Page 11 of The Shadows of the Dawn

Asher

Asher dragged Nikola into the two conjoined backseats of the minivan, far away from the designated driver. Moss sat across from Katsuki while Trish claimed the passenger seat, as close to the dog she had leashed as possible.

And thus, to the tune of the robotic GPS’s voice, the cheeky pilgrimage began. The roads cleared once Chicago’s skyline vanished beneath the horizon.

The more miles of farmlands they crossed, the worse Asher felt. Every nerve in his body fired the same signal. Wrong way! Turn around! It was clear those were his independent thoughts. The essence of the vampiric patrons was a muggy film of anticipation in the air around him.

Two gods, five vampires, one human. What a crowded fucking van.

Moss and Liam sat in frosty silence, reminiscent of a broken marriage on the way to a miserable family vacation to Disney World.

Trish and Kat chatted idly, mostly about the nature of the Moon. Trish made the comment, “There’s this idea that a lot of people go crazy during the full moon. Like, claims that there are more ER visits and arrests. Lunacy, you know. Luna. Sometimes I wonder if the Goddess has anything to do with that.”

Katsuki tilted their head, considering it. “I’ve heard such things. It may be that the visibility of the full moon during sleeping hours inspires humans and vampires alike. Perhaps the Goddess was inspired to bless her creations with the gifts of emotions. It begs correlation versus causation, I suppose.”

Asher, miffed by his claustrophobia and their destination, snapped, “The Moon Goddess can barely control her own subjects. Doubt she’s out there making humans go batshit crazy once a month for funsies. The gods ancient people came up with had more power than those spirits.”

“Spirits” was the best placeholder Asher could come up with that wouldn’t make him sound batshit crazy. Celestial aliens having fun with a science project checked out, but he had put that theory together while he was tripping balls, so he kept it to himself.

Trish shot him a glare over her shoulder, seething over his blasphemy. Ah, to be so young and devoted. Asher grinned at her until she turned back around. He let his face fall, slumping against Nikola, and scowling out the window.

He sensed Liam’s red gaze cut toward them, the Blood Follower bristling with envy. Asher very much doubted it was jealousy over Asher himself, but for the relationship that was clearly going smoother than whatever was happening between him and Moss.

Oh, well. Not Asher’s problem.

He let his mind go blank, dissociating into the nighttime rolling past them. The two patrons had nothing to add, content that the vampires were headed back to their so-called Holy City, so he reveled in the temporary peace.

Until it was interrupted. Because why wouldn’t it be?

“Surely you should be paying attention,” Katsuki lightly scolded. Nikola snorted, shooting Asher a side-eye in agreement. Treacherous bastard.

Asher rolled his eyes. “You sound like my damn English teacher from back in the day. I was one of those jocks, y’know. Passed just because they wanted to keep me on the team.”

Why the fuck was he mentioning anything to do with his human days? He regretted it twofold when Liam’s chuckle slithered throughout the cab. “At least you weren’t as bad as Braylin. Then again, his dad was vice principal.”

Moss glared daggers at him meant to kill. But that was nothing compared to the flaring hatred radiating off Asher in nuclear waves. “No. We are not doing that.”

“Doing what?” Liam said. “Being civil?”

That was one way of putting it. Asher ground out an ironic laugh. “Quipping like old pals over high school shit so you can feel better about yourself. Newsflash, asshole. Your happy little flashbacks were my personal Hell. Or have you oh so conveniently forgotten our little dance in the locker room?”

Liam snarled, cutting the wheel until they were skidding to a stop on the side of the road, alongside the infinite rolling farmland. Asher sat up straighter, barking another laugh. So, we doing this, huh?

“What the fuck are you doing?” Trish demanded. Asher felt the rush of her power pushing against Liam from the backseat.

Liam flashed his teeth at his sister. “You said you wouldn’t intervene with my emotions unless it was related to the Horned God.” He growled the words, fury laced throughout. Relenting, Trish backed off, raising her hands in surrender.

Liam threw himself out of the cab, slamming the door shut behind him. Asher got the message loud and clear and followed him. Nikola called his name, and Asher heard Trish’s muffled cry to Kat, “Aren’t you going to stop them?”

“Those two need to get this out of their system,” was Kat’s reply.

As the rest of them piled out, Trish exclaimed, “Liam might kill him!”

Oh, please.

“Asher,” Nikola said with warning, hovering nearby. But Asher’s attention was fixed solely on the Blood Follower marching toward the middle of the overgrown field. Frozen soil crunched underfoot.

When Liam spun around, Asher prepared to counter an incoming lunge, but Liam didn’t attack. Instead, he spat, “Just hit me.”

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