Ember

The ruins lay 120 yards away from the place where Blythe and Nezach crouched in the darkness. The edge of the forest provided the perfect hiding place from the full moon's soft glow. The night was clear, and the air was crisp and cold. Blythe shivered, not just from the cold, but mostly from excitement. This had been the closest she had ever been to finding out what she was and what she could do to control her affinity for fire. Despite the light the moon provided it wasn't enough for her to see the monks that patrolled and guarded the area around the ruins. Blythe made a mental note of how lucky she was to have Nezach as a friend, whom, with his cat eyes could see the things that the dark wouldn't allow her to. “In about 5 minutes they should be changing shifts.” whispered Nezach. “Get ready."

Blythe nodded.

For 2 days and nights the pair have been watching the area, watching and making note of the monks many shifts. The ruins lay in the middle of nowhere, the perfect place for an ancient underground library. This library was located underneath the ruins, this was the place that Blythe intended to go. The ancient library was thought to be a myth by many, but in hopes that it actually existed Blythe searched for it for most of the 17 years that she had been alive. The library of Scythia was said to hold thousands and thousands of books on the gods, angels, spirits, and (the topic that interested Blythe the most...) Demons. Blythe was a half demon. The spawn of the demon Phoenix. Phoenix was her father, this much she knew and she also knew that her affinity for fire came from him. So far Blythe learned a lot about her powers on her own, but they seemed to be more and more uncontrollable with each raging outburst. Blythe had an epic temper.

Blythe inhaled deeply and then exhaled. She hoped that by learning about her father she could have a better understanding of what she was. “We have one minute left” Nezach's voice managed to find her in the darkness. “Do you remember the plan?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you can do this?” asked Nezach.

Blythe sighed. “You worry too much.” She half smiled.

Nezach was a good friend, in fact he was more like the brother she never had; a brother who constantly changed appearance and species. Nezach was a shape shifter and his favorite form was that of a black house cat, which from what Blythe could tell was his choice that night.

“I want to make sure that you remember what to do...let's go over the plan one more time.”

“Ugh!” Blythe whispered in protest. “Fine.”

“Ok, I will stay here and keep watch, I'll alert you of any danger. When the monks return to the monastery you have 2 minutes to get from here to there before the next shift comes in. Be quick and remember not to use your powers for any reason, the monks will be able to sense them if you unleash them. Now when you get inside.....there isn't much advise that I can give you other than to be careful. I don't know what dangers lurk there, considering the monks keep this place so well guarded on the outside who knows what dangers lurk within. This place holds ancient and sacred history so don't underestimate anything here....understand?”

“Mhmmm got it.” Blythe nodded impatiently.

A few moments of silence passed until Nezach spoke again. “They are leaving, NOW GO!” Blythe dashed out of the bushes and ran silently across the field until she reached the ruin yard. She looked around the building for an entry way that led underground. She found it, but of course it was locked. Blythe picked at it with a thin piece of metal she designed herself specifically to pick locks. Within a few seconds the lock sprang open and she was inside. She closed the door silently behind her. She expected darkness but she realized that she was in a candle lit stairway that seemed to travel down endlessly. She took one tentative step down after another and tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to alert anything or anyone there of her presence. She finally reached the bottom after what seemed to be forever and followed the hallway to a huge dimly lit room. She looked about her. She had found the library. Something seemed off. She had access to all of the worlds knowledge and hadn't yet met one obstacle.

She grew paranoid and turned at the ready with every groan, moan, pop, and other noises she heard, but in the end it was only the ancient book shelves who had some how seemed to never have aged. She looked for the demons section, found it and then looked for her fathers name. A glint of light caught her eye, she followed it to its source and found her father's book. It was beautifully bound in a red cover and embroidered with the image of flames and a fierce looking phoenix amongst them. She was entranced by its beauty until a loud thud broke the spell and forced her to whirl around. A creature... a sentry of some kind had found her. It sounded an alarm and bounded for her. She knew Nezach told her not to use her powers, but it was already too late the monks knew she was there.

