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24: How Much Am I Worth?
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 25: I Am Slightly Delusional
ASHTONIt doesn’t take long for the two of them to catch up to me. I hear them behind me talking to someone. Each other? Zayne? I can’t quite seem to get my brain to work, my feet to walk in a straight line.“Here.” Carden approaches my side and throws something at me that I barely manage to catch. “You’re leaving a trail of blood.”I bite my tongue, but it’s useless. The words flow freely from my mouth. “Thanks for noticing Captain Obvious. Yet no one seems to be running to my rescue.” My words are a bit spiteful, but I can’t help it.He stumbles over words that never exit his mouth. Ignoring his narrowed gaze, I knot the fabric he tossed in my face around my thigh. It quickly soaks up the blood. This may be a stitches kinda moment.We’re all a mess and no doubt hurting by the time we reach the car...or at least I am. That’s more action I’ve had in years and I would prefer not to have such an eventful day ever again.“Did I tell you I told you so?” I mutter as I slide into the backse
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 26.0: I Crossed A Line I Shouldn't Have
CARDENShe’s weightless in my arms as I carry her through the halls with Oliver trailing behind me. I should’ve brought her straight to the doc instead of forcing her to bleed out while we spoke with Zayne. She didn’t need to be there. Maybe Zayne isn’t used to mortality, weakness after dealing with us for so long. Or maybe he just doesn’t care and if that’s the case, why do I?My feet come to an aggressive halt as I come face to face with the doc in the hall. “I was made aware that my assistance is needed.” He looks at her blank face, limp limbs. “Let’s get her to her room.”I follow dazed and confused, guilt ridden and sick. This is my fault. The seconds tick by slowly as we navigate the halls to her room. The doc leads the way, not stopping until he’s in her bedroom. Following his unsaid command, I place her on the bed. Blood quickly stains her sheets.Oliver and I stand there, silent as the doc pokes and prods at her leg before searching for the wound on her arm. “We need to get
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 27: Had To Meet The Nightmare Girl
ASHTONHours go by, days, I can’t be sure how long I was out, but what I do know is that I’m feeling much better...like I knew I would. That cocky attitude quickly dissolves when I catch bright white gauze wrapping my arm again. So...I had a little help, but I’m not bound to say thank you to anyone.I’m torn between being thankful and disappointed in not seeing the doctor again. There’s so many questions to ask that he’ll refuse to answer. As I swing my legs out of bed, a sharp sting shoots through my injured limb. The twist of my abdomen has my ribs searing. It doesn’t take much to know that I probably have bruises all over me. I might have the opportunity to see the doctor again.It takes a great amount of effort, more effort than I’m willing to give to stand up on my own two feet and slip something on. After several agonizing minutes, fully clothed, I flop down on the bed exhausted and ready to sleep another day away.Perfect timing isn’t something I believe in. The door creaking o
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 28: Shady Groves
ASHTONMorning is signaled by that disturbingly bright sun. It seems to come in at the best angle putting a spotlight just on me, on my face. I long for Mysteria more every day. I was lucky if I saw the sun once a week over there. Sometimes by choice, others forcibly. Hiding under the blanket, which is my only escape, trying to fall back to sleep, I hear the smallest of creaks from the floorboards. Preparation is key, but disappointment is imminent. Even with a firm fistful of the blanket, it is still ripped right out of my grasp. An angry shriek creeps up my throat, but it comes out as a pathetic yelp.It’s several moments of complete blindness before I can see his still unamused, slightly pissed expression. Is it from either my unexpected dead visitor last night or because he’s sick and tired of having to keep waking me up.The fact that he keeps on creeping in here to wake me up causes a deep rooted torment within me, so I’m not sure why he isn’t pleased. If I could give him that
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 29: Braindead And Borderline Psychotic
