Chapter 5 A Visit From the Past
A Visit From the Past
Ember fidgeted with her hair at the breakfast table as she tried to put it in a braid, but the bandage on her hand kept getting in her way. Accepting defeat with a huff, she flung the red mess over her shoulders and continued eating her bacon and eggs.
“Would you like some help?’ Eira laughed as she walked into the breakfast nook.
Ember nodded sheepishly, handing the hair-tie to her foster mother. Eira made quick work of brushing the tangles out of her hair with her fingers, and then began to hum to herself as she weaved small braids in and out of Ember’s hair.
“My mum did this for me every morning before school,” she said with a laugh.
“Believe it or not, my hair was even wilder than Maeve’s.
” Her magic wrapped around each small braid.
Ember saw the glowing light out of the corner of her eye for just a moment before it fizzled out.
Ember felt her breath catch as she stiffened.
“What was that?” she asked, as she felt the heat of the magic brush against her scalp.
Eira finished the last braid and then kissed her on the head. “Just a little extra love,” she said with a smile.
Ember felt her chest tighten as she closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure she really deserved the extra love.
“Ready to go, Mo Chroí?” Otto asked, as he kicked the dirt off his shoes at the back door. “The blacksmith should be opening any minute.”
Ember finished off her last bite of breakfast, took her plate to the sink, and ran back to her chair to throw her bag over her shoulder.
“Ready!” She nodded as she patted the pocket in her jeans to make sure the ring was still there.
Eira kissed each of them goodbye, and they made their way to the closet door and into Yggdrasil Terminal.
Ember picked up her pace as she followed Otto through town, weaving in and out of the crowds of people. They passed by a small park that sat off the beach, children running around and laughing, wearing party hats as their parents lounged at the picnic tables.
Celestial Steel sat in the middle of the bustling town, and Ember felt her breath catch in her chest as she walked into the open-air shop.
It was clearly mid-morning outside, obvious by the way the sun lit up the dusty cobblestone, but when Ember stepped through the archway and into the shop, all she could see above her were thousands of stars.
Constellations twinkled as shooting stars moved across the inky black ceiling, and Ember found herself spinning to take in the view.
“Hello there, Otto,” the shopkeeper said, as they walked further inside. “How’s the family?”
“Oh they’re grand, Cormac,” Otto replied. “Keeping busy?”
Cormac laughed as he nodded. “Between carving first year Vegvesirs and fixing broken pendants, I hardly have time to sleep.” He leaned against the counter as he rubbed the back of his hand against his brow. “Anything I can help you with today?”
“Aye,” Otto nodded, “my daughter seems to have broken her ring. Do you have time for a quick repair today?”
Ember winced as her nails dug into her palms, swallowing dryly at the word.
Daughter.
Otto would gladly pluck the moon at out the sky if she asked him to, and she was having a near panic attack about him calling her his daughter. Did she really deserve people as wonderful as the Kitts?
“Of course.” Cormac nodded with a smile.
Ember shook away the rising panic and fished the ring out of her pocket, gripping it tightly in her hand as she bit her lip.
Otto gave her a gentle nudge and nodded toward the counter with a smile.
Ember took a shaky breath and dropped the gold ring in the man’s hand, quickly wiping her sweaty palm on her jeans.
“Now let’s have a look, shall we,” Cormac said, as he slipped a pair of glasses out of a pocket on his shirt and over the bridge of his nose.
He turned it over a few times in his blackened fingers, mumbling to himself as he squinted.
“Hmm, how interesting,” he whispered. “Give me an hour, and I’ll have it good as new.
” He smiled as he slipped his glasses off and put them back in his shirt pocket.
Ember tilted her head and nodded, letting out a breath. Relief washed over her like a tsunami as Otto thanked Cormac, and they made their way back out into the sun.
“How does some fish and chips sound?” Otto said, as they walked down the street.
Ember laughed. “We just had breakfast an hour ago,”
Otto shrugged as he put his arm over her shoulder. “Fish and chips goes to a different part of your stomach,” he said. “It’s a well-known fact.”
Ember laughed at the way he smiled, seeing so much of Fen in him.
They made their way toward the docks where a small cart stood on the weathered wood.
Otto put in their order, handing the owner a handful of coins while Ember leaned over the railing and kicked pieces of wood into the water.
Otto brought over the food wrapped carefully in newspaper, and Ember walked beside him as she stuck salt and vinegar chips in her mouth.
“Are you excited to see Thea tomorrow??” Otto asked, as he stuck a piece of beer battered fish in his mouth.
Ember nodded silently. She loved seeing Thea, the woman would always have a special place in her heart.
The way she lit up any room she walked in and never hesitated to check on Ember always made her feel safe.
But that wasn’t what Otto was asking. The unasked question lingered in the air between them as Ember felt her stomach sour.
“Have you decided to go ahead with the adoption?”
He smiled down at her, almost as if he could read her thoughts, and he ruffled her hair.
“She’s only coming to answer your questions, Mo Chroí,” he reassured, as he stole one of her chips.
“We meant what we said when we told you to take your time. It’s a big decision and not one we want you to make lightly. ”
Ember swallowed the lump building in her throat as she nodded, unable to think of a reply. They continued and finished their food, stopping to look inside shops as they went.
“Ah, Mr. Kitt,” a voice said from behind them.
Ember stopped in her tracks and turned to see Chief Thornsten walking up behind them.
“Good morning, Chief,” Otto nodded. Ember noted the way his smile turned serious as he took a small step in front of her, straightening his spine just a hair.
“It is a good morning, isn’t it?” Chief Thornsten smiled.
“And this must be Miss Lothbrok.” He looked down at Ember.
His smile was unnerving and sent a chill up her spine.
She couldn’t put her finger on why, but she didn’t trust him.
