Page 77 of The Howl
I took a step then hesitated, looking at her again.
“I swear I’m fine now,” she said, reading my hesitation. “Skipping class yesterday was just precautionary. That, and I needed a little time, you know?” She glanced at the pictures on her wall. The smiling faces of her family made me hurt for her.
“I’d love to sit and talk for a while,” I said, really meaning it.
“So what drove you out of your house?” she asked, leading the way.
“My mom. I woke up with two boys in my bed. Naked. What kind of mom does that?”
Ashlyn grinned and sat across from me on the couch.
“A succubus mom, I would guess. What was your reaction?”
“About a two-second sprint from my bed. I think I accidentally stepped on one of them. His privates, based on his pained breathing.”
She laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile a little. Then, my humor faded.
“I hate living here,” I said softly.
She grew quiet and looked around the room.
“Me too,” she admitted. “I’d do anything to get out of here. Anything but give up who I am.”
The only way out of Uttira for a human was a mind wipe. Since Ashlyn had been born here, she wouldn’t be left with anything. Not even her name.
“We have more in common than I thought,” I said. “I hate being here, but in order to leave, I would need to stop being who I am, too.”
“So what are you going to do?”
I leaned back into my chair and considered my options.
“Up until now, I’ve followed their rules, to an extent. I don’t like makeup, but I wore it to get them to ease off of other things. I don’t like revealing clothes, but I wore those, also to keep the peace. I’m done compromising, but I don’t know what that means for me. Fenris said not to let Adira see she’s made me sweat, and I agree with that. But, I think I need to show her that she’s made me angry. I’m no Megan. While I know I won’t make Adira quake in her frost giant shoes, I’ve seen the way Adira avoids my mom. If I’m angry, I think my mom will be angry. And Adira and the rest of the Council don’t want my mom angry.”
“What about your mom? She’s the one who tucked you in with two boys.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t know. The Council is keeping her here. I’m hoping that Megan will clear Mom’s name so she can leave.”
Even as I said it, I had my doubts. Would Mom leave? She kept saying how much she liked being here. The Council might have let a beast in that they won’t be able to get out.
“What about you?” I asked. “What are you going to do?”
“The only thing I can do. Wait until I turn eighteen so I can be bound. It’s not ideal, but at least I’ll have a chance at leaving this place then. Even if it’s only for Council errands.”
I could feel her energy. The despondence.
“I don’t think this is the conversation you had in mind,” I said.
She gave me a rueful smile.
“Any conversation is better than sitting in a quiet house with nothing to do.”
I stood.
“Let’s go do something.”
“Like what?”