ASHTONI bolt from the room. Carden’s giving me permission and unlike other times, I hang on his words. You don’t need to tell me twice.I barge through the door of the mausoleum to come to an abrupt stop. My feet kick up loose stones as I skid to a halt. Three humans...I think they’re humans, stalk up the stairs.I backtrack and re-enter the building with small shuffling backward steps. “We have a problem.” I whisper as I bump against the tomb once again. I crawl up on top of it just as the three strangers come inside. The crypt seems to get ten times smaller from so many bodies in it.“I think this is the most visitors the old man ever got.” One of them hisses, a girl in all black. From head to toe. From her hair to her fishnets. Black. I get it. Point proven. You’re gothic and like the company of demons.“This one’s cuter than the last.” A boy in dark skinny jeans and a band tee says, leering at me. Band t-shirt. Really? It’s like the universe is mocking me. “Can I keep this one fo
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 30: It's A Dodgy Underground Club
ASHTONAgainst my misguided judgment, my ‘run into things without thinking it through’ attitude, we go back to the complex giving me more time to prepare. Black Lagoon is the shadiest underground club in Moss Creek. Admission is tough to get and those who enter don’t always come out the same…or come out at all.Question after question rambles through my head. Has The Order been to Black Lagoon? Are they aware of the dirty deals that go on right under everyone's noses? Then the curiosity of The Order falls away to be replaced with my own anxiety. Am I ready to step foot in there again?My mother is dressed in my own clothing looking like an addict with her frizzy hair and smeared makeup. This is her opinion of looking hot. Not to mention she’s accompanied by her underaged daughter. But here, no one bats an eye. If anything, all eyes are on us, waiting, anticipating for when the woman will sell off her kid for the night.The thought has my skin crawling. Nasty human men fantasize about
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 31: Black Lagoon
ASHTONWe get plenty of stares as we walk through the complex. Whispers behind their carelessly covered mouths aren’t heard, but assumed. The three of us marching out again, this time not in uniform and me with my ass practically showing. Their teeny tiny minds can’t comprehend such a mission.The drive to Moss Creek is longer than the drive to West River. Maybe it’s the doom that I know waits for me there. It’s not like anyone will remember me from three years ago. It’s the darkness that resides there. The people. The nightmares that fill that hellhole.Carden circles the town looking for something, an obvious sign that points directly to the club. Any questions that I had of The Order knowing about Black Lagoon is quickly answered. They don’t even know where it is.“Three blocks up, turn left and park the car.” I tell him and he easily complies. Once the car is parked, I hop out. “Now we walk.” Carden and Oliver remain inside probably talking about how crazy I am or stupid we are fo
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 32.0: They're Just Right There...In My Face, In Everyone's Face
CARDENOnce again we come back beaten and bloodied. Rafe has a limp to his left leg, a bruise on his jaw is developing. That girl really did a number on him. But he is only human, he can only take so much.Unlike some of us.Most of my knuckles are cracked open, but not all the blood is mine. Some is from the demon, most of it is from that scumbag. When I caught him grinding on Ashton, I lost it. In a blind rage, I beat him down. I don’t even remember doing it, ignoring everything and everyone in that mausoleum as I threw punch and after punch.Until I heard her scream my name.I shake the thoughts clear from my head as we enter Zayne’s office. Lately, I’ve come to dread these chats. It’s not anything new. We report to Zayne after all assignments and patrols. Before Ashton, we still came back roughed up, but lately it feels like we’re getting attacked because of her.Zayne looks to Rafe to give him a break down of our mission. He skirts around the obvious, the most important. But I br
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Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 54: Let's Go Home
ASHTONThe walk out of the demon house is a blur. It isn’t until we’re on the sidewalk that I realize how bad things were. The dark red blood shines like a tragic beacon in the sunlight. Cuts, scrapes, gashes batter Carden’s, Oliver’s, Rafe’s and Theo’s bodies along with those guarding the outside.“Where’s Jen?” I question on a shaky breath. I vaguely remember a scream, a blood curdling scream. “No.” The single word tumbles through my lips.“We didn’t see it coming. It was so dark, it came out of nowhere.” Rafe and Theo are more covered in blood than Carden or Oliver. They took the brunt of the fight and Jen didn’t make it out alive.“Jordan didn’t make either.” One of the outside soldiers adds. The three remaining soldiers are beaten and dirty. Did the earth itself attack them?A flash of number six’s dead body flickers before my eyes. Did the dead attack them?A tear slowly trickles down my cheek for Jordan, for Jen. I didn’t know either of them well, but they didn’t deserve to be
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 53: Can You Do A Better Job At Saving People?