And from the way Otto was now standing, he didn’t seem to, either.
“Aye, this is Ember,” Otto replied, as he placed his hand on her shoulder. She felt his grip tighten, and she almost winced.
“I knew you had a foster child in your custody,” Chief Thornsten replied, “but I don’t believe I realized it was Torin and Aoife’s child. How interesting.”
Chief Thornsten’s gaze raked over Ember, and she was so thankful she still had those green contacts hiding the lavender in her eyes.
She hadn’t found out any more about herself, no matter how many late nights she spent curled up with ancient books, but she knew better than to reveal her secret to the rest of the island.
The chief smiled, and Ember bristled as she stiffened under the weight of Otto’s hand.
He squeezed her shoulder gently, and she let out a shaky breath.
“We are in the process of adopting her actually.” Otto smiled as he looked down at Ember. Ember did her best to force a smile back as she nodded.
“Well, congratulations,” Chief Thornsten replied. “I’m sure it will be a delightful day.” He turned to Otto, changing the subject, “And your wards? Have you reinforced them?”
“Aye, Chief.” He nodded. “Reinforced them yesterday.”
“Good, good.” Thornsten nodded. “If you need a ward breaker to come by, please Helio the office and let them know. We have several that specialize in warding against Fae and halfbreeds.”
Ember choked on her breath as her eyes widened.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Chief Thornsten continued, as he checked his watch, “I have some business to attend to.”
Otto nodded. “Of course, Chief, good to see you.”
Chief Thornsten turned to walk away.
“Why would he say that?” Ember asked once he was out of earshot. “They don’t know that it’s the Fae, do they?”
“No, they don’t,” Otto replied, as he shook his head, “but prejudice, like Chief Thornsten and many others on the island have, runs deep.”
Ember shook her head as she furrowed her brow. They walked past Hidden Moon, and Ember noticed the heavy presence of the Guard around the shop. She couldn’t imagine how anyone could be so cruel. Chief Thornsten was submitting these beings to a trial of public opinion, and it wasn’t fair.
“Why do they hate them so much?” Ember asked, as she kicked a rock in front of her.
“I don’t know that it’s so much that they hate them,” Otto replied, “but they don’t understand them. Their magic is different, and instead of learning about them and trying to understand, they deem them as less than. They feel like their blood makes them superior.”
Ember sighed as she crossed her arms. “That’s just dumb,” she huffed.
Otto let out a gruff laugh. “I agree, Mo Chroí. We can’t change how people think, but we can stand up for what we know is right.”
The sky burned ruby as Ember laid on the grass and soaked in the last of the Sunday afternoon. Thea would be by any moment, and Ember was a bundle of nerves. Maia laid on her stomach fast asleep, and Ember absentmindedly ran her hand across her back as she did her best to calm her racing thoughts.
“Em! Thea will be here soon, are you ready?” Fen called from the back door.
Ember turned around and smiled at her foster brother as she pushed herself off the ground. “As I’ll ever be I guess,” she breathed. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
Fen had on his Rukr hoodie and a pair of pajama bottoms, complete with flannel slippers on his feet. He looked down at his outfit and furrowed his brow. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” he asked, as he motioned at his shirt.
“A little informal for company, don’t you think?” Ember replied with a laugh.
Fen waved his hand as if to dismiss her. “I’m sure it’s fine.”
The two walked through the back door and into the kitchen where Eira had a pot of tea brewing, the dishes from dinner bobbing to a fro in the sink. Eira walked in from the dining room and narrowed her eyes in Fen’s direction.
“Fenrir James, go put on real clothes right now,” she scolded.
Fen huffed as he rolled his eyes. “Fine,” he mumbled under his breath and headed up the stairs taking them two at a time.
“Ember love,” Eira called, “would you set the den up for tea? Thea shouldn’t be much longer.”
Ember nodded as she grabbed the tray of cups and the pot of tea and carried them into the den, almost getting knocked over by Fen as he came scrambling down the steps.
“Need some help?” he asked eagerly, taking the cups from her hand.
They walked into the den, setting everything on the coffee table in the middle of the room.
Otto came in with Maeve hanging around his neck, quickly dropping her on the couch beside them.
She jumped up on the cushions, twirling in her dress as the sun from the open window lit up her face.
“What do you think, Ember?” she squealed, as she leapt off the couch. “It doesn’t have any holes or anything!”
Ember laughed as the girl danced around her. “It’s beautiful, Maeve.”
Eira walked into the den next, holding a plate of scones. Before she could set them down, a knock sounded at the door.
“Oh, that must be Thea.” She smiled, turning back around, and bustling toward the door.
She left the room quickly and stepped into the foyer.
Ember listened as the door opened, and Eira greeted the woman behind it.
She let out a loud gasp, and the sound of glass breaking echoed through the air.
Otto’s eyes widened as he rushed into the foyer, but his footsteps stopped abruptly, almost as soon as he got through the door.
Ember’s eyes met Fen’s, and he gave her a shrug, but worry clouded his face.
“Ember love,” Eira said shakily. “Ember, please come here.”
Ember furrowed her brow as she walked toward the door that led to the foyer, chewing on the inside of her cheek.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, as she stepped over the threshold. “Who’s at the—”
Her eyes went wide as her heart thundered behind her ribs. Suddenly, her knees felt weak, and her legs felt like they might give out at any moment. Her head spun as she gripped the banister behind her, and all of the breath was immediately sucked from her lungs.
Green eyes met hazel, and it felt like cotton was lodged in her throat.
She inched forward, moving without even realizing it, until she stood in front of the woman on the other side of the door.
Voices echoed around her, but she couldn’t hear them—they all sounded a million miles away.
She took a shaky breath as she blinked a few times, tears now streaming down her face.
“Mum?” she whispered.