Chapter 6.
That night.
"Jenny!" Ivy quickly hid her wand from view, she was planning on calling Jimmy. Princess Sofia came rushing into the room, "are you ok?"
"Don't worry," Ivy quickly consoled. "I'm fine… I'm just sad that I messed the party."
Sofia walked over and took a seat on the girl's bed, "I'm so glad that you are ok. We came back from our day with Ember and dad told us what happened. I was so worried about you."
Ivy sat up and held her chest with a loud wince, taking a hit from her clone was no easy tasks. It actually broke a couple of ribs, "you have no idea how scary that girl was. She came out of nowhere."
A knock was heard on the door and King Roland came into the room, "Jenny I see that you are awake."
"Your majesty," Ivy bowed her head in respect. "Is Duchess Tilly ok now?"
"She is fine my dear, and it is all because of you." Roland took a seat on the boy's bed, "we owe you a great thanks, your quick thinking possible saved Tilly's life." Roland said as she took her hand. "You will be greatly rewarded for risking your life today."
Ivy shook her head, "I don't need a reward, my king, knowing that the Duchess is safe and sound is all the reward I need."
Roland smiled at that, "Although you still deserve that reward, and for starters, I had something made for you." Roland whistled and Violet came into the room with a tray with her. "Since you haven't had dinner or lunch today I know you are hungry. So I had the chefs make you something truly breathtaking for dinner."
While the main dish looked wonderful, it was the desert that had Ivy's eyes sparkling with glee. "I see you noticed the cake, that is a triple chocolate cake." Everything smelled wonderful and Ivy was so happy about this. Traveling with Jimmy they didn't really get that many good meals like this.
"Once you are finished someone will come for the dishes, you are ordered to take as much time off as you need to recover," Roland said firmly. "I know you will want to get back to work, but your recovery is much more important than that."
"Yes my king," Roland gently patted her hand and took his leave.
"I'll be here to help you as much as I can Jenny," Sofia promised.
"Sofia ill be fine once I get something to eat and some more sleep I'll be moving around again," Ivy responded. To be quite honest, she really really didn't like Sofia that much however she knew that Sofia could give her some very important information. "I do have a favor to ask of you?"
"What is it?"
"Can you stay and help me while I eat this, everything I lift my arm my back hurts a lot." Ivy lied.
"Of course," Sofia answered.
Ivy's original plan was the find more things about this Ember girl, so by having Sofia by her side. They could have a conversation and Ivy could eventually spin there talk. "When was Princess Ember adopted by Duchess Tilly?"
"Well…. She was adopted around 3 days ago, aunt Tilly needs to get the paperwork and it will be official very soon." Sofia explained.
"Really!" Ivy exclaimed in shock disbelieve, "I thought that she had been with her for years."
"No, Ember was found by my aunt a couple days ago, she was found in the woods near Dunwiddie," Sofia added.
"The woods near Dunwiddie?" Ivy thought, "so she was in the area where me and Jimmy were looking for that ghoul huh?" She needed to know more, "do you know what happened the other night when all of those guards were in the forest."
"You heard about that?" Ivy nodded her head.
"Of course I did," Ivy confirmed. "They said that Carol was injured and rumors were saying that a lot of guards lost their lives fighting a monster," Ivy added in a frightened voice. "What do you know about that?"
"I guard came in and told my dad, I had to come along with since I am a protector now," Sofia explained.
"Wait she's a protector!" Ivy thought in shock.
Ivy knew a lot about the Mystic Isles since she and Jimmy had traveled there before on business. They had come in contact with protectors of the isles a couple times, she knew about their powers and abilities. She had heard that a human was made protector of the Ever Realm. (So just found out that Ever Realm was like that instead of the way I had been spelling it) However, she never thought that it was gonna be the princess of Enchancia.
"Are there any protectors looking into it?" Ivy questioned. See the protectors tended to treat Jimmy (Jing-Shuan) as an enemy since they didn't only hunt down ghouls. They also hunted down a view criminals on the isles, which was very illegal there.
"Well, they are looking into it," Sofia lied. "I also let a man by the name of Orion know what happened today. He is coming tomorrow to ask you a couple of questions."
It took everything in her power not to scream, "just freaking great protectors are coming here!" Ivy snapped in her mind. "Are they gonna stay for a while?"
Sofia nodded her head, "from what aunt Tilly told me today. Orion is gonna keep two protectors here for a couple weeks just in case." Ivy had to keep a calm face but to be honest she was very upset. With protectors here trying to steal that file from Tilly just got much harder.
"Are they strong?" Sofia gave her friend a strange look. "Sorry, what I mean is are they strong enough to protect us all?"
