Ash (3 page)

Well,
this moment gave me my answer.

I
pushed Tessa behind me with my free arm, thankful that she managed to stay on
her feet long enough to stumble away. I turned back to the owner of the hand
gripping my arm.

“Let.
Go!” The sound of my own voice scared me. It was raw and animalistic.

His
eyes started to pulse then, like with the ash in class, and he licked his lips
as he looked me up and down. He did not let me go; he started to yank me
closer. 

Wrong
answer.

My
free hand flew out, my palm straight, and smashed into his nose. I felt the
crack of cartilage, and almost immediately blood covered my palm. His grip
loosened and I wrenched myself from his hold, before doing a quick pivot, prepared
to grab Tessa and flee. A hard grip landed on my shoulder, dashing those plans.
Fear was taking hold of me, saturating my movements and sending my thoughts
into a tizzy. I tried to focus, forcing my defense instructor’s words through
the fear.
Deep breaths, don’t panic.
In one swift movement I spun,
prepared to kick the guy who was holding me right where it counted. Ash or not,
a knee to the nuts hurt every man alive.

I
did not hesitate, going straight for the shot, but of course no human stood a
chance against an ash. He moved quicker than my eye could track. Somehow he
managed to step outside my range but still fill the space with his presence.
Sucking in a ragged breath, I halted my attack, watching him with caution. It
was a new ash standing before me, not the creeper or his sidekick. Somehow I
knew immediately that this one was not like the other two. They had been
annoying d-bags, but just normal run-of-the-mill ash. This new ash was
different. Everything about him screamed dangerous. Pure and simple.

The
longer I stared, the more I felt compelled to examine him. Every single one of
these creeps were beautiful, designed as first class chick magnets and killing
machines. But I had been right the first time; this ash was so much more.

Holy
gods of everything sexy,
what have you created here?

If
I was completely honest with myself, at one point in my life – around my
mid-teens – I had found ash and vampires fascinating. I’d never been in Tessa’s
league of obsession, but I’d acknowledged their beauty.
Never since that night though … but  this stranger was doing all sorts
of things to my body and blood. Something about the way he wore a caged
lethalness like a second coat, his movements so smooth and contained. He was
scary – scariest male I’d ever seen, and yet he created a sense of calm and
security inside me. And he was drop dead gorgeous.

“Are you okay?” His strong baritone voice cut through my hormones.
A scuffle behind him drew my attention before I could answer. There were two
black-clad ash behind him. They had the pair of original ash d-bags laid out on
the ground, hands zip-tied behind their backs.

Unable to help myself, my eyes slid back to the lethal male. He
was at least 6’2 and all muscle. His unruly chestnut hair hung in loose waves
across his forehead. He wore black military fatigues, and everything
about
him screamed danger. It might have been the glint in his black eyes, or the way
the silver seemed to be larger and more distinct than other ash, but he was
definitely not a man to be fucked with.

I
needed to pull myself together. I didn’t bother to answer his question. I started
moving away from them, grabbing Tessa, who must have at some point passed out
on the floor. The tequila was finally kicking in for her. As I sidled close by
the hardass ash in the fatigues, the silver of his eyes started to swirl
and his features hardened even further as he looked me up
and down.

I put my hands up. “Don’t get any ideas. This blood is your buddy’s.”

What was with their eyes?
Did the swirl
of colors mean it was feeding time? I didn’t want to stay and find out.

The
ash didn’t stop me, but his gaze never left my face. There was something hidden
there in those black depths. Something calculating. He was assessing me and I
was not okay with that.

“Ryder! We got another call,” one of the other ash said. The ash –
Ryder – fl
icked his eyes away for a moment, his clenched hands
loosening enough to reach up and hook onto the comm device on his belt.

I
took the opportunity while I could. I needed to escape the presence of these
dominating males. Reaching down, I practically yanked Tessa into my arms,
barely even feeling her weight as I booked it out of the club. The entire time
one word was running through my head – t
he scary-ass
gorgeous ash’s name: Ryder. I sighed.

