She slammed the door in frustration. The multi-colored glass panes rattled in response.

'Why does this always happen?!' her mind seemed to scream.

Why couldn't she have a normal life? Go to school, work, live on her own, have friends, have boyfriends? Just like everyone else. But no! She would never have normal. Nothing in her life would ever look like that. It never had and it never would.

Not for Ember Morrigan Midnight.

Sighing heavily, she sat on the stone bench, leaning back until the rough bark of the hawthorn tree's trunk pressed firmly against her back. Ember usually dealt with her situation fairly easily. She had been doing it all of her life. She didn't know why she thought that this time around would be any different. Moving to an entirely different country should have been an opportunity to start new. To have normal. Her aunt just didn't seem to understand. That, or she just didn't care.

Ember breathed in deeply, willing her nerves to calm themselves.

"I'm turning twenty-one, for fuck's sake," she grumbled, to no one in particular.

The leaves in the tree above her rustled gently, as if in agreement.

"Ember!"She heard suddenly. "Ember, come back up to the house this minute! We are not finished with our conversation." Her Aunt Arwen spoke firmly.

Her eyes narrowed and she gritted her teeth. She needed to be alone right now. She needed to calm down before talking with her aunt again. Quietly, she slid off of the stone bench. Gathering her skirts in her hands, she sprinted through the garden and the meadow beyond, to the woods, behind her grandmother's house.

Once she was sure that she was into the woods deep enough she slowed her pace, feeling the soft damp earth beneath her feet. The tall, thick trees were just what she needed surrounding her right now. The forest always helped to calm her. Any of nature had that effect on her, really.

Ember took a deep breath, taking in all the scents that the forest held, and sat against one of the tree trunks, resting on its knobby half-exposed root. It almost seemed as if the trees were expecting her, and one of them had created the perfect nook for her to rest in. To think. She almost felt as if they were welcoming her home. Ember closed her eyes, letting the damp, earthy smell of the soft dirt and fallen leaves fill her nostrils. A light breeze swept past her, carrying with it the scent of the decaying leaves of the forest floor and the blooming wildflowers from the meadow beyond.

Why had she reacted so childishly towards her Aunt? It wasn't like it was a big surprise to her that she wouldn't be allowed to get a place of her own, now that they had moved halfway across the world to live with her grandmother. It was even less of a surprise that her Aunt wouldn't want her to go over to the city for her birthday, alone. Ember already knew that she wouldn't be going out with friends or having a normal birthday party either. So why had she reacted so immaturely and fought with her Aunt about it all?

Even if her Aunt had allowed it, there wouldn't be anyone to invite or to go out with anyways. The few friends that Ember had managed to hang onto through high school were lost to her once school had finished. They didn't stay in touch and she felt as if her friends were probably relieved to be rid of her, and her family's oddities.

"Again, because I'm a Midnight!" she huffed, plucking a blade of rich green grass from the folds of her skirt.

Once she had finished high school, she took a few classes at the local community college but mainly she worked at her aunt's shop. Ember had met plenty of people her age, but making friends was never an easy task. Especially once they found out her last name, and who her Aunt was. Ember finished the last class of her semester when her Aunt decided that they were going to move to her grandmother's house.

Honestly, Ember didn't mind the move. She had always loved visiting her grandmother during the Summer months. Ember loved being in Ireland. She felt more at home in this foreign land than she ever had back in the town in which she lived, with her Aunt, after her parent's death.

Out of the corner of her eye, something flashed by, darting through the woods. The faint rustle of the nearby underbrush broke her thoughts completely. She knew she shouldn't stay in the forest for too long. Her Aunt and her Grandmother would come looking for her, ushering her back to the house to get ready for the upcoming festival in the village nearby.

"I'll be back later old friend, Ember sighed, patting one of the tree's gnarled knots gently.

She stood up slowly, shaking out the folds of her skirt, glancing around trying to figure out what the movement was from just moments earlier.

"Come on. It was probably just a fox or a squirrel." She told herself nervously, eyes darting to the shadows of the forest behind her.