Before the creature could reach her she unleashed an explosion that knocked the creature back and allowed her to find the stairs and make her escape. When she reached the door she poked her head up and out. The monks were at chaos with themselves. Something was distracting them so they wouldnt notice her. It was Nezach. She took the opportunity and ran for the woods, Nezach followed close behind. They ran until they reached a clearing and knew they were safe from anyone following them. Blythe hadn't the energy to set up camp and passed out among the grass still clutching the book in her arms.[left]

A foxlike ear twitched as a low thud protruded from the brush, signaling life amongst the trees. A boy with foxlike features hopped to the trees and silently navigated branches to the sound. Poking his head from above a branch, the fox saw a girl and a cat, about to enjoy a meal. Lifting back to the branch, the curious fox stepped off into the air. Standing suspended, he then began to walk the air like ground, gradually turning upside down and stepping face to face with the girl.

"Aren't you a most curious being." The fox stated to the girl, just inches from her face, him upside down and suspended.

Eliseo stepped closer to the girl, curious about her nature. Seeing many people in his life, the fox had never encountered a person with this aura.

The cat seemed worried, defensive almost and had asked the fox's name, while the girl had asked his species. Looking to the cat then back to the girl, Eliseo decided he would give them a chance. His ears twitched in his curiosity to know more about her.

"My name is Eliseo, Eliseo Abdiel," The kitsune stated calmly, "I am a kitsune, a fox if you will, with special abilities."

Still vertically reversed, Eliseo leaned closer, his eyes barely inches from the girls. "May I ask the same of you?"

Smiling, the kitsune twisted to the ground, landing neatly on his feet. Eliseo studied the Nezach for a moment and then at the girl.

"Interesting ability Nezach. You and I have something in common." To prove the statement, Eliseo's features began to alter into that of Blythe. "See?"

Reverting back to his original form, the kitsune sat down cross-legged. "Well why don't you eat? You were about to no?" He asked calmly.

"No, I am fine." The fox lay back onto the grass and began to levitate, "Thank you though."

To further entertain himself while the two ate, Eliseo pulled a foxfire ball one tail and began to play with it, juggling it in the air.

"Where are you going?" The fox quipped, his ears perking slightly.

The kitsune pawed the fiery ball back and smiled. To him, this was very interesting, having never met a person like Blythe.

"What makes recently such a difference? Are you questing?" The fox asked, having only been in the human realm for five days, he was unused to the customs around.

The book glinted in the light, showing a crest of flame. Eliseo had heard of Pheonix, the demon of flame, though he did not know much. Blythe was an interesting girl, and he she was so mysterious.

"Pheonix..." The canine demon muttered, "I have heard of him. Why do you seek him?" The foxes ears twitched as he looked into her eyes.

Standing up, the fox thought of his own family, which he never knew. His tree-kin told him of his mother often when he was young.

"Your food is gonna get cold." pointed out the kitsune to Blythe. I thought you were hungry. Eliseo smiled and tilted his head, tails twitching.

"Well if you wish to stay the night on the cold hard ground, be my guest. Though I have much more comfortable accommodations to rest in." Stated the fox, he hated sleeping outside.

Being a kitsune had many, many benifits, and was very fun too.

Leaping backwards toward the underbrush, the fox smiled cunningly. "It's quite possible I would be willing to share."

Eliseo flipped over the shrubbery and padded towards a large tree. At the base of the giant flora was a hole, just large enough for one of human size to fit.

The surprise waiting for Blythe and Nezach would be fun to watch.

"I will go first then you are to follow when you hear my voice, ok?" Eliseo instructed before lifting into the air and diving seamlessly through the portal. The wind and earthy smell of the soil blew around Eliseo as he fell. Suddenly the stone began to shift into stone and marble of white as the fox exited the tube, falling parallel with a slide, and speeding down to the floor of an elegent, mansion like living space.

The fox slide to a slow stop on a stretch of the slide to the main room. Stepping onto the floor, Eliseo looked to a tube in the wall to his left. The tube ran to the tree where a similar opening waited and he yelled through it for Blythe to now follow.

One power of the kitsune that Eliseo was very adept in, spacial manipulation.