Page 82 of Ashes

Church and I both gaped at Sin. I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs. Killing Isabella hadn’t been a crowning moment for me. I never let it enter my mind if I could help it. I didn’t like the memories or the way it made me feel. In all actuality, it wasn’t a bad feeling. When I thought about it, I felt accomplished. Satisfied. The woman who’d hurt my friend so deeply had been punished for her crimes.

The guilt at having those satisfying feelings sickened me. Hence, why I kept them tightly locked away in my mind.

“Is that where she is?” Church demanded.

Sin stared at Asylum like he didn’t recognize him. Finally, Sin focused back on us. “Yes.”

“How did you know?” Church turned and glared at Asylum. “How did you know Stitches was going to hang himself? How do you know any of this shit?”

“Idon’t know.Weknow,” Asylum answered, gesturing widely around him. “Special little parlor trick. How am I doing so far?”

“Are you even crazy or are the voices real?” I rasped, my mouth dry like I’d been sucking on a cotton ball.

“Good question. Maybe a little of both, Valentine.” He nodded. His eyes unfocused in the lantern light as it became silent in the cold room.

When he spoke, agony clenched my chest.

“She doesn’t blame you, you know. Abigail. She loved you.” His voice adopted a girlish tone as he continued, “Asher, you’re so silly, but the flames are going to burn someone if you’re not careful. . .”

My heart froze in my chest as his gaze bore into me, examining my tainted soul. He’d repeated words Abby had said to me the day before she died. I’d never told anyone her words before.

“Your parents, even they miss you sometimes.”

I let out a snarl and launched myself at him. Sin and Church grabbed me before my fist could connect with his face.

“Don’t talk about her.Neverfucking talk about her,” I shouted, fighting against my friends. “You fucking piece of shit! Let me go! Fucking let me torch him!” I didn’t even realize I was sobbing until I fell to my knees, my cheeks damp with tears.

I hated being reminded of my sins against my twin. My best friend. She was everything to me. She was a good person, and because I couldn’t control myself, she was dead.

It was something which ate my soul every fucking day of my life.

My chest heaved as I tried to get a handle on myself. I flicked my lighter opened and closed quickly, working to get myself together.

“I don’t say things to hurt you,” Asylum called out softly. “Only to inform you. To offer you proof of my. . . knowledge. Rinny wouldn’t like it if I hurt you, even if she is upset with you.”

How. How. HOW?

I wiped my eyes as Sin’s warm hand rested on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

“How do you know she’s upset with us?” Church asked. “She doesn’t fucking move, let alone talk."

“Because I know,” Asylum answered. “You played a game and lost. She knows she belongs to me now. I’ve been tasked with a very special assignment.”

“By Sully?” Sin helped me to stand.

“Well, he’d like to think so, but it’s by. . . fate. Yes. Fate.” He looked to his right.

His lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“Stitches is being harmed, but I think I can help him,” Asylum said, turning his attention back to us.

“Sully?” I wiped my eyes and peered at Church to see he was focused intently on Asylum.

“Eh, yes and no. Stitches is slipping, but not because of his mind. It’s because of. . .” his voice trailed off, and he let out an angry grunt before he tugged at his hair and rocked back and forth on his heels. “Fucking. . . no. Come on. Fuck. Focus, Seth.”

He was certifiably insane. I hated him, and I didn’t make it a point to hate people. Very few people made that list for me.

“His mind isn’t in a good spot. It’s. . . foggy. I can’t fucking see...” Asylum let out a groan and tugged his hair more, words I couldn’t decipher spilling from his mouth. “Touch. Touch. Touch. He cries for his mama and cuts his sins from his face. He will. . . join us. Join us. Yes. He’ll join us soon. Rinny. . . Angel. . . Firefly. It’ll work. It will work. Fall in line. Fall in line.”

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