Perfect.
Why couldn’t I meet a
normal guy?

It took me forever to get
home, mainly because Tessa was a dead weight. I ended up catching a cab and putting
it on her credit card. She might only be from a one parent family too, but
unlike mine, hers had lots of old money. Tessa had a fat trust fund and she
wouldn’t mind me charging the cab to her card.

After
managing to finagle her shoes off, I dropped her onto her bed. And then, finally,
I got to wash that creeper’s blood from my hands, and then remove my makeup
before getting into bed myself. Stretching out, I tried my best not to think
about all the strange shit that was happening to me lately. Including but not
limited to the pull I’d felt to that ash tonight. Ryder. I had no explanation.
Maybe, if I’d been a dude, I’d be worried that mom had done the down and dirty
with a vampire. I certainly had some of the “poster” symptoms. But there was no
such thing as a female ash, and my father had been a human soldier, killed in
the line of duty.

Maybe
I was just going through a hormone imbalance or some crap. I should probably
get to the campus clinic and have my blood work run. Just to be safe.

I
drifted off, and for the first part of the night slept like the dead. It must
have been in the early hours that
a vivid dream
engulfed me.

The
world was washed in blood. I swam in rivers of crimson, swept downstream as I
struggled to quench the insatiable thirst inside of me. No matter how much I
drank, it was never enough. I thrashed around, trying to free myself from the
nightmare, but I couldn’t wake. Hands grabbed me and I was yanked from the
river. The thick, tacky blood coated my body and I swear I could even taste the
metallic tang on my tongue.
The copper scent assaulted
my nose. It was odd … but so good. I was carried, and the world started to cr
y,
and it felt as if my soul were crying with it. I lifted my face to feel the
drops, only to realize they were blood also. The world wasn’t crying, it was
bleeding.

I
startled awake, my chest rising as I gasped, trying to fill my heavy lungs with
air.
Dream.
Holy shit, that dream had felt so real. And so goddamn
creepy. A splash of wetness landed on my face, and almost in slow motion I
raised my hand and touched my cheek. My heart rate slowed a little when I
realized that it was really rain this time, not blood. A second drop landed,
and within a blink of an eye I was up off the ground and on my feet.
Rain?

Off
the ground?
My head swiveled rapidly, eyes darting
left and right as I tried to figure out what the crap was going on. Was I still
dreaming? How the hell did I get outside during my sleep? I knew I had been
safely in my dorm room, and now I seemed to be … my eyes alighted on a series
of warning signs which were scattered around a tall chain-link fence. Sweet
love of the gods, I was halfway across town, outside the gated compound surrounding
the
Hive.

I
blinked more than once, trying to wrap my head around what had happened. I
looked down at myself to see I was still clothed. I was either losing my mind
or something really serious was wrong.
I used to
sleepwalk when I was younger, but never got further than the living room. One
thing I did know was that I needed to haul ass immediately. I could not be
caught after curfew in this area. I’d pretty much be signing my own death
warrant. I looked up at the moon high in the sky, and hugged my arms across my
chest against the bite of the cold. September seemed to be up and down lately
with cold. Tonight, with the rain, I could feel the iciness of winter around
the corner.

I
didn’t think
,
I just ran, my bare feet
smashing against the gravel road, not even caring that they were getting all
cut up. I was still in my sleep shirt, but that didn’t seem to be the most
pressing issue right now. Somehow, despite my shock, my body knew what to do. I
had never run so swiftly, but within moments I was out of the danger zone and
back in familiar territory. I hadn’t consciously made the decision to head this
way, but something drove me toward my family home. Toward my mom. Sometimes a
girl just needs her mo
m, especially if she might
possibly be losing her mind.

