Page 9 of Ashes to Ashes

He lifted his elbow, extending it to her. Though she was clearly out of her element, he couldn’t help but feel that at one point, this woman held a grand position.

“Your name?”

“Ashe,” she glanced away from him then, clearly knowing her name gave him power.

Leviathan ran his fingers through his short black hair with a sigh. “To level the field, I am Levi.” It took everything he had not to wince at extending his hated moniker to her. With it, she would hold no power over him but would feel as if she did.You should have let her envy the power you held over her.

Leviathan watched Ashe carefully, his piercing eyes fixed on her as they walked. She took small breaths, her eyes scanning over every corner and around each doorway they came to as if expecting something to harm her.Or perhaps aid her.

She was either too curious for her own good or so badly damaged in a short time that fear controlled her every move.

Ashe lifted her head and caught him staring, those piercing eyes meeting his own with a question in them. He felt an unfamiliar heat rise within him as she swallowed hard and looked away quickly, focusing on her food once again. He could feel himself drawn to her like a moth to flame, unable to shake off the need for more attention from her. It was unlike anything he had felt before—a strange vulnerability mixed with powerlessness that made him uneasy yet excited at the same time.

His steps were deliberate and calculated as he took in every inch of her responses. The scent of fear mingled with something else emanating from her—something unique that made him want to know more about what secrets lurked beneath her beautiful, but dirt. covered, exterior.

The courtyard gate swung inward without a sound, revealing one of the only places in his realm - in the entirety of Terra Daemoniums where flowers grew. Wilted attempts at growing crimson roses and purple pansies lined a path toward a white marble fountain. He could have told her that only a special gift from one of the realm’s princes could allow earth flowers to bloom, but that would give too much away.

Leviathan still had so much to learn.

“Sit,” his tone did not leave room for argument. He was pleased when she took a seat along the fountain’s edge.

“It’s … blood.”

He nodded. “Quite lovely if you ask me.”

Her delicate features contorted with disgust, but she quickly masked her true feelings from him. Her expression became a blank canvas, carefully crafted to hide the revulsion that filled her every fiber. As much as she obviously wanted to reveal her true emotions, she knew it was wiser to keep them hidden, at least for now. With a deep breath, she composed herself and put on a facade of indifference, hoping he wouldn’t see through it.

Belial has trained her well.

“Tell me, what deal did you make with Belial?”

It was not my deal, the bite of anger snapped out with her words.

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden outburst. “Then whose deal was it?”

She hesitated, unsure if she should reveal anything to this stranger who already seemed to know more about her than she seemed comfortable with. Leviathan closed his eyes and focusedon his power of projection, forcing his presence to make her want to trust him. Envy him.

“It was my stepmother’s,” she finally admitted, looking away as she spoke.

“Your stepmother?” He had never heard of anyone making a deal with Belial on behalf of their child before. It was usually the other way around with parents sacrificing their own lives for their children’s health, power, or riches.

“Yes,” she confirmed, still refusing to meet his gaze.

“And what did this deal entail?” he pressed further, sensing that there was more to this story than she was letting on.

“I assure you,” she locked her eyes on him. “If I knew, I would not be here.”

“So, this woman who raised you made a deal with Belial for you to receive something, and you do not know what?”

Her bark of a laugh shocked him. As did the sneer that slipped over her lips.

“There is not a shot in hell that woman made a deal for me. No, whatever she did she traded my soul to get what she wanted.”

Leviathan didn’t hear an ounce of envy in the words, only fury.

His eyes flashed, emotions whirling as he took in the rage and hurt she felt towards her stepmother. He’d never heard of human parents behaving in such a manner, though he would bet at least one of the other princes had.

“That woman. . . She didn’t care about me,” Ashe continued, her voice barely above a whisper as if sharing a secret only he could hear. “I was just a burden to her.” Her fists clenched tightly in her lap, and she looked away again. “She cared more about maintaining her lifestyle than about my well-being.”

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