Ashes of Vile

42

CHAPTER FOURTY-TWO
Secrets of A Friendship 

Everyone had felt the gloom of the days going incredibly slow as they counted the seconds until the day they finally face the Valkyrie. To face the world and reveal their ulterior motives. To fight the final battle and to see to it that the war ends. But it wasn't as simple as Cassidy Idgen wanted it to be. She and the Vimgards wanted the end of Vermithis's misery. To have the source not be in anyone's possession despite their true natures.

However, Chase Creed had formed the best group to do completely the opposite of that. To use the source for themselves by overthrowing the highest authority. But Casisdy needed to have Chase Creed by her side in order to see to it that Ashgrim gets the better outcome: no more Viles in power. But what frustrated her to think was that by doing so, she was giving another Vile that power.

The weight of Vermithis' memories in the her mind's possession had given her the unfortunate consequence of feeling and knowing. Vermithis Ashgrim faced a lot of sacrifices in her life and she had so desperately tried to make sure the power she withheld would not enter the future.

But the world had other plans for her. Este Idgen just had to save her baby and had to continue the bloodline without Vermithis' knowing. Este had not known either, but the price paid is far too enormous. Cassidy had imagined what it must have felt like to wake up into a familiar yet unfamiliar world where everything has changed in the worst possible ways imagined. And to be woken up by your descendant who is in need of your help from the same lineage that had made your life a living hell. Vermithis Ashgrim desperately fought the battle alone, against creatures that rose thanks to the source, and the people that despised her being. To reach a tragic end: death. But she had felt somewhat peace, to think she and the future would no longer experience such misery.

The wonders of the night spoke so helplessly to Devin Ashdown as he entered the unlit guest room where the only way of seeing Wyld Madden was with the help of the moonlight. Wyld looked up from the book he had stolen off of Sadie who had the only access to Lace's bookshelf.

He smiled at his friend and sat up from the bed, placing the book on the bedside. "It's 1 AM." Devin mentioned. Wyld looked at the clock for confirmation and was affirmed by the big number staring right back at him. "I got so caught up in the book."

Devin Ashdown sat on the opposite end of the bed and looked at Wyld Madden in the darkness. Even his vision being obstructed and his mind clouded by the look he was given, he could still sense the shape Wyld Madden would take, what thoughts encompassed his mind, and every little habit that he could catch and swear with his whole life spend admiring than changing. For him, he could only do so much, but tolerating was not one of them: it was far from what he could ever feel with Wyld. The time had had spent with him was worth the most in his whole life. His whole running elite life that boredom was unknown in his capacity. "What is the book about?"

Wyld raised his eyebrows, suspicious of the sudden interest. "About two cities that fought against each other and two friends meet each other halfway. In the middle of the battleground, they soon realize both cities are basically acting as themselves. It's hard to explain, but to put it simply, the collision of two cities made them realize their connection to each other wasn't just about the coincidental circumstances. They ran into each other because they wanted to."

Devin nodded his head, understanding the plot very well. "You know you're my best friend, right?" He asked. Wyld with a big confused look looked at him as though he was possessed by a crazy spirit. "I mean, I don't know if we'd go as far as best friends, Devin. We barely know each other. Sure we can stand one another, but– but the Vimgards are my best friends. They're my family."