Just then a twig snapped only a short distance from where she stood. Ember froze instinctively, her pulse quickened at the sudden noise coming from the dark shadow of the woods. She couldn't see what or who it was, and she wasn't going to stick around to find out. She picked up her skirts again and sprinted from the trees, her dark hair flying like the tail of a comet behind her.

She stopped beyond the meadow, at the edge of her grandmother's garden, trying to slow down her breathing. She smoothed down her skirt and ran her fingers through her hair. Once she fixed her appearance, to what she thought looked somewhat presentable, she made her way casually through the garden. Preparing herself mentally for the admonishment she would receive from her aunt for running off.

Ember slipped quietly into the house, through the back door, and made her way into the kitchen. Her grandmother, Nori, stood at the butcher's block with a pile of freshly cut herbs, from the garden, in front of her.

"Hello, love. Feel better after visitin' them woods?" Her grandmother asked, eyes twinkling.

Ember smiled at her grandmother lovingly, "Yes, "she breathed, "of course I do. I feel pretty foolish for losing my temper like that though. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful at all. I'm really happy that we moved here."

Nori waved her hand dismissively towards her granddaughter.

"We all go through that growin up. Even your Aunt Arwen."

Ember stifled a giggle as she saw her aunt enter the kitchen from behind her grandmother.

"More life lessons, Ma?" her aunt Arwen asked.

"Just tellin' my granddaughter to not be beating herself up about the little squabble the two o' you had. That all the women in this family are headstrong, an always been. Tis how we were raised t'be. Hafta be. Tis in our blood."

Arwen chuckled softly, plucking a tiny white flower from a bowl that was sitting on the ornate butcher block.

"Have you thought about what you are going to wear to the festival tonight, Em?" Arwen questioned her niece, twirling the flower stem between her fingers.

Ember narrowed her eyes suspiciously. This was unlike her aunt to just let an argument go. Especially if she felt like Ember had been obstinate, or even disrespectful.

"I have a few things picked to choose from."

"Well," Arwen said laying the flower down gently and stepping towards her, "come with me. I have something I want to show you."

The dark-haired young woman looked at her grandmother quizzically. Her grandmother just winked at her.

 "O-Okay, lead the way," Ember replied hesitantly, following her aunt after a few seconds, out of the kitchen and up the staircase to the second floor of their quaint cottage.

Arwen stopped in front of the heavy oak doors leading into the room that Ember now called her own.

"Go on in. There's a box on the bed for you."

Ember looked at her aunt, eyebrows furrowed.

"It's okay Em," Arwen said pushing her gently. "Go on in."

Ember pushed open the heavy double doors, tentatively stepping into her bedroom. She glanced over her shoulder to see her aunt closing her door.

"What the hell is this all about?" she mumbled, looking around the room expectantly.

A large, flat white box sat on her bed, wrapped with a black satin bow. Ember walked quickly to her bed, running her hand over the bow's soft material. She picked up the plain white card that was stuck under the ribbon and flipped it open. Tears pricked her eye as she read the inscription.

To my darling niece,

I want you to know just how special this birthday is for you. Your mom would be so proud of the young woman you have become. I know I am. Here is something for you to wear on your most special day.

Love,

Aunt Arwen

Ember closed the card sitting it on her bed. She slipped the black satin off of the box and gently lifted its lid. What lay inside stole her breath. She looked down, not believing what she was seeing. The box was filled with soft chiffon, but what caught Ember by surprise was what lay on top of the material. It was a picture. Familiar eyes stared up at her from within the old photograph. It was her mother, wearing a dress that looked almost identical to the one lying in the box before her. Ember picked up the dress letting the delicate fabric fall through her fingers as it unfolded.

"Oh, wow." She breathed, scooting the box over so she could lay the dress out on her bed, to inspect in greater detail. It was identical to the one her mother was wearing in the photograph, right down to the intricate flower embroidery around the bottom of the dress.

'Maybe this night won't be so bad after all' Ember thought, slipping out of her clothes and making her way into the adjoining bathroom to get ready for the festival, and her birthday celebration.

A soft knock came from the door as she sat at the vanity in her room, brushing her long hair.

