Chapter 6 The Fire

As Ember settled into the room, her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked the maids, "How long does it take to reach the Bloodmoon Pack?" Her voice was gentle, her expression inquisitive. The maids exchanged a brief glance before one of them replied, "It takes two days, by tomorrow we'll be there." The maid's voice was soft and respectful, her expression serene. Ember's eyes lit up with interest as she asked another question, "What are your names?" Her expression was warm and inviting, her smile hinting at a friendly demeanor. One of the maids, Willow, responded with a gentle smile, "I'm Willow, and my second is Selene." Willow's voice was melodious, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. Selene, the other maid, nodded in agreement, her expression respectful. "You're now our mistress, you can give us orders as you wish," she said, her voice soft and obedient. Ember's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes sparkling with kindness. "I don't care about those rules," she said, her voice gentle. "As long as you stay true to me, I will surely treat you well." Selene and Willow exchanged a warm glance, their faces lighting up with smiles. "You're so kind," Willow said, her voice filled with appreciation. "We will surely do our best." Their smiles reflected their admiration for Ember's kindness, and their eyes shone with loyalty and dedication. As the evening wore on, Willow suggested, "Let's get you some hot water and take your bath, it's getting late, you need to rest." Her expression was gentle and caring, her voice soft and soothing. Ember nodded in agreement, her expression relaxed and appreciative. "Okay, thank you," she said, her voice gentle. Willow and Selene exited the room, heading to the kitchen to boil water. As they walked, Willow instructed, "Selene, go and get the mistress' bed ready, I'll boil the water." Her expression was matter-of-fact, her voice confident. Selene nodded, her expression obedient, and replied, "Okay then." She turned to leave, her movements swift and efficient. Meanwhile, Willow collected the matches box and lit the stove. But immediately, the stove exploded, and a loud blast filled the air. "Ahhhh!" Willow shouted as she fell to the floor, fire and smoke engulfing the kitchen. Selene came running back, her expression horrified, as she saw the fire spreading rapidly. "Mistress, mistress, there's fire!" she shouted, her voice panicked. Ember, who had been sitting in her room, noticed the smoke and immediately got up, her expression concerned. She rushed towards the kitchen, where she saw the fire raging out of control. The three women were coughing and choking on the smoke, their eyes streaming with tears. As they tried to escape, they found the door locked, and Ember's expression turned desperate. "Keys, where's the keys?" she asked, her voice frantic. Selene's expression was equally panicked as she replied, "I think the keys are inside, where the fire was burning." The three women started crying out for help, their voices hoarse from coughing. "Please save us, anyone, please!" they shouted, hitting the door in desperation. Their faces were smeared with soot, and their eyes were red from the smoke. Meanwhile, Gavin's guard had noticed the fire and rushed to inform his lord. His expression was urgent, his voice firm. "My lord, there's fire in a room, and I think there are people inside the room." Gavin's expression turned grave, and he immediately stood up, following his guard outside. Without hesitation, Gavin kicked the door open with incredible force, the door bursting open with a loud crash. His expression was one of concern and determination as he saw the three women inside, coughing and choking on the smoke. They stumbled out, their faces blackened with soot, and their eyes streaming with tears. As they emerged into the fresh air, they continued to cough, their bodies racked with spasms. Ember became weak as she almost fell on the floor. Gavin's expression softened, and he quickly wrapped his arm around Ember's waist, supporting her as she stumbled. His eyes met hers, filled with concern and worry. The other two women, Willow and Selene, were also coughing, their faces etched with fear and relief. As Gavin held Ember up, she slowly regained her strength, and he gently let go of her waist. Their eyes met, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Gavin's expression was curious, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Ember. Ember's expression, on the other hand, was one of surprise and recognition, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's really you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her words laced with a mix of emotions. Gavin's expression turned questioning, his eyebrows raised in inquiry. "Have we met before?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, his eyes locked onto Ember's. Ember's expression faltered, and she looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I think I was mistaken you for someone else," she said, her voice soft, her eyes avoiding Gavin's gaze. As they stood there, their gaze was intense, the air thick with unspoken tension. Willow and Selene, who had been watching the exchange, suddenly shouted, "Second mistress!" Their expressions were worried, their eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" Ember asked, her expression softening as she turned to her maids. The maids nodded, their faces still smeared with soot. "Yes, we're fine," they replied in unison, their voices shaking slightly. Selene's expression was still worried as she asked, "Are you okay, mistress?" Ember's expression was reassuring as she smiled weakly. "Yes, I'm fine," she said, her voice gentle. As they turned to thank their savior, Gavin was nowhere to be seen. Ember's expression turned surprised, and then sad. "Huh! Where did he go?" she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment. "I didn't even get to thank him," she said, her eyes scanning the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Gavin, but he was nowhere to be found. Immediately, Selene's expression turned practical as she asked, "Where are we going to sleep now?" Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her eyes concerned about their situation. Ember's expression was thoughtful, her eyes gazing into the distance as she considered their options. "We'll take another room, I'm sure there are other vacancies," Ember said, her voice calm and reassuring.