Chapter 14
14
Ashley
A shley stared at her phone’s blank text screen, Esther’s name glaring at her from the top, unsure how to proceed. That was why she’d trekked down to the front sitting room to ask advice from the absolute worst person yet the only one available.
“Did I ever tell you about my pendant?” Claribel lifted a silver chain from around her neck, revealing a spherical bauble at the end.
“No, I don’t think you have.” Ashley was pretty sure this had nothing to do with whether she should text Esther or not, but she’d humor Claribel. The longer Ashley delayed, the longer she didn’t have to come up with a response to her dumb plan of inviting Esther home to her human family for Christmas. What had she been thinking? She obviously hadn’t been. She’d spouted out the first thought that came to her, and Esther had been too polite to outright say no while Ashley was in her unmanageable drunken state. She needed to text Esther, but the question was—did she laugh it off like this whole plan was just her drunken babbling, or did she go with it and see if Esther had a real response?
Esther had told Ashley to text her. It wasn’t a no.
“It’s actually a vial,” Claribel said. “I keep the blood of a past lover in it. Washington Irving. Have you heard of him? He had such a beautiful way with words.”
Ashley was only half listening. Her mind composing and deleting messages to Esther. Maybe she needed a good pros and cons list. Her musing was interrupted when someone knocked on the door—in the middle of the day.
Claribel hissed in annoyance. “Be a dear and get that, Ash. You’re the only one with a strong enough complexion at this hour.”
It was a blessedly cloudy day, but strong complexion or not, Ashley still had to cover up. Who knocked in the middle of the day on a Sunday? She donned her cardigan, gloves, and hat, making sure her hair covered as much of her neck as possible. The porch blocked any direct sunlight, but she wouldn’t be able to stand out there for long. She cracked the door and promptly closed it again.
“Who was it, dear?” called Claribel from the safe darkness of the front sitting room.
The knocker repeated, and Ashley looked down at the phone in her hand then back at the door. Shaking her head, she opened it.
“Esther,” she breathed. That was too breathy. She should try again. “I mean, Esther. Hi.”
She looked good. Tight black jeans and a black sweater with a white embroidered Peter Pan collar. Her hair hung in loose curls over her shoulders, and her lips were painted the sort of deep orange that had Ashley thinking of sunsets and other dangerous things. Esther’s heart was beating fast, which was an intriguing touch.
Another figure stepped from behind Esther. “Are you going to let us in?”
Ashley’s fangs dropped instinctively and she barely held back a hiss. August was such a mood wrecker.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you doing here, witch?”
“Doesn’t matter.” He walked past Esther and pushed his way into the house. “Some of us don’t have to ask for permission.”
“That’s called trespassing.” Ashley scowled as he stepped onto the sitting room rug with his shoes still on.
“You knew?” Esther, still waiting to be let in.
Ashley was so fired up from August that she’d forgotten to hide that she knew what August was.
“Esther, I—” Ashley’s response was cut off by a hiss from inside.
Abandoning her post at the door, Ashley rushed back to the sitting room to find August plopped on the settee facing Claribel with his dirty boots up on the coffee table.
“Ash!” Claribel cried from her chair. “You let a witch into the house? His magic is clawing.” She massaged her neck and glared at August. Ashley also felt the now familiar fizzy tingling in her throat of August’s magic. Like someone had told a joke just as she took a swig of pop and now the carbonation was trapped in her sinuses.
“Feet off the table, witch,” Ashley demanded. “And tone down that wretched magic, or I’ll burn your antique house to the ground.”
He huffed but took his feet off the table, and the tingling went from mildly painful to a slight annoyance.
“We’re here to see Aunt Hannah. Is she up?”
“ Aunt Hannah?” Claribel pulled her cross-stitch from between the couch cushions and began stitching excitedly. She was such a gossip.
“I’m guessing she doesn’t talk about me.” August shrugged.
Claribel huffed. “That would be a good guess.”
“Well, I brought Esther to interview her for her practicum. She’s archiving the Platt family records, and who better to talk to than a Platt intimately familiar with the collection.”
“You did what?” Ashley grabbed August by the collar. “Whatever game you’re playing, witch, you leave Esther out of it.”
Gus squeaked from the commotion and rustled his way farther into the curtains.
“Interesting.” The soft shush of thread pulling through cloth indicated Claribel was getting quite some cross-stitching in. “Who is this Esther?”
