The Ember In The Dark
Ch. 31

The wind howled wildly around me, carrying an eerily coldness with it. My heart sped with adrenaline, feeling like something evil was nearby. I looked around trying to get my senses together. It felt like I had been dropped into a nightmare.

The tall trees were the only familiar thing. They looked like the ones in our kingdom, but I know I'm not there. I wandered down the path a little more till I came to a clearing. I could see Ash's back, his broad shoulders looking even larger. His hair was blowing around in this crazy wind.

Levi was beside him, he was almost as tall as Ash sitting next to him. They were speaking but the wind was so loud it made it hard to hear.

"Ash!" I yelled his name, but he couldn't hear me.

I approached them carefully, the wind almost pushing me at times with its force. The closer I got the better I could hear them.

"It's breaking Ash. We can't control it." I heard Levi yell at him.

I could see more of the clearing now. In the distance was Ash's dragon. He had black scales that shined almost blue in the light. I could tell he was huge because he seemed so big even in the distance. His body was coiled around a large crystal ball full of dark smoke.

"Brontus can't hold it together for much longer. We can't filter it all fast enough either. Ash this serious. You need to get help." Levi's voice sounded so serious. A deep worry laced his tone.

What's he talking about? What does Ash need help with?

"We'll be fine. I believe in you guys." Ash smiled, sending waves of his magic out to calm Levi. The wind died down slightly.

"Ash!" I yelled his name again, but my voice didn't come out. My lips moved, but my voice didn't carry.

I walked further towards him and Levi turned, looking me dead in the eyes. Ash turned to look at what Levi was staring at, but his expression didn't change. It seemed like he looked past me. Can he not see me?

"Ash, this is serious. You can't keep blowing it off.” Brontus growl of a voice yelled through the air. "I am growing tired and this barrier can't be redone again. At least not without letting some of this darkness out. It affected you last time. You felt it."

"It turned out fine then. I'll be fine." Ash denied his worries.

"You almost killed the kid." Levi scolded him

"Aelfric deserved it." Ash defended himself.

I didn't know that Ash had almost killed him. Why hasn't Ash talked to me about any of this? What exactly happened that night?

"This isn't okay Ash. Get help!" Brontus yelled at him. He was mad.

"From who?" Ash snapped. I've never seen him like this. He was stressed and frustrated. "Mom will only die with guilt and she won't be able to filter much of it. She can't repair the barrier either. Dad can't even travel here and neither can Charles. Eryn can get here but he can't even filter magic. And Ember..." He stopped for a moment. "She's still learning. She can't help. She just got lucky enough to have Yukina filter her magic for her." Ash ran his fingers through his hair.

Maybe I can help. Maybe together we can all help. Ash hasn't talked to any of us about this. This has been going on for the last couple years and I had no idea.

I felt a tear slip out of my eyes. My heart was breaking for my dear twin. He's been dealing with this alone. He's been putting on a front with all of us and none of us noticed. He's always there for me and I've never been there for him. I've been beside him, but I've never been able to do anything for him.

I promise Ash. I'll find a way to help.

"Just go rest. We'll hold this together for as long as we can. You have a few months at best, as long as you don't lose your shit." Levi sounded exhausted as he spoke. He was stressed too.

"Yeah okay. Not a problem. I'll just let it roll off me like always.” Ash threw his hands up. I've never seen him this annoyed or frustrated. It was like an unknown Ash. Some foreigner with Ash's face and voice.

Ash left after that, back out to the real world to sleep. Levi turned his head back to me. He could see me.

"Come here, Ember." He called me over and I listened. "I brought you here because Ash never will. He won't share his troubles. I need your help. I need you and Talia to help. Brontus needs Lien to help him. Can you help?”

I nodded my head frantically.

"Call on them." He poked my chest with his snout, a light emitted from where he touched.

Talia and Lien appeared, only they looked like ghosts. They weren't solid, but see through. It was just their presence and not their physical selves.

"Brother." Talia could tell something was wrong instantly. "How can I help?"

"Give me some of your magic. I am growing weak trying to keep the barrier from breaking.” He sighed.

Talia leaned in towards him and wrapped her nuzzle around his neck. She blew out yellow bright embers that landed on Levi and seeped into his skin. Levi breathed in like a weight had just been lifted.

"Thank you sister.” He sighed, his worries coming back to him.

"I'll go help Brontus." Lien said as jumped in the sky ascending toward Brontus and the barrier. "Ember, you need to watch Ash. If anything too upsetting happens to him the dark magic can seep through the cracks and affect him. If something were to make him snap this barrier will break and we won't be able to contain the magic any longer. * My chest felt tight. I wasn't ready for this. I had no idea something like this was happening. My Ash was dealing with so much silently. I cried heavily falling to my knees.

"You're a good sister, Ember. The way you shed tears for him. Keep him safe Ember. You're the only person that can help.” Levi looked like he was smiling at me. He was trying to comfort me, just like Ash does. It only broke me further. "I'll send you back now. Be careful not to let anyone bother you or Ash. Watch out for him." He reminded me as his snout touched my forehead.

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