"Come in." She called out softly, rising from the cushioned bench, smoothing out the front of the gown.

"Oh!" Her grandmother exclaimed. "My dear, you look jus like her."

"Like who, Gran?" Ember asked, holding her breath, knowing the answer.

"Why yer ma o'course," Nori replied, touching the girl's cheek affectionately. "That was her dress, y'know." She added, her voice wistful.

Ember looked at her grandmother's shining amber eyes, the surprise evident on her face. She wrapped her arms around herself, clutching onto the delicate dress.

"This is the same dress as mom was wearing in that picture?" Her voice caught at the thought of it.

"Aye, it tis." Nori nodded. "She wore this dress on her twenty-first birthday, she did. We were of the mind that you would likin to wear it for yers. You look so much like yer Ma." Nori spoke barely above a whisper, running her hand through Ember's soft curls.

"D'ya need me to help with lacing up the back?" She asked, referring to the soft ribboned corset on the back of the bodice.

Ember's voice hitched, so she just nodded mutely at her.

She had never known her mother, only heard stories about her from her grandmother during the summer visits as a child. Ember's aunt refused to talk about her sister, claiming that the topic was too painful. The memories of her too much.

"Aunt Arwen knows that this is mom's dress?" She turned to face the woman once she had finished with the back of the dress.

"Why o'course she does, child." Nori smiled at her.

"It's so beautiful Gran." Ember gushed, throwing her arms around the old woman.

"Thank you!"

Nori laughed quietly. "No need ta thank me, dear. Now, let an old woman go. Yer gon'ta get all wrinkled."

"Sorry, Gran."

"Finish gett'n ready, girl. I'm gon'ta get changed. Yer aunt should almost be ready. We'll be meetin ya downstairs."

With that her grandmother turned quickly and left Ember in the room to finish, mumbling to herself as she went, about flowers and candles, a box, and who knows what else for the birthday part of the night's festivities. Ember laughed to herself, almost floating to the tall floor-length mirror that her room held.

"Oh, wow." She breathed, tentatively reaching out to touch the mirror. "Is that really me?" She twirled sideways to inspect her reflection more thoroughly.

The gown fit her perfectly.

"Okay, Ember! We are waiting." Her aunt's voice floated up the stairs.

"Coming!" She replied hastily tearing herself away from the mirror and rushing to her closet to grab the shoes that she had picked out to wear.

The festival was going to be held throughout the small village, ending with a birthday celebration, for Ember, on one of the surrounding hilltops. Ember hadn't been living at her grandmother's for very long. She hadn't had an opportunity to explore the village or meet anyone who lived there or in the surrounding countryside. The most she had been able to do was help her aunt with the unpacking and setting up of the shop that they would be opening in the village there.

"Do you think I am overdressed?" Ember asked her aunt and grandmother, nervously, as she descended the stairs to the foyer below.

Her aunt turned towards her then, her eyes briefly widening as she looked upon her niece, but in a blink, her expression was once again unreadable. Ember thought she might have imagined the look altogether.

"No, my darling. You look beautiful. Besides, everyone dresses up for the festival. Now, let's go. It's only a short walk to the village, but we need to get going so we don't miss all of the merriment." Her aunt ushered her out of the front door.

"Grab a lantern from the front porch Ember," Nori instructed, "we will each carry one with us tonight."

Once outside Ember saw three lanterns waiting for them, already glowing in the oncoming twilight. She grabbed the distressed white antique lantern and quickly followed her grandmother down the cobblestone path. Leading them away from the house, towards the main road, and into the village ahead.

The tree-lined street, from their house into the town was lit by lanterns. Each posted every few feet, they sparkled and seemed to shimmer every time she passed. Ember didn't know what she expected the festival to be like, but so far all of it seemed magical. Like some sort of fairytale.

As they came over a small hill the village burst into view. Lights twinkled throughout the village ahead. Ember could see various white party tents set up and the smell of warm food beckoned her onward. She glanced back towards her grandmother and her aunt, stopping briefly to allow them to catch up, tapping her foot against the hard ground.

