Hope Everlasting. [COMPLETED.]

Chapter Twenty Five-La Hora de la Muerte.

Chapter Twenty Five-La hora de la muerte.

Note:Chapter name translates to 'time for death' in Spanish.

Ashlynn’s P.O.V

I was so damned tired. Never, in all my life had I felt so very exhausted. By the time I got back from the park, and climbed--okay, got thrown--back into my bedroom, it was almost three in the morning. Then of course, despite being ridiculously tired, I couldn’t sleep. All of the information I’d learnt in the past few hours went milling around and around in my head. Lilith had died in Demon’s Lake. That explained everything; why she was communicating with me, why Tallulah could talk to Rebeckah, and why Lilith could talk to Tabitha.

They all had one thing in common; they all had died at the metaphorical hands of Demon’s Lake.

Long story short, it was coming up for half past four by the time I finally got to sleep. And I had to be up at half six. Two hours sleep...great. Just what I needed. And, my ankle hurt like hell.

Needless to say, by the time I got to school, I was not in the best of moods. Since Dylan and I were no longer speaking, it meant I had no ride to school. Or at least, I didn’t think I did. I was running late from oversleeping, only just having time to drag a brush through my hair, apply minimal makeup and grab a granola bar from our cupboard. I was just getting ready to attempt to ride my bike to school--no mean feat with a badly sprained ankle--when I heard a car horn hoot outside.

My heart leapt. Dylan! He’d come, even though we’d argued? Did that mean he didn’t hate me? I ran--okay, hobbled--to the window, hoping like mad that my guess was right. You can imagine my surprise then, when it wasn't Dylan's old, fairly battered banger, but a sleek black sports car waiting for me. The windows were tinted to a stupid amount, but I didn't even need to look. I knew who it was.

"Cory!" I limped out the door, still not understanding what he was doing here. As if he'd been waiting for me to appear, the boy got out of the car, and leant against the door, his brown eyes studying me carefully, the hint of a smirk spreading across his face. God, how had he had little to no sleep and still look utterly gorgeous? I don't know what his secret was, but I sure as hell wanted it.

"You look awful," he greeted casually. My cheeks reddened. God damn it, why hadn't I spent longer on my makeup? Because you had no sleep, Ashlynn. You didn't have time. Oh, I really was cracking up now. If I wasn't talking to my dead twin, then I was talking to myself. I seriously needed help.

"Nice to see you too!" I shot back, narrowing my eyes. He just continued to smirk.

"Just speaking the truth. Didn't you get any sleep?" Cory asked cockily, smirk growing as he tilted his head to the side a little, clearly examining my face.

"Oh ha ha. What are you doing here?"

"I came to pick you up! I figured since you and my idiotic brother had a lovers tiff, you wouldn't have a ride. And there's no way in hell you're going to cycle to school with that ankle of yours," he informed, sounding slightly...offended? That wasn't a tone I ever thought I'd hear Cory McKinnon use. Then again, I never thought I'd make him blush, nor almost kiss him after sneaking out at midnight.

"Oh...well, thanks," I muttered, feeling the heat flood to my probably pale cheeks. "Lemme just get my stuff."

"Ashlynn? What's going on?"

No, no, no! I thought, cringing internally as I turned to face my Mother. She looked Cory up and down, and did a double take. I guess that was the usual reaction; gorgeous guy, designer clothes, expensive car...especially when he was with someone like me. Judging by my dear Mother's facial expression, she didn't think I'd ever even be seen with someone like him. It didn't bother me, not really; I'd had sixteen years of not reaching her expectations, and I'd long ago stopped trying. Nothing about me would please her; that was a fact I knew very, very well.