ASHTONTheir words of a chaos filled West River and overrun Parker St. don’t hold up as we arrive there. We park the car on the edge of the cursed street. All is calm. Too calm. Something doesn’t feel right.Carden speaks my fear into the car as if I’m not here. “They know she’s here.” I guess the whole sitting in the front seat argument was pointless. They caught a glimpse of me the moment we crossed the town border. All activity ceased and here we are with no idea where to go. Cautiously, we all exit. The other occupants of the car quickly join us. Oliver sticks so close to my side that I can feel the heat radiate off his body.My eyes land on his chest before raising to his eyes. “Anxious much?” I guess I brought this on myself, but still. “A little space, maybe.”“Very funny.” He replies before placing his arm behind my back to shuffle me forward. He wedges me between him and Carden. Of course. “Where would Draven be?” He quickly asks.“Are you asking me or in general? Because I
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 52: Declaration Of Admiration
ASHTONUgh, my head. My body twitches insteads of moving how I want it to. The sudden jerk of my arms stops me in my tracks. With my eyes still closed, I give a louder groan. I really thought I would feel better in death. I give my body another jerk, another groan.He didn’t. A creak to my left stiffens my joints. I don’t need to open my eyes to know who it is. “You selfish as-” My throat is dry and rough and those few words come out as a squawk. The rest of the sentence falls away.I feel like crap. It feels as if I was hit by a truck. But the throbbing mostly resides in my chest rather than my arms. I’m sore, but it’s not as painful as it should be. The lump in my chest however, weighs heavily on me. It nearly suffocates me.I push through the ache and swing my legs out of bed. Carden is right there, hands ready to catch me, but I swat him away. It isn’t until the blanket falls away that I realize I’m in nothing but my undergarments. “Where are my clothes? Again. Please tell me you
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 51: No One Ever Said Ending Things Would Be Pretty
ASHTONI’m a creature of habit. And I’m always bound to revert back to old habits. Stomping across the room, I drag out my shitty duffle bag and rummage for the demon blade. I knew right away that someone rummaged through my things, but only I know that in one of these corners is a small slit.It takes a minute for me to find it with shaky fingers, but I snag some torn material and I know I finally found it. Not being nice about it and keeping the bag intact, I tear it open. The demon blade is hidden perfectly inside. Thank you Addison. If she wasn’t in the shop with Rossi, I'd have returned this to her.As I mold my fingers around the handle and stare into the slick metal, fear and anticipation etches into my bones. I’ve done this before, so I don’t know why I’m nervous. Maybe I wasn’t as desperate as I am now.I have an unwavering determination unlike all those other times. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t wish for it each and every time, but this time failure is not an option. Time is
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 50.0: Ashton's Dead Friend
CARDENConversation is nonexistent on the way back to the complex. We both know what we’re facing. But he’s not going to win and he’s definitely not getting his hands on her.Zayne’s face lightens up when we barge into his office. “What the hell is going on out there?” Did he hear of the chaos that has been unleashed?“West River is under siege. Seven soldiers are supposedly captive.”His concern is warranted. “Seven soldiers? Captive by who? We’ll send out more to retrieve them.”I’m left to be the one to reply to him, because Oliver stands next to me with his eyes on the ground. “Draven. He’s made his move and a threat is made. It’s us or her.”“What are you saying?” Zayne finally speaks into the room, a repulsed curl to his lips.Oliver finally finds his words, replying as I can’t say it. “They want to trade.” The words being said out into the room have a sharp ache stab through my chest.“That’s a reasonable conclusion.” Zayne admits. His eyes remain on his desk refusing to look a
