**Eyes of Yours—Edgar Hopp**
The strange tone laced to his words was enough to signify that he certainly didn't think that seeking refuge with the crown princess wasn't a wise decision on her part.
But Ember didn't have any other viable option to her. And rather than plunging herself to a known hell, she would rather opt for an unknown one at that point.
Besides, Khaos Blueblood didn't appear like someone she should ever take life advice from. What did he even know?
Turning to the blonde haired beautiful woman, she asked, "What exactly happened this night, miss? Did Rashel really breach the boundary? How? Why?" Her question poured out without pause.
Blood red lips morphed into a disarming smile as the young woman leaned before Ember, bringing them at the same height. "Even I am quite confounded," she answered in a strange voice, "but yes, the boundary was seemingly breached. Although all three clans have been alerted and the breach will be repaired in no time."
Ember clenched her fists by her side. "They responded too late," she gritted, tears stinging her eyes.
The woman's expression strangely morphed into that of great sadness. Her eyes held a sheen of bushes tears, and her lips slightly trembled.
"Tell me about it," she said in a mournful voice that was also filled with rage, "even I've lost someone tonight."
Ember was startled at that. She didn't ask, but she knew that the pain the woman spoke of was certainly connected to what happened to Khaos that night, and possibly the dagger that he gripped and refused to let go of.
It was clear that they shared the same pain. But while the woman clearly showed hers, the cold blooded ancient vampire could only grip the hilt of the dagger till it burrowed in his skin. It was after all not in his nature to show pain in any form.
Ember had always been wary of people due to her special circumstances, but something in her warmed up to the woman. "Where you are going to… the place you said I can't follow you to… is it because of the person that you've lost?"
To her surprise, a lone tear slipped down the woman's face like her question had triggered it.
"Yes." She answered without explanation. "This is a night of gambling and I've made mine. As for you, who knows, gambling on the crown princess of the huntsmen might pay off well. Or not. But you must survive, little girl. For many have eyes yet they can't see the future, and many do not, yet they can see it."
You must survive.
Ember nodded, finding it strange how she understood the woman even without much explanation. She had earlier spoken of prophecies that night which meant she was in one way or the other a seer. Yet it was obvious that she had never expected nor foretold whatever loss she so strangely spoke of.
Khaos never paid them any attention. Instead, his eyes were rooted on the blood moon that hovered above them. She couldn't understand what wondrous thing was attached to the red room which enraptured his attention so. But she supposed it was not in her place to understand a man who had existed for sixty centuries.
Ember twisted her fingers, the adrenaline from that night wearing off and giving way to grief and heartbreak.
"Say do you have any advice on how to continue forward?" She asked in a meek voice because for the first time that night, it had finally settled within her that she was alone.
Her world that had always been cold since birth had turned colder that night.
"There are many ways to move forward. As for me, the way I continue forward is by holding the promise of vengeance in my heart. Tell me, is there someone you wish to avenge for what has happened tonight?" The woman said.
Ember didn't think hard about it. "My sister." She answered simply.
"Then let her fuel you. Think of her and you will find yourself moving forward naturally."
Ember nodded to words she already knew deep in her heart. There was no way on earth she could remain an Echo Witch. She needed to grow stronger, powerful, and there was no better way to do so other than by starting afresh in the human clan.
It was clear she had no place as a witch. There had never been any doubt about it, but after that night, she had gained a new kind of clarity.
The woman stood to her full height and then began to leave them behind.
Ember panicked, then limped after her. "Wait! I didn't get your name."
She turned to her, "I am Viktoria." She answered, eyes glittering like she had been waiting for Ember to ask all along.
Ember glanced behind her to Khaos who was now leaning against a tree, eyes shut and dagger close to his heart. "Are you leaving me with him?" She whispered to Viktoria.
The woman smiled. "He might be a little prickly at times and rough around the edges, but I can count on him to get you the Knight of Debts in one piece."
Ember sighed. She shouldn't be like that… after all he was the one that saved her, but she couldn't help it. Now that her brain was functioning a bit more, she was beginning to realize that she had called a terrifying man like him, 'foul-mouthed'.
It was hard to gauge how petty he could get, but she wouldn't put it past him to exert vengeance on her for that slip.
Vampires, especially a six thousand years old one, were known to be particularly vengeful.
"Fine," she said mustering a nonexistent courage, "I shall bid you farewell Viktoria. I still do not understand much of this night, but I know that I owe my life to both of you."
Her eyes widened ever so slightly, "How did you discover that I had something to do with saving you?"
Ember glanced back again at Khaos as if to make sure the man was not listening to them. Then she whispered in a low voice, "There's no way on earth an ancient vampire would concern himself about a ten-year old girl on the cusp of death. I do not know how you did it, Miss. Viktoria, but I find it quite impressive you are able to work with such a man."
Viktoria's only response was a laugh so free it rang through the dead forest. Ember didn't know what exactly amused her—her former words or the latter. Then a minute later, she disappeared entirely out of sight, leaving Ember with the enigmatic vampire that saved her that night.
"Shall we get going? Or have you not yet run out of materials to gossip about me?" He said on cue from behind her like he had been waiting his turn all along.