Chapter 930 Talks Past Midnight, Part 2
"You enjoyed that, Master."
Sorry, was that an accusation I just heard? Baseless slander drumming across my eardrums? A faint bit of red lingered on Ash's cheeks, staring back at me with a brand new set of eyes. Ones that looked oddly reproachful, resentful… but surely that couldn't be, right?
"Indulging my lies, my poor excuses, watching me make a fool of myself…" Ash tucked her hands into her arms, straightening back up, looking quite elegant again, graceful… while exhaling a large breath that was anything but. "I hope at the very least you derived as much amusement as you could from my tactless display."
"Hey, I was just asking questions," I said, raising both hands and pleading my innocence. "It was all on you to choose how you wanna answer them. And lo and behold, did my darling Elf just choose to tell me a lie?"
"Unfortunately, it seems that she has, Master," Ash replied, quiet, meeker than a mouse, and echoing a timidity that was much bigger than that. All while still putting on a brave face. "Bedgrudingly, reluctantly, all whilst keeping only your best interest at heart. If you would, I ask that you only be lenient with your judgment."
"Hmm, I dunno," I left my seat to join hers, carefully cradling Mr. Black to the floor and making as big of a show as I could out of pondering and contemplating the whole five paces from here to there. "It's just… lying, y'know? Out of all the people in the world, the most honorable, the most noble, well… I didn't think she'd ever dare."
My shoulder brushed hers, and she jerked a little. I could feel her apprehension but also something a little more. The thin line her lips were molded to—a fine middle ground between embarrassment and boldness.
"I surmise that this humble, wholly remorseful Elf would desire nothing more but to offer you her sincerest apologies, Master," Ash said, that thin line slowly curving into something more. "But, alas, you don't seem to be upset with this unruly Elf in the least, and consequently, stripping her of her only opportunity to do so."
"Yeah, not a chance," I said simply. "You lied to me. Defied me. C'mon, Ash…" Without a care in the world, I leaned into her, wrapping my arm around and tucking the top of her head right under my chin; a sweet, relaxing fragrance enveloping me in the silky strands of soft, white hair. "I've never been more proud of you."
And at the beck and call of praises, her ears wriggled gleefully against my neck. What a strange thing to be proud of—being lied to, wasn't even a good lie either… but, y'know what? So what?
I've been lied to and proud.
"I do wish it was for a better reason, though," I said to her. "Like getting groceries but you're really hitting the arcades. Or telling me I look good in a shirt when I actually do not. Lying for Amanda on the other hand… mmm… feels like she's tainted you."
"You overembellish, Master," Ash said placatingly. "Lady Amanda had simply requested that you not be informed of her plans right away. Given time, I was assured you would be made aware of it all soon enough."
"Oh yeah?" I said, scoffing. "When might that be, I wonder?"
"Tomorrow, if I recall," she answered, much to my surprise. "I believe her intent was to invite you to an outing of some kind, taking the opportunity to finally reveal her proposal."
So that's what the movie date was for… her message back at the cabin… seems she intended for more than just one plot twist for tomorrow, or I mean, later in the day.
Heh, little does she know though—I already got spoiled.
"Though it is my current belief that Lady Irene had simply begged to differ," Ash continued. "She never was particularly keen on Amanda's plan since its inception."
"And you are?"
"I believe it has its merits. The promises of convenience, efficiency—in a sense, a more pragmatic, orderly approach to a bundle of relationships that is anything but," Ash said, and any moment I was expecting her to whip out a board and start listing out equations to go along with her basis. "But whether it stands to its potential remains to be seen. For now, I choose simply to trust Lady Amanda's judgment. Even if this plan of hers does not ultimately come to fruition, I know she would have faltered with the best of intentions still."
Now, see, originally I was far on the opposite side of the fence regarding this whole ordeal. But now… well, I'll just say that Amanda better give Ash her thanks for being the silver-tongued ambassador she didn't know she had on the matter.
Let's just see how this goes then, I guess.
"So, to summarize, you're all in on this thing?" I asked.
Ash nodded her head once, looking me confidently in the eye. "As much as I hope you would be too."
"Alright, then, riddle me this, Ash," I said, taking in a big breath. "The Succubus has two days. The Human snatched three…" I veered my gaze, glancing at the big bundle of deep slumber on the couch to our right. "...meanwhile the Vampire's happy with a little something here and there. So, with all that in mind, can you tell me how many days exactly the Elf decided to take for herself?"
"Ah," Ash's face fell a little, slightly abashed. "I did not realize you were that well-informed."
I shrugged. "Irene really begged to differ."
She chuckled at that. "In any case, Master. I believe you simply misconstrue me."
"Miscon—did I?" I lifted both brows as high as I could stretch them. "You said you were all for it, even listed out some of its upsides. And I sorta get it. If everyone has their own dedicated time, then everybody wins. That's the gist of it, right?"
"Yes, I suppose."
"So why deliberately choose to lose out?" I asked. "What—opportunities for thee, but not for me? What's going on here?"
"As I've said, Master, you've misunderstood my intentions," Ash said, sliding herself again under my chin. "If I'm allowed my whims and wants, then I would wish to claim you for every minute of my life. A sentiment that I am confident I am not alone in sharing. But I must never think of myself solely. Above all else, you matter the most to me, Master."