"Well Chrysta is very strong, but I don't know about Orion, or even who the other protector coming is," Sofia answered.
"Wonderful," Ivy thought, "It's a good thing," she played along, "more protection means that everyone is gonna be safer."
"I know," Sofia agreed. "Jenny…. weren't you scared when you saw the girl?"
"Very scared," Ivy couldn't help but hype herself up. "She was scary looking and that weird weapon she had was so scary." Ivy put on a very scared face. "I honestly thought that I was gonna die, but I also thought that if I could save the Duchess I would be remembered."
"Jenny….", Sofia reached out and took her friend's hand. "You will be remembered you're one of the nicest kids I have ever meet. Everyone in the village will remember your kindness towards all, you remember that right?"
"I don't remember much still Sofia," Ivy remarked. "Right when I began to remember somethings that girl showed up and hit me into a wall. I forgot some things after that."
"It must be hard," Sofia said sadly. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like if I had lost my memory."
"It's hard… but I am just gonna keep trying my hardest to remember my past," said Ivy.
"I wish you good luck," Sofia answered with a smile.
Eventually, Sofia had to leave to check on Cedric, much to Ivy's relief, she had acted like she was asleep and after Violet had checked on her. She finally had a chance and contacted Jimmy.
"Hi, Jimmy!" Ivy said happily as she waved at the portal she made.
"Good evening Ivy," Jing Shuan said. "How you found that ghoul yet or any information."
"Well….", Ivy explained everything that she had found, the file in Tilly bag, about her theory on Ember being a ghoul. Everything she had found out, she explained.
"Interesting," Jing-Shuan remarked. "You are doing quite well, next time you use a clone make sure that it isn't caught or isn't used for violence. The magical clone is a very good tool for spying and assassination work, use one tonight if you can and get that file from Duchess Tilly. If this Ember girl is the ghoul we are looking for, call me and then you may kill her.
"You mean I can kill her without you being there!" Ivy exclaimed in glee.
"Yes I'm sure that you can take her out once I get the call I will be there as soon as I can, you are allowed to go all out if need be." Ivy gave the man a salute.
"Thank you, Jimmy!" Ivy hung up her call she casted the spell magically clone creating two versions of herself. "Alright looky here clones of me, you are to sneak into the Duchess room and go through her bag tonight. Do not get caught, this is purely stealth, find a file in her back and read through it. Once that is done you may disappear, one of you is to go in the other stand watch." Ivy explained with a loud yawn. "Also no scythes tonight, and be careful."
"Yes ma'am Orginal clone of me ma'am!" The clones answered with giggles.
"Alright wait at least an hour before you head out," Ivy yawned once again before laying her head down on a pillow. "Have fun."
"Alright," Ivy 1 replied.
"You can count on us," Ivy 2 added.
"Question what if we don't find it tonight?" Ivy 1 asked.
"Then you stay until tomorrow night and try again, you stay hidden until we find that file," Ivy explained.
"I have an idea!" Ivy two explained. "What if one of us spies on the Ember girl and the other goes looking for the file!"
"That is a great idea Ivy 2!"
"Thanks, Ivy's 1," Ivy clapped her hands getting their attention.
"Look do whatever plan you want just let me go to sleep," Ivy said.
"Be fair Orignal Ivy," Ivy 1 complained. "As a magic clone, we don't need food or sleep we just wanna have fun!"
"Then go have fun somewhere else or I'll make you go bye bye!" Ivy responded.
"Fine fine fine!" Ivy 1 complained as she disappeared out of the window, and Ivy two went running out of the door sticking to the shadows.
Ember's room bedtime.
Ember hadn't gotten ready for bed, she was currently pacing her room. King Roland informed them what had happened, including her new mother's bravery as she dueled with the wicked child. The door to her room cracked open and TIlly came walking into the room.
"Ms. Tilly!" Ember rushed over to the woman and hugged her tightly.
Tilly hugged her new daughter back with a smile on her face, "it's ok sweetie I'm ok." Tilly gently rubbed her head.
"I was worried about you," Ember admitted. "What happened?"
"Well, I can explain that in a second," Tilly reached down and gently patted Ember on her noes. "After a day of adventure, it only makes sense that you take a nice warm bath."
"That can wait," said Ember. "Right now I wanna know what happened."
"Well if you want, I can tell you while you take your bath," Tilly responded.
"But Ms. Tilly," Tilly gently placed her finger on her daughter's lips.
"No backtalk," Ember sighed but nodded her head in defeat.
"Sorry," Ember said gently.
