Lizaria

28

"Mom, who is Juston?" Ashlyn asked her mom once she saw her. Her mother hesitated then stated, "He's nothing, if you're worried that he'll hurt you he won't we'll-" "No, I mean, who is he really? Why does he want me?" Ashlyn interrupted her mom. Her mother turned to her, and walked down the steps. "Juston is no one. He has nothing of your concern, honey." Ashlyn began to get aggravated with her mom. "No! I know he's evil! But why! Who is he? Who's his dad, his mom, his life! Mom, who is he?" Ashlyn exploded at her mom. The Queen looked down, then back up. "I killed Juston's father, Nazary. One of the most powerful people next to me. He had to be stopped, so I stopped him. After you were born, a few months later, Nazary wanted you. And there was no way I was going to let that happen." Her mother thought for a moment then continued. "It wasn't supposed to be this way Ash. Juston was not supposed to be the way he is." Her mother stopped again. "Nazary was my brother. And I didn't want to kill him, I never meant for any of that to happen." Her mother explained holding back tears. "A few years later the South crowned a new ruler. And I wish I would've known before, but Nazary had a son. I never knew Juston was born, and I swear Nazary planned it that way. But if I were to have known I had a nephew, I would have never let him grow into what his father was. He would be here, with us, part of our family." Her mother explained, putting her hand on her forehead, but she wasn't done. "Nazary chose to be the Lord of the South. He killed your grandparents, so that way I would become Queen, and he would become King. Thinking that he would rule the land, the people chose me over him. So he disappeared South, never heard from again. Until I married your father, that's when he came back. He came back as Lord of the South. And now his legacy lives within your cousin, Juston." Her mother finished starting to cry. Ashlyn immediately hugged her mom. They stood for a minute or two, until one of the guards ran towards them. "My Queen!" The guard shouted. The Queen stood back and looked at the guard. "Lord Juston's men are retreating. Should I call out for victory?" the guard said with a smile. "No. There's a reason why they're retreating. I can see it now."

"Ashlyn?" A voice said through her head. She couldn't figure out who he was. "I know you know who I am." The voice teased at her. "Where are you?" She then responded looking around her. Ashlyn was on her way to her room when the voice spoke. "Think of who I am, then you'll see me." The voice suggested to her. Ashlyn thought of the voice then questioned, "Juston?" She turned around then saw him. Even though he wasn't actually there, it felt as if he was. "Now how cool is this." Juston joked at Ashlyn. She tried not to smile, and continued to look at him. She couldn't believe how good looking he was, but yet so evil. "Why are you in my mind?" Ashlyn asked puzzled. Juston laughed and responded, "I really don't know, I guess my mind kind of brought me to you." He smirked stepping closer. "Why did your mind bring you to me?" Ashlyn continued. Juston began to walk around her. "I don't know. How come your mind can hear me?" he retorted at her. She thought for a moment and responded, "It's our powers, isn't it? We're strong enough to hear and see each other, when we're not near. But why? And how?" Ashlyn explained thoughtfully. Juston was in front of her again and sighed, "Those are really good questions that I can not help you answer." He smiled at her. She looked away from him and he snickered. "Why can't you look at me?" he politely asked. "Why are you so evil? You're such a nice looking guy, but you're too evil." Ashlyn redirected to Juston. His smile slowly faded, and he stepped closer. "It's good you've noticed that, cousin." He responded. Ashlyn could feel his mind hurting hers, but then he faded away. His voice was out of her head, and Juston wasn't in sight. Ashlyn wanted to continue talking to him, but she knew it was useless. Ashlyn had no idea on how to get him back. "Ashlyn!" someone called down the hall, thankfully it was Evan.

