Chapter 19: Ash

Chapter 19

Ruby’s POV

I opened my eyes up with a start as I jerked off the bed. The room was covered in a heavy, inky darkness, and for a moment, I didn't know where I was. ‘’Where am I?’’ I muttered slowly to myself before the horrifying memories of the past few hours came flooding back to me.

My heart immediately started beating even faster, and also pounding hard in my ears making my eyes tick in irritation. My eyes swept through the whole room, which was still dark, wondering where Thane was. I must have blacked out last night, i looked down to notice i was now changed out of my wet clothes and was now in a plain back oversized t shirt.

The black floor-length curtains in the room were stopping even a single stream of light from getting in. I slowly pushed down from the bed, and my feet padded softly as I headed for the door, somehow hoping that Thane would not pop out from around the corner.

I pushed the door open, my head peeking through. ‘’Good morning, Miss,’’ a voice said, and a shocked scream left my lips. I hadn’t noticed the person standing there.

‘’Sorry to scare you, miss. I am Ash. I would be the one responsible for your daily needs,’’ the female said. She had been standing just behind my door all this while. She gave a short bow while my eyes ran over her.

She had short blonde hair, a slim body, and warm brown eyes. She was human, and the sight of her brought a small wave of relief to me but I was still on guard, afterall, I had also mistaken Lucas to be human too.

‘’Okay, you can call me Ruby,’’ I said calmly as I gave her a small smile. ‘’Where is Thane?’’ I immediately asked, my eyes darting behind her to see if anyone else was there.

‘’He left with Lucas very early to The Crypt,’’ she answered calmly, her voice very cheerful and light ‘’Why don’t you go get ready and meet me downstairs for breakfast,’’ Ash said with a smile as she tilted her head, signaling for me to get going.

‘’Yeah, sure,’’ I said with a smile as I slipped back inside the door, letting it fall closed behind me.

So he isn’t around. Maybe I can talk Ash into letting me leave for a while, I thought. I needed to get my phone from the house and also head over to the funeral home where my father should have been laid to rest by now as his funeral arrangements have been made a long time ago as a joke.

I made quick moves as I headed for the bathroom, which was sparkling clean again. Even the broken bathtub from yesterday was now fixed, with not even a single scratch on it.

I immediately got to work, shredding the remaining pieces of clothes that I still had on and heading straight for the shower head to get cleaned up.

In no time, I was done, and with a black towel wrapped around my body, I headed out into the room. ‘’What am I going to wear?’’ The question hit me suddenly, as I had no idea where I would find clothes. Just then, there was a knock at the door. ‘’Come in,’’ I called out.

‘’Lucas will have your clothes moved in here today, you can wear this for now,’’ Ash said as she pushed the door and walked straight in with a small basket. ‘’I hope it suits your taste,’’ she ended before leaving again.

I headed to the basket and immediately pulled out the clothes that lay in it. There was a soft blue cotton t-shirt and black jeans with a pair of sneakers. Just exactly my taste. I didn't think much as I immediately got dressed and stalked out of the room, down the corridors and then down the spiral staircase.

‘’Over here!’’ Ash waved me over from across the large living room, and I stalked over to her as I struggled to get my hair into a tight ponytail above my head.

The doorway opened up to a large kitchen that was simply breathtaking. It was simply everything a girl who loved to cook like me would kill for, sleek black countertops, neat stainless steel appliances, and a huge island in the middle.

‘’Have a seat. I am not such a great cook, and you would have to bear with this for a while. Thane will make arrangements for a human cook,’’ Ash kept speaking as I slid into the chair where she had placed a bowl of noodles and eggs with a variety of veggies mixed in.

I picked up the fork, very aware of Ash’s expectant eyes on me as she waited for me to take a bite. Immediately, the mildly warm noodles touched my tongue, and I winced.

The noodles were a bit too salty, but I pushed past it and took a big swallow. ‘’It’s actually very nice,’’ I said with a smile as I looked up at her and watched her worried expression break into a small, grateful smile.

‘’Don't flatter me. I am good with the guns, but the pans are a different case,’’ she said with a short chuckle as she pulled out the chair next to me and plopped in.

I nervously concentrated on the food in front of me, taking in scoops after scoops. All the while, I rehearsed how to ask that I be let out of the house. For all I knew, Thane might have given her strict instructions not to let me out of the house. But I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try, right? Taking a deep breath, I voiced my question.

‘’Am I allowed to leave the house? I need to pick up something from my home and visit the funeral home, I need to see my dad,’’ I said in one breath, and I waited with bated breath for Ash’s reply