All Chapters of Embers: Chapter 11 - Chapter 18
18 chapters
Chapter Ten
They knew famously the ballroom for the extravagant balls it hosted, but now it only felt like a burden for Franklin as he accepted the third dance within the first six minutes of the commencement. He accepted the young woman’s hand with a stiff walk, and they began swaying on the dance floor.“My, you’re even more handsome up close. What do you do for fun?” The girl muttered as she looked up at him.“My fun would not be entertaining for you. I am sure of it.” Franklin could not imagine the girl in his arms swooning at such a statement, but goodness, she did. The work they would put in just to be within royalty. He wondered why they did such a thing.“I understand. Would you like to know what I do for fun?” He had to give her points for being relentless. She was a prissy thing and didn’t accept him to not be interested in her.“Not particularly. I hate dancing. There, that should be one thing you should know about me.” Franklin said, looking anywhere else but at her. He was praying si
Read more
Chapter Eleven
Franklin left the wall immediately in search of his duffle and his comfortable shoes. Knowing very well this would be his last night to be in the kingdom, or even the castle, he made sure to leave a note for his mother. She won’t be in bed until early morning seeing to everything as she made sure they were to their former glory. He made sure to detail he would be going with prentice and that it would be best to not send anyone for him. The Grand Forest is too dangerous for them to act impulsively only for the sake of bringing back the child that gave them nothing but hardship. When he thought that might urge them to bring him back, thinking he was acting impulsively, he made sure to write another line stating, he was of clear mind and body when he wrote the letter. Wiping the nervous sweat trickling down his forehead he then got down to actually packing his backpack. He lifted his mattress and got out several pairs of knives, as if they would do anything he thought to himself, but be
Read more
Chapter Twelve
Franklin was on the ground coiling as though he was still falling, and it wasn’t until he heard Prentice’s laughter and feet walking over him did he realise he wasn’t falling but dying of embarrassment. Prentice continued laughing as he watched Franklin picked himself up and dusted himself off. He looked around the place and sees it to be dark and cold. Colder than where they left over the wall. He shivered for the first time, thinking for a while they won’t be able to feel warmth all that much. Prentice scanned the area for intrusion and then he captured a moment to take it all in. This was once something beautiful, ruined by the hands of a tortured soul, he said inwardly, feeling the hurt emanating from within. Franklin came up behind him, and with a growl, he said, “You can act more professional than that you know, Prentice?”“I supposed, but you said you wanted fun. Being quiet would not do.” He mocked Franklin’s words as they continued walking, looking for a place to rest for t
Read more
Chapter Thirteen
With the lingering cold of the past year, Franklin huddled deeper into his furry coats. He was adorned thickly in several shirts and jackets as the nights often lingered with bitter coldness. Not once has he looked back to see if Prentice was behind him, he already knew. With the cold along with the moonless night, they had less trouble getting out of the castle and over the walls. The guards had retired, and they shivered, who still had the soul to keep watch as the night gave no mercy. “Franklin, are you alright? You seem quiet.” Prentice acknowledged softly as he continued walking. “I am fine. I am on the lookout for any lurker. One can never be too sure about these things.” “Just watch your steps. Breathe, then step.” Muttered Prentice in a low tone. Franklin bore a secret he didn’t share with anyone. Not that he had anyone to tell, but the one he talks to would be hurt to know he did such a thing. He had been studying more than the books his teacher gave him. Among the librar
Read more
Chapter Fourteen
Feeling hurt and broken inside, Franklin could no longer follow Prentice anymore. The look of disappointment on his teacher’s face made him feel something that he worked hard to not feel, and that is being a failure. Even though he often failed, he came back stronger and hit back harder each time. It has been nonstop for eight years and even though he still has lots to learn, he never aimed for failure, ever! As Prentice was walking and left him behind, Franklin took a risk by heart and death and bid him a silent farewell and left the other way.“Why couldn’t I just left the book right where I found it? Stupid!” He argued with himself.“I can’t do this to myself, nor Prentice. I need to go,” he said inaudibly. He left to go the other way.Franklin felt angry with himself. He felt angry at finding the book, and he felt angry at even opening and reading through the book. He wished he could go back in time and burn the book instead. Furthermore, he thought to himself, if the book brought
Read more
Chapter Fifteen
Lily was fourteen years old, but not just any ordinary girl. She was an adopted daughter of the king and queen. She was the youngest princess there was across the land as far as anyone knew. She had been living in a castle at the edge of a forest all her life a long time ago, never entering the yard, which was of a vast waste of space, if she told you her thoughts. There was just enough land for her to discover, but she wasn't allowed. To protect, to safeguard, were the words she often heard when she made that request. Who was she being protected from? She always wanted to ask. She had asked once, but everyone looked at her as though they wanted to protect themselves from her. Looking at it all from her window made her bitter at the thought of where she was, living lavishly, while others below her looked up at her and wondered what luxuries must she have, and how happy she must be? She was tormented. She felt like a prisoner in her own home, captured like an exotic bird in her father
Read more
Chapter Sixteen
Prentice had been given the cruel gift of seeing the bad side of the future. When he saw that Franklin would play an important role in saving the Grand Forest, and he would lead him here, all his life, he hadn’t expected to lose sight of him so soon. On the off chance, he wanted to keep an eye on Franklin since he had been spiraling lately, and his future was somewhat blurry each time Prentice took a look into it.Wondering where he was, but not losing sight of their mission, Prentice moved stealthily on, and made sure that Franklin could find him when he was ready. Prentice knew that the only way Franklin can grow was by himself, and also with a shot of reflection and a dash of truth. So, he drowned the thought of Franklin from his mind, and with a heavy heart he went in search to find the woman he was sure would help him sort his mission. He realized that he was going against all that he believed, and this case might be stronger than he was. The forest was only a protector, it had a
Read more
Chapter Seventeen
The brightness was getting too hard to bear so with trembling hands, Franklin covered his eyes and groaned when he breathes in and out. He felt stiff as a rod, and his legs were numb from being in an awkward position for some time. Franklin woke right where he laid bleeding. He groaned in pain and agonizingly shook with weakness as he got to his knees. His trembling hands did little to support his weight. Then he witnessed something horrific. He gently took the leaves from him chest that were piled on and rested them on the ground. Upon doing so, he looked around, realizing what had happened. All around him laid leaf faeries. Some turned black, some barely showing green, and some laid lifeless, as though it drained them of their health and green pigment. Some were white even which meant they have been there, trying to save him.Franklin tried remembering what happened. He picked up the leaf that looked barely alive and whispered something to it. Immediately, it began turning a healthie
Read more