Page 68 of Ashes

Ashes’s

Stitches’s.

Sinful’s. . .?

I was their girl, or had been, not Asylum’s. He’d tried to kill me. He’d trapped me.

“I’m Seth, Rinny. Not Asylum.”

The soft hum vibrated my lips, the familiar song my response.

“Our song,” Seth murmured.

“Just scream my name again, specter. Then I’ll know. I’ll know you’re ready to come home to me.”

Church.

Dante.

He’d promised to come. To save me if I called for him. He hadn’t. I screamed alone and for nothing.

“He let you go,” Seth continued. “They all did. You’re mine now. It was a bet. I won. The watchers are honorable. Mostly.”

Gone.

I remembered that. They’d used me in a game. Sinful. . . he’d used his occurrence to punish me.

My face felt damp.

A soft touch removed the wetness from my cheeks.

“I’ll always protect you, Rinny. I always did. Nothing has changed. I’m here now, protecting you from the evil wizard.”

Seth.

Not Asylum.

Seth had protected me.

Warm hands touched mine. “Come back to me so we can slay the evil wizard and leave this place. I won’t hurt you.”

“Asylum,” I rasped.

“No. Just Seth. I’m here. Come out of the darkness and join me in the fire, Rinny. Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

“Seth. . .”

“My princess locked in hell,” he whispered, his gentle fingers cradling my face. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

So heavy.

This world was so heavy.

I liked the darkness despite the cold.

No one could hurt me here.

I couldn’t see the evil in the world.

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