The Sanctuary's beginning (book II)

Planning pt.II

Arachne
"When is he supposed to show up?" I asked as I watch Ash. He huffs before turning to me,
"Any day now, I think. He didn't say a specific day or time. We just have to wait... we're good at waiting."
"I guess so... I'm just scared they'll come back before he-," my voice cracks and ash makes his way over to me. He shushes me and cups my cheeks.
"He will... I promise nothing will happen to you... never again." He wraps his arms around me. I throw mine around his middle and feel my other legs tense.

I startle awake as I hear the creek of a door. I look around for ash and notice he's still sleeping, curled around me. I push at his arms and tail and slowly make my way up. I throw my arms around my middle as I peer out of our cage. Footsteps can be heard from another floor, a cry of another hybrid, and the drip of water or another liquid. I open the rest of my eyes trying to see if there are any heat sources through our walls. I don't see anything and sigh. I don't know if I was hoping it was the man who helped us or if it's our captors. They haven't come and got us again after they-. I shake my head hard and fit my hand into the hollow space between two legs. I grimace at the feel of the scar tissue that feels like raised lines. "Don't think about it." I whisper to myself as I walk back to Ash's calm form. I grab the blanket I was using and wrap it over his arms before sitting in front of him. If he's asleep this deeply, I'll protect him. I stare at the rusty bars of our cage and slowly loose myself. It's not until I see a beam of light that I jolt. Ash's tail tenses and he opens his eyes.
"Arch, what're you doing up?" He sits up and follows my line of sight, "I-is that...?" I nod my head and we both huddle into the corner. Ash positions himself in front of me, tense and ready to spring. I can see his fangs glistening with venom as his second eyelid slides over his eyes. I grab his hand and footsteps approach us. I hear a voice, someone saying something, and then three figures come to stand in front of our cage. We both flinch as their lights find us and they freeze.
"Ash, it's me." One man says like that will make us react. We've heard that one before. Ash gasping surprises me before he moves forward.
"No!" I snatch his arm, "no,no,no, you can't take him!" I screech. Ash turns and grabs my arms.
"Arachne, it's him! It's okay!" I shake my head and grab him tighter,
"N-no, no, it's not. They're tricking us! They said that before and they took you f-for three weeks, ash! I can't do that again! Please, please..." Tears swell in my eyes as I remember the fear I held everyday waiting for him to return. That fear turned into concern and then anger as I realized he might never come back. "Y-you we're so hurt..." my heart clenches as he pulls my face up to meet his. I look into his green eyes and flinch as images of his body come back to me. The deep gashes, the bruising, the wounds from his scales being ripped off.
"No, Arch, please trust me." I shake my head,
"Prove it! Who are you!?!" I demand, even as I shake like a leaf,
"I'm the man who helped heal you," a deep voice says. A whistle follows as he speaks. "I was able to get the infection out of your wound and stitched you up. I have a van waiting outside to get you two out of here."
"How do we know you're telling the truth!? You could be just like the others, wanting to hurt us!"
"They're gone right now. I am Venus Monty, I own a sanctuary for our kind. These two can vouch for me." I slowly look at the other two men present. Ones bright red hair shines in the light and the other is holding a bag and some kind of cloth.
"He's telling the truth. He's saved us all. Please come with us." I can't tell which one spoke,
"And what about the others in this place?"
"They're... you're the only two we've found." My eyebrows furrow. There used to be a lot of us. They used to make us mate with all kinds of different species to see if we could conceive. When that didn't work they'd torment us with something or shoot us up with an aphrodisiac and see who could last the longest before one died. They used us for all kinds of things and tested our abilities against us. How are they all gone already?! Did they leave us here... to... to die?! My nails dig ito ash's arm,
"Okay...." He inhales,
"Okay... we can go...?"
I nod, "please let's go."
"Let us get this door open, stay back for now." I hear the men begin to converse,
"I'm scared." I whisper as I cling to ash,
"That's okay, I am to. But if we get out of here, Arch... maybe we can live for once. See the grass, feel the sun...." I nod against him,
"And be happy."

It was a struggle getting Ash down to the van. I wouldn't let them touch me and I couldn't let go of ash long enough for them to help. Eventually we get there and we make our way to wherever they're taking us. I sit against Ash who rests his head against mine. The other boys converse about the house and the other boys there. But all I can focus on is the sound of the tires on the road and the pounding of Ash's heart against my shoulder.

When we pull up to the house and the van stops I tense. Ash slowly slides out and I stand at his side. I take in the property and the soak up the sun on my skin.
"Follow me please...." Venus tells us. As we head inside I see other boys in the windows.
"Are they trapped in those rooms?" I whisper to ash.
"You'll have your own rooms, but I understand if you'd prefer to stay together," Venus says before he can answer. "I did some research and asked another of my boys who has a snake attribute what would make yoh the most comfortable," he leads us down a hall right from the front door. The mansion is beautiful. The grand staircase steals my attention for far too long. "I've designed your rooms according to that information, but all you have to do is ask me if you want to change something. I have more than enough money. I want you to make a list of things you want and things you eat so I can stock your mini fridges. We prefer to eat together but I know that may be hard for Ash. I will have one of the boys come every meal and bring your something or ask if you'd like to join, they will introduce themselves then."
He opens the door to one room and I gasp.
"Oh Ash..." I step forward looking at all the hamacks and branches on the walls. My legs itch to stretch and climb. I look back at ash and smile a small small smile,
"Happy?" He asks, I jump into his waiting arms.