"Go on ahead, dear." Her grandmother told her. Arwen nodded at her in agreement.

Ember flitted happily towards the inviting sounds and smells of the lively village. It seemed as if everyone in attendance had brought a lantern with them. Wrought iron posts littered the perimeter of the village, as if on guard. Different lanterns hung from each post, burning brightly in the evening sky.

Ember spotted an empty post as she entered the village. She quickly hung her lantern for safe keeping, while she explored the different tables, booths, and tents that were set up throughout.

'This is unbelievable.' She thought as she made her way into the crowded street. The plain cottage converted shops twinkled with soft white lights. Looking down only then did she see that her dress seemed to sparkle with each step she made.

"This is so unreal." Ember laughed out loud, taking in the transformation of the quiet cobblestone streets of EmhainAbhlach.

She twirled to the sound of the music that pulled her further into the lively crowd of townsfolk.

"Oh!" Ember cried out as she accidentally twirled into someone, who felt more like she had twirled into a brick wall.

"I gotcha'." A deep, silky voice said.

Ember glanced up. Standing before her was a hooded cloaked figure. A very large, hooded cloaked figure.

She gulped instinctively, frozen for what seemed like an eternity before she found her voice.

"Th-thank you." She stammered, her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. "I'm sorry I ran into you. I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Ember laughed nervously.

"S'okay." He grunted in response, letting go of her arm that he still held gently in his large hand.

Ember glanced back quickly, her gaze scanning the crowd to see if her aunt and her grandmother were anywhere nearby. Not seeing either of them she turned back towards the man, ready to introduce herself, she saw that he had disappeared.

"Hey!" Ember called out. "Where'd you go?" She looked around the crowd for the dark hooded mystery man, but he was nowhere to be found.

"That was weird." She muttered to herself, picking up the hem of her gown, so as not to step on it.

She then made her way to a nearby tent that looked as if beverages were being served inside. Once Ember had her glass full, she went to one of the empty tables that were set up for dining while at the festival.

"Happy Birthday to me." She whispered, raising her glass to no one in particular, taking a sip.

"Hi!" a bubbly voice said next to her.

Ember jumped unexpectedly. Wasn't this an empty table?

"Hello." She replied, eyeing the petite redhead.

"I'm Willow. Willow Gittan." The girl introduced herself.

"Hi, Willow. It's nice to meet you." She responded. "I'm Ember."

She didn't want to tell the girl her last name. She knew she was being silly, or at least she hoped she was, but just in case, Ember never divulged her last name to anyone on their first meeting. Her grandmother, after all, had lived here forever, and her aunt was setting up shop. So, no, better safe than sorry. Ember had witnessed too many people decide not to befriend her because of the last name Midnight.

"Are you visiting for the festival?" Willow asked, sipping a sparkling golden liquid from her pretty glass.

Ember shook her head, gulping the dark red substance from her glass.

"No, we just moved here to live with my Gran."

"Oh! That's splendid. It's nice to meet you, Ember. Maybe I will see you around the village sometime then. Well, I'm going to dance for a bit," the redhead giggled, "You should come join me. There is much fun to be had."

With that, she took off skipping into the crowd, her green dress swishing as she disappeared into the throng of moving bodies.

Ember felt as if she had been transported back in time. She had never experienced a party like this in her old city. Not even in the small town, her aunt moved them to for a brief time when she was little. It was amazing. The lanterns glowed charmingly, and the lights blinked as if in time with the music that floated all around her.

Willow suddenly popped back to the edge of the dancing crowd. Laughing, she held out a hand towards Ember waving her forward, "Come on Ember!"

Ember smiled and nodded at the girl. Gulping the rest of her drink down quickly, warmth spreading through her, she set the cup down and made her way into the crowd, following the redhead to the center of the crowd.

"I want to introduce you to a few of my friends!" Willow shouted over the music, after a few minutes, grabbing Ember's hand.

"Okay, sure." Ember agreed, letting Willow lead her through the swarm of people, to the opposite side of where she had previously been sitting.

