Episode 13 part 2

After filling her parents in on her childhood, her college years, her failed marriage, her quiet existence over the last decade and finally her latest adventures in this alternate world, she told them of her sibling’s lives. Throughout, they shared laughs and tears. Ember was breathless after all the remembrance. She let out a long breath and leaned back on the bench to look at her parents. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure this was real. Who knew talking could be so exhausting. She felt as though she had just run a marathon, and yet she was exhilarated at the same time. God, it was good to see them. It was to touch them, to hear their voices, to just be near them. It was what every orphaned child dreams of and never thinks will actually come to pass. This was a gift. As she sat watching them, she realized what a gift it was and how that had changed something in her. It made her more aware of herself. Grant smiled at her; that knowing, proud father smile. It was infectious. She looked over to see her mother was also smiling. She realized her cheeks were sore, because she had been smiling the entire time.

Several moments of silence had passed and they still all sat contently basking in each other’s presence. Marissa squeezed Ember’s hand and they both glanced down at their entwined hands and laughed. Neither had let go the entire time. Grant leaned forward and placed his hands around theirs, “I wish we could hold this moment for eternity. Unfortunately for your mother and me, your time here will end soon. You will have to continue your journey. There is so much out there for you to experience and learn; and then there will be much for you and your siblings to do. Their world is about to change and they will need you to lead them.”

“Wait…lead? I’m not a leader. Flossy, she’s always the leader. And Wyndel, he would be a great leader.”

“Ember, you are a leader. You just haven’t embraced that part of yourself.” Marissa stated. “Each of you has an element at your core. You are fire! That influences your gifts but it also is who you are. You are the embodiment of passion,” she paused and smiled, when Ember blushed. “Yes, our little firefly, you possess passion in the physical sense, but passion rules many things, as does your fire. You have the ability to engage others. You can sway people to your causes and your beliefs because your passion seeps out and they get swept away. This is a wonderful gift, but if not tempered can harm. In your work, you help people. You are able to calm them because you care. Because you want to help them and make their life easier, better. That is one of your passions and they feel it even though they don’t realize it.”

Grant continued, “You have a strong gift with animals. Normally this is a gift only possessed by those of the earth element. It has developed strongly in you because your love of creatures is so strong. They feel it and are drawn to be near you. Although you tend to hide yourself away, people have the same reaction to you. They are drawn to you, yet confused because they feel pushed away at the same time. This is because you don’t embrace that part of yourself. You are not yet comfortable with all the attention that can bring, so you send mixed signals. You must become comfortable in your own skin and let go of your fears. This is your destiny. You can change the world. You will need to change the world for it to survive and flourish. That is why you are here.”

“What if you are wrong? What if I fail? What if I don’t want this?” Ember had stopped smiling for the first time.

“It is not up to you or about what you want. This is your destiny. This is what all your previous lives have been leading up to,” her mother explained.

“Whoa! Previous lives? What previous lives?” Ember shook her head in denial.

“Your soul is very old, in human terms. Your consciousness has existed for an eternity and will continue on for an eternity unless your fire is snuffed out. We do not die, except in our physical form. There is no beginning and no end. It is all a journey. Death is an illusion; merely a transition to another state. But there is a force that is trying to create true death. This cannot happen or we all cease to be. That will be your ultimate battle. Our family was chosen a very long time ago to wage this war. You, your brother, your sisters and your aunt are the warriors that must save eternity. Without you, there is nope hope and hope is everything.” Grant had gotten solemn as he told her these things.”

He continued, “You must learn how to open yourself to your passed incarnations and your future lessons. Then you must help your siblings embrace their gifts and help them open up their potential. You are all like pieces of a puzzle. Together you make each other whole. You balance the universe. First you must obtain that balance in yourself as they must. You must help them find themselves and what their gifts are and how to use them. You must learn to temper your abilities. They are part of your essence but you can't rely on them too much. They make things easier and it will be tempting to always fall back on them, but part of this journey will be learning when to use a gift and when to push through and use other ways.”

