Ignited

The silence that stretched out between Bramble and Airin lasted a lifetime. She didn’t know what to make of his revelation. She wasn’t even quite sure what he was implying his spark was. She found herself wishing she understood this man. Wished she comprehended how he astonished her at every turn. How he managed to catch her off guard and send her life spiraling out every time her life had begun to resemble something akin to normalcy. He had taken away her sense of safety in this town. He plagued her thoughts when he wasn’t there and made her head swim when he was. She didn’t know why. “I know what people want,” His voice was deep and filled the silence, “like right now you want to understand me. My ability, I’m assuming.” “You can read my mind?” This frightened her more than anything else. Her thoughts were sacred. They were the one thing that had always been hers and only hers. The only part of her life she felt she had any real control over. She would kill him if he took that awa...

Chapter Six As Bramble pulled away from the stranger he leaned in. His lips brushed lightly against her ear lope as he spoke, hot air fanning her neck, “I trust you.” “What?” Bramble surprise could not be hidden. It was displayed on her face, which was a dark shade of red by now, in her eyes and her in voice. She had been expecting many different reactions from him.  That was not one of them. He chuckled and the sound filled her mind with warmth, “I can tell you don’t want to hurt me.” “And how, exactly, can you claim that?” A blonde eyebrow arched at her question; his lips pulled into a lopsided smile. He didn’t answer her. Instead he walked casually around her to so he was standing face to face with Chance. The teenager had just managed to locate them in the maze of shelves. “Do you have it?” Bramble was sure that was a silly question. Chance’s hands were empty. “No, give it another week. Maybe less, if father can find the time,” Chance’s e...

Chapter Five “Bramble! Bramble, wait!” The voice vaguely sounded familiar to her, but Bramble couldn’t quite place it to a face in her memory. Her peaceful pace halted abruptly, blue eyes wide and searching the crowd. She had wandered into the downtown area of Starlight Shores numerous times over the past week – only during the day. She didn’t really want to risk running into any unsavory characters if it wasn’t necessary. Bramble especially didn’t want to chance another run-in with Cress’ grandson.  This was the first time someone had attempted to speak to her in public since she had bumped into Chad. It wasn’t slicked back brown hair that filled her view, though. No, it was wild and unruly silvery blonde.  “Oh, hi.” She gazed down calmly at the teenager before her. She had forgotten about the application she had submitted at the bookstore.  Chance was huffing and puffing, doubled over, with paper clutched in his hand, “Y-your application.” ...

Chapter Four Bramble felt heat lick at the back of her neck, slowly rising to brush her cheeks. She didn’t understand how this man had snuck up on her. She had been relaxing, yes, but she had been aware of every breeze that blew, every fish that swam around her. It was almost as if he was a ghost, moving silently through the night. She narrowed her eyes, never letting him out of her sight, as she slowly walked towards the shore. This did not seem necessary, however, since he never moved an inch. Still, she did not trust this man. “What are you doing here?” She inquired as her feet finally brushed against grass. She could not keep the edge out of her voice. “I could ask the same of you.” She noticed a hint of malice, of ill-intent, in his tone. All amusement was gone. She took two full strides towards him, efficiently closing the gap. She would not allow him to have an effect on her. Not now, “But I asked first.” By now she had changed her pose. She was swayi...

Bramble’s stomach was over the baby-faced blonde before her brain was. It rumbled angrily - demanding to be fed. Okay, she thought as she finally tore her eyes away from the space the man had occupied, we will go find something to eat.  The first diner Bramble stumbled upon was the Flying V Coffee shop. It was a quaint place that didn’t have an air of expensiveness around it. Heading inside, she was quickly seated and handed a menu. She had to mentally remind herself numerous times that she was low on funds – ordering half the menu, though it sounded delicious, would not be economically sustainable. The meal itself passed in a blur. She shoveled food into her mouth as fast as she could. It was how she had been accustomed to eating over the years - in slavery you either ate fast or it was taken from you by force. The waiter gave her a weak smile once or twice but she had the feeling he was probably off-put by her habit. Clearing her table, he dropped off her check with a polit...

Chapter Two Starlight Shore had appealed to Bramble for two reasons: the main being that it was the furthest kingdom from Riverview and the second being its king was one of two kingdoms that did not enslave the Vestige. The other kingdom that allowed Vestiges to have their freedom was Bridgeport but Bramble did not much care for the party life style the citizens there often lead. It was her first day in Starlight Shores and Bramble knew she should not spend it brooding over the past. Head held high, Bramble headed into the small house she would call home for now. Of course, she hadn’t purchased the house happily referred to as home. No, she had less than a hundred simoleons left to her name. The small home she was currently residing in was a simply a modest foreclosure – 684 Vista Blvd. She had stumbled upon it just that morning after wondering out of the nearby mountainous forests. She hadn’t been inside yet, but even if it was completely barren she was sure it would be...

Chapter One: The Spark     Many years ago, a family was founded - one that would change the course of the very planet and everyone on it. They would survive horrors and atrocities. They would flourish with love and prosperity. They would lead us into the light. They would lead us into the dark.     Where ever they may have brought us to the brink of, it all started with one young lady name Bramble.    Bramble Snoww. --------~*~-------    “I haven’t been ignited!”    Those words would forever haunt her memory. They were the end of everything she thought she knew and loved. They were the beginning of her five years of enslavement.    Oh, she remembered that night perfectly. The fall air crisp and dry as it blew through her hair through the open door. Her parents bowed heads, as if they were paying their respects to some great god. In truth they were hiding their eyes from her, ...