Page 14 of Ashes to Ashes

“Have you ever seen a way to escape?” she repeated when he didn’t answer, not daring to raise her voice any louder than a whisper.

The man’s face showed surprise, then a hint of amusement. “Escape? From here?” he chuckled. “My dear, there is no escaping from this place.”

Ashe’s heart sank again, but she refused to give up hope. “But have you ever even heard of someone escaping?” she pressed.

The man’s face grew serious as he studied Ashe for a moment. Then he spoke in a low voice, barely audible over the sound of moving stone. “There are rumors,” he said, “whispers amongst the demons and creatures here.”

Ashe leaned in closer, eager for any shred of information that could help her escape this hellish place.

“The only way out is through Belial himself,” the man continued. “They say if you can escape from here, the road back home just opens up!” He cackled as if amused by the idea.

Ashe’s mind raced with this new information.Just get past the gates? Truly?It seemed impossible, but she refused to dismiss it as mere rumor.

“How do I even get close to them?” she asked.

The old man shook his head. “I cannot tell you that,” he said sadly. “But know this, few have ever attempted such a feat and none have succeeded.”

Ashe thanked the old man and carefully moved past him, daring to take a new spot in line so she might ask the next slave. Her mind was spinning with thoughts and plans now that she had new information to work with.

The small golden creature had no answers and could not even confirm the old man’s tale.

It went on like this for hours, hope dwindling with each rejection until she found herself in a darkened alleyway, hidden from prying eyes. Tears threatened to slip down her cheeks, but she wiped them away, refusing to give in to the darkness creeping under her skin. She would find a way out of this nightmare, she swore it. Ashe dabbed at her eyes with the tattered hem of her slave’s garb when a hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her into the shadows.

“So, pet, what have you tried to do here?” a cold, cruel voice purred in her ear as claws bit into her forearm.

Ashe’s world shattered as Belial’s voice was all she could hear.

“I-I. . . I. . . ”

“You dared to think a contract made with me was breakable!” Belial’s grip tightened, his claws digging into her skin. “You’ve disappointed me, Ashe. And you know what happens when you disappoint me, don’t you?”

He laughed, the chilling sound sent bile rising in her throat.

Belial leaned in close, his putrid breath making her gag. “I never wanted you to succeed.” He sneered, “I wanted you to fail, so I could have this. . . moment.”

Belial yanked Ashe further into the shadows, and the darkness enveloped them like a suffocating shroud.

Ashe thrashed and tried to scream, but it was to no avail as Belial clamped his hand over her mouth.

It was only when they stopped moving that the punishment began.

Heart pounding in her chest, Ashe focused on going limp, on giving the demon nothing that would egg him on.

His hot breath on her skin contrasted with the coldness of his claws as they dug deeper into her arm.

Without warning, he released Ashe from his hold, sending her stumbling backward. Her foot connected with something, and her arms went up over her head as she crashed into the stone beneath her.

Belial’s hand shot out and grabbed her by the throat. He lifted her up effortlessly, choking the life out of her.

“You will learn your place, pet,” he growled, tightening his grip. “No one escapes me.”

Ashe clawed at Belial’s hand desperately, trying to loosen his hold on her neck. But it was no use. She could see black atthe edges of her vision, the only warning that she would lose consciousness if he continued.

No, you can’t lose consciousness.She didn’t know what he did to those who fainted when he taught them a lesson, but she worried it would be one she never woke from.

Ashe gave a kick and writhed, squirming under his grip, but it only seemed to amuse him. Each kick landed with a hollow thud on his chest like a weak mouse trying to shake off the talons of a hawk. His other hand grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head back so roughly that fireworks exploded behind her eyes. She tasted blood in her mouth as he pulled her closer still, his nails digging into her cheek as he whispered in her ear.

“You will learn your place.”

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