Ashes of Vile

34

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
Nymph

Cassidy Idgen sharply coughed, panging her chest as the water subsided. Her eyes were crimson red; and the beat of her heart quickened as though it was counting seconds. Lilac Evergreens, frantic, was quick to run into the necessity of comforting her friend. "Are you okay? What happened?" She bombarded her with questions while Cassidy desperately gasped for air. "Give her a second," Chase added. Cassidy breathed in deeply, and looked at Lilac with large eyes.

"There was a creature, so alluring, almost human-like. It happened so quick. She got August and I panicked–" She was cut off from explaining as August Vile gave her an angry look as she shut her up. Though she continued without directly mentioning the moment of weakness of the assassin, although everyone knew. "All I remember in the grasp of her touch was the things you'd believe the ocean hears everyday. The sounds of the waves crashing, the sounds of whales wailing, the sounds of the creatures grumbling. Everything all together you can hear so loudly thumping in your ear. And I can feel everything all around. But most especially, I can feel hunger above else."

"I can't believe it. They're real?" Sung Mi spoke, and everyone looked at her with a mutual understanding. All except Cassidy. "A nymph was simply a hoax, powerful, and too unnatural to exist in a realm of such normalness. They were often maidens, alluring men into the water with their beauty, and once they're pulled under, they feed. People believed they had risen out of nothingness and became normal in the past world, but then they had been destroyed since the city of Ashgrim was built." Inez explained.

"They're real and very much alive." Cassidy chimed in.

Sung Mi, Lilac, and Inez shared anxious looks with each other. "There's too much danger here, Chase. Cassidy is just as compromised here as she is within the walls." Sung Mi looked at him.

"You're all too afraid."

"For valid reason," Lilac said as though it was obvious.

"This wouldn't have happened if these two weren't so careless. We are not cowards," was all Chase said about the incident. He had left the women out in the dark, in silence, grasping the whole idea. He was unbothered, but Sung Mi knew well enough that he did not feel as secure as he thought they would be. By the time of the darkest night and the stars twinkled after the imperil of a boundless creature, he would lie awake in the tent marking up all kinds of plans and safety measures.

However, not all hope was lost the next morning. The danger of being out the walls was not some useless idea as they had been awoken by a surprise appearance. "Why is everyone so uptight?" A familiar voice cut in as they sat outside their tents, eating half burnt toasts. Abourne Blaque was in their sight, and Inez was quick to make her feel welcome as always. "Who invited you?"

Abourne ignored her. "How did you get past the walls?" Lilac questioned.

"I told Devin and Maeve that I needed to be here. I would have come with you the day you left but clearly you all have sorted out your priorities and couldn't wait one day."

"We won't wait for you and your princess duty," Inez scoffed.

"But," She gave Inez an annoyed look, "Devin and Maeve luckily conducted a plan. It was pretty messy, and I won't get in the details, but I made it out. Now, whatever agenda you all have today, take it off your list. Because we're going into the forest."

"What?" Cassidy's face dropped.

"Lace, our dearest darling, did recently discover Vermithis owned the infinity ring, did she not? We are to wake her dead body, which lies in the forest. And you really can't do that without me." She looked at Inez with a smug smile.