail. I was one for years."

"Fine, but you won't succeed, there will always be hunters out there. You'll never be able to hunt all the covens down."

"Watch me," I spat. Two covens down so many more to go. Darren's family stayed in town along with Alec and his wife and infant. They were to watch him but every other family went clear across the country away from each other. There was a promise that no one would speak of me but I wasn't sure how well kept the secret would be.

A/N: That's it for the first chapter of Ember's Hunt. I hope you enjoyed it! There will be nine more chapters! Then after the last chapter the first chapter of Tying Up Loose Ends will be up one week later. This story will most likely be updated twice a month.