Chapter Five:
Ashton

 

As nimbly as if he was still robbing houses each night, Ashton let himself out of the kitchen window of Reese’s house. It felt positively familiar, both in the motion itself and as a memory of the first time he’d been in that house. Of course, that time he’d been sneaking in, not out.

And he’d gotten caught.

He paused for a moment, waiting to see if he’d woken the werewolf up, but he heard nothing. He didn’t even dare breathe out a sigh of relief. Instead, he crept across the grass until he finally reached the sidewalk.

Noah quirked a brow at him, tilting his head in silent question. Thank fuck the vampire knew better than to start asking questions when it was obvious Ashton was going out of his way to be stealthy.

Ashton shook his head, gesturing for him to follow.

The whole exchange had taken seconds, but Ashton still glanced up at the top floor of the house to see if any lights had flicked on. He didn’t hear anything, but Reese could’ve followed him down. That was the thing about werewolves. They were quieter than he could ever be, and it was as hard as a fucking erection to get around their senses.

Then again, Reese wouldn’t have even let him get this far.

So, probably safe then.

But fuck, Reese had been pissed enough that Noah’s sire had stalked them through the sewers and to the Elder’s house without him knowing. He was really going to be furious when he found out a mere mortal like Ashton had managed to sneak out.

As much as he cared about Reese, he was too goddamn controlling. It was like Ashton was a child instead of someone who just happened to lack supernatural powers. He was more than a little satisfied that he was getting away without being noticed. He only wished it didn’t feel so much like he was escaping.

Only when they were a few blocks away from the house did he finally stop, turning to face Noah. He took a deep breath, noting absently how the vampire did the same. He still breathed despite the fact that he didn’t need to and hadn’t for a while now, but Ashton didn’t question it.

“Thanks for meeting up with me,” Ashton told Noah. “I didn’t really know who else to call.”

Wasn’t that just familiar, too? Reese had called Khaz and Noah to watch over him while he’d gone to a meeting with Elias Ivers. Even though Khaz was a vampire — even though Khaz, Noah, and Ashton had a history far too long for the short amount of time they’d known one another — Reese had trusted them with Ashton.

Noah shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets.

When he did, Ashton caught a glimpse of his bare left arm. “You got your mark removed,” he said, his voice laden with jealousy despite himself. Ashton had only just gotten his — as protection, of course, and not so Reese could mark him as his slave. It felt almost like a slap, but he forced himself to say, “Congratulations.”

Noah flashed him a grim smile. “Thanks. We ended up having to go through Ivers, though.”

“He removed it?” Ashton asked, staring at Noah with wide eyes.

Noah shook his head. “Directed us to his sister-in-law, of all people.” He smiled slightly. “I don’t think they get along very well.”

Ashton snorted. “So she might have brains after all, even if she married into that crazy-ass family.”

Grimacing, Noah replied, “I don’t really get the sense that witches have much of a say in who they marry. But yeah. I liked her okay enough for a witch.”

It reminded Ashton that Noah had still seemed to carry prejudice toward other supes the last time they’d spoken. Probably not a good course of conversation, then, but this whole idea was admittedly fucking stupid.

“The only one I’ve met is Elias,” Ashton said, his mouth twisting in distaste, if not outright loathing.

“Lucky you,” Noah said dryly.

They both fell silent for a moment, then Ashton cleared his throat. “Right, so…”

It was going to start looking a little weird that they were standing there having an intense conversation on the sidewalk in this particular neighborhood. At the same time, it was nice to just have a normal conversation that didn’t include, “I’m just trying to protect you” when it probably should’ve consisted of, “I’m just trying to smother you.”

One of the things he was increasingly appreciating about Noah was that the vampire didn’t interrupt or ask questions. He just… waited, letting Ashton go at his own pace.

Ashton wasn’t sure why, exactly, but it worked out for him until he had to get down to the point of it.

“I kinda need an escort,” Ashton said, shifting uncomfortably and glancing past Noah instead of at him.

Noah nodded, unsurprised. He’d probably figured that much out despite the cloak and dagger style of their conversations — or maybe because of it. “Where?”

