• The week went by quickly for both Ember and Ignite. They spent all the time together and were both deeply in love. They had made plans for Ember to go home, pack her things, and then would return to Ignite. After her return, they would marry.

    She hadn't said anything about her human heritage and would put up their charade as long as she could. As she got ready to leave, an alarming bell rang. Ignite raced to his window and looked out. "DEMON HUNTERS!" He said with great alarm. "We've gotta hide!"

    "No!" Ember said, "I'll confront them!" She raced out of the room and down the stairs. She threw the front door open and raced outward. Ignite raced behind her, surprised at her bravery.

    The Elites were there. "We only want the fire demons responsible for the recent fires set in the city." One man said.

    "Ember did them all," Horatio said, turning his eyes towards the girl he accused.

    The entire clan looked accusingly at Ember. Even Ignite turned to her and pondered if she was guilty of bring the evil demon hunters to them, but then he turned back to his father. "But she's been with me!"

    Just then, Shionna and Derrick spotted their daughter. "Atsume Ember Mason!" They raced to their daughter, embracing the girl.

    Derrick was still as handsome as he had been twenty years prior, but now had some gray in his hair, showing his age of forty-eight. He still wore his black jeans, black t-shirt, steel-toe black boots, and a leather coat. He smiled at his daughter.

    Ignite was confused. Clearly, the man who embraced Ember was a human, but what was he to her? And who was the woman who embraced her too? Was that Ember's mother? He asked himself.

    "Mother? Father? What are you doing here?" Ember asked them.

    "A group of fire demons have been setting fires in the city. This was the closest fire demon lair." Shionna told her.

    Ignite now understood. "You're a half-demon?" He said shocked and hurt. Why hadn't she told me? He thought.

    Ember looked back sadly at him and noticed how all the eyes that were accusing her earlier where now appalled. She could read their minds at that point, all saying ugly things about her hybrid status. "I'm sorry, but I was gonna tell you until I learned that you hated ALL half-demons. I was afraid that my human heritage would push you away." She cried softly. "Yes, I am a half-demon."

    Derrick took her attention back. "Were you the one," he asked softly, "who set the fires?"

    "If you did," Shionna added, "I'm sure that we can get you pardoned and spared."

    "No," she glared at Horatio, "I didn't set anything on fire,” she said bluntly.

    "I believe you," both Shionna and Derrick said.

    At this point in time, Ember understood why her mother was so protective of her. Shionna didn't want her daughter to get involved in these demon battles that Shionna and Derrick got involved in as a job. It was too late now, Ember's love and future husband was involved, so would she be.