Chapter 4:
After Dinner.
"What do you think of Ember?" This was something that Sofia and Amber did once a week with each other. They would enjoy a nice warm bath together every Saturday Night, just to talk to each other.
Amber sighed a bit, "I know that I said that she wasn't a monster during dinner… but Sofia. She killed so many people over her years, I get that she had no choice because of what she is. But… what happens if she loses control, what happens if she tries to eat one of us."
"You heard Aunt Tilly during dinner, as long as Ember has other things to eat she won't have to eat a human for 5 months." Sofia countered.
"And what then Sofia?" Amber sunk deeper into the warm calming waters. "What happens after that, what if she loses control in those 5 months and hurt Aunt Tilly?"
Sofia reached out and took her sister's hand, "I don't think that will happen, I know and trust aunt Tilly. She wouldn't have taken Ember in if she didn't know what she was doing."
"This all just really new…. And kinda of scary," Amber admitted. "Just yesterday the first time I heard of ghouls was in the story Aunt Tilly told us. Then daddy says that something has been killing people, and now we have a ghoul as a cousin."
"I see what you mean, Ember seems to be such a nice girl and yesterday she was in so much pain over the lives she had taken. I wanna get to know her more and give her the childhood she never really had." Sofia said.
"Well if there is anyone that can show her a good time, it would be Aunt Tilly," Amber said with a giggle.
A loud knocking was heard on the door, "it Aunt Tilly."
"Come in," Sofia called back.
Aunt Tilly came into the bath chambers with a very nervous Ember behind her, "good evening girls, I wanted to know if Ember could you two for a dip in the water?"
"It's fine if you say no I can't wait for you to get out." Ember quickly added.
"No problem," Sofia answered with a smile. "It would be nice to get to know you a little more right Amber."
"Yes, it would," Amber said with a bit hesitation
"Thank you," Tilly kneeled down and placed her hands on her Ember's shoulders. "Don't worry you are in good hands with these two."
"Wait, you're not gonna stay?" Ember said in a frightened voice.
"Don't worry, I am not going anywhere, I just have a couple things to take care of." Tilly gently rubbed her new daughter's cheek. "I promise that will be back."
"Ok," Ember said softly.
"Atta girl." Tilly stood up and helped Ember undress and into the water, before taking her leave from the room.
"Oh my God!" Ember almost melted as she slowly relaxed in the warm water. "This is amazing.'
"I'm guessing you don't really get warm baths like this huh?" Amber asked.
"No way, I would be lucky if I somehow found a hot spring," Ember answered with a wide smile on her face. "You guys are so lucky, you can have anything you want when you want it. You get so much good food to eat and sweet drinks."
"Well, now you have those things too," Sofia told the girl.
"I know…. But I don't deserve this." Ember sighed and looked down at her reflection in the water. "You girls probably think I'm a monster, you said I wasn't to make me feel better… didn't you?"
"Well, you do kind of eat people," Amber replied lightly earning a sharp poke from Sofia right on her side.
"I know… and I know that you two are scared that I might hurt someone." Ember held her head up and gave them a very small smile. "You don't have to be scared of me. I don't wanna hurt anyone else anymore."
"I'm not scared of you." Ember looked over at Sofia with a questioning look. "Ok. I was scared of you at first… only because I didn't know you. But when I talked to you that night, I wasn't scared anymore."
"Your way to nice to me Princess Sofia," Ember answered with a giggle.
"You can just call me Sofia we are family now," said Sofia.
"Ok… Sofia." Ember smile brightened a bit.
"Can you show us your powers?" Amber suddenly asked. "I think if I could see your powers then I could be more at ease."
"Sure no problem." Ember closed her eyes and then opened them. The space in her eyes was now all black leaving a bright red pupil. "These eyes of mine can see way better in the darkness than any animal in the world." Ember stood up from the bath and turned around. She took a deep breath and to shock of Amber and Sofia four red like tails grew from her lower back.
"This is my power, I can summon these tails from my body on will. I can make them sharper than this and they are stronger than stone." Ember pulled them back inside and sat back down. "I can also heal really fast."
"Doesn't that ruin clothes?" Amber asked.
"Yeah but I never really cared about that, I always wore tattered clothes so I didn't care," Ember answered.
The three girls relaxed in the water for a while, having a pleasant conversation. "Hey, Ember… can I ask a kind of personal question?"