"Nothing to be sorry about my dear," Tilly answered with a smile. "Now come along and lets get you nice and clean."
After a very nice and warm bath, Ember was changed into her nightgown and sat down on her bed. "Can you tell me what happened now?"
"Alright," Tilly explained the entire situation to her daughter. "There you have it, we have no idea where this young lady went and where she is right now…. Ember are you ok?"
Ember's eyes were in shock, "Ms. Tilly…. I know who that girl was!" She said in a frightened voice.
"Really!" Ember nodded her head, "can you tell me and my brother who this is?"
"Yes," Tilly quickly left and got King Roland.
"Ember, my sister told me that you know who that young girl is?" Ember nodded her head.
"Her name is Ivy…. she is a powerful and wicked little girl. She is known as the grim reapers vicious crow," Ember began to shake like a leaf in the winds. "She is a ghoul hunter."
"A ghoul hunter? What is a ghoul hunter?" Roland asked gently.
Tilly wrapped her arm around her daughter and gently rubbed her back, "a ghoul hunter hunts down ghouls and kills them… she and her master caught me a few weeks ago. We fought for the whole night under the moonlight. I was gonna kill her… but then her master came in." Ember rested her head against Tilly's shoulder. "Even when I lost control… he cut me up and almost killed me in only 3 swings of his blade. I was barely able to escape, and now they have followed me here." Ember began to cry, "please I know you all meant good and today was so much fun…. But I have to leave now."
"Nonsense," Tilly spoke up. "You are not leaving, you are not gonna be alone again!"
"I'd rather be alone then get everyone killed!" Ember yelled. "You have no idea what kind of monsters they are. Ms. Tilly, Ivy alone would run through you at her full power, but Jing-Shuan the grim reaper would kill everyone in here just to get to me!" Ember pushed Tilly off her and made a mad dash towards the door. "I CAN'T STAY HERE!"
Tilly recovered quickly and grabbed Ember by her shoulder, "Ember calm down!"
"NO!" Ember shook wildly as she struggled to free her arm. "LET ME GO!"
"I will not!" Tilly remarked. "Ember as long I am here no one is gonna hurt you ever again!"
"LET GO!"
"NO!"
"LET GO!" Ember pleaded.
"EMBER ZAMANTHA BLOODMOON CALM DOWN NOW!" Tilly ordered sternly.
Ember stopped her struggling as Tilly called out her full name and dropped to her knees. "I don't... I don't want anyone to get hurt anymore because of me… your children showed me such a great time, and I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me!"
Tilly kneeled down and brought her into a warm embrace, "Ember I know we just meet a couple days ago. I have no idea what kind of pain you have been through. I have no idea…. But know this sweetheart when I said that you were my daughter. I was not pretending… no matter what happens I will protect you!" Tilly said firmly. "No one is gonna come between me and you, I will stand tall and fight tooth and nail for you. I learned something at a very young age from my own mother. Hell has no fury like a mother protecting her child."
"Why," Ember remarked weakly. "You don't know me at all… why do you want to protect me?"
Tilly turned Ember around and placed her hands on her head. "Do I need a reason to want to love and protect you like a mother?"
"No," Tilly leaned forward and gave her daughter a kiss on her forehead. "Why don't you get some sleep?"
"I can't sleep not while that demon is somewhere near here," Ember answered.
"Ember if I may," Roland spoke up. "Look I understand fully that we are new people to you. That you may not have experienced such kindness from strangers before. However, we are good people and we want to protect you with everything we have."
"I don't want to go," Ember admitted. "But I can't sleep well knowing that nearby are people who want to kill me."
Tilly took her daughter by the hand and gently lifted her to her feet, "just trust me Ember, a good nights sleep will make you feel so much better."
(Song is sung to the tune of Everything's Alright from Jesus Christ Superstar)
Tilly: Try not to get worried,
try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh
Don't you know that
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
I promise everything will be fine tonight
Close your eyes, close your eyes
And get some sleep tonight.
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
Roland: Sleep and we shall soothe you, calm you and protect you
You will be safe here tonight
Then you'll feel that
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine
And you've had a long day today.
Rest mind and body today.
Close your eyes, close your eyes.
And relax, think of nothing tonight.
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
Ember pulled herself from Tilly's grip and looked down.
Ember: King Roland, your kindness, Ms. Tilly your love.
Could have been save for another.
Why has it been wasted? You could save maybe.
An orphan worthy of it more.
I am just a ghoul, a child deserves nothing.
But to be truly alone.
Tilly knelled down and gently lifted Ember's chin and Roland placed a hand on her shoulder.
