Heart of Ashes

Meetings

I shifted for what felt like the hundredth time since I arrived, my fingers clenched tightly around the edges of the narrow binder in my lap. The one that held the papers I had spent the past three hours praying would get me the job I so desperately needed, the paperwork and designs that I had spent the past several weeks building into a portfolio that could prove I had what it took to succeed in this business.

I could hear the snickers from the other job hopefuls that sat in small clusters around the large waiting room, myself the only one who sat alone like an outcast. I knew that with the rumors still not having died down completely this time, getting this job was about as likely as building a snowman during a California summer heat wave.

But I had to try. I couldn't give up hope, not yet, not this soon. I needed this job! It was the first time in weeks that I had even been called in for an interview, even if it seemed a lot of others had also been called. At least it was better than a polite phone call saying I didn't "have the experience and/or skill set the company is looking for at this time", which translated to "we heard the rumors and even though we aren't normally superstitious, we really don't want to take the chance". After all, it wasn't like I was looking for a job beyond what I'd had in the past. I was hopeful with my job searches, not unrealistically optimistic.

If I didn't start getting a paycheck soon, I'd either be eating nothing but ramen for the foreseeable future or moving back into my parents' house within the next month. And I was really starting to get tired of ramen.

"Next! Number fourteen, the manager will see you now," the older woman in the grey wool skirt and white cotton blouse called out, waving her hand towards the door I had watched so many people already go through and come back out again.

Taking a deep breath, I stood and began making my way over, almost stumbling on the carpet where it bunched up in front of the door. I could feel the eyes on me, see the frown appear on the woman's face from the corner of my eye as I steadied myself next to her. I could hear the huff she let out as I walked through the doorway, my heart aching as I heard her mutter to herself about "inviting bad luck into the company" as I kept moving forward.

I'd faced worse things than this before. I was not about to let gossip tell me who I was or what I was capable of. Even if it did hurt to see other people take to the gossip as if it was fact. Like it wasn't harmful to spread falsehoods about someone they didn't even know. And they didn't know me.

Not the real me.

Walking down the short hall to the manager's office, I steeled myself and knocked firmly on the hardwood door, opening it after hearing the call to enter. Pulling my binder up against my chest, I walked into the office and got ready to make sure that at least one person in this building knew something beyond the gossip being spread outside his office.

It was nearly half an hour later that I finally walked back out again, my spine straight and a vicious grin on my face as I passed by the suddenly silent men and women filling the waiting room, their eyes wide with horror at the mere thought of me getting the job they so desired. For a while, the only sound was the clicking of my low heels I'd worn for the interview. It was right as I was entering the elevator to go back to the main floor that the room seemed to explode behind me, the grin even wider when I turned around and gave them all a wave.

As soon as the doors closed on me, the smile slipped and I sagged with exhaustion. Let them stew in the idea that I had actually gotten the job over them, they didn't deserve to see how I really felt after having spent so long jumping through verbal hoops just to be rejected, although for once it wasn't the standard "Sorry, you're underqualified for this position" that I heard.

After looking through my portfolio, seeing pictures of outfits I had previously made and sketches of ones yet to be put to cloth, the man had turned to me and told me I was actually overqualified for the simple entry position he was hiring for. The only good things to come from the meeting was had been those words and his words that once this seasons shows were over and time was not so tight for everyone, he would talk to the current crew in the company and see if anyone was willing to commit some time to training a new assistant. It wasn't a promise of a job, but it was the most I had gotten so far.

Sadly, I knew my money wouldn't hold out until the end of this season. Not unless I could get some big orders to come through in my commissions. Don't get me wrong, Rae's commission had been a godsend, giving me just enough money to cover the rest of my bills for this month if I watched my food budget and avoided the estate auctions and sales. But it wouldn't pay next months bills and it definitely wouldn't cover buying real food.

Just thinking about eating something other than ramen had my stomach growling in hunger, practically begging me to please eat something that hadn't come from a packet for the first time all week. Sadly, my wallet was empty and my bank account dreadfully close to being the same.

~~~~~~~~

"Tell me who it is, Azrael. I'll find out one way or another if you don't tell me. It is just a matter of time," Ashe's voice chilled the air, frost radiating out from where his fingers tapped upon his desk as he stared at the being before him, eyes fixed on the sapphire blue gown.

The way it seemed to hug their waist before flowing out just below hip level in a cascade of silken waves, the clean seams where the fabric met the lace that layered over the bodice, even the delicate embroidery over the sleeves drew his eye to the overall quality of the work. It lacked the overly busy look that some embroidered dresses had, the skirt remaining simple and allowing the cut and flow to grab the attention while the bodice and sleeves did their part without going overboard.

"Azrael," he began again before being cut off with a raised hand, the light from the nearest lantern glinting on the woven band of silver metal Rae wore on their wrist.

"No, Ashe. Leave her be, she doesn't need you interfering in her life right now. If you need something made, I'll send the request in for you, but I don't want you adding more trouble to her already hectic life," Rae huffed as they shifted their weight to the side, hands resting on their hips for a moment before they frowned and crossed their arms instead. Why can't he just be happy with what he got already? I'm the one who found her, not him.

"Fine, I'll play by those rules, for now, Azrael. But only out of respect for you and what you have done for me in the past. However, if she asks to see me or if I run into her by chance, then I will not give up the opportunity to see what she can do for myself," he said, voice firm as he finally looked away from the Fallen one before him.

Upon glancing down, he noticed the frost had grown enough to almost reach the paperwork he'd set aside earlier and scowled as he pulled his hand from the surface. That had been far too close! With a sigh, he looked up again.

"I will have a list for you to pass to her by week's end. You will pick it up on Saturday or I will consider our deal off. Do not make me have to search for her, Azrael. I doubt you would like the methods I am willing to use to get the results I desire. And I would rather not do something that would upset you," he said quietly, his voice still managing to echo softly throughout the room.

"You know I don't break my deals, no matter how much I might dislike them. I'll be here on Saturday, bright and early, so be ready or I will leave without the list. And it will be your fault, not mine if you are not ready in time," they responded, head tilted back in distaste at the idea of the methods Ashe had at his disposal. "Also, I go by Rae, as I have told you each time we have seen each other during the past forty years. Please show the same respect for my name that you show for the rest of me."

I am not about to let Ashe get close to her so easily, not when she was so vulnerable lately. I saw the worry in her eyes, even if she refused to talk about what was wrong. I just need to get her to open up to me about what was causing those dark circles under her eyes. Then I will be able to help her!

With that thought, Rae turned and left, Ashe looking back down as one hand reached out and pulled a blank sheet of paper close while the other reached for a pen.

Glancing back up, Ashe stared at the door Rae had just left from, a thoughtful look on his face. It was unusual for the Angel to behave like that, even over a human. No matter how talented the human might be.

"So what are they hiding? And why?"