Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lila groaned as her alarm blared in her ear. She had a fleeting image of Asher in Venetian breeches and doublet with an outlandish ruffled collar around his neck flashing in her mind as she rubbed her eyes. Looking around her room, bewildered, Lila saw the book she'd been reading lying beside the bed, opened to portraits of aristocratic men in the Elizabethan era. She snapped the book shut and yawned into her hands.

A knock sounded at her door.

"Yeah?" Lila called groggily. Her Dad poked his head into her room.

"You still need me to take you today?" he asked.

"Yes, please," Lila replied, starting to get up. "I'll have a shower now."

"Please do," her Dad replied, crinkling his nose. "You'll stink up my car, otherwise."

"Ha, ha, ha," Lila sarcastically imitated a laugh. He closed the door with a cheeky grin.

This car ride to Asher's was almost entirely silent, with Lila yawning every so often. Upon arriving outside Asher's house, her Dad turned to her.

"Do you need me to wait out here until you go in?" he asked.

"No, I'll be right. Thanks for the lift, Dad," Lila replied, hopping out of the car.

"Alright. Don't forget to use protec-"

Lila slammed the door again, suddenly more awake than she had been on the way here. She glared at her Dad, who threw his head back in an exaggerated guffaw before driving off. Sighing, she checked the time on her phone. It was 7.36am. Looking around the street, Lila saw several people either jogging or walking their dogs. Others still were driving off – presumably to get to work.

Asher had been adamant that 8am would leave them with plenty of time for whatever it was they needed to do. But what if Marlene left earlier than he anticipated today?

Lila carefully walked up the path towards Asher's house, trying to ensure that she didn't make any noise. She sent a quick text to Asher, letting him know she was outside, but otherwise found a secluded spot beneath a CCTV camera to observe the goings-on of Asher's house. A few moments later, a flashy Mercedes-Benz emerged from the garage to the far left of the house. Lila ducked behind one of the columns framing the entrance to the house, trying to conceal herself. The occupant of the car was Asher's Dad, who didn't seem to notice Lila's presence as he drove off.

Seconds later, the right front door opened and a hand emerged, pulling Lila inside by her wrist quickly. Lila's heart skipped a beat for just a moment, shock freezing her eyes open, before realising it was only Asher. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt with tan-coloured shorts and socks today, though he looked somehow even more run-down than usual. He pressed a finger to his lips, and Lila slowly took her shoes off without much noise. They tiptoed past the kitchen. Lila could hear Gabriel humming in the butler's pantry and made to greet him, but Asher shook his head at her.

They crept up the stairs and into Asher's rumpus room without making a sound. Once inside, Lila gingerly placed her bag down, looking at Asher with curiosity.

"Sorry," he whispered. "I don't want Gabriel to make a fuss about you being here."

"Does Marlene come here in the mornings?" Lila whispered back. Asher shook his head.

"No, but she doesn't know you're coming today."

"Is there a reason for that?" Lila asked in a low voice.

"I just thought it'd be easier to follow her if she doesn't expect you to be around," Asher replied softly, shrugging.

"What's her normal routine?"