Tilly and Roland: Try not to get worried,
try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh
Don't you know that
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
We promise everything will be fine tonight
Close your eyes, close your eyes
And get some sleep tonight.
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
Ember once again broke free of their hold and shook her head.
Ember: Surely you're not saying,
That you truly want me.
To stay here with you lot.
There must be someone, truly must be someone.
That deserves so much more.
Look! I understand it.
Look! I have been through this.
It will all be so much better, with me gone!"
Ember has spun around and was stunned as Roland and Tilly brought her into a group hug. It felt so familiar in way… something she hadn't felt in such a long time.
Tilly and Roland: Ember we love you.
We want to protect you!
Trust us when we say that.
Everythings alright, yes, everything's fine.
And we want you to sleep well tonight.
We promise everything will be fine tonight
Close your eyes, close your eyes
And get some sleep tonight.
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine…
Ember was stunned as tears began to flow from her eyes, "I DON'T WANT TO GO!"
"And we don't want you too either," Tilly reassured.
"No one in this family wants you to leave us," Roland added.
"Come in," Cedric called out weakly. After the casting of Akaran Protection, it had used up most of his magical powers. So he was currently resting in his workshop nearly asleep.
"Good evening Mr. Cedric," Sofia greeted happily as she came in with a tray of food. "I brought you some dinner from the kitchen."
"Thank you Princess Sofia," Cedric said thankfully he sat up in his bed and stretched a bit.
"No problem Mr. Cedric," Sofia set the tray on his nightstand and took a seat on his bed. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, Sofia I should be fine after some sleep, casting a spell that powerful takes a lot of magical energy." Cedric explained.
"I had no idea that you could make clones that can explode on will," Cedric took a sip of water and then summoned his spellbook to his hand. "I suppose I should tell you more about the 2 main types of magic."
"There are different types of magic?" asked Sofia.
"Yes, right now you know what is called Sorcery, sorcery is what we sorcerers use on a daily basis while it may seem hard. It is considered the most basic of the 2 types." Sofia was stunned.
"But you make that magic look so hard," Cedric chucked a bit.
"Don't get me wrong all magic is hard and takes years to truly master but compared to the other types, it is still considered easier," Cedric explained. "The second type we have is combat magic, powerful blasts of magic, shields that protect those from harm. This is the type of magic that is used to defend the kingdoms. Myself personally I am not to good at attack magic, but my defense and sensory magic are at a high level. The magical clone technique is a type of combat magic"
"Can you show me sometime?" Cedric nodded his head. "Maybe tomorrow?"
"Well see how I feel," Cedric answered. "Combat Magic is divided into numerous parts, attack, defense, sensory, healing. As well as different elements, fire, water, earth, air, lightning, darkness, light, are just the 7 basic ones."
"What do you mean by basic?"
"Those are the basic seven elements, when you combine two or more of those elements you can use other types of magic. Like Ice, magic is made when you combine water and wind." Cedric explained. "It is rare for someone to be skilled in all 7 basic elements, most are just skilled in one or maybe two styles."
"What types are you good at?" Sofia asked.
"Since I am good at defense magic, I decided to study the more solid type being earth magic," Cedric answered.
"Is there a way to tell what type you are good at?" Cedric shook his head.
"It is up to you to decide what type you study," Cedric explained.
"Do you have any books on light, water, and wind magic?" Sofia asked.
"The second shelf," Cedric answered. "Be careful and do not attempt to try any combat magic unless myself or your aunt is with you."
"How come?" Sofia asked sweatly.
"Combat magic is hard and takes up a lot of magic power, you are a protector and you are still a child. You may have a lot of magic power right now, but overusing that supply with get you tired very fast." Cedric replied. "I'd rather not come outside and find your face down on the ground."
"Alright, I promise," Sofia responded.
"Good," Cedric sent his book back to his bookshelf. "Now I am gonna eat and get some rest if I feel better tomorrow I can show you a thing or two about defense magic."
"Ok, thanks for the lesson Mr. Cedric," Sofia gladly thanked.
"Anytime Princess Sofia," Cedric answered. "And thank you for the food."
"No problem Mr. Cedric," Sofia answered back with a small wave as she left his workshop with 3 books.
Ember had finally calmed down, and Roland had left the room to wish his children a good nights sleep. "Mom….", Ember said quietly with a bit of a blush. "Thank you….".
Tilly was exstatic, "I think I like that more than Ms. Tilly." Tilly gently teased. "You have nothing to thank me for Ember, I am just glad that you want to stay here. And I am glad that you are here with me as a member of this family."