“Sometimes that even means accepting defeat and failure,” Marissa added. “Do not fear these, for they serve a purpose as well.”

The weight of what they were telling her was hard to comprehend. She wanted to ask questions. ‘Like why me?’ yet was unable to ask anything. Her mind was trying to wrap around it but it all seemed so vague. What did it mean? She liked answers, concrete, ‘this is what it is’. How could she put this in her little categories, her boxes? Part of her wanted to cry. Part of her wanted to scream, ‘NO! I want to go back to my simple little boring life.’

“My dear sweet girl, I know this is overwhelming even incomprehensible right now. You will understand as you go forward on this journey. Things will fall into place and you will be fine. Better, you will become your destiny. I see it,” Marissa stated, with tears filling her eyes. “That is one of my gifts. Don’t let these silly tears alarm you; they represent the pride I have in who you have become and who you are yet to be.”

Ember realized that she too had tears leaking from her eyes. Her father caught one as he stood and pulled her into his arms.

He whispered, “Pumpkin, I believe in you.” He kissed her forehead and opened his arm to gather Marissa into their embrace. They held on to each other for a moment, before Ember pulled back slightly.

“It’s time, isn’t it?”

Brushing her daughter’s hair away from her face, Marissa said, “It is. I hope that we will have another time together, but for now you must continue on.”

Grant added, “There are so many things I wish I could tell you. I wish I could watch over you on this journey but my place, our journey is to help those here. Our hearts and our thoughts will be filled with pride and occasionally worry, because you are parents. This time with you has been a gift to us. If we are so blessed, maybe we will hear of your travels and triumphs.”

Marissa chuckled, “Your father will live vicariously through his imagination of your journeys. As rewarding as helping others through their time here is, it is often times not as exciting as he would have it. Just remember who you are and embrace it. If you must be sad after you leave, let it be for only a moment, for you carry a part of us in your heart and you will understand all when the time is right for you to. Come, we will walk with you to the edge of the Dew.”

With her father on her left and her mother on her right, they began to walk. Ember wanted so desperately to say something, anything, but her mind was spinning and would not allow the words to come. As they walked, she noticed shapes of people and animals would come into to focus. Some seem to pass them or cross in front of them. Some seem to appear and then fade away. It was like walking in nothingness. It was neither dark nor light. It just was which confused the senses. They held hands as they walked in silence, just enjoying each others presence. After a time, they touch seemed lighter, and as Ember looked down at their hands, she noticed that theirs had become somewhat translucent. Alarmed she wanted to stop, but her feet kept going.

“No. I’m not ready yet.” As she thought the words, she realized that she was alone. She looked to either side but could not see them. In her mind, she heard them say in unison, “We love you, Ember. There is no goodbye.”

Still her feet kept moving. It was mindless motion that propelled her into what seemed like nothing, yet she was beginning to understand that soon she would be at her next destination. She smiled, not because she knew what that place would be, or that she understood any of this. She smiled because she knew they believed in her, so she would bravely take on … whatever was coming.

Episode 13

As Ember squinted to make out the things she was seeing, she realized that she could hear muffled conversations. Walking along, she became so lost in trying to figure out the images and sounds that she didn’t realize she no longer held Elpis’ hand. She didn’t feel her presence in a real sense… she laughed out loud at her own thoughts, “real sense? I don’t even know what is real anymore.”

Oddly, for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel alone or worried. Even though she knew Elpis had gone, she still felt connected to her.

“I am always with you.” Ember heard the whisper in her head and smiled. She stopped now and considered her surroundings. She wondered who she was going to meet now.

“Elpis said they had waited a long time…. I wonder who they are. How do they know me? Have we met before? Are they human?”

As if in answer to her questions, an impossibly tall man with longish pale blonde hair streaked with red approached. As Ember noticed him, he smiled broadly. It was a smile that brightened the space and lit up his eyes, which were a bright cornflower blue. She instantly felt connected… drawn to him. He stopped in front of her and held open his arms. Instantly, Ember walked into his embrace. He felt like home.