“That would be me.” Without her loud boots on—because Esther was polite enough to take off her shoes—and in all the commotion, Ashley had lost track of her. Esther reached out her hand to Claribel. “It’s good to meet you.”
Ashley dropped August’s collar and bolted between them before Esther took a step closer, blocking Esther from Claribel’s view. “She’s a classmate. That’s it.”
Slowly, Claribel lowered her stitching to her lap. “And she knows…”
Ashley glanced over at August, still fixing his collar over on the couch. “About witches. Yes. But that wasn’t my doing.”
“Hmm.” Claribel moved her project to the cushion next to her and stood. “I see.”
“No, it’s fine.” Ashley took another step back, pulling Esther farther behind her. “If the witches want to go around broadcasting who they are, that’s their problem.” She waved her hand like she was swatting away a fly. “You don’t need to…”
Claribel waited. “I don’t need to…what?”
“Ashley.”
Ashley jumped as Hannah descended the ancient stairs without making a sound.
“What is he doing here?” Hannah asked.
“Nice to see you too, Aunt Hannah.” August brushed imaginary dust off his shoulders and straightened his shirt as he stood.
She was a foot shorter than August, at least, but still managed to look down her prim nose at him. “What is it you’re looking for, August?”
He took his time, returning her glower with one of his own. Ashley thought he might not answer until he finally gestured to Esther. “I’ve brought someone to interview you. This is Esther Green.”
Esther broke free of Ashley’s grasp and stepped out from behind her but didn’t offer a hand this time.
“A graduate student at the college,” August continued. “She’s archiving the family records and has some questions about a particular piece that I thought you could help her with.”
Hannah looked Esther up and down then nodded to the study. “This way, if you please.”
Ashley tried to catch Esther’s eye, but Esther followed Hannah without a second glance.
“Watch him,” Hannah instructed, nodding to August before closing the door behind them.
The conniving witch definitely had some ulterior motive, and Hannah’s recommendation to watch him was well warranted. But Esther was in a room alone with a powerful vampire who may or may not have heard that Esther was privy to too much information. So, Ashley went back to where Claribel sat and crouched near a floor vent she knew connected to the study.
“Aren’t you watching me?” If she didn’t know better, she’d think he sounded disappointed in her lack of interest.
“Shut up. I’m trying to listen.” She waved aimlessly in his direction. “Go on with whatever nonsense you have planned and leave me alone.”
There was a small pause before his boots clomped out of the room, and Ashley was able to listen in peace. Esther had come prepared with some journal. A few long pauses concerned Ashley, but then Esther asked a new question and Hannah would start again. When Esther asked about a night contagion, Ashley debated running in there and dragging Esther out.
“Someone has a little infatuation, it seems.” Claribel picked up her cross-stitch again. She’d never finish if she only worked on it while gossiping. Although, she was getting a lot done today.
“You can have the witch,” Ashley offered chivalrously.
“Ha! No, thank you.” Claribel turned to the foyer where August had disappeared and muttered to herself, “Although, he does look tasty.”
She stitched in silence while Ashley listened for any sign of distress in Esther’s voice. How quickly could she get there if Esther cried out? Hannah could mesmerize her into silence and then make her forget so Ashley never knew. She should go in there now and stop whatever was happening. Esther had enough answers for her project.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, my dear,” Claribel said.
“Dangerous?” She hoped Claribel didn’t keep this conversation up for long. Ashley needed to pay attention. Esther’s life could be on the line.
“Humans are destined to die.” While this was not a groundbreaking statement, it was enough to catch Ashley’s attention. “Worse still, they know it.”
“We all know it.” Ashley went back to smooshing her face to the vent so Claribel would get the hint and stop talking to her.
“Yes, well. When you know you are a creature that dies, you want to spend the life you have with another creature that dies. Humans hold this sentimental value around growing old together. Nonsense, exacerbated by the greeting card industry, I’m sure, but real nonetheless.”
“It’s nothing,” said Ashley. “I’m not looking for some happily ever after with any human you might be alluding to. I’m fine.”
Claribel raised a brow, as though doubting that hovering over a floor vent to listen in on a secret conversation was the regular actions of someone who was “fine.”
“Anyway,” Claribel continued. “I was fine once too, living in the city before moving upstate to join the Family.” She pulled out the vial Ashley was sure did not have Essence of Irving in it. Claribel didn’t know Ashley checked the ages of all her supposed suitors, and they never quite matched up. She wasn’t sure if Claribel lied on purpose or if after a couple of centuries, lies blurred into truth. She didn’t doubt that someone’s blood was in that vial. “It’s an old story and not the sort that would make it on any greeting card. He gave me this token to remember him by.”