"Go ahead," Amber took a deep breath.
"What is it like to eat a human?" Ember sighed heavily.
"I don't know how to describe it, I hate doing it so I try and take out bad people, but sometimes I lose control and forgot what happened." Ember reached up and rubbed her eye. "Believe me when I say that I hate it, I hate doing what I do, and I am so glad that my nightmare is over."
"I'm glad too," Amber replied. "How about tomorrow me, James and Sofia show you a good time."
"That would be wonderful," Ember answered with a huge smile on her face.
"Great." The three girls spent the rest of that getting to know each other a little better. Once they had finished and gotten changed, (Ember borrowing one of Sofia's nightdresses) the children meet in Sofia's room for a game before bedtime.
During their game, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Sofia called out.
Ivy came into the room with a platter of milk and chocolate chip cookies. "Good evening your majesties, the king and queen thought that you 4 would wanna a little snake."
"Alright." James stood to his feet and took the platter from Ivy. "Why don't you join us for a new game Jenny."
"Oh no I couldn't," Ivy quickly bowed towards James. "I couldn't possibly join royalty."
"Nonsense," Amber patted the space next to her. "We have more than enough room and more than enough cookies for you to come and join us."
"If you allow it then I will join you, thank you for the opportunity," Ivy answered politely.
It was a fun night for the 5 children with Ivy showing a little more of her more childlike side. Showing her love for chocolate and games. "Jenny, have we meet somewhere before?" Ember asked after a while.
"Now that you mention it Princess Ember, it does seem like we have locked eyes before," Ivy answered as she ate another cookie. "Maybe you passed by the orphanage or have seen me in town."
"Maybe," Ember answered. "How long have you been at that orphanage?"
"Let's see," Ivy put her hand on her cheek in a thinking matter. "For me while." Since Ivy honestly had no idea how long Jenny had been in that orphanage. However, Ivy didn't see Sofia give her a slight glance. "I am just really really glad to be working her now, and I am so grateful for the king and queen for giving me this chance." The group played their game a for a little longer until Baileywick came in.
"Good evening, I was sent to inform you that it is bedtime." Ember groaned at that.
"But we were just starting to have so much fun." Ember pouted a bit.
"Don't worry we are all gonna see each other tomorrow for even more fun." Sofia reminded. "Jenny if you want you could also join us."
"I couldn't do that Princess Sofia, I have work to do tomorrow." Ivy reminded.
"Perhaps you could join us after you have finished your chores?" Jame proposed.
"I will see if I can." Ivy stood to her feet and bowed. "Have a good nights sleep," Ivy grabbed the platter they had brought in and made her way towards the kitchens.
"Something isn't right," Sofia said once Ivy had left. "Why doesn't Jenny remember me?"
"What do you mean Sof?" James asked.
"I've known Jenny for almost a year now, she is great friends with Jade and Ruby. I'm just confused on why she doesn't seem to recognize me," Sofia explained.
"Maybe she is just trying to be politely, for now, maybe she is afraid that if she messes up that she might have to leave." Amber proposed.
Sofia shook her head, "something just doesn't feel right."
Ember was lost, she had no idea how to get back to the room she had been staying with and she seemed to be walking around in circles. Ember turned a corner and was knocked down to her backside, she looked up and saw a very stern looking captain Matthew standing there. "G-Good Evening."
Matthew looked down at the child with a glare on his face, "hello demon, or should I say Princess Ember!" Matthew stepped over the girl and made his way down the hallway. "I have no idea that the Duchess is thinking, adopting a monster that killed 14 of my men and countless others!"
Ember flinched at the stern words she was receiving, "I-I didn't mean."
Matthew spun on his heels and back over to the girl before lifting her off the ground and slamming her into the wall. "You didn't mean to do what! Kill my men?! Kill people?! I don't know what you are, but what I do know is this. If it was up to me I would kill you right now!"
Ember's eyes went wide and she began to shake with fear as tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Captian Matthew!" A loud stern voice filled the hallway as King Roland came around the corner. "Put her down this instant!"
Matthew let go of Ember sending her falling hard to the floor, "your majesty I have served you loyally for almost 12 years, and you are allowing that thing to stay here. She killed my men, men with family and friends!"
"She had no control over her powers at that moment and you stated that for a fact!" Roland answered. "I think it is time for you to leave."