* * *

"I saw Juston, he was speaking to me!" Ashlyn exclaimed to Evan. "That's great, but I have a huge problem right now." Evan responded to Ashlyn out of breath. Ashlyn was surprised that Evan didn't care. "Evan, did you not hear me? Juston spoke to me, without even being here!" She yelled out. "What?" Evan said with a puzzled look on his face. "Yes, he did. He said his 'mind' brought him to me." Ashlyn explained what Juston had told her. "That's probably because you too have a stronger power than anyone on this planet." Evan responded, rubbing the back of his head. "But why did he speak to me? Why now?" Ashlyn questioned Evan expecting him to know. "To hell if I know, you'd have to ask mom. Now can I tell you my problem?" Evan whined at Ashlyn. She rolled her eyes at Evan then responded, "Why, what happened?" Evan didn't hesitate, "I need you to help me stop drinking," Evan hiccuped after what he said. "I'm drunk now talking to you." Ashlyn's eyes grew big in shock. "I'll wake up tomorrow with a headache, but remember everything that happened the day before. That's why I drink a lot." Evan then leaned up against the wall. Ashlyn thought for a moment, "And what do you want me to do about that? Why? Do you want to forget something?" Ashlyn was confused as of why her brother was the way he was. "Because I want to forget Jackson! I don't want him leaving, and then coming back all the time!" Evan shouted at her. Ashlyn jumped at Evan shouting. "I thought you liked him?" Ashlyn remarked at Evan. He dropped his head then looked up again, "I do, but he leaves every time I drink. Then he'll come back again, and then leave. He doesn't want me drinking." Ashlyn had a disgusted look, and kept thinking that it was his problem, and that she couldn't help. "Then you forgetting Jackson isn't the reason you want to forget." Ashlyn suggested walking towards Evan. "Then I don't know the reason." Evan redirected at her. "Then you're on your own. If you don't know the reason, then how am I supposed to help you." "Does that really matter? All I need for you is to help me stop drinking." The two of them were going back and forth. "But how? What am I supposed to do! Limit your drinking? You should be able to do that yourself, Evan, you're a grown man." Evan sighed really loud and rolled his eyes. "You don't get it! You're not me." Evan suggested still looking away from her. "Well no, I'm not you, so I'm confused on what you want me to do for you." Ashlyn responded with a puzzled look. "Just forget it. I'll just help myself." Evan retorted, and headed for the door.

* * *

"Hey where you goin!" Evan yelled at Jackson as he headed for the bridge. Jackson was leaving Ashlyn's 'welcome home' party. "No I'm leaving! You can't even count to ten!" Jackson yelled back at Evan turning around. "Yes I *hiccup* can!" Evan was drunk, and Jackson was off the chart about it. "No. You can't." Jackson said with a worried look. "Don't leave, though," Evan said as he stumbled onto the side of the bridge. Evan started laughing at himself after his drink fell over the edge. He hurt his side, but continued to laugh. Jackson was disgusted at Evan's behavior, and shouted, "Why do you need to be this way! Why don't you just go to hell! I'm not staying the night and you know what! How about I never come back! Hey that sounds pretty good, I'm never coming back you prick!" Jackson hated it when Evan got too drunk, and it was the last straw for Jackson. He immediately turned to leave and Evan snickered at him. "Yeah right, 'I'm not staying' blah blah blah. If anything you're the prick. All you ever do is hate on me, but never take a moment to help me or figure out why." Evan stopped for a second, Jackson stopped and slightly turned his head. "Not to mention you always say you won't come back or you won't stay the night, but in reality you'll be back the next night instead." Evan finished. Jackson clenched his jaw and turned to him. "Jackson, if you so called 'love me', then show it for damn once *hiccup*" Evan finished what he was trying to explain to him. Jackson thought for a moment. He slowly walked towards Evan, and knelt down next to him. "You need to stop this, Evander." Jackson said putting his hand on Evan's cheek. "Don't worry. I've got this on my own. I promise it won't get any worse." Evan responded, looking Jackson in the eyes. Jackson helped Evan up, and wrapped his arms around him. "You don't have to stay. You can leave like you said." Evan remarked at him. Jackson tried not to smile, "Shut up," Jackson retorted, then kissed Evan.