"I am too," Ember said as a yawn as she fell asleep with a smile on her face, "did you really mean what you said. That you were gonna protect me?"
"Ember I promise, no matter what may happen I am gonna protect you now and forever more." Tilly responded as she tucked her daughter into bed, "no one is gonna hurt you and if anyone tries to do that. They will have me to deal with, now please I want you to get some sleep."
Tilly: Try not to get worried,
try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh
Don't you know that
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
Ember: I think I will sleep well tonight.
I'll Rest my mine and my body tonight.
I'll Close my eyes close my eyes.
Relax and think nothing tonight.
"Love you," Ember whispered as she fell asleep.
"I love you too my dear," Tilly responded as she planted a kiss on her face, she turned around and began to leave the room. Tilly had made it to the door and turned around to look at her one more time. Tilly jumped in shock as, Ember was sitting up in bed, her normally black hair had turned snow white and she was looking at her.
"Good evening Duchess please have a seat and let's talk," this voice was darker and almost sinister. Her eyes hadn't turned red, but they might as well have.
"Who are you?" Tilly questioned. "You aren't my Ember?"
"Your Ember?" The girl began to giggle. "My my isnt that great, someone finally claiming her, my name is Fury."
"Ok then… Fury who are you?" Tilly questioned.
"If you want to know more, I suggest you sit down and relax cause it is story time." Tilly took a seat on the edge of Ember's bed with her want by her side. "I said relax, I'm not gonna hurt you or rather she won't let me."
"What do you mean by that?" Fury let out a sigh.
"I will put it like this, I was created when Ember lost total control of her emotions and went on a rampage since then I have been the main one doing all the fighting, when she has to hunt I do it. Cause mentally she was not the one to do so." Fury explained.
"May I ask what happened?" Fury nodded her head.
"It was a very long time ago, she might have been 5 I think when she was captured by a wealthy man. Who put her through so much pain, see he was in the slave trade business. So when he captured Ember it was the catch of the year." Fury began. "See no one knew what a ghoul was and they just thought she was indestructible…. The amount of pain she went through at just five years old was horrible."
"Ember was put through task after task, running through flames, stepping on nails, she may heal but the pain is still there! It still exists, ghouls are not immune to pain…. They didn't know that, they just thought it was amazing that she heals. So it was a hard year there, that is something a child that young shouldn't go through. Finally, she began to lose it, and one day she activated her powers and killed the young girl. The man was enraged, and he had her tortured every day, every hour for almost a month straight. The rest she got was when they would switch her tormentors, and after 2 weeks of this. She snapped and created a personality that would handle her pain. She created a savior and the savior was me. I remember breaking those chains they had me, and I killed the rich family and consumed them.
Since then we have been traveling the world and she would lose it so quickly, people are mean. And they would treat her like shit when every they saw her eyes. A demon child, and then she would black out and I would run amuck. I am her protector, I would fight for her when she needed me too. I would kill for her, I would protect her. Me and Ember are differnet she is much kinder and sweeter than I would ever be. The other night I was the one who slaughtered those men and I would have kill the princess, the king and you if Ember hadn't stopped me. She doesn't like killing, she hates death."
"Unbelievable," Tilly reached up and wiped a tear from her eye. "So where is Ember now?"
"When she sleeps I can come out and my spirit takes over her body, while hers rests," Fury narrowed her eyes at Tilly. "So onto why I am out here, I wanna ask one question. Do you truly care for Ember or are you just using her as a research toy!?"
"Of course I care for her!" Tilly snapped.
"Believe me when I say that I've heard that before!" Fury snapped. "I love Ember so much and I truly want to protect her, and she loves you unlike any other!" Fury stood to her feet and the 4 tails came from her back. All four pointed towards Tilly. "So let me make this very clear! If you hurt her in any way, or anyone in this palace tries to hurt her. I will hold you accountable and I will kill them and you!"
"It won't happen!" Tilly answered back. "I love Ember so much and I will not allow her to get hurt!"
Fury tails slowly disappeared and she sat back down, "then I will hold you to that." Fury sighed, "I want Ember to be a kid again and I want to finally relax and never come back out again."
"Then it seems we want the same thing," Tilly responded. "Do you know what happened to the book that Ember's parents gave her?"
"Well, I forgot to grab it the last time we run away," Fury answered.
"Ok," Fury closed her eyes and slowly her hair began to turn back to black.
"Protect her and love her and hopefully I will fade away for good," Once her hair turned back to normal. Ember fell back into bed, asleep.
Tilly stood up and tucked Ember back into bed, "I will protect you Ember, you two Fury believe that."
Thanks for reading, let me know what you think if you can.