Continuing right where I left off......
Fyi, if you want more to do with this story or these characters, pm me or comment or whetever.... it will take a while, but if you really want, I will do it.
“Thank you-“
“Ashton Blake”
“Right, thank you Mr. Blake.”
“Ashton,” he shook his head. “And it was no problem.” He shifted uncomfortably.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Aestus held his hand out to Iris. “I hear the gardens here are beautiful.”
“I’d like that,” Iris blushed and gently took his hand.
“Oh, my sweet daughter!” I was immediately crushed by arms coming from behind me.
I let out a surprised squeak.
Ash laughed at me.
As suddenly as the hug began, it ended.
“Now, now, darling, to suffocate the poor dear.”
I turned around to see my birth parents.
Aria squealed and clapped as she jumped up and down, “Oh, my baby is so grown up!” she started crying. “I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there, and that those darned humans raised you in that stinky dank basement.”
“Mom,” I grabbed her hand, “it’s okay.”
“No it’s not!” she sobbed, then stopped. “You called me mom?”
“Well, you are my mother aren’t you?”
“Well, yes, I did give birth to you, aw, your hair has turned so dark,” she took a tendril in her free hand, “And so soft.”
I squirmed.
“Now let’s go pack your stuff, you too Mr. Blake. You’re going to stay with us, and that’s final!”
“Yes, ma’am.” He shuffled uncomfortably.
“Now, none of that; you’re practically family. Now off you go. Go pack. There’s no need stay here.”
“We will meet you out front with the car.” They turned and went to socialize.
Ash and I walked down the hall toward his room. He opened his door in the blue hall and motioned for me to stay in the corridor.
After waiting a few minutes for him to finish his rummaging, he walked out with a back pack. “I don’t have a whole lot,” he explained, holding his closed fist out to me, “I am an orphan, my parents died in a fire. I find it ironic, really. That’s why I don’t usually like it when people call me Ash; that is just too….” He took a deep breath. “But honestly, I think I kind of like you. I want to give this to you. It was my grandmother’s. She loved birds,” he opened his fist. It contained a simple silver chain with a large white feather attached to it. “On one of her travels, she met a large raven, much different from the rest. He was humongous for one, and very old. He had many white feathers, and when my grandmother left his home, as she was his guest, he gave her this as a parting gift.
“When you said, in the art room, that your name was Koraka, it reminded me of the old raven. His name was Korakas. Maybe one day, we could see if he is still alive?”
“That would be neat,” I flushed again.
“Here,” he put the chain around my neck and clasped it.
I muttered a thank you as we wandered to my room. I grabbed my dictionary and the picture of Iris, Ash, and me. Ace didn’t want anything to do with pictures, and though that particular myth remains exactly what it is, I was glad he wasn’t in it to ruin it.
“You listened,” he sniffed my hair. “Ready?” Ash walked beside me through the lobby.
“Of course I did, it was just a matter of figuring out what you meant.” I grinned at him. “You know my answer.”
He chuckled as we reached the door.
I opened it and gave him a gentle push through it.
“Are you afraid something’s going to attack you?” he twirled around. “See?”
I tilted my head and smirked.
He made a confounded look. A short bubble gum pink blob tackled him to the ground.
I laughed and walked outside.
Ash gave me a dirty look while Aestus walked around the corner chuckling.
“You jerk,” Iris’ high pitched voice shouted at him, “That was for Raven, not you! Ugh, you ruined my surprise!”
“No,” I corrected her, “He fell into your trap.”
She broke out into a huge grin and tackled me with a big hug. “I’m gonna miss you so, so much! You’re my bestest friend you know! BFFAE. That means Best Friends Forever And Ever!
“I’ll miss you too, Iris.” I turned to the prince, “You, mister, better take damn good care of my BFFAE! I am a Royal, so I can carry out my threats on you. If you hurt her I will c-“ Unfortunately, I was cut off by Ash.
“Me too.” We looked at each other and nodded.
“Well, on that note, take care, and see you soon.” I threw a mock threatening look at Aestus, and could see him visibly swallow nervously.
“Bye!” Iris waved.
Soon I was engulfed by a pair of arms. “You ready to go to your home, sweet heart?”
Ash threw me a playful look and took my hand as he pulled me into the car
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” we answered simultaneously.
“Inconceivable!” Iris’ voice drifted into the car.
We all laughed. Of course she would want the last word.
I looked back at the place as the gates closed. The whole sinister demeanor, just a façade for the happy, slightly insane people at the hospital. Is anyone truly sane though? I personally think that insanity is merely an opinion. We are all insane, whether insanely good at something, or flat out crazy.
I turned forward; I wasn’t going to look back anymore except at the fun times I had with Iris, Ash, and even Ace. From now on, I will always be looking forward.
Ash squeezed my hand. Almost as if reading my mind, he turned to me and smiled, “Forever forward and never back.”
“Forever forward and never back.”