The door to the study opened, and Ashley leaped to her feet and ran to the door, glad to get away from Claribel.
“Esther.” Ashley caught her by the bicep, looking her up and down to make sure she was okay. There was no way to know for sure that her memories were intact without asking her something specific. “Before you go, I was wondering…”
She wasn’t sure what to ask.
“Did you remember something you wanted to ask me?” Esther asked.
Remember. Ashley’s phone sat heavy in her pocket with an open text still waiting to send. This was her chance to ask Esther about Christmas. She was standing right there. But pretend it was a joke or ask for real?
Hannah walked out of the study.
Right. Ashley couldn’t invite Esther to Christmas in front of this crowd. And there was a chance Esther didn’t even want her to ask. She should think of another question to check Esther’s memory.
“Something about an elephant never forgetting. Or unmemory-ing?” Esther’s lashes lowered, and the corner of her mouth hitched playfully. “It was a little unclear what you were trying to say.”
Sweet Jesus, Esther was trying to get Ashley to remember. Like Ashley could somehow forget. Okay, sure she was drunk at the time, but last night had haunted her all day. Also, was Esther flirting?
No, she’s straight. Pay attention, Ashley . Her memories were still intact, but they could not do this here. She grabbed Esther’s hand.
“Yes, school question. Don’t mind us,” she announced to the rest of the room, none of whom looked up as she pulled Esther up the stairs. “We’ll just be studying, in my room. About school and such.”
Ashley practically carried Esther up the stairs in her haste to get her alone. Down the hall and to the left. She didn’t even bother closing the door.
Esther leaned in the open doorway, her eyes transfixed. Ashley waited. Maybe this was a terrible idea. Even now, she was watching the rise and fall of Esther’s chest as she got her breath back, her long and graceful neck and that smooth expanse of skin. Ashley heard blood churning through Esther’s veins, not slowing now that they stopped running but keeping their excited pace. So many temptations combined into one person. How could Ashley possibly expect to survive a whole week at her parents’ house with her?
“Ask me.” Esther breathed the command.
And then there was Esther. Quiet and fierce. Prickly with a mushy center that made Ashley want to dig for it every time. She was a kitten with claws. The scratches were worth a snuggle.
“Come home with me for Christmas.”
“All right.” Esther’s smile was slow and heartbreaking. No wonder she hid them. It was a punch to Ashley’s chest.
Ashley fisted her hand resting on the wall next to Esther’s head, using every ounce of willpower in her body to not pull Esther into her arms and kiss her senseless.
“This is a terrible plan,” said Ashley. Her cheeks were tired from smiling so much, but she couldn’t help herself.
“Quite terrible.” Esther laughed. A short, sweet puff of a laugh that felt like a treasure. “Don’t wait so long to text me next time.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Testing her boundaries, Ashley ran a light finger down Esther’s shoulder and along her arm, watching as Esther shivered in response. Their gaze met, and there was another question in Esther’s eyes. Some want that Ashley hadn’t yet addressed.
A light cough nearby had them jumping apart, Ashley with a hiss.
“Well, what do we have here?” August stood in Hannah’s bedroom doorway across the hall, tucking a sheet of paper into the inside pocket of his coat before closing the door behind him.
“What have you got there, witch?”
“I’m sure you know. You were watching me the whole time, after all.” He folded his arms in front of him and leaned against the doorway with a smile like some flirty school gossip. “What are you two up to?”
Ashley glared at him. “I will end you, witch.”
She knew she should be more concerned about whatever he took, but she was still riding this high called Esther and couldn’t manage to care too terribly much about some annoying witch. What was the worst that could happen from a single piece of paper?
“Not today, at least.” He grabbed Esther by the arm and guided her down the stairs and out the front door, Ashley following behind.
Ashley stood in the doorway and watched helplessly as Esther strode down the porch steps and into the sunshine.
Esther turned back and mouthed, Text me , before getting in the car and driving away. It wasn’t until they turned out of sight that Ashley noticed the red welts on her gloveless hand and stepped back inside.
“Ash.” Claribel stood in the shadow of the column to the front sitting room. She tossed something small to her, and Ashley caught it. “I thought you could use your own. To remember her by.”
A silver vial.