Dark Trail

Decisions

The group decided that they were never going to get out of the woods in the dark, so their best bet would be to rest and leave at first light. They decided on taking shifts and first up was Ember.

She leaned up against a tree and let a tear role down her cheek. She had lost her sister and one of her closest friends. If Ember would have just listened to her dream, she might've been able to get everyone out. She didn't know quite what Eira was doing or how she got involved, but she seriously doubted that she would find out, or if she even wanted to.

She pondered on her childhood. About how Eira was always so intrigued with magic kits, and how she always picked up on how to do it so easily. To easily. There was no denying how different the two sisters were. In fact, they were polar opposites. But there was also no denying how much they loved each other. Wherever one went, the other followed. There was no tearing them apart. Now, though, those memories seemed as far away as the moon was from earth.

Ember didn't know why Eira was doing this. She thought that Eira cared about these people as much as Ember did. Perhaps she was wrong. If only she would have paid more attention to her sister...

The sound of a snapping twig caught Ember's attention. Ember grabbed a stick she had been mindlessly sharpening and stood to face the attacker. A wispy glowing blue shape appeared at the top of a small hill where the sound had come from. Ember couldn't help the urge to follow it. She unwillingly followed this blue ghost thing around the woods. Until it brought her to a womanly figure.

Ember stopped dead in her tracks. "Come closer, young one," the figure called in a voice like silk. Cautiously, Ember did just that. The woman raised a hand threw glowing orbs into the air, lighting the space around us. The woman had bright red hair that seemed to press away from her face because of the curls. She had bright green eyes and a hooked nose with plush lips.

"Who are you?" Ember asked, only a few remaining feet between them, refusing to close them.

"Taber, young Ember. One of many great witches named after great rivers. Yours included," her silky voice telling all.

"Pardon?"

"You heard correctly," Taber said with a hinting laugh.

"Look, lady. I'm no witch. Especially no great one," Ember insisted. Taber's eyes gleamed in the yellow light of the orbs.

"Oh, but you are. You, Ember Taylor, are a grandchild of Hecate. A direct descendent. You have great power inside you just waiting to be released. Perhaps if you were to stay here, in Dark Trail, you would learn how to control your powers. Use them." Ember stared at her. This woman had a similar look about her. She reminded Ember of Eira.

"Have you talked to Eira? My sister?" Ember asked.

"Yes, I have. She has decided to stay in these woods with the rest of Hecate's descendants and even those with no blood relation who wish to learn the ways of the Goddess," Taber informed her.

"Why? What have you done to her?" Ember accused.

"Nothing, my dear. Your mother told you girls a long time ago what you could do. Yet only one of you listened. You could still regain what you've lost."

"Stay here, Ember," a voice to Ember's right said. Ember turned to see a girl with wavy violet hair.

Taber nodded at the girl and greeted her, "Sister Styx."

"Ember," another wispy voice called to her. This girl seemed younger than the other two, but none less strong nor beautiful. Her long, gold hair toppling over her shoulders and onto her long black dress.

"Sister Nile," Taber greeted again.

"Ember please," Ember froze at her sister's pleading voice. "Please just stay here with me." Ember's teeth clenched and she spun to face Eira.

"You killed Jarvis, Eira," Ember whispered because she didn't trust her voice enough to speak. Eira looked as if Ember had slapped her.

"No, Em, no. I didn't kill her. Arachne did! I would never do that to you!" Ember's face contorted.

"I have to go back to everyone. They are depending on me to keep watch," Ember told her but refused to look at her.

"Ember Lynn Reece Taylor. I'm telling you. They can't leave. When will you listen to me? Nobody who doesn't have magic blood can leave!" Eira called after her, but Ember refused to turn around and spit fire back.