Page 33 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

“Yes.” Gil leaned back on his arms. “It’s a peculiar place. There isn’t a time I don’t see something strange in there, otherworldly. But not everything in Ashwood is evil. There are parts of the forest that are lighter, where innocent creatures live. The heavier parts are more toward the middle, where everything looks ashen.” He cut his eyes to me. “That’s where the bad things are.”

My heart slowed. “What kinds of monsters dwell there?”

He grunted and shook his head, looking away, and I could feel his tension once more.

This wasn’t going as planned, and I desperately wished there was a stream we could go to. Then it occurred to me. Perking up, I asked, “Have you ventured out to the sea? Just to look at it?”

“Yes, a few times. A few of the others have, too, when it’s safe enough, but not for long. Why?”

“I’d love to see it. I’ve never been. Think we could go there now?”

Just as I’d said it, a flash lit the sky, and thunder rumbled after it.

I groaned as I looked up. “I guess not.”

Sighing, Gil looked over and said, “I know something else we can do.”

We went inside just in time. As soon as we’d come through the door, the rain let out. Mary took our basket and blanket, and I followed Gil to the library. I’d been there several times already, but I always brought books back to my room. I could read very few words, so I usually tried to find books for children with lots of pictures. I didn’t want Gil to know this, though.

The library was as big as my room, perhaps a little bigger. A bookcase lined every wall, and books filled all the spaces on the shelves. A table sat near the wide window that looked out over the part of the manor we were just in, with several green-cushioned chairs.

I smoothed my hand over one of the arms. “I like it in here. And the rain, isn’t it nice to look out at?” I sat on the cushioned window seat and gazed out at the rain. It was calming.

“Yes.” Gil came over with a stack of books and sat beside me. He placed four books in a pile between us. His eyes flicked up to mine, and for a second, we locked gazes. Then he glanced down at one of the books and brought it up. “These are a few of my favorites. Do you have any?”

“Oh.” I rubbed my arm as I peered down at the title. I couldn’t make out the words. “I don’t think I have a favorite book. My mother never kept books like this in the house. We couldn’t—” I stopped myself and turned away. “She sometimes took me to the library,” I lied.

I could feel Gil staring at me, and my cheeks burned, because I wasn’t sure if he was giving me a look of pity or disgust.

“Well, I saw the stack in your room before. Did you like any of those that you read?”

“I . . . liked the one about treasure. It had a lot of neat drawings.”

“But did you read it?”

I looked up at him as if he’d just found out some deep dark secret. Clearing my throat, I said, “Well, no . . . there were a lot of big words.”

“Cale,” Gil started, “can you read?”

I looked down, hesitating. I’d been too obvious. I opened my mouth and hesitated, no doubt looking like a fish out of water before I quickly got to my feet.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t want to be made fun of.”

“I wasn’t making fun of you.” Gil stood up.

“No? Asking questions leading up to it, you weren’t making fun of me?”

“No, I was genuinely asking. I was hoping we could talk about books. It’s a passion of mine.”

My face pinched, as I was suddenly envious that he’d read so many books while I could hardly read the title. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. I want to read. I wish I could. I never had a proper education. I was pulled out of school early to do work.”

“What kind of work?”

“Just . . . work.” I shook my head and stepped away. “Maybe I should go.”

Gil grabbed my arm, stopping me. “I can teach you to read.”

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