Page 135 of Ashes

“Good. I’m glad you’re listening.” Asylum smiled. “I promise only good things will happen now. At least for us. The rest of the world will burn. . . right, Ashes?” He cocked his head at me, his brows crinkled. “You’ll be summoned soon. A creature. A Fox. Ah, what a web when you help tokillhim. Interesting. . .”

“What? Dante kills foxes and rabbits. Not me.”

Asylum let out a soft laugh. “Perhaps you’re right. How would I know?” He pointed to his head and let out a cackle. “I’m just crazy.” He made a circular motion with his finger next to his head. “Bat shit crazy this one. All this noise. Fuck. Can you imagine? Sometimes my wires get crossed. It’s fine. It’s all fine.” He clapped his hands. “Now, let’s get that fucking tiger out of my room.”

And with that, he opened his door and stepped inside.

“What the fuck. . .” Church muttered.

I managed to peek into the room to find Sirena sleeping peacefully in his bed, the blankets pulled up around her Asylum ushered Cady out and closed the door as he stepped back into the hall.

“I want my Halloween party invite, Dante,” he said. “If you’d be so kind.”

“Fine. It’s next weekend. Dress up.” Church stared him down.

“Can I bring a guest?” Asylum asked, grinning brightly.

“It had better fucking be Sirena,” Church snapped back.

“I promise to bring her if you promise to stay away from us. She’s getting better now. I’ve helped her. I’ve helped us. Soon, we’ll be united, and all the secrets will come out. Then. . .” He turned to me and cocked his head. “We’ll burn it to the ground.”

I nodded without even thinking things through. He knew something. I knew he did. If I had to guess, it was the same thing Stitches knew.

Fuck yes, I’d burn it down for my girl and my brother.

No questions asked.

SETH

I’d slept on the floor as Sirena took up the bed. Walking into the room and finding her curled up into a tight ball had made my guts clench a bit.

We’d come so far. . .

But we still had many miles to go if we were going to rise above.

Bile burned my throat at the knowledge of what she’d gone through in the facility beneath Sully and Everett’s sickness.

Had I been there. . .

Damnit.

Mother. Fucking. God. DAMNIT.

It had to happen.

Fuck you.

She came at least.

Fuck you twice.

We will.

I shook the voice out of my head. Fucking Asylum. It was me now. Seth. While I loved Asylum dearly, he needed to be leashed sometimes. I understood why shit had to happen. I just didn’t fucking like how.

Rinny didn’t deserve this shit.

She hadn’t deserved any of it, but I was a fuck up and hadn’t locked the fucking door on Asylum ages ago, and he’d barreled through it like the damn Kool-Aid man.

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