Page 34 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“No, Scott is a golden retriever.”

“Scott is a scotty-dog,” Cat smirked.

Scott blushed and rolled his eyes, and his Irish accent intensified. “Oy, you think you’re bein’ so clever with that one, yeah? Like I’ve never heard it before.”

“I agree with Cat,” I laughed.

“Oh yea, well you’re a chihuahua,” Scott said back, grinning at me, knowing this was how the game started.

I opened my mouth to retort, but I was rudely interrupted.

“Alice is not a dog,” Reuben said. “She’s afox.”

I felt my jaw snap shut and I swallowed my retort. I was too busy ignoring Reuben, and realizing that the fox ears and plug I’d gotten for Christmas were probably not from Scott. Scott was a bottom and a puppy, and even though he was playful and liked to banter, he was polite and respectful as hell. He’d never give me abutt plug. They were definitely from Reuben.

I was torn between pleasure and satisfaction that Reuben had given me a present, and angry with the fact that I hated him and wished he would spontaneously combust into smithereens, and then burst into flames.

“Have we forgotten it’sMaggie’s turn?” Tammi redirected the conversation, and I was temporarily saved from the bullshit of dealing with Reuben.

The game continued until I heard my name being called. David, one of the residents I didn’t know very well, had rolled a six, which allowed him to ask any question to anyone in the room as part of his turn.

“Alice, who was your first boyfriend?”

Oh, the things I could say in response to that.I pursed my lips. “Uh... pick another question, David. Trust me.”

He laughed. “Okay, who was your last boyfriend?”

I closed my eyes and took a steadying breath, trying not to throw up. I hadn’t thought about him in a while, but the times I had, it hadn’t been this violent of a reaction. Maybe it was because I was already frustrated? Maybe because I was tired, and horny, and the last person who had put me into subspace had done it as a favor?

Reuben’s voice intruded in my silence. “Move on, David.”

David may or may not have asked me another question, but I wasn’t listening anymore. I’d risen and gone to the cart where we kept the bottles of alcohol, and I poured myself a very large serving of Screwball, then stood by the window and looked outside, ignoring the conversation.

I didn’t want to run away. I didn’t want Reuben to think he was rescuing me, or to think that I even needed rescuing. I just wanted to look outside at the full moon and the stars.

God I missed my telescope. I wonder if Woodrow had sold all my shit, or if he kept it, thinking I’d come back one day. Maybe he thought he’d run into me, and he’d drag me back down to his dungeon. I rubbed at the mark on my neck, swallowed the rest of my whiskey, and left the room quietly so nobody would notice.

I seriously debated putting on my jacket and boots and going out for a midnight walk in the snow around the valley, but I could hear the wolves outside, so I went back to my room. And once in there, I saw the most impossible thing I’d ever seen.

My telescope sat by the window. I knew it was mine, because of the stickers. I felt my heart explode with a bizarre combination of excitement and devastation, and I stood there staring at it for long minutes, praying to God it was really there and I wasn’t hallucinating.

Slowly, one step at a time, I approached it and peered into the eyepiece. It wasn’t adjusted, so I couldn’t see anything. My hands found the dials automatically, and I adjusted it, moving it slightly, so I could see the full moon outside in all its glory. Then I moved it again just slightly, so I could try to see some of the stars.

There were so many stars out here in the mountains. I wanted to put on my jacket and take my telescope outside so I could get a better view, but those damn wolves were out prowling again. I’d asked Alex if she could do something about them, but she said she had an “agreement” with them, and that they weren’t a threat.Yeah, right,I thought.They’re fucking wolves.But she was impossible to argue with.

It was hours later that I saw the note sitting on my bed, written on the back of some paper from my notebook.

Alice,

I found something that I believe belongs to you. If I am correct, let me know; there is quite a bit more where that came from and I’m willing to retrieve it for you.

I know I have no right to ask, but I would like to discuss the situation with you if possible. There are multiple other parties involved, and some of them are my close friends and colleagues. I want to make sure it never happens again.

I feel I have been unnecessarily harsh with you regarding your behavior, and have not made any effort to understand you, and you deserve better than that. If you’re willing to talk, I’d like to listen.

RW

828-555-6747

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