Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 149 | (Apr -June) All Those Months In Between

In his particular chapter, there's a slight deviation from the book's flow. it unfolds as a series of montage mini-snippets, encapsulating the three months that have transpired. This is a 2 chapter in one type of scenario.

I had wrote a lot of the scenes to different music vibes, but I needed to create something to weave some time more fluid together without spending too much of a time jump on it.

So whether this chapter remains or not, I don't know, but take it for what it is. ✌🏻A collection dump of info that you need to know about 😬😬😬 #trigger warning red flags 🚩 right here 💁🏼‍♀️

>>>>>Early April >>>>

The daughter of Ezra stood at the edge of the dense forest, her breath clouding in the frosty air as snow fell softly around her. The ground was blanketed in pristine silence, but her heart raced with anticipation, pounding louder than the stillness. Her eyes scanned the shadows, searching for any sign, any sound to confirm her wait was over.

Then, from the darkness between the trees, he emerged. The mage, Vause, his form nearly indistinguishable from the shadows until the moonlight caught him. His hood fell back just enough to reveal his familiar face, and her breath hitched, her heart leaping in her chest.

Without hesitation, she sprinted toward him, the snow crunching beneath her boots as she closed the distance.

"Vause!" she cried, her voice breaking with relief as she threw herself into his arms.

He caught her effortlessly, holding her close, his embrace steady, grounding. He pressed a kiss to her temple, the tenderness of the moment anchoring them both in a fleeting sense of safety.

"Teshia," he murmured, his voice soft, filled with relief. He closed his eyes for a moment, thanking whatever gods were listening that she had found her way back to him.

But the relief didn't last. She pulled away, her expression shifting—uncertainty, regret, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Slowly, her hand rose, slipping beneath the fabric of her chest. Her fingers curled around something beneath her skin, and when she withdrew, they were holding two crystals.

Their faint glow cast an eerie light between them, illuminating the snow around their feet.

Vause's breath caught, his face falling as he stepped back instinctively, dread settling into his bones. His eyes darted between her and the crystals, recognition sweeping over him like a cold wind.

He knew what it meant.

"Teshia," he whispered again, this time his voice laced with fear, his mind racing through the possibilities of what had been set into motion.

The crystals pulsed faintly in her hand, the ominous light painting her face in ghostly hues.

>>>>> April >>>>

The office was oppressively quiet, the kind of silence that made every small sound feel too loud. It was Teddy who broke it first.

"I appreciate you keeping your end of the deal Toni," he said, leaning back slightly in his chair. His tone was straightforward, no-frills, but not unkind. "Showing up to these meetings, doing the work."

Toni shifted in his seat, his fingers tugging at his collar in a way that gave away his discomfort. "Like we agreed," he muttered. "I'll do the work. But the sleeping tablets—they're not cutting it. Every time I try to sleep, I'm back there. Same loop. Same nightmare."

Teddy set his pen down, tilting his head slightly as he studied Toni. "Back there," he repeated, his tone deliberate. "We've covered the afternoon with Matthew and Xero—the trigger. But we haven't gone into your childhood in detail. Not that night." He paused, leaning forward slightly. "As I've mentioned before, Toni, you're not as open about it as some of the others. It's one of your triggers."