Ashes to Ashes

Niamh and Deagan surged toward Ciaran with twin exultant cries, threw their arms around him and hugged him wildly. Sheer joy welled in his chest.

“We did it,” Niamh said, and she pressed a sloppy kiss to his brow. “We drove them back. We’re free of their plague. Forever!”

Deagan thumped him hard on the back, cheering loudly.

And then Brenna said, “Ciaran, you should put them out.”

Ciaran twisted out from Niamh and Deagan’s grip, and joy turned to shame. He hurried toward the edge of the flames, doused them with a thought.

All that was left was ashes.