As with the case with every word that leaves her lips, I could feel my heart beating dangerously fast.
"It is with you always in mind that I've chosen as I did. For your sake, your happiness," she continued on. "And I know you can be happy. I know I can provide you happiness, in my own way. But everyone else can do that too, and perhaps at times, even better, all in their own unique and special ways."
I paused to think, trying and failing to see her point.
"So…?" I trailed off.
"So," she picked up after me. "Should there exist a better alternative than me, then isn't it only prudent that I step aside?"
"No…" I realized at once what she was trying to say, and I couldn't keep the dismay out of my voice. "Are you seriously settling yourself as second best?"
Ash just smiled. "Of course, if stated in such crass terms as that, it sounds—"
"It does sound bad, Ash," I said, sighing, holding her tighter. "You're more than that, better than that. No way in hell are you inferior to anyone else."
"You speak of grievances I do not hold, Master," she said softly. "Rest assured, truly, this is what I want for you."
"But how about what I want for you?"
"Me?"
"Scratch that," I pushed her way, holding her out at arm's length and staring straight into her bright emerald eyes. "What about what I want in general?"
"What… you want…?" Ash blinked. "You mean to say… me?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "This arrangement doesn't seem to factor in what I would want, so… what if I wanted you?"
Her cheeks were starting to swell with color again. "Um, well, as I recall… you do have your own separate days to choose who you wish to—"
"But what if I want you tomorrow?" I interrupted her. "What if I want you today? Right now? Every day? Every hour?"
Her expression tightened. I couldn't tell if she was flattered, flustered, or stuck between both at once.
"Then that simply wouldn't be fair to the others," she answered slowly, calmly. "And I know without a doubt you wouldn't want that for them."
"True," I said, agreeing completely. "So it's truly a wonder how you immediately know what I want for them but not for you."
"Ah…" Ash closed her eyes, finally seeing the flaw in her logic. "I… it seems I've misjudged. I was thinking… for me, your happiness is…"
"Incomplete," I finished for her. "Without you."
"Of course," the smile returned to her expression, her head falling to a bow. "And for that, I truly do apologize."
I leaned into her again, this time with my lips meeting hers. For that brief moment, I let my eyes rest, hearing the rapid flutter of what sounded like helicopter rotors hovering around both my ears.
"Say you'll get some days for yourself," I told her, lifting myself away. "And all's forgiven, alright?"
With a finger, I swiped aside the bangs over her eyes, unveiling a deep, vibrant gaze that refused to unlatch from mine. Ash was mere inches away, her silence, her stare, everything within a nudge, within a straying impulse's reach, and for a second, she almost seemed to draw in closer, that straying impulse in reach…
"I shall discuss my options with Amanda in the morning," she declared, rising to her feet and staring down at me so tenderly. "Till then, Master, I believe it's time for the both of us to get some sleep."
"Sleep, right, yeah," I said, the late-night fatigue suddenly overtaking me upon realization. "In that case, would you like to—?"
"I would," Ash said, her voice and smile teeming with relish. "But, alas, I fear if we do, Master, sleep would be the last thing we would be getting."
"That's a bad thing?"
Again, she chuckled… quietly and coyly.
"You have work, Master," she said, sounding a little mournful over the fact herself. "Next time, perhaps…"
Story of my life.
Ash took her leave with a parting bow, already turned around with my empty cup of water in hand and sights set for the kitchen sink. But the thing was I haven't had enough of her… or at least, not just yet.
They were all just myths. The simple everyman's superstition. Irene was very firm in instilling that fact in me, and I believe her through and through. Yet still, a man can't help but wonder, y'know?
"By the way, Ash," I called out, stopping in her tracks. "You're, you… what season were you born in?"
Ash slowly turned around, wearing a blank look befitting for something so out of the blue.
"I'll rephrase," I said. "The Seven Childs, you know about that, right? I'm just wondering, y'know…"
"What Child I'm supposed to be, I see," Ash nodded with full comprehension. "I surmise Lady Irene's lessons extend beyond the strenuous as well… being aware of such a custom."
"I guess you could say that."
Nara'hym. A Child of Twilight. The representation of perfect balance of one's own nature or to be completely consumed by it. That's what Irene said about me before promptly shrugging it all off as nothing as she rightfully did.
There was no merit to any of it, after all. They're labels, horoscopes. Things you treat as fun little tidbits and nothing more. That's all they are.
Aren't they?
"Corrah'hym, Master," Ash said. "A Child of Pestilence, if you must know."
I heard her words, saw the smile on her face, how it looked a little less so than it did just a moment prior.
"I see," I muttered, not knowing what else to say. "Thanks, Ash."
Ash just bowed again, more than happy to have just obliged. "Have a good night, Master," before disappearing into the faint echoes of a running sink.
Guess that's my cue to go... all the way up and within the walls of my bedroom, not a single drifting thought in my head, until I was under the covers of my bed, and staring up at the blank canvas of my ceiling to whittle my wonders upon.
And yeah, y'know what?
The Childs are all a bunch of hocus-pocus bullshit after all. Not a single facet of truth to what they allegedly represent. But hey, if I do have to pick a favorite of the lot... any at all... then I don't know...
Corrah'hym does roll quite nicely off the tongue.
Just saying.
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