The Ember In The Dark ( book one )

Chapter 13

“Distraction is my only alley against the noise,” Danny

- Present time –

Danny had returned home; what had happened? Why had he kissed

her? And why did she kiss him back? Was there a chance he found her attractive?

a thousand questions swirled in her head.

Whatever happened should not have, no matter how good it felt.

She was glad that she pushed him away before Pete caught them.

And what the hell was wrong with Pete? Why was he acting

possessive over her? Still so upset about what he said, even though he saw

nothing.

He barely said anything on the drive back to my house, and after

bandaging me, he just left.

“Now I need to leave earlier than usual just to make it to my

shift,” She grumbled, Wondering why he brought her home and not to the cabin so

she could nap before her shift.

Entering her bedroom, she slammed the door behind her and glared

at the room. Her room was modest, with plain grey walls and grey and silver

geometric wallpaper.

Black-out curtains, which Pete installed to help her sleep, dropped

her windows. Pops of red on the cushion next to her bookshelves. Mostly the

books were from a second-hand store or unreturned library books.

She entered the bathroom she stared at herself in the mirror.

She wasn’t bad-looking, right? Remembering the kiss, she suddenly

blushed.

“Stop it, Daniella,” She scolded herself. “You are not falling

for Blake Conner. You’ve been that road before.”

Danny had always had a crush on Blake when they were younger.

The twins were like the brothers she never had. But Blake, as she grew up, she

saw him differently. Like something otherworldly draws her to him.

Even when they were in high school, despite avoiding him, she

couldn’t help but try to hide her blush whenever she saw him. She would even

catch herself staring at him a little too much.

That’s why she kissed him back; she’s always like Blake. But No!

“You’re leaving for WHC soon.” She told herself as she looked at

herself in the mirror. “No, Daniella!”

She took a shower and decided to avoid Blake at all costs.

Evening fell soon enough, and it was time to leave for her

shift. A lotting some time for her walk to the club.

She calmed down after reminding herself that school was over,

Blake was off to college, and as soon as her dad returned, she was leaving for

the WHC Academy to start her training as a wolf hunter.

WHC academy was where young aspiring hunters are educated and

bread and shifted. Only the best become field hunters.

Ever since her Dad and her uncles told her the truth about her

mother’s murderers and her attackers, she only had one thought: hunt and kill

every wolf she finds.

She knew they were some in her town. She noticed one of them

following her every night for a week now.

She wondered why It hadn’t attacked her yet. She even gave it a

chance to choose the most extended route home. But still, it didn’t attack her

like it was just watching her.

Is it possible that they all aren’t killers?

As she walked the same long route to the club, the wolf was not

around. She couldn’t smell or sense it. Frustrated, she went back into the

forest line to look for paw marks, and there was none.

Why was she so disappointed that the wolf was gone? Isn’t it

better that it has left? She would have only killed it should it have presented

itself to her.

The thought that the wolf was gone made her feel sad, and she

wondered why she was reacting this way.

Why was she suddenly attached to that wolf?

A wave of calm and comfort seemingly soothed her when she first

felt its presence.

Strange, she thought, but maybe it was part of their magic. She

reminded herself to ask her dad about it when they returned to make their

victims submit to them.

- Later that evening

-

Three hours later, she was busy cleaning a drink spill from a

group of men who were celebrating a Bachelor’s party.

She was suddenly thankful for the overall yellow uniform that

Pete insisted she started wearing a year ago. It didn’t wholly deter the men

from ogling at her or shouting out some catcalls. But then again, they were

drunk, so anything walking with boobs, they would catcall.

But she couldn’t care less; she was used to this. That’s why she

was placed on a much later shift to avoid these enormous parties. But tonight,

Pete surprised her by making her work on an earlier change.

“f*****g Pete,” She muttered as she reminded herself that she

needed to check in with Pete later about what was bugging him.

This was her third clean-up in the Bachelor party booth, and

after all the catcalls from her last clean-up, she has decided to wear some

headphones and listen to Cranberries instead on full blast.

As Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer for the Cranberries, sings the

chorus to Zombie. She felt a hand grab her ass. She froze for a second, blood

boiling. She was ready to hit the asshole who grabbed her with the mop she

held.

In your head, in your head

Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie

What's in your head, in your head

Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh

- Zombie, by The

Cranberries

She turned quickly only to be to hit a hard muscular chest. The

scent was familiar, both calming and exciting her all at once; she didn’t need

to look up. As her heart raced, she knew who it was.

It was Blake.

A thousand questions on her mind why he was there? Her heart,

thou, fluttered that he was there protecting her. For once, someone was

watching her. She should be angry thou, she thought.

But for some strange reason, after kissing Blake, it’s like she

has released the flood gates of her emotions.

The man who grabbed her must have said something as Blake

quickly turned around and placed Danny behind him—protecting him from the man

who was now throwing a punch towards them.

it's the same old theme

Since nineteen-sixteen

In your head, they're still fighting

With their tanks and their bombs

And their bombs, and their guns

In your head, they are dying

- Zombie, by The

Cranberries

Blake caught the punch mid-air, twisting it as the man screamed

in pain. She peeked from behind Blake, the friends of the man Blake was holding

family by his twisted arm, tried to aim at Blake. But were stopped by two tall

men with golden locks. One cleanly cut while the other was up to his shoulder.

Yes, she was smitten that he was there to protect her, but

adrenaline pumped through her veins as a full-blown bar fight was now ongoing

in front of her.

All her years of training urged her to move. To hit something or

someone. An opportunity arose as a man was making his way towards Blake. Blake

was still busy punching the man who grabbed her ass. Managing to slip out of

Blake’s protective stance, she runs towards the man.

In your head, in your head

Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie

What's in your head, in your head

Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, ay, oh, ya ya

- Zombie, by The

Cranberries

She hit the man in the head using her broom, knocking him out

before she could turn around to join in the fun. A hand-held her shoulder.

Ready with her broom, she turned around, about to hit the man behind her. The

man was quick to catch her broomstick.

She paused. The long blond hair man is Jacob, one of the Crowle

Twins. The Crowle twins were her friends “JACOB!” as all she said

was as she jumped to reach his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Hugging him tightly, her headsets fall off.

“Jacob f*****g Crowle” She hugs him even more tightly.

Just as Jacob placed her back on the ground, another Blonde hair

man was behind her. “So you mean to say you only missed one of us?” The blonde

hair man in his thick British accent.

Quickly she spun around and wrapped her arms around his waist.

She was leaning her head to his chest. “Lucas,” She whispered. Lucas always

felt like a big brother.

It broke her heart that they had to leave for boarding school

back in the U.K right after her mom’s funeral.

She wanted to reach out to them, but after her, everything

happened. It changed her, and she felt they wouldn’t understand who she was,

especially after knowing about Wolves. Her time was preoccupied with learning

about them, reviewing for the WHC academy, and training.

They never reach out either, so she never thought of seeking

them out.

“I see you still get yourself in trouble, Miss” Lucas laughs

“Well, only because the two of you are here!” She shouted over

the commotion. The fight no longer involved just them and the Bachelor party.

Everyone in the bar was fighting each other. For one reason or another, but

mainly because of alcohol.

“Our cue to go?” Blake huffs as he walks up to the three of

them. “Or do you need to finish your shift?”

“Nah, Screw it. The Crowle twins are here besides Pete owes me.”

She smirks. “Just let me get out of my uniform and punch out, ok. But you three

need to leave now. Wait for my outback. Go before the police come.” She shouts

over the loud noise.

The boys nodded and followed her instructions.