Ember knew she should question this… him… even herself, but all she wanted to do was stay in the safety of his arms.

“Hello, firefly.” His voice was deep and rich like Wyndel’s.

The nickname sparked a memory that she couldn’t quite grasp. When she leaned back and looked into his eyes, she knew. The shock and joy was overwhelming. She was afraid to speak; for fear that it would shatter this beautiful illusion before her.

He smiled down at her, as if knowing her thoughts, yet he patiently waited for her to come to grips with who he was.

Barely a whisper escaped her lips, “Daddy.” His nod was almost imperceptible.

“But how is this possible? You died. Oh! Is mom…?”

He stepped back and motioned to a bench Ember hadn’t realized was there. On the bench sat a plain but striking woman, that reminded Ember of Fossy, but softer. Not that Fossy was harsh, but the woman before her had a gentleness to her; less of the take charge demeanor her sister exuded. Ember looked from her father to her mother for a few moments before going to her mother. As she approached, Marissa stood. Her eyes, that were a mirror of Ember’s warm brown, had a hint of tears as she embraced her daughter for the first time in twenty-five years.

“Look at the beautiful woman you have become. I have waited, what seems like an eternity to see you.”

They sat down on the bench holding hands. Another bench had magically appeared next to them and Ember’s father, Grant, sat down on it. Again, Ember looked back and forth between her parents, too mesmerized to form words. They sat patiently with Ember, as they watched the joy of seeing them and turmoil of what to ask first crossed her features. A few times she looked as though a question was about to burst forth before another thought skittered across her brow.

“This is so overwhelming,” she finally let out, “but in a good way, a wonderful way. I have dreamed of you my whole life…wishing…. I was afraid I had forgotten who you really are, or if my dreams had made a new version of you. But you are here. You are real. You are real, aren’t you?”

“In this realm we are real,” her mother said quietly before explaining there current existence. “There are many journeys. Each person or entity has a path to follow. When your father and I left your physical world, our journey led us here. This is where we must remain, until the great all, decides a new path for us.”

“So you are like a ghost. Do you visit us, see how we grow?”

Grant smiled at the question, though his eyes held a sadness. “For us, we are confined to the Dew. There are those who are spirits that can transverse different realms and visit those from their former human lives. It is your mother and my journey to help those that sent here. For some, like us, this is out existence, for others this is a transitory place and for others this is a place to learn before continuing their path.”

“So you are stuck here? But why? Can you not visit Aunt Elspeth? She sees spirits all the time.”

Marissa laughs, “Ah Elspeth, my sister is quite the character. We can not visit her, as we are unable to leave, but she does manage to visit us on occasion. She fills us in on how you are all doing, your achievements, and your challenges. It is one of her many gifts to be able to see those on other planes and converse with other forms and beings. Your father had this gift when he was alive,” she added looking over at Grant.

Ember’s brow furrowed as she realized how sad it must be to be stuck in this place away from loved ones. “Do I have the gift? Is that why I am here? Will I be able to come visit you now? Oh… wait am I stuck here now, too?”

Again, Marissa laughed. “Elspeth said you like to ask a million rapid fire questions; that your mind is always racing and analyzing everything. I do not know if you will develop this gift to migrate through realms. I know your brother, Wyndell has the gift. Your aunt says he is too flighty and on the go to develop it yet. He likely does not know who and what he is, just as Misty and you do not. Well, you are starting to learn. Fossy was the only one old enough when we passed from our earthly life to know. She was only a child of nine but had already begun manifesting her gifts.”

“So Fossy knows what we are? What you were?” Ember asked. “She has never said anything. Surely, she didn’t, doesn’t. Believe me she is the most straight-laced, boring person… I mean, she has many talents and the most beautiful heart, but there is nothing magical about her. Nope, definitely not witchy material; she’s a real stick in the mud.”