I
turned onto my street, large trees lining it. I hadn’t grown up in the best
neighborhood, but it was perfect, middle class suburbia, and I needed some normalcy.
As I dashed up the steps to my front porch, I didn’t bother to contemplate on
the fact that I’d just sprinted across town in under ten minutes. The trip
should have taken me thirty at a brisk pace.
I ran a
shaky hand through my long, tangled hair, and tried to calm my frantic
thoughts. My feet stung from my barefooted haul-ass run, and I saw smudges of
bloody footprints dotting the porch.

My
mom was a surgical nurse and worked a lot of shift hours. My muddled brain
couldn’t quite remember what shift she was on right now, so instead of
disturbing her I reached down and scrambled beneath the potted plant to find
the hidden key. It clicked quietly in the lock and I let myself into the cool,
familiar front hall and locked the door behind me.

Padding
through the parlor, I ended up at the kitchen. Instinct drove me forward. I was
so, so, thirsty. Opening up the single door fridge, I knew Mom would have
plenty of goodness inside. She was the best cook around. But as I stared at the
contents, not even the peach and pecan pie tempted me.

I
grabbed a sports drink, wondering if I needed a kick of electrolytes. Flipping
it open, I took a large gulp, but before I could swallow it I found myself
spitting it all back out. It was disgusting. Tasted like chemicals and salt. I read
the label in the dull light of the open fridge. Date was fine, so what the hell
was wrong with it?

I
sensed a presence just seconds before she spoke: “Charlie baby, what are you
doing here?”

Spinning
around, drink still clutched in my hands, I held back a sob and threw myself
into my mom’s arms. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Words
poured from me. I was all out of whack. My thoughts seemed to be going a
million miles an hour, and yet I was barely comprehending the simplest of
things.

I
pulled back a little to stare at my mom. She was still young and beautiful,
despite the fact she’d done double duty and raised me by herself. Truth was, I
couldn’t have asked for a better parent. And I needed her calm mom words more
than anything.

“What
happened? Did you run here in your nightgown?
Barefoot?
”
Her gaze roamed over me, the dim lighting enough for me to see concern in her
dark brown eyes. We shared the same eye color and general build, but my mom was
very blond and I had quite dark hair. Same as my father. Who I only knew from
the two or three scattered photos of him around the place.

“Shit, I’m probably bleeding all over your kitchen floor.” I
lifted my feet to inspect the cuts. My stomach dropped.
No!
They were pretty
much healed. Just slight pink lines remained.  

I couldn’t say anymore; the nausea and dizziness was starting to
crowd in on me. Darkness pressed at the edge of my consciousness and weakness
invaded my limbs.

“I’m so thirsty, Mom.” Those were not the words I intended to say.
I was going to tell her that I’d had a dream and sleepwalked. But the thirst
was driving me crazy. If I was so thirsty, why the hell did everything taste
like shit?

“Charlie!” Her exclamation was muffled. She sounded like she was
miles away from me. I shook my head a few times, fighting back the darkness,
but eventually I couldn’t any longer. I slumped forward, knowing at least tonight
my mom would be there to catch me when I fell. My last thought was about the
plump vein throbbing on her neck.

Loud voices broke through
the fuzzy static in my head. I groaned, trying to remember what had happened
last night. Images filtered through slowly. I’d gone out with Tessa, and …
drank a lot. Was that why I had this craptastic static in my head?

“Charlie,
can you hear me, sweetheart?”

That
voice was familiar. What was Mom doing in my dorm? I tried to pry open my eyes.
It took more than one attempt for me to crack them a sliver.

“Mom…”
I croaked out. “What’s going on?”

I
felt her cool hands on my face, and I groaned as pain shot through me. I felt
like I was burning up. I was sick. Sicker than I’d ever remembered being. This
was so not a simple hangover.

“I
need you to listen to me, Charlene Anne Bennett. I love you more than anything
in this world, and it doesn’t matter what anyone says to you in the next few days,
that will never change.
Do you understand me?” Her voice was strong and didn’t
waver.