A small group sat on a blanket underneath a sparkling tree, drinking and laughing amongst themselves.

"Hey, guys," Willow said, plopping down in the middle of them, her green gown fluttering around her, "this is Ember. She just moved here to live with her grandmother."

They all turned in unison to stare up at her, their chattering coming to a complete stop.

"Uhmm, hi." Ember's voice was quiet, if not a bit shaky, giving them a shy wave.

She stood before them awkwardly, feeling as if she were on display.

"We don't get many new people moving to the village." One of the girls said, studying Ember appraisingly. "I'm Selia, this is my brother Conor, our cousin Deidra."

"I'm William." A red-headed guy told her next. "I'm Willow's older, more handsome brother if you couldn't tell." He waggled his eyebrows, a goofy grin spreading across his handsome face.

Ember smiled nervously at the group in front of her.

"It's very nice to meet you all."

Deidra's eyes narrowed slightly, "That's such a pretty dress. Where ever did you get it?"

Ember recognized the tone. More than once she had heard it back home. She knew that the girl didn't like her, but she couldn't understand the animosity that was evident in her blue eyes. Perhaps she was just imagining it, because of how the girls acted back home. She had to be projecting.

Right?

"Oh, thank you. It was my mom's gown. She wore it on her twenty-first birthday too." Ember touched the soft fabric of the gown's skirt, smiling sweetly despite the girl's icy stare.

Nope, she hadn't been imagining it.

"It's your birthday today?" Selia questioned, glancing over at Willow, eyes wide.

"Yes, it is," Ember said slowly, confused by the look on her face.

"What did you say your name was again?" The bitchy brunette quipped.

"Ember."

Deidra rolled her eyes, waving a hand dismissively, "No, no. I know that." Eyes narrowing into slits again, "What is your last name?"

Ember looked at the group of them sitting in front of her. Willow smiled up at her encouragingly. She looked back towards the crowd of the festival, hoping to see her grandmother, or her aunt even; so, she could make an excuse to leave, without giving them her last name.

"Oh, give it a rest Deidra," William said, elbowing the girl playfully, breaking the awkward silence that had befell the group.

Deidra huffed, once again rolling her blue eyes, "Whatever Will." Giving him a shove. "I'm going to find Lena and get another drink."

Deidra stood then, brushing off her skirt, eyeing Ember, before she stalked past her, bumping her with her elbow as she did. Ember gave an involuntary sigh, glad to be rid of the hateful woman.

"You can join us if you like," Selia told her, motioning to an empty spot on the plush quilt, "and please ignore my cousin. She can be a bit of a bitch sometimes."

Willow snorted, "Sometimes...."

"I really should go find my aunt and my grandmother," Ember replied, chewing on her bottom lip. "I'll find you guys later though. I need to check with them about my birthday thing on the hill."

Selia shot Willow a look, eyebrows raised.

"What did you say?" Willow questioned her voice barely a whisper.

"Uh, Well, my birthday celebration...later tonight, It's up on some hilltop," Ember said slowly, her throat suddenly felt dry. "My Gran said it's a family tradition. That all the women in my family do this on their twenty-first birthday."

The group had grown quiet, making Ember feel as if she just shared something she wasn't supposed to. 

What the hell was wrong with them, and what was the big deal about some family tradition? 

She didn't understand the sudden change in the group's demeanor.

"Well, I think I see my Gran. I'll see you guys later then. It was nice meeting you all." Ember turned rushing into the crowd, and away from the group that was gawking at her as if she had just sprouted an extra head.

So much for making new friends.

Selia turned towards the redhead. "How does she know about the hill, and the initiation, Willow?"

"I just met her a few minutes ago, Selia. Honest. I didn't tell her anything," Willow stuttered, her face flushing ", and I'm not so sure she really knows anything. If she did, she wouldn't announce it to a group of people that she just met."

"Who is her grandmother?" William wondered aloud, watching as the raven-haired girl disappeared from their view.

"She's a Midnight," Selia whispered, "the new shop opening up in the village is owned by her aunt."

They all looked at one another knowingly and silently wondered if Ember had any idea at all what she and her family were.