Chapter 8: Born of flames

Later that morning, Tracy entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast, her mind clouded with bitterness. The events of the early morning replayed in her head, and the knowledge of Ember’s true identity festered like a wound. Suddenly, Ember bumped into her, snapping Tracy out of her thoughts. Irritation flashed in her eyes, her resentment bubbling to the surface.

The house felt suffocating, its walls pressing in on Ember as she stood in the kitchen, her fists clenched at her sides. Tracy’s sharp voice cut through the silence like a blade, each word dripping with venom.

“You think you can just walk around here, acting like you’re special?” Tracy spat, her eyes narrowing. “You’re nothing, Ember. Nothing but a burden we’ve had to carry for far too long.”

Ember’s chest tightened, her breath catching as the words sank in. “Why do you hate me so much?” she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. “What did I ever do to you?”

Tracy scoffed, crossing her arms. “You exist. That’s what you did. You think I wanted this? To raise someone else’s child? You’re not even mine, Ember. You never were.”

With a sneer, Tracy pulled an envelope from her pocket and threw it at Ember’s feet. “Open it,” she hissed, her voice dripping with malice. “See for yourself.”

Ember hesitated, her hands trembling as she bent down to pick up the envelope. She tore it open, pulling out a single, worn sheet of paper—a birth certificate. Her eyes scanned the document quickly, her breath hitching when she saw that certain sections had been crudely scratched out. The names of her parents were missing, replaced by jagged marks.

Tracy’s voice broke the silence, sharp and venomous. “You’re scum. You came from scum. Michael found you on the street, lying next to your dead beggar parents. He felt sorry for you, that’s all.”

Ember’s chest tightened, her eyes stinging as tears welled up. “That’s not true...” she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of Tracy’s words.

“Oh, it is,” Tracy shot back, her eyes blazing with cruelty. “I’ve had to raise a filthy child I never wanted. So don’t you dare think for a second that you’re anything more than a mistake a burden I’ve been forced to endure.”

The words struck Ember like a physical blow, her vision blurring as she staggered back. Her hands began to tremble violently, the heat stirring beneath her skin. The fire surged within her, begging to be unleashed as anger, pain, and confusion swirled together in a storm she could no longer control.

The words hit Ember like a physical blow, her vision blurring as tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t ask for this either!” she shouted, her voice cracking. “I didn’t ask to be here, to be treated like I don’t matter!”

Tracy stepped closer, her face twisted with disdain. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and slapped Ember harshly. “You don’t matter,” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re a mistake. A freak. And now, with whatever... thing is happening to you, you’re a danger to this family.”

Ember staggered back, her cheek stinging from the blow. Her hands began to tremble, the familiar warmth of her fire stirring beneath her skin. She clenched her fists, trying to suppress the surge of power rising within her. “Stop it,” she whispered, her voice low and shaking. “Stop calling me that.”

“Or what?” Tracy sneered, leaning in closer. “You’ll throw another tantrum? Burn the house down? Go ahead, Ember. Prove me right.”

Ember’s anger surged, but Tracy wasn’t finished. Her voice grew louder, harsher, as she stepped even closer. “Do you know what you’ve done to this family? To me?“Michael doesn’t love me because of you. He’s never loved me, not since the day we brought you into this house.”

Ember froze, her heart pounding, the words slicing through her like a blade. “That’s not true,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“Oh, it is,” Tracy snapped, her eyes blazing with fury. “Do you know why he’s so protective of you? Because he feels guilty. Guilty for the mistake he made. He told me once that taking you in was the greatest regret of his life, but he can’t bring himself to admit it. So, instead, he coddles you like you’re some precious treasure, hoping it’ll absolve him.”

Ember’s breath hitched as doubt began to creep in. Her father’s unwavering love was the one constant in her life, but Tracy’s words planted a seed of uncertainty. “You’re lying,” Ember said weakly, though her voice lacked conviction.

“Am I?” Tracy said coldly, leaning closer. “You think he’s been honest with you? Men like Michael always hide their true feelings. Why do you think he’s gone so often? It’s because he can’t bear to stay in the same house as you for too long.”

The lie struck Ember harder than she thought possible, her chest tightening as emotions surged within her. Her body reacted instinctively, the fire within her building to the surface. Flames erupted from her hands in a sudden burst, flickering across the table before fading as quickly as they came. Ember stumbled back, her breathing ragged, her heart pounding as Tracy stood, her expression now laced with triumph.

“Control yourself,” Tracy snapped, her voice rising with false authority. “If anyone sees this—if anyone knows—we’ll lose everything!”

Ember backed away, her hands still glowing faintly. She felt the heat coiling within her chest, a force she couldn’t suppress no matter how hard she tried. Her mother’s words swirled in her head: You’re not ours. The fire burned brighter, feeding on her emotions, but beneath the fear was something new—a strange, exhilarating sense of freedom.

Tracy sneered, leaning in closer, her voice dripping with malice. That’s all you’re good for, isn’t it? Destroying everything around you.”

Ember’s hands began to tremble, the warmth of her fire stirring beneath her skin, but Tracy wasn’t finished. Her words grew sharper, crueler, cutting deeper with every syllable. “You’re pathetic. A freak. You don’t belong here, Ember. You never did. You’re nothing but a mistake—a burden we’ve been forced to carry.”

Ember’s chest tightened, her breath catching as the insults sank in. “Stop it,” she whispered, her voice low and shaking. “Stop calling me that.”

Tracy stepped closer, her face twisted with disdain. “Why should I? It’s the truth. You’re not even worth the air you breathe. You think Michael loves you? He pities you. That’s all you’ll ever be—a pitiful little girl with nowhere to go.”

The fire surged within Ember, her emotions boiling over as Tracy’s venomous words pushed her past the edge. Flames erupted from her hands, wild and uncontrollable, licking at the edges of the room. Tracy stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear as the heat radiated from Ember’s trembling form. The fire surged before Ember could stop it. Her emotions boiled over, and with a sudden burst, flames erupted from her hands, lashing out uncontrollably. Tracy screamed as the fire grazed her face, leaving a jagged burn across her cheek. The smell of scorched skin filled the air, and Ember stumbled back, horrified by what she had done.

“I—I didn’t mean to,” Ember stammered, her voice barely audible over the crackling flames. Her heart pounded as she stared at her hands, the fire flickering faintly, a cruel reminder of the power she couldn’t control.

Tracy clutched her chest, her expression shifting from fear to fury. “You monster!” she screamed, her voice raw and venomous. “Get out of my house! Get out before you destroy us all!”

Ember didn’t wait. She turned and fled, her tears streaming as the fire continued to flicker in her palms. The night swallowed her as she ran into the darkness, her mind racing with fear, guilt, and the faintest glimmer of something else-freedom.