Wake of Darkness [1]

Chapter Forty-One

♕ Aftermath ♕

Her steps clicked against the marble floor, and the echo tumbled on her ears all the way through the halls. The small flicker of fire on top of chandeliers flickering in response as she ran, leaving a blow of wind behind her. Aubrette knew the place by heart, even with both her eyes closed and the accelerating feeling of her pulse, she turned in the right directions. Her hands touching the wood of her door and pushing it open, rushing into the bedroom before slamming it as hard as she could, which for her surprise wasn't strong at all.

Her hand remained on the doorknob, the coldness of the silver metal on her palm weird at the touch. The feeling captivating her in a seemingly endless trance. When she let go, she did it swiftly. Knowing that there was no use on her dwelling on the small things. Even when they felt like the only thing that mattered now. The only thing that felt like it could keep her put together.

Before she could turn around, the skin of her neck filled with goosebumps. She could feel the pair of eyes following her as she slowly moved her head. Aubrette gazed over the room, her eyes unavoidably falling over the empty balcony, where the sheer curtains flew into the room with the soft cold wind of winter.

A loud thud sounded beside her, and Aubrette couldn't help but scream as she turned, watching Taj laying on the floor, a chair broken on the ground. Aubrette stared at him with her mouth open, her nervous laughter mixing in with a weak cry as tears started falling from her eyes.

"Shit Taj" she said nervously. Suddenly forgetting the words Mason had just yelled at her minutes before. Taj groaned holding a hand in his stomach. "You were gonna hit me with that chair?" she asked him, laughing. Taj frowned.

"Sorry Bree. I thought you were one of the creepy sisters" Aubrette wiped her tears, walking towards him and helping him stand up. Taj pulling her into a hug immediately after.

"How did you get here?" she asked.

"Honestly, I thought it'd be harder. There's a very convenient path that leads to the woods" He said but Aubrette could barely hear his words, over the thoughts racing in her mind. "I'm sorry we couldn't help you. You were right next to us and..." Aubrette shook her head.

"I left with them Taj. It's my mistake" Taj broke the embrace, a sad look taking over his eyes.

"No. It was no one's mistake" Asher said behind them. Aubrette held her breath as she turned around to look at him. His white hair shocking her even more than before. This close she could look into his eyes, see the deep under bags under them, the redness of his nose due to the cold. There was nothing left of the guy she'd left behind and yet he was standing right in front of her, with that voice she could picture inside her mind.

"Hey" she said, trying to hide the strong beating of her heart, even when she could no longer hear it, nor could he. Her face heating up as he took a step towards her, his eyes glancing behind her to Taj briefly before meeting hers again.

"I will go make sure no one followed us" Taj said, walking outside to the balcony, making his best to act like he wasn't paying attention at all to them, or the way neither could seem to say a word.

"Your hair is white" Aubrette said, when she finally could get over the beating of her heart. Asher shrugged.

"I think its more of a porcelain" He said and smiled. Aubrette rolled her eyes, forcing herself to look anywhere in the room but at him. Feeling as if the mere sight of his smile might send her bursting in flames.

"I'm so sorry" Both of them said at the same time, nervous laughter filling the room. Aubrette sighed, walking to him, and wrapping her arms around his neck before she could talk herself out of it. For a second, Asher stood there but Aubrette did not loosen her grip, until finally Asher wrapped his arms around her waist holding her closer.