The Ember In The Dark ( book one )

Chapter 7

“Flashbacks are worse than the moment itself.” – Danny.

Around midnight, she finally woke up, trying to adjust her eyes in the dimly lit room. She knew she was in her bedroom. And she knew if she was there, that meant her dad would get to her in time.

She gingerly removes the blanket over her and notices she is wearing the same clothing as earlier.

Looking at the clock, it was already 2 am. She could still hear the television playing downstairs.

As she got down the stair on cue, Mr. Mathews’ stood up and turned to her. “You ok?”

She nods

“Then what were you doing THERE?” He is visibly upset now. A snarl almost escaped his voice when he emphasized THERE. He quickly regretted the sharpness in his voice, knowing she was still hurting.

“I – I don’t know. School just ended; maybe I wanted to take a look one last time before I leave.” She stammered, moving toward the fireplace and finally sitting on the stool next to it.

She sees a bag on the floor. “Your leaving?”

“I was going to tell you – “ He broke off. He shouldn’t lie. He had never intended to let her know, but he had intended to let him know of his plans. Telling her would only make things worse. Already, he had let things go too far.

Danny was supposed to leave with her a couple of months after school. She’s been waiting her whole teenage life for the change. She knew her father wouldn’t abandon her without good reason.

She drew nearer, scotting the footstool, and her eyes fell back to the duffle bag on the ground.

Yet again, her episodes were back. And after her several failed suicide attempts, her father knew she would be found unstable. Her father helped her deal with the attacks in the best way he knew how: combat training. She gets to vent her emotions. Imagining her attackers as the punching bags, she would beat the life off.

Was it about the episode last night? Is that why he wasn’t bringing her along.

Danny’s father could see how bothered she was becoming. He clears his throat, making her face him. “I am going back to the WHC.”

THE WEREWOLF CONFEDERATION, or WHC, was a human-run organization that went after werewolves. They ensured the safety of humans from the creation of Lucifer himself, the werewolf.

The organization started back in the middle age, even before the witch trials when the werewolves were more savage. It was led by older men whose intentions were somewhat questionable.

However, despite the downfall of the WHC, they still save families from attacks. And since she was 13, Danny’s been raining, so no other family would go thru what she went through.

“OH, then take me with you? I can go with you now, remember. You promised. “ Her tone reminded Mr. Mathews of how Danny gets when she gets triggered—not wanting a repeat of earlier of the night episode. He quickly got to his point.

“It’s your uncle Dan and Uncle Will, Dans” His tone filled with worry as he sat on the floor next to the footstool she was sitting on.

She waited for him to finish while a thousand questions filled her mind.

“The WHC has released a warrant against your uncles,” Mr. Matthews says, his voice laced with worry.

Uncle Dan and Will were not blood-related to Mr. Matthew, but they were his second in command while leading the WHC Elite task force.

Mr. Matthew’s left the WHC when Maria, Danny’s Mom, gave birth to Danny. His promise to her that he would stop being part of the bloodshed of a species. She would accuse him of g******e, just like the Germans did to the Jews. For Maria, they were magnificent creatures.

Unknown to Danny, Maria grew up in a pack of werewolves even though she was human. She was orphaned as a baby and left by her parents on the steps of a fire station. The head chef of the station was a werewolf and took her in.

Life outside WHC was a life Mr. Matthews never knew he would have. So when Maria died, he turned to alcohol to drown his sorrows.

- 6years ago –

“If only I were still the captain, I would have reported that murderous pack of the Conner’s. And we would have ripped them apart,” Spat a drunk Mathews.

Dan removes the can of beer that was on the bar counter. “I think you’ve had enough.”

“Who the bloody f**k are you to tell me I had enough”

Dan puts his hand on Mathew’s shoulder and turns him around. “I think she needs to be in bed, don’t you think?”

They both watch as Will carries a sleeping 12-year-old Danny from one of the booths in the pub.

- Present time-

“But Uncle Dan was up for a seat on the board? His men love him. How?”

Mr. Matthew interrupts her, “Exactly why I need to leave Daniella. I still have a friend there; I need to know what’s happening.”

Danny nodded her head; she would have done the say. Both uncles are like a father to Danny, especially after her mom died.

“And nothing I can do to help? The school did, you know. And my job at the club is almost over as well. “She looks at him with almost pleading eyes. “I can...”

Placing his hand on hers, he gives her a weak smile and healthy eyes as he interrupts her, “You can help by keeping the fort. Your Uncles might just….”

Her eyes widened, and she took her dad’s hands, squeezing them as she spoke. “Yes! Yes! They might come here. Don’t worry; I know what to do.”

“And if the WHC comes?”

“I know nothing” She looks at him with Dowey eyes and almost seems lost.

“Good girl.” He smiles before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Danny reached in for a hug, “Please be come back, dad.”

“Always.”

- Moments later –

Danny wakes to an empty house; she’s still huddled on the sofa. A comforter lay on top of her. She remembers falling asleep here as her dad sat and stayed with her until she dozed off.

The blanket must be from him; thanks, dad. Danny pulls up the mantle. She looked at the clock by the fireplace, and it was blinking at 2 am. She quickly threw the Blanket off and ran up to her room. She needs to go to work. Her shift was from 2 am to 6 am, and she was running late.

“s**t, s**t, s**t, “ She cursed as she dashed to her room.

She takes out an orange button-up top and a pair of black jogging pants. She knew she looked weird with the club uniform on top and jogging pants below, but she surged her shoulder, knowing Rick, the bar manager, wouldn’t mind.

She grabs a black sweater to match.

“See, it matches” She smirks. Snatching her phone beside her bed, she had to get a Lyft boy; that would be expensive. But seeing as she would be late, she had no choice.

“It’s a good thing dad’s gone, I guess; I can stop buying groceries for the next couple of weeks. Besides, I can eat in the club.” She quickly types in her location.

As the notification on her phone tells her, a Lyft was available. She grabs the sling bag on the table and chucks her cellphone inside.