WE BURN BETTER TOGETHER.

“Run” The scream tore through the palace before the first window shattered. I barely had time to turn before flames exploded across the marble corridor, swallowing the crimson curtains and centuries-old portraits that had hung on the wall for ages, in a heartbeat. The palace was burning. My home was burning. Ember palace had stood for nearly a thousand years and its walls had survived wars, storms, rebellions, and the passing of generations. As a child, I had believed those towering crimson walls were indestructible. Steel clashed against steel somewhere below, followed by the desperate cries of soldiers who had sworn to protect my family with their lives. I gripped the skirt of my gown and ran. Not because I was afraid to die, but because my mother had looked me in the eyes only moments ago and whispered the words that made my blood run cold. “Whatever happens…don’t let them take that pendant.” The crystal hanging around my neck bounced against my chest as I sprinted through the smoke-filled hallway. It wasn’t just a normal jewelry, it was the last gift my mother had ever given me. And judging from the fear in her eyes, I knew people were willing to kill for it. “Princess!” Captain Rowen, one of the royal guards appeared from the smoke, with blood running down the side of his face. “You have to leave, now!” “What happened?”, I demanded. “Who breached the palace?” His jaw tightened. “We don’t know.” Another explosion rocked the floor beneath us and chunks of marbles crashed from the ceiling. Somewhere nearby, a servant cried out before the sound was swallowed by the roar of flames. The smell of smoke filled my lungs until it became so difficult to breathe. Captain Rowen offered me some water from his bottle and led me through the western corridors. The palace I had grown up in was almost unrecognizable. The stained glass windows had shattered across the floor. Bodies…there were bodies everywhere. Some belonged to the palace guards who had taught me how to ride horses. Others belonged to servants who had watched me grow from a stubborn little girl into the Crown Princess of Ember. I wanted to stop and help them because I couldn’t bear the gory sight, but Rowen never slowed down. “We’re almost there.” A sharp whistle sliced through the air and Rowen reacted instantly. He shoved me aside just as an arrow flew between us, embedding itself deep into the wall. More arrows came afterwards while the enemy soldiers poured into the corridor with full force. Their armor was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was matte black without a single royal crest. “Who are they?” I whispered. “They’re not ours.” Rowen growled. “And they’re not Ash.” Before I could process what he meant, he charged forward. His sword colliding so swiftly with the enemy’s sword. His sword danced through the air with practiced precision, driving the attackers backward. “Run!” He shouted over the clash of weapons. “I’ll hold them.” “I won’t leave you!” I screamed. “You don’t have a choice, Princess!” His roar echoed through the burning hallway. “Protect the future of Ember!” My throat tightened as I swallowed my spit. Every instinct screamed at me to stay, instead, I ran. The heat of the fire became so unbearable with every breath tasting like ash. The palace shook again, sending another rain of dust from the ceiling. I rounded a corner to stop and catch my breath. A tall lone figure stood at the end of the corridor. He stood still with his black cloak billowed behind him as smoke curled around his boots. A sword rested loosely in his hand, with his its blade stained crimson. He slowly lifted his head and his ice cold, silver eyes kept piercing into mine. I could swear my heartbeat stopped for a moment. Those silver eyes were impossible to mistake. Every child in Ember Kingdom knew what silver eyes meant. House Ash, Ember’s greatest enemy for ages. The family responsible for centuries of bloodshed. The monsters from every child’s bedtime story. The people my father had sworn to destroy. He slowly took a step toward me, and then another. My instinct took over and I immediately reached beneath my sleeve and pulled out the small dagger I had always carried. Its polished blade trembled so bad in my hands. “If you’re here to kill me,” I said, forcing strength into my voice, “stop staring and do it.” He didn’t move, instead he just looked at me. His eyes piercing into mine not with hatred or victory, and not even with satisfaction. The expression on his face held only confusion, as though, seeing me had shattered something inside him. His gaze dropped briefly to the pendant around my neck and his silver eyes suddenly widened. “You…” the single word barely escaped his lips when the ceiling suddenly exploded. Before neither of us could move, three masked figures landed between us with terrifying speed. None of them wore the crimson colors of Ember and bore the silver crest of Ash. One of them pointed his sword toward me and another pointed his toward the silver-eyed warrior, while the third one laughed out loud. “So the rumors were true.” His voice was distorted beneath his mask. “They’re both here.” Then, the leader raised his blade. “Our orders haven’t changed.” His eyes smiled while he ordered, “kill them both.” Confusion flashed across the silver-eyed stranger’s face. He turned toward them and said, “but we’re on the same side.” “No,” the masked man replied. “We were only pretending.” The first assassin lunged his sword at him and the stranger drew his sword with breathtaking speed. The sound of clashing metal echoed through the corridor. One strike from the stranger and a body fell. The remaining assassins rushed forward together and one suddenly broke away from the fight and charged toward me. I lifted my dagger but instead, my hands shook. The assassin swung too fast and I knew I couldn’t stop it. I closed my eyes instead and surrendered to defeat. Then, I heard a clang! The deafening sound of steel crashing against steel rang inches from my face. Warm air brushed through my skin as I slowly opened my eyes. The silver-eyed warrior stood in front of me while his sword blocked the assassin’s blade. Sparks burst between them, lighting the smoke-filled corridor. Without looking back at me, he finally spoke to me with a very calm and low voice. “Stay behind me.” I stared at him, unable to understand what I was seeing. He was the prince of the enemy kingdom, the one whom I was raised to hate. The man who should have let me die, but instead chose to protect me. And in that impossible moment, as flames consumed the palace around us, the first crack appeared in everything I had ever believed.