"Yes, my king!" Matthew said bowed before walking off for the rest of his patrol. "Demon girl!"
Roland rushed over to Ember's side and placed a hand on her shoulder, "are you ok?"
Ember eye went wide in fear as she sniffles as tears rushed down her face. "I don't deserve to be here, he is right. I am nothing more than a demon!"
Ember jumped a bit as Roland pulled her into a tight embrace, "don't say that," Roland answered firmly. "You are not a demon and you are not a monster." Roland released his hold on the girl. "Come with me, I wanna show you something." Roland offered Ember his hand.
Ember was a bit hesitant, "I don't know… wouldn't Ms. Tilly get upset with me if I wasn't back at my room for bed."
Roland smile, "well I could just say that I give you an order as the king to come and spend some time with your wonderful new uncle."
A giggle slipped from Ember's mouth as she grabbed his hand, "where are we going?"
"The Observatory." Roland chuckled a bit as Ember looked up at him with a puzzled look. "An observatory is a place where we can look at the stars, have you ever looked at the stars from a telescope?"
"No, sir." Roland smiled a bit more.
"I have a feeling that you will like it," Roland remarked as he left with his new niece.
The second they walked in, Ember was overwhelmed as she looked up at the ceiling in pure amazement. "They look so much clearer up here!"
"Ember", the girl turned and looked towards Roland. "Come and take a look through here."
The black hair girl happily ran over and looked through the telescope, "everything is so close, it's almost like I'm there!"
Once Ember's excitement had calmed down, Roland had her sit in a chair across from him. "Ember…," Roland began gently. "How are you doing?"
"I was doing fine until that guard scared me like that." Ember looked up at the ceiling admiring the stars. "Princess Sofia, Princess Amber, and Prince James are so kind to me and invited me to come and play with them tomorrow."
"Please excuse what Matthew did to you," said Roland.
"It's not his fault," Ember defended. "He was right, I killed his men and that was wrong. No matter what is said I have killed so many people and I hate that." Ember's hands began to shake a bit as she looked down at them. "The blood on my hands is what scares me the most".
Roland reached out and gently took her hands in her own. "Look at me Ember." Ember looked up at King Roland and was surprised how warm and welcoming his eyes looked. "I cannot say anything that could make you feel better for the death you have caused in your past. However, if you allow the seeds of your past to grow bigger. The more pain you will feel, see this as a brand new day run wild with it and enjoy what this new life has to offer."
Ember looked up at Roland in surprise as tears began to fill her eyes, "I can be free from my past?"
"Of course you can if there is one thing that Sofia has taught me is that everyone deserves a second chance." Roland reached out and wiped the tears from Ember's eyes. "My sister really cares about you Ember, it may seem a bit rushed and everything may seem so new to you. However, believe me when I say this, as long as we are here. No one is gonna hurt you ever again."
At that moment the doors to the conservatory opened up and Tilly came walking in. "There you are?" Tilly walked over to the duo. "I was looking for your Ember."
Ember reached up and wiped her tears away, "sorry the King wanted me to spend a little time with him."
"That is perfectly fine." Tilly almost immediately noticed that something was wrong. "Did something happen before I came?"
"I'm just happy," Ember said with a sniffle. "For the first time, I can start over and be a kid instead of running across the world."
Tilly smile as she walked over and hugged her daughter, "I am very happy to hear that, now I believe it is time for a certain someone to get some rest."
Ember yawned, "but I'm not tired just yet."
"Now now." Tilly gently tapped her sister on her noes. "Sleep is something that everyone needs, especially a young lady like you."
"Ok," said Ember, "goodnight King Roland."
"Please call me Uncle Roland now," Roland gave the young ghoul a warm hug. "Have a good night young lady."
Once Tilly and Ember had made it back to Ember's room, Tilly tucked her new daughter into bed. "Get some rest Ember, knowing my nieces and nephew you are gonna have a wonderful yet fun day tomorrow."
Ember for the first time in years actually relaxed her body. "It's so weird," She said weakly. "For the first time in a long time, I can sleep without fear of being hunted." Ember's snuggled deeper into the covers. Ember was asleep in seconds with a soft smile on her face.
