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 remember not knowing 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.
“What?—Are you okay?”
Glasson scooped up Ash in his arms, along with the paper and started walking from the room.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“She needs to rest. I need to take her home.”
“You can't take her to her foster home. They can’t know about us,” I said, following them out the door and down the stairs and into the hallway.
“They are the last of my people, Emma,” Ash said, looking at me. I looked to Glasson who smiled sadly.
“Your people?”
“Terrans from Sorra,” she whispered. “Sorry, Emma. I will explain later.”