Holy
shit, she was scaring me.

Fear
gave me the boost of adrenalin I needed to pry my lids fully open, and my
mother’s worried face came into view. She wasn’t the only one either. Standing
behind her, one on either side, were two ash. Both of them had those eerie
black eyes with the silver rings locked on me. I realized then I wasn’t in my
dorm. I was lying on my mother’s kitchen floor.
Why
was I in my mother’s house? Actually, more importantly, why were ash in my
mother’s house?

“Mom…”

I
needed to get her out of here. Ash were dangerous, especially in a private
residence with no one around to help us.

“I’m
so sorry, Charlie. I tried to tell you so many times. But … I didn’t think it
could ever happen. You were a girl, so you had to be John’s.”

I
struggled to get up, and with assistance from my mom I managed to get into a
sitting positio
n. 
From this angle, I was
suddenly mesmerized by the pulsing vein in the side of her neck. I opened and
closed my eyes a few times, but still, when I looked again, the vein was
definitely pulsing with blood.

One
of the ash picked up his phone, and pressing a button lifted it to his ear. He
muttered three words:

“We
need Ryder.”

And
just like that I passed out again.

This time
when I awoke my mom wasn’t there, and unlike the fuzziness from before, I had
all of my memories and they were crystal clear.
Holy shit.
There had
been ash in my mom’s house. My feet had healed in seconds. The bloody dream.
The vein in my mom’s neck. What the actual hell was wrong with me? Was my drink
spiked last night with something … some sort of hallucinogen? A human growth
hormone that made my body go nuts? There had to be a medical explanation.

I looked down. I was clothed in a starched, white hospital gown.
Mom must have brought me here after I spazzed out on her and lost consciousness
twice. But a glance around only raised my confusion. This didn’t look like any
room I’d ever seen at Legacy Hospital. For one thing, it was way too big and
teched out, and it had a huge glass window, like an observation station, dominating
the entire right wall. A shadow darted across the window and I jerked my head a
little, trying to see what was there. Was it a doctor creeping around? Or was
there some awesome stalker in my life?

A throat cleared behind me. Standing three feet from my hospital
bed was him, the gorgeous, deadly-looking ash from the club last night. Ryder.
Had he been standing there the entire time?
What the hell was in my drinks
last night?

My focus locked on him again and the air almost sizzled between
us. That strange pull was still there, a connection I sure as shit did not want
with an ash. Speaking of … what the fuck was he doing in my hospital room?

There was very little expression on his face; his jaw was
clenched. I swallowed hard, my tongue swollen. I was so goddamn thirsty it felt
like my head was going to explode. I lifted my arm to adjust my position and
found that I was chained to the bed.

Oh hell no. It was becoming startlingly clear that my initial
instinct had been correct. This wasn’t a freakin’ hospital.

Ryder hadn’t moved. His dark eyes seemed to be locked on mine. Finally,
he shook his head. “It can’t be.” His words were low and muttered, not really
intended for my ears.

I pulled against the chains. “Where the hell am I? What have you
done with my mom? You need to let me go right now. This is all kinds of jacked
up and against the law.”

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, making the words garbled.
Ryder moved then, in that preternatural way which suggested speed far greater
than a human. He grabbed a small mirror off a side table and approached me
slowly.

“Charlie, I need you to stay calm. Your mom phoned the hotline
number when you passed out. She saw your eyes, and knew that … well, it’s
damned impossible … but we think you’re an ash.”

My mouth dropped open. What did he just say? Before I could
verbally react, he was holding the mirror out and shoving it in front of my
face.

I froze as my reflection shimmered back at me.

“No!”

I howled. It was low and animalistic. My eyes…

Gone was the dark brown so like my mother’s. In its place was a
black iris with a ring around it. The ring was a silvery green, dancing like it
contained bolts of lightning. I wanted to tear my gaze from those alien eyes.
But I couldn’t stop looking.