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31: Black Lagoon
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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
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 33: I've Conned Many Men In My Life
ASHTONNo one says anything as we make our way to the exit, which will bring us into a run down laundry mat. A laundry mat no one uses and for good reason. Oliver seems amused with the whole thing and Carden’s stiff shoulders and clenched fists say loud and clear what kind of mood he’s in.“What’s your problem? We got the bad guy. Isn’t that what The Order does?” I snap at his back. His rushing feet are too quick to catch up to.“Not like that.” He hisses at me as he whips around. “You could’ve gotten hurt.”I laugh in his face. I could’ve gotten hurt. Puh-lease. No one has ever seemed to care before. Why is he all of the sudden taking it upon himself? “I’m fine.” I ignore his misguided concern. “My mother started conditioning me to out drink naive men since I was twelve.”“How long has it been since you’ve even had a drink?”“A couple of years,” maybe a little more than a couple, “it’s like riding a bike. It all comes back. I’m holding my own just fine.” I taunt.He turns his back to
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 34: Can't The Nightmare Girl Have Nightmares Of Her Own
ASHTONI can feel Oliver’s and Carden’s eyes on me the entire ride back. They don’t realize their terror, their concern is written all over their faces. It’s hard to look at them.“I’m going to bed.” I whisper into the empty hall of the complex. If they were going to report to Zayne, I don’t want to be present. I’m sure they’ll tell him all about my assault and I don’t think I can stand to look at another narrowed set of eyes, inspecting me, analyzing me.I’m fine. It’s not like it hasn’t already happened.The bed is daunting and I refuse to lay in it, so I sit in what I’ve deemed my favorite chair and stare at the wall, slowly watching them fade away into something else.The manor halls are empty as usual, but there are a few girls scattered about the house, each one has their attention focused on something else. Their own misery, their own torment, their own curses. The six months I’ve been here has been its own misery and torment. I’m just as alone here than I was with my mother.
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 35.0: Reassurance?
CARDENMy annoyed, foul mood gets the best of me. I just want out of this place and I would think that she would want the same too. But things are never easy...simple with her.She yells at me putting a stop to our retreat. I don’t know why the words come out, but they do. I play right into her hands. I don’t choose my words wisely and I say too much, give too much away. My bickering only leads to questions and receiving stupid answers that ache my muscles. An ache only a punch will cure.The ‘riding a bike’ bullshit is what really pushes me over the edge. She has no idea how furious she makes me. I have to get away from her before I say something I shouldn’t. I can’t get far enough away before it comes out. I don’t mean to say it, bring attention to it, but I do. “You’ve fucked with older.”She instantly turns it into a joke. Shouting about some temper tantrum I’m on the verge of having. My feet come to halt and she starts her confession. A confession that I really don’t want to hear
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 36: Hidden Intentions Never Tasted So Good
ASHTONThe streets are packed and familiar. Oliver opens my door for me and the view of downtown is before me. “And what exactly is our mission?”“Walking. Observing. Making our presence known to the right people.” He replies as he shuts my door.Carden walks around the car, his gray eyes on me, “it may or may not involve a oddity shop if you want.” He gives me a smile as if those simple words would appease me.They do. I’m not sure if it’s the words or his smile that make my heart leap. Either way. Rossi. I feel stupid for feeling it, but I can’t help it. The sense of familiarness, be it faces or places that don’t drag up awful memories, they calm my erratic heart and shaky hands.My brain scrambles to figure out what day it is. Could they be here? It’s clearly written on my face, because Carden adds, “they’re not here today. Maybe next week. We can come back if you want.”I want to say yes, but I can’t help but to feel like this little excursion comes at a price. What’s the price fo
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 37: The Scarecrow
ASHTONI wake to Carden’s usual annoyed tone. Is it wrong of me to wish it’s another day of strolling untainted streets. Is it even worse of me to still wish I could go back to Mysteria? If only. With that terrible uniform back on, I push through the door and step out into the hall with well chosen words of deep misery for this mission on the tip of my tongue, but they get stuck.There’s no way we’re strolling the streets with her. Brit stands incredibly close to Carden, hand flat against his chest. Her whispers are just out of reach. It isn’t hard to see what she’s trying to do. She stares up into Carden’s eyes, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Her flirting is hard to watch, but it becomes comical when Carden swats her hand away.I choke on a puff of laughter, but I quickly cover it up with a harsh, forced cough when Brit’s narrowed glare lands on me. “Where’s Oliver? Or Rafe?” Why can’t I just get one person to accompany me that doesn’t mind my presence?Brit steps away from
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 38: No One Means More To Me Than Family
ASHTONThe whisper comes again from a different direction and then again and again. It surrounds me and I’m left dizzy and fearful as I try to pinpoint the direction it came from.“Ashes.” It sounds as if it were said just behind my left ear. The heat of his breath tickles the back of my neck, but as I swing around to confront him, no one’s there.The shuffling of leaves gets my attention and relief washes through me when I see a shoed foot step out from the stalks. But as I follow the leg up, everything fades away. It isn’t Carden’s or Brit’s foot.My body threatens to paralyze me and my attempt to flee is mediocre. My legs and arms work against me as I take off in the opposite direction. Getting snagged by broken sticks and gnarled roots, I tumble onto my hands and knees, but that doesn’t stop me. I have to get to Carden, hell, even Brit.Suddenly, I’m that supid, frail girl helplessly stumbling around running from a serial killer. Not getting anywhere, but caught. Unable to see fro
Daughter of Blood and Nightmares 39.0: To Keep Her From Him, I'll Let That Secret Slip
CARDENBrit approaches me from down the hall. She wears her Order uniform tight, because she thinks it makes her look good, but it also keeps her from actually doing anything. Brit is an Order soldier just to have people look up to her, envy her. There’s a foulness to her attitude sometimes.“I heard about your little endeavor with Oliver and the nightmare girl yesterday.” Her eyebrow cocks up in speculation. She obviously doesn’t like Ashton.“She’s mine to do with as I please.” I regret my choice of words the second they come out.She struts up to me, hand shoved against my chest as she leans in. “Oh, you just love that don’t you. Innocent, naive, somewhat pretty girl with big doe eyes that look strictly at you.” She tries to replicate Ashton's wide eyes that drive me insane, but Brit’s icy blue stare doesn't come close. “You’re drowning in arrogance.”When I finally slap her hand away, Ashton marches through her door. Her eyes immediately on Brit. The disdain that Brit has for Asht
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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