“That’s… sort of…” Ashton hedged, hesitating.

“I’m not going to judge you unless we’re going to go meet with Elias Ivers. But you’re marked, and I’m just a fledgling,” Noah pointed out even though the last few words came out sourly.

When had Elias Ivers managed to become some sort of measuring stick by which the rest of the supernatural world was judged? It was terrifying to know that someone who played such a large role in Reese’s life these days was the boogeyman. It was even more terrifying to think about going near the witch again, marked or not.

“Yeah, well,” Ashton said with a bitter bark of laughter. “I’m not really trusting the mark these days, you know?”

Noah nodded, accepting that easily enough.

“And you’re still a badass, from what Reese says.”

That got a tiny smile from Noah. “You don’t have to flatter me.”

“I’m not,” Ashton said honestly. “He’s just… said enough to where I got an idea of what you were to the rebel—”

Noah’s face went stony. “I’m not taking you to them,” he interrupted.

“No, no, that’s not what I’m…” Ashton winced then held up a hand. “It’s kind of worse than that.”

“The sun’s going to rise before we get another block away if you keep this up,” Noah pointed out. “You know that, right?”

Ashton bit his bottom lip then sighed. “Yeah… What do you know about a vampire named Desideria?”

Noah shook his head, the name not seeming to mean anything to him.

Well, there were good things about him being a baby vampire and a rebel before that if it meant he didn’t know… Ah, fuck. Ashton couldn’t let him go in blind. That wouldn’t be fair, and it would be like shooting himself in the foot.

“She’s basically…” Ashton grimaced. “She’s a stupid powerful vampire, and she’s a seer, and she’s a little on the crazy side.”

Noah slow-blinked at him. “I can’t do shit against powerful vampires.”

“I know,” Ashton said hurriedly. “It’s not… That’s not… I just need you to walk me there and back. That’s all. As long as you’re… Well, polite, she’s not really dangerous.” He paused, then added, “I think.”

“Your conviction is really reassuring,” Noah muttered. “Khaz is going to kill me when he finds out where I went, isn’t he?”

“Uh…” Ashton had a feeling Khaz would know exactly who Desideria was and what she was capable of. “Maybe?”

Noah leaned his head back and stared up at the sky. “I owe you,” he said finally.

Neither of them wanted to acknowledge why. The fact that Noah and Khaz had left him to be gang raped in the lobby of the slaver’s den, Bound, didn’t need to be said again. They’d gone over it and rehashed it, and they’d come out of it with at least a little bit of an understanding. That would have to be enough.

Ashton wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he’d pulled that card, though. “I’m not asking this because you owe me,” he said, a little sharply, a little hurt even. “I’m asking because of the whole… I don’t know, potential friend thing.”

Noah looked back at him, offered a faint smile, then slowly nodded. “What do I need to know?”

Even though it meant Reese would be able to easily locate him if he woke, Ashton was grateful for the GPS and map app on his new phone. He found the address he’d copied from Reese’s phone and set it to navigate, tapping the mute button. He didn’t want to announce to the entire neighborhood where he was going.

The walk wasn’t a long one, but without Noah at his side, it would’ve been a harrowing one. It meant going deeper into the supe neighborhoods, which meant more of a chance of getting pulled aside. If the enforcers decided to question his presence…

It didn’t matter now, not when he had a — thankfully unmarked — vampire with him. No one would even glance twice at them. He’d been worried that Noah’s mark might’ve caused problems if they were slowed down, but now…

Now his biggest concern was whether Reese would realize he was gone and track him down.

That, and Desideria herself.

“Ashton?”

Ashton jumped, missing a step and stumbling as Noah spoke.

Noah grabbed his arm and steadied him, casting him a questioning look.

“Just thinking, sorry. Desideria, um. Reese called her Lady Desideria,” he said slowly.

Noah snorted.

“Don’t do that,” Ashton warned, glancing up at him with no small amount of alarm. “Don’t make light of it. She sealed Reese’s mouth closed with just a touch.”

