Within The Ash

Chapter 3

"By the time I get back I want the kitchen cleaned along with the living space, I want the floors scrubbed, fresh blood to be poured and ready for tonight's dinner. I expect to bring your pet home tonight, but don't be surprised if I come home empty handed. I want to approach this one with gentleness considering what she's been through with the man she's staying with"

Andre rolled his eyes. "Just throw her over your shoulder and be done with it dude, it's not like she's allowed to say no"

"You may have a different approach than I, but you aren't exactly a smart cookie now are you?" I said matching his tone and face expression.

"Or you could just take her and be done with it" he said again rolling his eyes.

"Or, you could stop pissing me off? How about that?" I said starting to actually get annoyed with him.

With that I calmly walked out the door and through the human cities to where the library laid directly in the middle of everything.

Heaven sat in the very back of the library and she looked completely exhausted. My heart just about dropped when I saw the poorly covered up bruises on her face.

Her eyes were buried inside the book that I had recommended to her yesterday and her face carried dried tears.

I walked over to the small girl and she flinched but relaxed one she saw it was me.

"God damn, you almost gave me a fucking heart attack" she said looking back down at the book.

I didn't wanna mention her bruises but I at least wanted her to know that I cared enough to ask.

"What happened to your face" I said pointing to the bruises that stood out the most.

She responded almost instantly as if she had rehearsed it before I came. Her excuse was poor and I made sure to let her know that.

"I ran into a door"

"Bullshit" I said with a blank expression as I stood over her.

With that she slammed the book and just about threw it to the side with annoyance.

"And what do you want me to say, huh?" She said.

"The truth would be a joy" I said calmly as I sat next to the small girl.

"Yea?, well you can't handle the truth, nor do I want to tell you" she said as she wiped the tear that tried to escape her eyes.

"He hurts you doesn't he?" I came right out and asked because it was the only way I could get my answer.

She sighed and spoke in high pitched whimpers as if she was terrified of the truth.

"It's fucking hell, that's what it is, this whole world, my life, everything, it's all bloody hell" she spoke sorrow and nothing less.

"Every single night is pure pain, the beatings, the taunts, the hunger, it doesn't end Athan"

That was the first time she's spoken my name sense we've met and that to me was progress.

She mentioned her hunger but I would leave that for later to use, for right now I needed to change the topic before that bastard decided to kick me out.

I wiped the tears from her face and she flinched at my touch causing me to quickly pull my hand away.

"Are you enjoying the book" I asked as her face grew red from crying.

"Yea, it's actually quite peaceful" she said as she eyed the book that laid beside her with short sniffles.

I scooted a little closer to her, stretching my legs out, over lapping my left leg over my right.