Ember stared into the glowing orange flames, her thoughts wandering to the morning conversation with her aunt and gran. An audible POP from the log in the fireplace stirred her from her musings. She glanced around the shop smiling. All their hard work was coming to fruition.

The shop was complete and set up for the opening day. The only thing left was hanging the sign that had been delivered shortly after their arrival.

It was still in its crate, waiting for them to unbox and hang it outside the shop.

Ember eyed the crate, chewing on her lip, wondering which design her Aunt Arwen had decided on. She knew that any of the designs would look great, but she hoped her favorite and personal design was the one her aunt had chosen.

Ember tried relentlessly to get her aunt to give her a hint as to what the sign looked like, but the stubborn woman wouldn't clue her in on which one she picked.

"Are you sure you don't want to take a peek at it? Don't we need to make sure it arrived safely, that it isn't damaged?" Ember huffed, causing a bubble of laughter to erupt from the back of the store.

Arwen appeared next to Ember, a crooked smirk dancing on her lips. "I'm sure, sweetie. I have seen the finished product. Mr. Geirham sent pictures, and I've looked at it."

Ember's head snapped up. Her eyes became two slits as she scowled at her aunt.

Arwen snorted a laugh.

"You cheated," Ember grumbled, slapping her thigh in mock frustration.

"You'll live," Arwen said dryly, smiling at her niece. "You will see it first thing tomorrow. Have patience, girl."

Ember folded her arms over her chest. She wanted to see that sign.

Arwen turned towards the front of the store, her back facing the still-pouting woman. The smile fell from her face as soon as her niece could no longer see her. "Why don't you go explore our village a bit before the rain starts up again? I'll finish up here and meet you at home."

Ember dusted the front of her skirt, brushing away any soot she may have gotten on the pretty folds while kneeling in front of the fireplace.

"Take your cloak!" Her aunt called after her as she made her way toward the door.

Ember smiled to herself, stopping at the door to grab the dark moss-colored cloak, then slipped outside.

She could see the dark clouds in the distance, rolling towards the village.

She paused, taking a deep breath; the air smelled like rain and the briny sea that surrounded them. But there was something else, Something familiar that she couldn't quite pick up on, unknown.

But strangely familiar.

She pulled the cloak tight around her and headed towards the pub.

"Ember, Wait up!" A voice stopped her in her tracks.

She hadn't seen anyone since the night of the festival. But living in a village as small as this one, she knew it was bound to happen sooner or later.

"Hey, Conor," Ember said, turning slowly.

He stood, a basket in his arms, full of bread, meats, and what looked like eggs. Conor smiled sheepishly. "I was going to come see you the night after the festival, but my sister thought you might need some time to...." He paused as if searching for the right words.

"Some time to adjust," A female voice said from behind her.

Ember glanced back and saw Selia glaring at her brother.

"Well, yes, that night was unexpected, to say the least," Ember replied, turning so she could see both of them at once.

"So, how are you faring with all of this," Selia questioned, clutching a book to her chest.

"I'm managing. I have my Gran helping me, and I grew up running the shop with my aunt. Learning things from her along the way that I didn't think I would need to know."

"Well, if you would like to visit Conor and me at our home, it isn't very far," Selia relaxed slightly, a shy smile spreading across her pixie-like face.

Ember crossed her arms, looking between the two standing before her. She wanted to be angry at them for the night of the festival. She barely knew them.

"Why don't we pop over to the pub," Conor suggested, glancing at his sister and then back to Ember.

"Oh, ya! That does sound grand. Have you been yet?" Selia asked excitedly.

The smile on her face was so genuine that Ember could feel her resolve begin to fade. Conor had the same open look, and for some reason, Ember felt like she already knew them. She knew that she could trust them. That they were her people. Plus, her Gran did say that they were forbidden from telling her anything.

What she had learned so far meant that their oath was binding.

A Witch's Oath.

Ember sighed, giving the two of them a small smile. "Okay, sure. I haven't been there yet since we just moved here. I've been so busy with the shop and then the whole birthday thing happened. It was where I was headed before Conor stopped me."

The three made their way to the pub in comfortable silence.

Stepping inside the old inn, it looked just as Ember imagined it would. Dark wood surrounded her, from the floors to the wooden beams through the ceilings. So far, it was a common theme in the village.

Ember loved it.

Suddenly she felt as if she were plunged into the middle of the forest. She could smell the trees, the earthy aroma from the leaves and bark, the dirt and foliage. But quickly, the scent of the food wafting from the kitchen overtook her senses, making her stomach rumble, making the odd sensation pass as quickly as it began.

Ember noticed that things like that happened to her here on the island quite a bit.

Nothing like this had ever happened in any other place she lived.

The Island was very different. She was very different.

Ember knew that this was just the beginning.

There was more to come. More to discover.

About herself. About her new family and about her new home- here on the Island.

A few people littered throughout the dark pub, eating and drinking, but overall it was quiet. Too early for the place to be filled with raucous activity. She knew that in a few hours it would be full of locals and the few visitors that traveled to their island; staying at the inn above.

Selia slid into the sea next to her while Conor was at the bar, handing over the full basket still held in his arms.

"They will keep all that stuff for him while we ate here?" Ember asked curiously, thinking of the bars back in the states.

Selia laughed lighting up her entire face. "Aye, our Ma and Da own the place; Tis more Da's thing. Ma, she 'elps, o'course, but she does more o other work in tha' village."