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 49.0: Church Of Depraved
CARDENOliver still clutches the scrap of cloth. Who the hell was that girl and how did she get her hands on that? She obviously knew Ashton, but am I surprised when we run into people that know her, hate her. Conversation is quiet between the three of us. Oliver and I have plenty of say, but we don’t want to alert Ashton. She, on the other hand, stares out the window tormented by whatever she saw from Father Dominic’s touch or our encounter in the alley. Of course Greyson is back.As soon as we reach the complex Oliver and I set out to speak with Zayne…without her. The moment his office door closes, I intended to speak freely into the room, the words nearly rushing from my mouth, but Zayne puts a halt to them.“What of Father Dominic?” Zayne asks.I’m slightly annoyed at having to talk about the father when there are more pressing matters. I didn’t want to leave Ashton with Greggory, but this is serious. This is war and even though this is exactly what we were waiting for, I don’t w
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 48: I've Heard Deals With The Devil Are Binding
ASHTONWhen we get back to the complex the whispering doesn’t stop. If anything it gets worse. What am I missing? What are they not telling me? They’re so desperate to get to Zayne that they pawn me off to Greggory. I’ve gone how long without seeing his smug face? I’m reminded that it hasn’t been long enough and it never will be. He marches me to my room like the prisoner he believes me to be.Carden and Oliver slip behind Zayne’s door without a word or glance back. I try to tell him that maybe I should be present too. That I have information, but Greggory doesn’t budge. He has the audacity to whip his baton out when I linger too long. He slaps it against his palm in a silent threat for me to start walking or else.I bite my tongue as I proceed down the hall. My mind races with ideas on how to drown him. There are several, but not a single one to put into action before we reach my room. He jabs the nub of the bat into my back, pushing me inside. The snap of the lock is just as absolut
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 47: Father Dominic
ASHTONChurch?My feet follow them out the door while my mouth is cemented shut. What in the world are we going to a church for? Can demons even enter a church? Can I enter a church?I block out most of the ride...all of the ride. I block out getting into the car, driving through town, the conversation between Carden and Oliver, even the biscuit I still hold. I hear my name a couple of times, but it’s not enough to snap me out of my fog.Why am I so nervous? My palms are sweaty. Get ahold of yourself, Ashton.The rush of air as the car door swings open has me involuntarily jumping in my seat. Oliver pops his head into view, “coming?” He chimes.No. But I scoot to the edge of the seat and swing my feet out anyways. The shining sun only blinds me for a moment before the massive building shadows us. Dazed and horrified, I stare at the historical gothic style church with tall bell towers with pointed roofs, balconies made of stone, and creepy gargoyles perched on eaves.I become stuck in
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 46.0: He Was Everywhere She Was
CARDENMy trust and patience only go so far with her and even less with others. Brit is dead, but Draven is still out there. Pissed and vengeful. Then there’s others that are out looking for her, ready to collect whatever bounty is on her head. Who’s the one that set it?There’s only one other person I trust with her. She doesn’t want to see me right now, but she can’t be left alone. Oliver opens his door on the second knock. “Look at you. I was gonna go look for you if you didn’t show up soon. Doc patched you up, I see.”“You heard.” I groan.He steps aside letting me in, “I think everyone in the building has by now. Brit that two timing bitch. I’m not sure I’m surprised though. She hated you and we already knew she wasn’t Ashton’s biggest fan. Last time you two are allowed to go on any missions without me.”“Speaking of you being Ashton’s second babysitter, I need your help.”“I never said-”“She left.” The words get stuck in my throat. “She’s heading back to Mysteria to speak to Wi