Grant roared with laughter at the description of his oldest daughter. “Ember, do you expect her to appear like the characters from story books and movies? There are many types of witches and even more types of magic. We will help you understand it all more, but first tell us about you, your life and your brother and sisters. We have missed so much.”

Ember paused. She had so many questions; she was so confused about so many things, but looking at her parents, and feeling like this was the first time she was actually seeing them her heart and mind filled with all the memories of growing up they had missed. She regaled them with all her stories as hours flew by. 

Now that she has met her parents, Ember will learn why she has been sent to the Dew to meet them...

Episode 12a

.... at the touch of the hand, Ember felt a sense of ease wash over her. She allowed herself to be guided through the reflective surface. The first thing she noticed was the small hand holding hers. The fingers were long with short unpolished nails. The skin appeared smooth as marble and it gave off a soft yellow glow. The glow spread, illuminating the bare arm, then the delicate, striking woman standing before her. Although the woman's face was plain, she was stunning, with warm brown eyes that matched the long wavy brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Her hair seemed alive, as if it were moving. As Ember stood mesmerized by this strange woman, she could almost make out fields of blooming flowers in the strands of her hair. The woman wore a long cream colored shroud, draped over one shoulder. It, too, seemed to be in constant motion. Even the flower band that held the garment to her waist seemed to be blossoming.

  "Who are you?" Ember whispered; the warmth and yellow glow sliding over her as she stood transfixed. She felt safe and at peace, and instinctively knew she would as long as she held this woman's hand. No, she looked like a woman, but Ember could sense she wasn't human like herself.

"I am Elpis and you are one of my chosen. " When Elpis spoke, her voice was strong yet soft and resonated with the same warmth and soothing quality her presence exuded.

 "Elpis? Your chosen? I don't understand what that means."

" I am the Goddess of Hope. When Zeus chose to punish man, because Prometheus stole fire, he had the first woman created, Pandora and gave her to Prometheus' brother along with a beautiful jar and the instructions that it should never be opened. But he knew that curiosity was too great a temptation and the jar was opened and a thousand plagues were unleashed unto man. I, too, was one of those plagues against man, but I choose to remain in the jar."



"Wait, if you are a plague, why do I feel so at peace around you? Should I not be afraid?" Ember interrupted.

Elpis smiled, " No, my daughter, I understood the good in mankind's soul, which is why I chose to remain in the jar.. so that no matter how hard life gets, mankind may always have hope. In doing so, I was transformed from a plague to a Goddess." She paused and laid a hand on Ember's heart, "I chose you to be one of my Priestess', because of the passion and humanity you hold in your soul. You and your family will carry on my message. You will be the fire that sets hope ablaze in the hearts of modern people. You have much to learn before you are ready to take on mankind's projected plight."

"Why me? I'm just one woman. People don't listen to me. I'm not even social. I ...."

Elpis pressed a finger to Ember's lips, silencing her and smiled. " You are greater than you know. You must understand, while it is okay to ask your many questions, you will only receive the answers when the time is right and your are ready for them.  For now you must learn to face your greatest fears. Only then, will you understand the strength within yourself."

"You sound like Triskele. But, oh, I'm not very strong. I fear everything!" Ember protested.

Elpis let out a melodic laugh, "you are far stronger than you realize or will admit. I would not have chosen you, if you were not. What is it you fear the most?"

"Um, well spiders, okay well bugs in general, mean people..." Elpis simply cocked her head to one side and in her mind, Ember heard her nudge, "No , what is your deepest fear Ember? You must acknowledge them to overcome them."

Ember closed her eyes and searched deep within herself. She knew what her deepest fears were, but to acknowledge out loud was daunting. "I'm afraid of ending up alone, and of failing those I love," she admitted, barely above a whisper.

'Yes!"

It was only one word, but the heaviness weighed on Ember.

The conversation continues tomorrow......

Click on pictures to be taken to their origin. They have been taken from Lightning Thief book Club,  The Owl's Skull blog and Dailypainters.com