Ivy was surprised when one of the head maids named Violet came into her room and offered to tuck her into bed. Ivy accepted to be nice but once Violet had left, Ivy was back out of her bed. She waited for the lights to go across the palace as everyone began to go to sleep. Ivy took her nightdress off, and with a wave of her wand, she changed back into her black clothes. Ivy opened the window to her room and leaped out of it, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small device. She hit a button and that small device quickly grew into a huge scythe
5 feet in length and the curved blade was 4 feet in length as well. Ivy spun her prized weapon into the air and slammed it into the side of the palace. She carefully slides herself down the palace wall, jumping window on the lower levels. Ivy pressed the same button as before and her weapon folded back down into a pen-sized device. Ivy pulled her hood up over her head and quickly ran towards a certain office she needed to look at.
She may act really silly at times, however, she was one of the smartest kids in the world. And the thing that gives her such an edge was her ability to memorize locations. Including King Roland's office, she came to a stop outside of the door and tried the handle. The door cracked open and one light was on. Ivy listened carefully for any sound, hearing nothing she walked into the office and began to look through his desk drawers. "Let's see, caster personal no, safety measures no, murder investigations over the last view days no….".
"What are you doing!" Ivy pulled her head further over her head covering her whole face and stood up. King Roland was standing in the doorway with Tilly by his side with her wand by her side. Ivy's carefully made her way from behind King Roland's desk with her hands up. "I asked you a question what are you doing?"
Ivy said nothing, "my brother asked you a question, I think it would be wise if you answered it." With the speed of a cat, Ivy spun around and ran towards the window. Shattered glass heard as she jumped out of the window. "Get the guards!" Tilly said. Ivy grabbed the railing and jumped into the air grabbing onto another window and climbing inside. Ivy made a mad dash back to the room she was staying in. She took off her black clothes and changed back into nightdress she was wearing. She used a spell and set her old clothes on fire and threw them out of her window, before getting under the covers and pretending like she was asleep.
"Dang it." Ivy thought. "Looks like we have to do this the boring way."
30 minutes later.
"Your majesty we did a full sweep of the castle, and have found nothing," Matthew reported.
"Thank you, Matthew, do one more check and you may bring this search to an end. Then you and your men can enjoy the night." Roland ordered as he checked through all of his files. "Nothing is gone," Roland confirmed.
"Are you sure," Tilly asked standing watch, at the window side.
"Yes, everything is still here we probably caught whoever it was in the act." Roland pulled out the file he had made on Ember. "Tilly hold on to this."
Tilly walked over and took the file from him, "what if they were looking for Ember?"
"We won't let anything happen to her Tilly," Roland said firmly. "As long as we are here she will be fine."
"Anything could happen," Tilly took a seat in one of the chairs, "what do you think they were looking for?"
"If it was a thief probably a key to the castle treasury but then they would have to get past the griffins." Roland placed a hand on his chin. "This is my fault, I let my guard down after all this peace I didn't think I needed to lock my office."
"This isn't your fault baby brother, just be glad that we came back soon and stopped them." Tilly gave a soft smile. "Just keep this room locked and I trust that the guard will do its job and keep this palace safe."
Roland smiled at his older sister, "keep that file Tilly, it has everything that we know about Ember so far and seeing that she is your daughter. You should keep it safe."
"I will," Tilly promised.
"How long until you leave?"
"Well I still wanna find that treasure and the time stone, and since my wonderful nieces and nephew are ready for an adventure. I will still for a long while." Tilly put the file into her back and then pulled out the map she had found. "If ghouls are real, that gives me, even more, hope that the reality stones are real."
"What would you even do with the time stone?" Tilly smiled.
"I don't want to keep the time stone baby brother, just having it and knowing that reality stones are real would change so much history." Roland gave his sister an, 'I do not believe you', look. "Okay and maybe I want to go back and time… and maybe even forward in time."
The brother and sister spent some time catching up on some old memorize, finally, Matthew came back. "My men from the outside just reported in no one was found and the castle has been checked from top to bottom no one us here."
"Thank you, Captian Matthew, you can tell your men to get some sleep. Also, I want security in the palace raised a bit." Matthew bowed to his king. "Also my children are planning on showing Ember a good time tomorrow. Please have your best men watching them I'd rather something not happen."
"Yes my king," Matthew turned on his heels and left the room.
It was a busy night and everyone was glad to get much-needed sleep.
A/N Let me know what you think of this.
Also I wanna explain why there are so many new chapters coming out. Right now I am on break from college, and right now I am just trying to get as many chapters out before I get back to work at school.