Page 16 of When Embers Become Ashes

As I stand on the back porch and watch Dan shift and fly off with his mate, tears start to fall, when the view of Dan’s Dragon finally becomes too small for me to see, a sob breaks free, I sit there just looking at nothing but the horizon so long the sun is starting to peek again, I then head in do a final tidy up, wipe down the sides in the kitchen, making sure the windows and doors are all locked up, grab my bags and walk to the bus station.

When I leave the station, I climb into the Uber that’s waiting for me and make my way to a halfway house designed for foster children who have aged out but need a little help before getting their first paycheck or finishing school.

I have a month to get settled before college starts. I get a job at a diner that will work around classes when they start up.

I still have the account Dan and Elise set up for me, so I crack down and stick to basics so I can get my own place when I turn eighteen.

Just before classes start, I get a basic laptop and upgrade my phone, seeing as some English assignments will need to be emailed, and I may need a number if I have to do group stuff.

Classes are going great, and I’m getting good grades, but my friends are sparse, as I’m only fifteen.

One homework-free night, I decided to set up on social media and see if I could find some of the others I’ve met over the years. Trick is the first person I look up, I never looked while I was with Dan and Elise as I felt I was getting my Happily Ever After and I didn’t want to jinx it by bringing my past back into my life, now I just want to feel safe again.

Jenson’s profile on Facebook is set to private, so other than his name, the only other information I get is his photo, which is of him, Ren, and Xander, the three of them are smiling and look healthy, with trees and a lake behind them. Taking a deep breath, I send him a message.

Hey Trick,

I'm sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out. Things got bad for a while, then great but hectic.

I just started college, but being one of the youngest in all my classes means no friends, and I decided now, more than ever, I should reach out.

Hope all is well with you and you’re getting Ren and Xander into plenty of mischief

All my love

Quinny

x

I realize before I start looking for anyone else how late it is, so I close my laptop. I have class at 8 a.m. tomorrow and need to try to get some sleep.

Since leaving Dan and Elise’s safety, my bad dreams have got worse, so I wake a few times in the night, but being used to it after all these years I easily fall back asleep again.

Trick messages me back the next day but demands proof of life be sent to his phone and mobile number within the next hour.

I send a photo of my hand sketching in art class, with a 'more to follow after class, 45-minute countdown initiated.'

I hotfoot it out of class to a local Café, order a tea and a slice of chocolate fudge cheesecake, snap a selfie of myself and the cheesecake, which has a huge dollop of whipped cream on top, and send it to him. He should be at school, so I don’t expect a reply.

Opening my book, I glance up at the TV. Then I see the news: a fire is raging on Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain at 3,407ft.

Dantillian Sciath'sLasair Siorai. I feel a tear slip down my cheek, and quickly wipe it away, I can’t break down into sobs in public, tonight in bed I will break.

A dragon’sLasair Siorai,means Eternal Flame it’s when they shift and burn themselves from the heart out; because of the heat from the fire, it turns their body into a giant Fossil. Dan will be curled around Elise’s Body, and when that fire stops, all they will find is a scale-carved rock. Natural warding will prevent humans from trying to crack it open, and the risk of curses will stop Supes from touching it.

The others in the Café make comments on it, and I feel my phone vibrate

Trick: have you seen the fire in Ireland? That cake looks amazing x

Me: yeah I’ve seen it, the foster family I left, is involved – Dragons really are the most romantic x

Trick: it's… oh wow! Are you ok? x

Me: I have chocolate fudge cheesecake with extra cream, no better way to celebrate their lives, might treat myself to a new book, one of her favorites on my way home from class. x

Trick: they sound like amazing people; I’m glad you got somewhere good. x

Trick: when are you coming home? X

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