Chapter 16 #5
“I nearly missed all the fun,” Bohnes murmurs, eyes darting around the room as he takes in the myriad threats. Jonas is where his attention settles, like he’s decided that this is the most dangerous person in here with us. I’m inclined to agree.
“So that’s how it’s going to be?” Jonas says, his smile stuck in place and edging on a grimace. There’s a strange, perverse glee in his words. Underneath that, I hear the echo of outrage and frustration. He’s having trouble processing his son’s defiance.
Ash stands there with slightly too-wide eyes, staring at me with a gaze that’s all screams and horror and pain and punishment.
I step forward, putting myself between the four boys and Jonas.
That’s what it takes to get the mayor to look at me, his cheek inflamed with a perfect outline of Alexei’s elegant hand.
Bohnes seems to find this funny, covering his mouth to stifle a burst of manic laughter.
“That’s how it’s going to be.” I’m ice-cold tonight. I have to be. Reptile brain is a requirement for the unpleasant task awaiting me. If I let myself get all mammalian about it, I might cry. Heh. “Want some money? I’ll pay you to leave Yua Ito alone.”
Jonas ignores me, too fixated on the idea of his son’s independence to hear what I’m saying.
“Ash.” Jonas repeats his name like a crazy person, reminding me of Ash’s weird outbursts.
“You all thought you handled Shipman, didn’t you?
The man was my favorite for a reason. I’ve known you were Ash for some time.
But I only had one brat left, so what was I supposed to do?
I almost wondered if murdering your brother might fix you.
Seems I was right all along: you were always the inferior twin. ”
“What did Shipman know? He was hit by a car like an animal,” Ash bites back, and I wish so bad that I could wrap myself around him and hold on tight.
He needs it so bad. He needs to be kept safe.
I can’t fail him. If I can save Ash, then everything I’ve suffered will have been worth it.
Even losing Lemon and Alexis. Even that.
Ash spits on the floor behind me and somehow, Alexei manages not to flinch. “Roadkill. Too easy to get rid of.”
“The family doesn’t care whether you live or die.
You understand that, don’t you?” Jonas asks, ignoring everything else that his son is saying.
“They’re letting you live because I haven’t done anything wrong.
My hands are clean, and you are my property.
Come outside with me now, or I’ll make a new child with that housekeeper and turn him into my little Ash doll.
A replacement for the one that ran away. ”
Ash steps up beside me again, surging forward until I throw my arms around his waist to stop him. My cheek is pressed against the sword across his back.
“Kitsune-tsuki!” he screams, losing any semblance of feigned property.
That’s fine. My eyes dart to Burt, knowing that he’ll see the true vitriol that Ash holds for his dad.
This can only help our case with the family.
Ash begins to murmur those same words over and over again in the voice of a demon.
“Kitsune-tsuki. Kitsune-tsuki. Kitsune-tsuki. Fox possessed. He’s fucking fox possessed. ”
“Stop giving Jonas the time of day. He doesn’t deserve it,” Widow growls, moving up to take a position on Ash’s right side. “He’s not worth speaking to. If you don’t want to, you never have to say another word to this man for as long as you live.”
“As long as you live,” Jonas repeats, finding his way back to a beatific smile.
“As long as you live,” Bohnes replies, laughing and then leaning in to whisper something else to Alexei that makes both of them smile. My little co-conspirators.
“I’ve only just become an adult and yet, I’m going to ruin your life.” Ash reaches over his shoulder and taps two sharp fingers against the hilt of his blade. Jonas flicks his eyes briefly to the weapon and then snaps them back to his son’s face. “And I’ll do it all without ruining mine.”
“Do you care how many people suffer because of you?” Jonas asks, glancing toward the hallway where Yua disappeared. If I had a way to save her, I would. Unfortunately, she’s here seemingly of her own free will. She isn’t chained.
“You picked the wrong son,” Ash breathes, just barely.
He’s about to break. He squeezes the samurai key chain hanging from his hilt so hard that I’m surprised it doesn’t break.
Despite seeing his former nanny as a hostage, he manages an insane smile, one that breaks his face into sharp shards of glass.
“I am not your marionette. I’ve cut the strings that tie.
Be a monster all on your own, Jonas. Your actions are not my consequences. ”
I squeeze Ash’s arm, a small attempt to soothe him in this horrible place with these horrible people.
Jonas’ eyes fall to that simple motion, taking it in and absorbing it.
The next time the mayor looks at his son’s face, I feel the first stir of nerves in my belly. I’m not afraid of Jonas. What I am afraid of is that sheen, that glimmer in his dark eyes that I saw so clearly in Ash’s.
Obsession.