Page 77 of Shattered Heir
Chapter Thirty-Four
“So, how long have you known Glasson?” I asked Ash as she sat on my bed, scrolling through her phone.
“Honestly? I don't ever remembernotknowing him.” She looked up at me.
“So, you guys don't get along, like, at all?” I asked. Focusing on something other than my life and my problems felt so good, so refreshing.
“He is a good guy, Emma. I know he is, and he just tries to help me. My family tasked him to keep me safe. I am a burden to him, so, of course, he isn't always happy with me, but he is a good knight, although annoying.”
“He terrifies me,” I said, setting my backpack on my desk and walking over to sit on the other end of my bed.
“He gives off this grizzly bear air, doesn't he?”
I nodded.
“Well, he is very kind, though rough.”
There was silence between us for a time, and I could tell that Ash needed distraction from talking about her knight.
“So, how are things going with you and Aiden?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.
“Well, we have been talking a lot. He is so sweet, like seriously, I think
I'm a goner.” She fell back dramatically on the bed.
“So, you guys are going to go on a date or something?”
“I mean, sure, if he asks me.”
“I am shocked that he hasn't asked you. I mean, you are the entire package.”
“I am pretty awesome, aren't I?”
I threw a pillow at her face, and she laughed. We fell back, laughing for a few moments, and it felt good. I felt so good and carefree being with Ash, the only real girlfriend that I ever had in my life.
“I am scared, Ash,” I said, sitting up more and looking at her face.
“Scared of what?”
“Scared that I will never be able to save Shad.”
“I know, Emma. I am so sorry.” She sat there in silence, and I watched as her body changed, her face void of any emotions, and her lavender eyes started to glow.
“Ash? Ash, are you alright?” I tried to touch her shoulder, but Glasson burst into the room.
“Don’t touch her, Emma,” he said, walking over to Ash. He rubbed her shoulders and pulled back her hair. I noticed then that one of Ash’s hands was twitching. “Do you have paper and pencil?” Glasson asked. I nodded and moved to my desk. I watched as Glasson handed Ash the pencil and set the paper I had given him on top of a book. Ash’s hand moved, drawing pictures. I tried to make out her scribbles, but Glasson blocked me.
“What is happening?” I asked. “Will she be okay?”
“She is having a vision, Emma. All is well.” Ash’s head fell, and her hand dropped the pencil. She was still. Glasson lay her on the bed and pulled some rock-like thing with engravings on it out of his pocket. He moved it near her hand, and it started to glow. There were small indents in the stone which I realized were grooves for fingers and for a palm. He placed her hand inside the groves. I watched as the violet light from her eyes transferred to the stone. After a few moments, an image floated in the air like a small projector screen. I saw myself, bloody, wearing a dress and armor. I wielded a sword, and Ryker was at my side, fighting. A war? What was Ash seeing? Why was she seeing me? A change of scene, and I saw a familiar face, the face of the man from Cade’s memory, the one who beat him. Then the vision stopped; I assumed because the purple glow went out, and her eyes closed.
“Ashlyn,” Glasson’s voice was soft, and I had never heard it so gentle before. “Ashlyn,” he repeated. I watched as she lifted her head. Glasson smiled.
“Again?” she asked softly.
Glasson nodded, then motioned to me.
“Emma, I am so sorry.” Ash's voice was such a weak whisper.