“That sounds like an improvement to me,” Noah muttered beneath his breath, but he wasn’t quiet enough for Ashton not to hear.

“Why do you hate him so much?” Ashton asked. It was like a reversal of their last real conversation, when Ashton had asked Noah why he hated Khaz as much as he did. Did he still? Reese had said Khaz had been there to save their asses. It wasn’t something he could ask, but he wondered anyway.

Khaz had turned Noah — a card-carrying, deeply prejudiced member of the rebellion — into a vampire without his permission and kept him close. Ashton could understand that loathing, even though he silently thought Khaz had given Noah a better life than he could’ve hoped for anywhere else.

Then again, maybe that was why Leo and Reese had urged Ashton to get the mark in the first place. It didn’t sit well with him.

“Reese?” Noah asked, like there was any question of who they were talking about.

Ashton rolled his eyes but nodded, turning left at the next intersection.

“I don’t know. He’s just…” Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair as he matched Ashton’s stride. “Such a supe.”

“You’re a supe,” Ashton countered.

Noah gave him a look. “You know what I mean. One of those entitled ones, the ones who forget they used to be human.”

Ashton winced. He couldn’t deny that Noah had a point. It was one of the few things that made them argue: Reese simply didn’t seem to understand what it was like to be human in the new world. It had been easy for him to suggest the mark on Ashton’s arm as a way to seemingly protect him with its mere presence.

But Ashton knew it didn’t quite work that way.

Sure, it kept him safe in theory. A supe was supposed to see it and refrain from hurting him. The most they could do was hold him until they could look him up in the registry and verify with his master that he was supposed to be out and about.

As far as the world was concerned, he was Reese’s property. Reese didn’t seem to understand how soul-destroying that fact was. Whether Reese used him as a slave or not, he still was one, and he had to see the evidence every single day. He wasn’t a person.

He was just another number.

“He’s not like that,” Ashton said stubbornly.

“Then why did it take you so long to answer?” Noah asked, his voice turning sharp as he challenged Ashton.

“Noah…”

Noah sighed again, shaking his head and taking a moment to do the weird breathing thing again. “All right. I’ll drop it. What else do I need to know about the fanger? Vampire,” he quickly corrected himself.

“Not to do that around her,” Ashton said, his voice a little dry as he tried to focus on what they were doing instead of the doubts he’d been having. “I don’t know how old she is, but usually people just mention her name and shudder. She’s as infamous as Ivers is.”

“Great,” Noah said, equally dryly. “This field trip is sounding more and more fun.”

Ashton chose to ignore him, going on, “She can… I don’t know, change people. She gave some guy a tail. Like, a real, working tail. And dog ears.”

Noah stilled for a moment, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. “Are we going there because you have a puppy fetish, or is there another reason we’re heading to this crazy, infamous vampire’s house?”

“I have a puppy fetish,” Ashton said, deadpan enough to make Noah give him a sharp look. He sighed. “No. There’s… something else. And no, I’m not going to tell you what it is.”

“And if I refuse to go if you don’t?” Noah challenged him. “This is obviously dangerous as fuck, Ash.”

Hearing his nickname from Noah sounded weird, but Ashton didn’t correct him.

“I think I deserve to know what I’m getting myself into.”

Ashton licked his lips, teeth dragging down his bottom lip. “I… want to be able to help. I keep thinking… I keep thinking she might be able to tell me how. She showed me a vision of…” His voice faltered. “Of the fire, the first one.”

Noah flinched.

“I don’t know, Noah. But I have to try something.” Ashton’s frustration seeped into his voice. “I can’t handle being treated like I’m just some human anymore.”

He realized too late what he’d said, that he’d just given Noah more ammunition against Reese, but Noah was strangely quiet.

“Yeah,” Noah finally said. “I know.” He shook his head, glancing away, then started walking again. “Does she know we’re coming?”

“Probably,” Ashton replied, glancing down at his phone as he picked up his own pace.

“Probably? You haven’t talked to her about it? We’re just showing up at her house?”

Ashton looked back at Noah, wincing. “Yeah…”

Noah shook his head. “Now this,” he said, “you’re gonna owe me for.”