Ashes of Vile

33

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
Empty Soul Drained

Ashgrim was ruled by an ongoing traditional leadership of inherited power. The beginning of its time had always had the exact same system: a higher upper of continuous bloodline. It had always been heavily guarded by the followers of both the system and leader. The tight security of Ashgrim is sacred for it had never been broken nor challenged. Except for the day that had become simply a date in history as there was no turning back. The day of the escape of five rulebreakers, breaking the greatest rule: to never betray Ashgrim. Leaving its walls meant defying the only official law to ever be printed within the city. It had also meant leaving the only barriers of safety in the world. But the five lost souls had refused to believe the so called 'jest'.

Although a tent wasn't the ideal way of sleeping through the nights they'd spend out in the open, surprisingly Cassidy had been able to rest well until she had awoken in the middle of the night. Something had awoken her but as soon as she regained her full senses, it was dead silent. Cassidy with her new found stupid talent of being curious natured, she left the tent to survey that something further. As soon as she had closed the tent, the cold chilled all around her figure as she was greeted by the soft wind of the night. It was dark and the campfire was no longer lit.

As much as Cassidy had wanted to believe the measure of days they'd need to keep out of Ashgrim, she knew it was bound to be delayed. After all, the sole purpose of their escape from Ashgrim was to keep her as far away from Oceanna Murray Vile. And the only way to do that was to leave the contiguity of her full control. The only solution was escaping.

The twinkle of the bright moon reflected upon the lake close by where the water was so still. She heard the well volume hoots of owls and chitters of insects. Cassidy walked toward the lake and sat down to stare at her reflection on the water. She had never realized how much brighter her eyes had become ever since the ignition of the source within her. She still felt the same as she had her whole life, but there had been times she stopped and thought about the differences in her life and herself since she had been blessed with her given power.

Her hair was ruffled and messy, lips slightly chapped, not looking her usual best self. But then again, she was no longer sure when was the last time she was her usual best self. She touched the cold water and garnered it quickly to wash her face. Her vision blurred as the water dripped on her face. She was extremely awake and her tiredness had swept away from her body. When she had seen the reflection of August Vile next to her, she had thought she was in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. But she had felt the touch of the water. She had woken up.

August Vile was in Cassidy Idgen's presence with a tired look; Although Cassidy knew better than to assume. August was never tired. That was just her idea of what the assassin would look like if she was tired. But Cassidy had noticed the slight increase of attractiveness in the girl. Not a single glow or smile, but somehow the intimidation stare was enough to pass her standard of beauty. No one could disagree of August Vile's immeasurable beauty; her eyes that can cut like her dagger, and her plum kissable lips. But no one would admit it. No one could ever admit they found comfort in the charm of a simple woman who had no outstanding character other than the fact that she was cold blooded. Maybe that's the charm, Cassidy thought.

Something was different. Cassidy unconsciously stared at her and just as she had intuitively thought August were to call her out, she looked away. August Vile had her hair tied up. Her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, and her fair was faintly wet from the sweat. It was the little details that Cassidy had somehow always noticed in August Vile. Perhaps it was because someone like August Vile was easy to spot the small changes. Or perhaps it was that someone like Cassidy Idgen would find no difficulty in noticing any kind of detail.