Page 58 of Devastation
Rubbing my chin as if in deep thought, I muse, "Well, I do like the thought of Ash staying alive...so, I'm going to have to agree with Elizabeth on this one."
Ash blusters, "But...but you don't even know what she's suggesting!" with his eyes wide and breathing heavy.
Reaching out, I place my hand on his bicep and rub up and down lightly. Looking into his eyes, I wait until his breathing has calmed a bit before speaking.
"What I do know is that we need you to be as prepared as possible for this war. I don't think I'll be lucky enough to go to the River Styx twice if I lose you again, babe."
An array of emotions crosses his face as he processes that statement, starting with fear and ending with uncertainty.
Glancing at Elizabeth, I question, "What is it that you want him to do?"
She lifts the ruby hanging from the black rope once more in offering. "I want him to take this soul stone. Every ancestor that has passed while carrying this stone leaves their power behind within the stone for the next generation. Before our soul leaves the land of the living, our powers shed away from our soul, allowing it to cross properly to the afterlife."
All I can picture is a snake shedding it's skin, and I shudder.I hate those bastards.
Her face fills with concern, and I immediately apologize, "I'm sorry. That had nothing to do with what you said. Continue."
She hesitates briefly before pushing the necklace into Ash's chest with tears glimmering in her milky eyes, "Your parents would have wanted you to have this."
Pain flashes across his face as he visibly flinches at her words.
I know without asking that his fear stems from Anshar and the hold he had over Ash, but he isn't voicing that to Elizabeth properly. Taking over, I ask her, "What happens when he takes the stone? How will this affect him?"
When he refuses to take it from her grasp, she drops her hand to her side with it and sighs. "It will only boost what he already holds within him. He controls it. Not the other way around."
"Ash," I say softly, trying to get his attention when I see he has zoned out again. I lift my hand from his bicep to his face and softly call to him again, "Ash."
His emerald eyes meet mine and I suck in a breath when I see the emotion there.
He's terrified.
"You don't have to do this if you don't feel comfortable. But if you want to just hold it and see what happens, I will be right here by your side the whole time. Okay?"
The fear subsides just a fraction, with resolve taking over the small part remaining as he nods and holds his hand palm out for Elizabeth. She quickly raises her hand and drops the stone into his palm, probably scared he'll change his mind.
His body tenses on contact with the stone, and his breath catches in his throat. All of a sudden I'm scared that I just talked him into holding something that will hurt him. "You don't have to keep it," I reassure him and reach to take it away from him.
But before I can snag it, he closes his hand over it and admits, "It feels like home."
Elizabeth's hands fly to her mouth and a few tears spill over and streak down her cheeks. Choking on the emotion, she manages to get out, "I thought I was the last of our bloodline for so long. I never thought I'd be able to pass this on."
I don't know what to say, and suddenly I feel like I'm intruding on a very private moment. I know neither of them would ever ask me to leave, but I feel that it's my time to let them work through this alone.
"Will you be okay?" I question.
He shocks me by reaching out to grip my chin lightly and bringing his mouth down to seal his lips to mine in a kiss so full of love it steals my breath. His lips don't leave mine as he answers, brushing them against mine, "Thank you."
He pulls back, and I suck down a deep breath, knowing this isn't the time to be indecent in front of his long-lost grandmother. My face is flushed as I say my goodbyes and turn on my heel to head inside.
Crossing through the archway of the front door, I marvel at the beautiful gothic vibe of Serenity's home. I shouldn't have been surprised, knowing the exterior of the home is completely black. I didn't think it was possible to have a goth-chic style, but that's exactly what this is.
A large black chandelier hangs in their foyer, sparkling with beautiful clear crystals hanging from it.Wait, are those diamonds?
Taking in the rest of the entrance, I notice a curling black staircase that looks to have two exits onto different floor levels above us. My gaze moves down as I walk forward into their living room. They have black silk curtains framing windows that run floor to ceiling, letting ample natural light in when the curtains are pulled aside and secured with silver ties, as they are now.
"Wow," I breathe out, echoing the twins' simple sentiment earlier.
A large matching black satin L-shape couch sits in the center of the room on top of a large silver area rug with matching accent pillows.
