Chapter 28
The middle of nowhere
Ash
I heard voices, two were talking quietly in a hushed tone. I couldn't quite make them out while a different two were being ridiculously loud and boisterous. It wasn't difficult to guess whose voice belonged to whom.
I on the other hand surprisingly wasn't dead. A burnt smell quickly filled my nose. What in the world were those they doing? I heard heavy footsteps leaving, tramping into the woods. I slowly cracked my eyes open. I was completely exhausted, I suppose being brought back from the brink of death could cause that type of feeling. Thank the gods Lucy had been nearby otherwise I would not have survived. I owed her a life debt now.
As I blinked my eyes clear, I spotted Sofya peering over me. She was caked in dark mud and her clothes were stained with blood. It was dark out, the sky nearing a pitch-black only lit up with a scattering of stars. The fire made Sofya's face look as if it were glowing.
I slowly sat up, it took a considerable effort. My chest ached and each breath was as if someone was impaling my lungs with a sharp sword. It was still hard to believe I had gotten out of the situation alive but I would do it all over again as long as Sofya lived.
"Ash?" Sofya whispered, sounding hoarse, she hesitantly inched closer.
"Sofya" Tears started streaming down her face, silently. I pulled her into my chest and rubbed her hair, she laid her cheek against my neck. "Shh, Sof it's ok. Why are you crying? Shh, it's ok." I murmured against her head, inhaling her vanilla scent. She pulled back slightly and I gently wiped the tears off her cheeks.
"I thought you were dead." She said quietly, her eyes looking down.
"I'm alive, perfectly fine. Are you hurt?" I asked, searching her body for injuries. I would suffer any amount of pain for her to be alright, alive.
"I'm fine, Lucy healed me. I just had minor injuries." She said as if fighting all those people had been no big deal. I pulled her back against me in a tight embrace, just making sure she was there, truly there.
"Also I can explain about working for Alek, I-" I started to say, but Sofya cut me off.
"I know, you're a prisoner, Ash. Honestly, I should have realized it sooner. Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, frowning. There were plenty of reasons to not tell her I was Alek's personal assassin.
"I thought I was protecting you. I didn't want you to know of the torcher I endured for the past eleven years. I wanted to protect you from everything, the more you know the more danger you're in. Sometimes naivety can be a blessing. I could never let you get in Alek's hands. Never subject you to the burning hell that's been my life. I thought not telling you and making you hate me was for the best." I said. Only now I realized how wrong I'd been. The truth always finds a way to come out. Sofya took my hand, smiling. I reached into her mind.
I knew he would never betray us.
Of course, I wouldn't. "I never hated you, Ash. I was just shocked and hurt. You saved my life. I could never hate you. You know you should rest, yeah?" she said, her hand brushing mine. "We still have a long way to go." I nodded but didn't make any move to lay back down.
"Actually I saved your life twice now, but who's counting." I said grinning. "How much do you remember that day?" I asked. It was so long ago but I could recall every single detail.
Now, I remembered everything from that day. But mostly, how he saved my life.
I looked into her eyes, shocked. How was this even possible?
"You remember everything?" I asked making sure it was true even though I had just read her thoughts.
She nodded, how could I forget.
"I certainly never forgot about you," I picked up my wrist with the silver bracelet on it. "I made this the same day I found your necklace so that when you left we were still connected." Sofya's lips pulled up in a breathtaking smile.
"We are connected in another way, remember." She said taking my hands, a feeling like electricity ran through my whole body, drawing me to her and lighting me on fire. Ever since the day we met and we touched, whenever we're near each other it felt this way. I wasn't sure what it was or meant but I enjoyed it.
Ever since the day we met and we touched, whenever we're near each other or were touching it felt this way, special. I'm going to miss it.
I frowned, she was planning on leaving after this was over. I mean I suppose she had her duties but I never planned on leaving her. I don't know if I could.
Sofya slowly pulled away. She looked down a frown taking over her tired face. What was wrong? I put my fingers under her chin and lifted her head up to see her eyes. They were watering. I leaned closer, wanting so badly to kiss her, to feel her soft lips on mine. She was worried, what was she worried for? I would always protect her, no matter what. She pulled away out of my grasp.
"Ash, we can't." She whispered, a tear falling down her face. I winced, my chest tightening. I had assumed she liked me. Had I been wrong? Sofya rose and bolted, disappearing into the woods. I debated running after her, but I didn't want to make it worse. I glanced down at my wrist and grimaced, on my wrist in gold ink was Sofya's name with a Celtic triple spiral below.
I didn't know what it was at the time but I knew the mark could get me killed. I found some extra bandages and wrapped it around the marking. She could not know. Especially not now. Ahe clearly wanted nothing to do with me.
I groaned, this was all my fault. There were so many things I'd do differently but unfortunately, you can't change the past.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed to stick to my plan. We still had the council and prophecy to worry about. Also on top of all of that, she was supposed to marry my brother. I ran my hands through my hair and leaned back onto the ground, letting out a huge sigh. She couldn't even look at the real me without being terrified. I shouldn't care this much. Sometimes I wished I didn't.
I felt my eyes water and squeezed my eyes closed. The moisture trickled down my cheeks. This was just the world telling me I was meant to be alone. First my parents, my brother, Nico, now Sof. It is what it is but that didn't mean it hurt any less.
There were times when I considered blocking out my emotions and becoming the monster everyone thought I was. Because if I did then I'd never hurt again.