Selia winked at her then, and Ember raised her eyebrows, wondering what kind o work she could be referring to.

"So," Ember began, lowing her voice, "both of your folks are- you know- Like us?"

"Witches, ya mean," Conor's voice rang out from above.

"Jesus, Conor," Ember balked, looking around, signaling to keep his voice down.

His eyebrows knitted together in confusion as he looked between Selia and Ember. "What?"

"People could, oh, I dunno; Overhear you. You can't just go around announcing things like that." Ember's golden eyes began a soft glow as she whispered at him.

Conor looked at his sister, his eyes widening at the sight of the strange change in their newfound friends' eyes.

"Ember, you haven't been here that long, but ya will learn that this place, this island isn't like other places," Selia said, her voice taking on an ethereal quality that made Ember pause.

Before she could ask Selia or Conor to further elaborate a throat was being cleared noisily in front of their booth, interrupting the conversation. Ember tore her eyes away from Selia's face to see Deidra standing before them, a scowl contorting her porcelain features.

"Selia. Conor. What are you two doing here..." Deidra's voice dripped with venom, sending an ominous chill through Ember, "with her?"

"Bollocks, Deidra. Could ya try an be professional while ya be working? You might'n be my cousin but dunno think that my Da' won' sack ya' fer being a complete clunge. Now feck off an go get us three pints please?" Selia crooned a sweet smile on her face, her accent thickening, the tone anything but sweet.

Ember eyed the Elvin young woman sitting next to her. She would have to remember never to piss off SeliaShe would have laughed if not for the unabashed anger, bordering on rage, that was radiating off of Deidra.

Conor, however, did laugh. A big booming sound from his chest made Ember press her lips together and look away.

It was true what they said; laughter is definitely contagious.

Selia rolled her eyes, shaking her head at her brother.

"Ember, allow me to apologize for my cousin, ya? She has always been nasty to beautiful girls, but never this bad."

Ember snorted, "I very seriously doubt it is my beauty that is making her act like this Sel." She shrugged, her discomfort dissipating as Selia lightly touched her arm. "Look, guys, maybe this wasn't such a great idea. I think I'm just going to head home."

"No way!" Conor exclaimed, just as Deidra returned with three mugs of dark foam-topped liquid.

Ember sighed, forcing herself to smile at the hateful girl.

"Here are yer drinks. Enjoy," Deidra said through gritted teeth, staring at the wall just above their heads.

"Thank you, Deidra," Ember replied as she was turning away.

Deidra flinched, continuing her way through the bar to a table full of laughing boisterous men.

Conor bellowed another laugh, getting a cold stare from his sister. It shut him up as he quickly grabbed his mug, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"I thought I heard ya down here. Ya laugh just like yer Da'" A statuesque woman appeared in front of the table, wiping her hands on her apron as she spoke.

Conor bent his head back looking up at his mother, a boyish grin spreading across his face. "Hey, Ma'."

Her eyes were focused intently on Ember. So much so that she felt the need to squirm in her seat, as if she were back in grade school, under a teacher's intense scrutiny.

'She knows I'm here!'

The voice was back!

Oh, Goddess! Please, Not now! Ember thought, closing her eyes briefly, gripping the edge of the table.

She felt a soft hand on her forearm, and a calmness washed over her followed by Selia's voice.

"Ma, this is Ember. She just recently moved ta tha village"

When Ember opened her eyes, the woman was smiling serenely, and neither Conor nor Selai seemed to acknowledge her odd behavior or the voice.

What the hell was that? She had to find out. It was making her feel crazy, but she was certain that it was real. She didn't imagine it, but it was clear to her, that for some reason, only she could hear it.

"Ah, yes. You be Nori's granddaughter, don ya? You an yer aunt are openin tha darlin lil' shop jus cross tha way." The woman's voice snapped her tp attention, her voice gentle and motherly.

Ember instantly liked the woman.

"Yes ma'am," Ember replied, giving her a genuine smile, "the shop will be opening tomorrow. We have been working non-stop, it seems, since we arrived, to get it ready."

"Oh, aye. We will be sure ta pop in fer yer openin' day. But let me get back in here. Work ta be done. It was so nice meetin ya, Ember. An I'll be bringin you kids out something ta eat."She smiled at them and turned to make her way through the double doors, to what Ember could only assume was the kitchen. She turned slightly, before the doors closed, glancing at Ember once more before disappearing behind the closed doors.

Ember chewed her bottom lip nervously, She couldn't be rude and leave now, not after Selia and Conor's mother offered food. Plus, she was famished, not having taken a break to eat earlier.

"So, that was your Ma, then?"

"Aye. Sorry if she seemed a bit intense. She tries to feed all of our friends." Selia responded with a laugh. Conor nodded in agreement, humming as he sipped his drink.

Friend

The word caught Ember by surprise. She smiled weakly at the two of them.

What the hell was wrong with her? She wasn't some sill vapid schoolgirl.

"Oh, no. She was lovely. And I'm starving, so I don't mind at all."

"Grand! Ma's food is ta die fer. Then we can show ya around tha inn." Selia smiled at Ember

"Jus wai until ya meet Da' He's a big ol bear, but don'na let tha scare ya," Conor interjected, winking at her.

Ember felt a laugh bubble out of her throat. She shook her head, her curls bouncing.

"Da is no like a bear!" Selia exclaimed in mock horror.

Ember sat back, listening to the two siblings bickering jovially between each other.

'Friends' she thought. 'Maybe things won't be so bad here after all