the start of the fall

Ambrose clenched to the side of the boat as they swayed once more. She gritted her teeth as she saw the sight ahead. Waves were collapsing on top of one another, and the air seemed to be full of electricity.

"It is not a matter to worry about, little Rosie," said Captain Ernest, and smiled down at her, revealing a set of deteriorating teeth. "The sea is tumultuous, yes, but she's never brought us down." He hit the side of the boat, looking proud. Ambrose tried to smile at him but failed, and glanced at her parents instead. Mauryne was watching the sky, her face tinged with worry. Edmund had his hands on her shoulders, and appeared more relaxed than fearful.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck out near the boat, and the sky rumbled. Some of the passengers yelled out in shock, and some looked scared beyond their wits. Mauryne instinctively pulled Ambrose closer to her, and Edmund mumbled some comforting words to the both of them.

"Just a passing storm, folks." Said Captain Ernest, waving the threat away. Mauryne's lips grazed Ambrose's forehead before turning to watch the sky ahead.

Ambrose observed the view before her with wide eyes. She admired the way the waves rose and fell, and how the ship seemed to stubbornly fight the fists of the sea. Her heart was racing, and her fear grew with every second that the ship sailed forward, but her mind seemed serene. She had no idea why – perhaps she was supposed to react like this when she came across dangerous situations. She brought up her index finger to her neck, just like Edmund had taught her before, and felt her pulse.

Her heart was beating faster than she could count. And yet, her mind was still at peace. She turned to Mauryne and opened her mouth, but before she could speak what was on her mind, a flash of lightning struck the mast of the boat. Ambrose barely had enough time to scream as the knarr toppled over, and the passengers hurled into the murky waters of the English Channel.

Edmund was struck by a piece of wood, and Ambrose's little heart was smashed into pieces as she watched her father - her guardian, her protector, her hero – be engulfed by the waves.

The four-year-old let out a dry sob as her legs cramped up. She frantically beat her arms against the water in attempt to keep her head above the sea.

Ambrose couldn't swim. No one had ever taught her. She looked around frantically and saw Mauryne, and shrieked to grab their attention.

Her mother spotted her and swam towards her.

"Ton père?" Mauryne howled over the raging storm. Ambrose couldn't think of anything to say, so she merely shook her head.

The screaming that followed nearly reduced Ambrose to tears. Mauryne was barely keeping her head above water, bawling for her lost husband. Ambrose was crying for her mother, but Mauryne didn't seem to notice.

"Little Rosie," a voice choked out behind her, and Ambrose desperately turned her head, and saw Captain Ernest. He looked like he was moments away from drowning himself. "Here, l-let me help you, little R-Rosie." He grabbed her arms roughly and pushed her onto a piece of wood, and she screamed yet again as she saw the man she had only just met today losing hope, and letting himself be taken by the ocean.

It was too much for Ambrose. She sought out for her mother, and saw Mauryne lying across a piece of wood, coughing up the water in her lungs. Ambrose put her little legs in action and kicked towards her.

"Maman!" She shook Mauryne forcefully.

"Ambrose. I'm so sorry, my child." Mauryne's rasp whispers elevated Ambrose's panic. "Ambrose Natte. I love you. Je t'aime. Please remember this. I am too weak, Ambrose, to continue. You must live. Do it for me. Do it –" She coughed again, and sounded weaker than before. "Do it for your father." Ambrose gripped her mother's cold hands.

"Maman..." she cried. "Please, s'il te plait, do not leave me." She kissed her mother's hands, and held them tight.

"Ambrose... I will never leave you." She raised her weak hand and placed it over Ambrose's heart. "I will always be by your side. Mon coeur."

And with these final words, Mauryne Simeon-Littleray let go of her daughter's hands, and was taken away by the very waves that Ambrose had admired.

◦

She saw no reason to live anymore. She had just watched three people's lives fade away from this world. She could not even think of the future – there was no place in this world for a four-year-old orphan. Ambrose watched the number of lives dwindle as the passengers of the boat accepted their fates. She knew that to join her parents, she had to let go.

She would let go.

No, she would not.

She would, to join her parents, to live happily with them.

She did not have the courage to let go.

Ambrose closed her eyes and her anger flared. She felt a warm sensation in her hands and opened her eyes again, looking down at them. She had charred the wood.

It was impossible. Her hands had caused the burn in the wood that had not been there before.

She looked at the scene before her again. Her hair was whipping around her face in the wind, but she could tell what was left of the boat.

There was not much.

Had she caused this?

The lightning hitting the mast of the boat, her fear building up, the constant paranoia she felt in her heart when she was sitting on the boat, clutching onto her mother, her mother, whom Ambrose had wrapped her little arms around hours ago...

Had she caused this? Little Ambrose was asking herself. She felt disgusted by what she had possibly done.

She was a freak. She did not even comprehend what she was, but she knew enough to know that she was different – in a horrible way, a way that had caused the deaths of her mother, her father, Captain Ernest, and all of the people around her.

It was not your fault.

It was.

Although she was only four, Ambrose felt as if she was so much older. The weight of this boat wreck lay on her frail shoulders like someone had their poisonous fingers wrapped around her esophagus.

Finally, after the battle in her head had ceased, Ambrose let go. Her tiny body was immediately picked up by the waves, and she felt her life rapidly draining as she sank into the depths of the English Channel.

◦

Death glided silently on the water, his thoughts consumed by the fact that an unruly bunch of wizards had attempted to create a hurricane in the English Channel. They had not succeeded, but they had not failed, either. Death knew – just like he knew that someone had passed away of old age in the Song Dynasty at this moment. The death of mortals was something he was burdened with, and it was his responsibility to make sure everyone made it to the afterlife. After that, it was not his decision to where they went.

He was plagued by this responsibility. Knowing exactly how someone had died was not something he wanted, but he was tied to this Earth, just like she was. However, she had a much simpler job. She could happily create, while he was bound to watch the destruction of whatever she had created for him.

He approached the scene of where the failed hurricane had been unleashed and roared in frustration as he realized how many were dead. He descended into the water and located the bodies of the mortals, and freed their souls with a simple wave of his hand. A simple wave, but a burden nevertheless. He thought he had all of them, but quickly noticed that he was missing one.

Ambrose Natte Littleray.

"The immortal knot." He whispered to nobody in particular.

She was four.

He frantically searched for her, and his eyes rested upon a rapidly sinking body, and he immediately noticed the strong magic she held.

She was a witch. She must have been Muggleborn. If she wasn't, her parents could have saved her. He watched the girl, and just as he reached out to grab her, she opened her eyes.

Time seemed to slow as Death recognized Life through her little emerald eyes. He snatched up the young girl, cradling her in his arms, and swore that he would take care of Life's only gift.

◦ ◦ ◦

sorry :( they had to go. i hope you enjoyed this chapter. 

the picture above is what i think ambrose would look like as a child. shes my smol cinnamon roll so please dont hurt her

love,

clara