Disclaimer: I do not own pRO.
Chapter 3 – Premonition and the Forbidden Love"Ember Clandestine Mackenzie!"
Ember flinched at the sound of her full name. Ember put on a falsely childlike face and turned around to face her incoming fuming sister.
"How dare you... How dare you..." Rei said upon entering with a deadly voice.
"Yes, my darling sister?" Ember asked innocently.
"Don't you put on that façade!" Rei shouted impatiently.
"Why not?" Ember said again, this time with a smile.
"Get serious!"
"Alright..." Ember dropped her pretense face. "How may I be of service, General?" she said trying to keep a straight face.
"Why on Earth did you teach Jin that useless technique?" Rei asked, flopping down on the corner of Ember's bed.
Ember shrugged, "I wanted him to lose," Ember sat down beside her sister and faced her.
"Why would you want him to lose?" Rei asked.
"Coz, if he does, then the more it gets interesting around here. About time for you too..." Ember said trailing off.
"About time for me to what?"
Ember smiled mischievously and whispered, "For you to settle down, of course." Ember watched as her dear sister blushed. "Come, on, you don't plan on staying a virgin forever do you?" Ember grinned broadly as Rei bit her bottom lip and turned a deeper shade.
"Shut up," was all Rei said in response.
Rei returned to her tent. After her talk with Ember, she went to train to clear her mind. As she was about to open the tent flap, she heard someone running towards her. Turning around, she saw a worried Xafira approach her. She wondered why on earth her comrade was worried. Xafira is usually the cool, calm and collected elder sister of the group.
"Xafira, are you alright?" Rei asked as the warrior approached her.
"Yes, but Xanji is not." Xafira answered, panting.
Rei's voice turned from being soft to commanding and urgent, "Did you already send the others to fetch everything?" She asked while walking towards Xanji's tent, Xafira on her heels.
"Yes, and Ember is back at Vingolf to tell Her Majesty."
"Good. Send Ember right away to me when she arrives. Are Hesper and Cora with Xanji?"
"Yes, Janjida and Xodan are looking for the required herbs to ease her pain."
"Good, and where is Xiao?" Rei asked as they finally arrived at Xanji's tent."
"She's gathering the Amazons for our training. She sent a messenger to give us her herb," Xafira answered and turned to a young Amazon, giving instructions to watch for Ember. She, then, entered the tent after her General.
Rei crossed the chamber. Xanji was lying on the bed, sleeping, her breath quick and uneven. She touched Xanji's forehead and withdrew her hand quickly, "High fever." She turned to Cora and Hesper who were guarding Xanji, "I need you two to do some errands, Hesper, tell them to pack my things, I'm going to go as soon as Ember gets back here."
Hesper inclined her head in respect, "Yes, General."
Rei turned to Cora as Hesper exited. "Cora, Xafira, I need you two to help me with Xanji. We must try to stabilize her or her system might collapse."
Both Captains nodded. Cora went to the other side of the bed, holding Xanji down by her shoulders as Xafira held Xanji on the opposite side while Rei prepared to perform a ritual – a ritual that requires full concentration and power from the caster.
Jin left the tent, frowning. Rei usually retires early, but it was nearly dawn and Rei still haven't returned – not that it mattered.
"But why do you look so tensed, frustrated, your lips are set in that tight, firm line and your jaw is set to... um... find her?"
Jin whirled around to find Ember beside him, looking straight ahead. Jin followed her gaze and saw nothing but the now extinguished campfire. Jin turned once again to Ember and noticed her flat, emotionless voice and blank face, her eyes without their usual sparkle.
"Ember?" Jin asked uncertainly.
Ember turned to Jin as if seeing him for the first time, studying his face, his eyes, reaching his soul, reading his heart and mind.
"You're..." Ember trailed off, looking at Jin, straight in the eyes.
Jin studied her face, his brows furrowing, "Ember?"
Ember blinked and as she opened her eyes, their sparkle returned, "Yes?"
"Nothing... you were..." Jin stammered, confused at her behavior.
Ember smiled, "Nothing but I was...?"
Jin frowned and said nothing.
"You were wondering where's Rei, right?" Ember asked knowingly, averting her gaze from his face to the rising sun. "Beautiful sunrise..." she murmured.
Jin shook his head in disbelief.
"What? Think that admiring nature's simple gifts are too childish?" Ember asked, her eyebrow raised.
"Of course not." Jin answered.
"Wish Rei could see this..."
Jin looked at Ember. "What do you mean?"
Ember turned away from the rising sun, "She doesn't have much time anymore to see such things, especially now."
Jin gazed at the sun thoughtfully, 'That woman is too cold-hearted.'
Ember threw Jin a reflexive look, "Really? You think her cold-hearted?"
Jin shrugged. They both stared at the sun as it fully rose. Then, Ember asked Jin, completely off-guard, "Would you call someone who gives life and a heart cold-hearted?"
-TBC-