Ashes to Ashes

Chapter One: Only Warning

The moonlight spilled through the open window, the breeze fluttering the crimson currents in slow, fluid waves of scarlet. A wooden chair made comfortable with velvet cushions faced the window; a boy knelt vigilantly on its right. His fingers stroked those of the girl seated in the chair. Her fingers were so pale compared to his. They glowed in the light that flooded their haven, ethereal hands folded perfectly on her lace-lined dress.

His lips parted to speak, staring up into the unwavering, emotion-lacking eyes. So cold, he mused, squeezing her fragile hands gently.

A soft voice, smooth like silk, rang out before his own, echoing through the empty bedroom. The girl’s lifeless eyes fluttered close, relishing in the sound.

“D . . . on’t . . . Do . . . n’t . . . “

It was a warning that could not be declared.

“The final piece comes into play,” the girl murmured, eyes opening, black, devoid orbs staring straight ahead. They focused on nothing, but sensed everything. She sensed, not saw, the brunette at her side shift almost uncomfortably. She sensed, not felt, his hold on her hand loosen.

And like a broken songbird, the warning continued to sound, until the corners of her evenly set lips dropped. “Shut it up.”

He nodded solemnly, letting go of her and standing. The sword sheathe attached to his belt knocked her chair as he turned, striding toward a shadowed corner of the room.

The songbird’s neck was cut.



Harriet Matthews tried to even out her breathing as the last of the memories dispersed. The memory lane she had just strolled down was a foreign road. People she didn’t know; places she could locate. Those memories did not belong to her. They belonged to the boy who’d shoved her out of the way to get down the packed hallway. The contact their bodies had made, just for that split second had trigged it. She’d fallen against the wall, trembling as she was forced to trespass on unknown, unwanted ground. And now, she tilted her head back, inhaling deeply before relaxing her grip on her bag and timidly slipping her way through the thick mob of students.

This scene had happened so many times, yet she still felt a shiver pass down her spine as people caught sight of her. She was ‘the new girl’ for the umpteenth time, the alien, the outsider. Her hand shook as she reached out, pulling the silver handle on her locker. She sighed when it opened immediately. So many times before she couldn’t figure out how to open them. When the combination failed or the handle was busted or the door caught on something left behind from it’s previous user, Hattie always found some way to ruin her first attempt. Today, however, she had guessed right and didn’t have to listen to the snickers of those who’d gone to this academy since they were old enough to attend.

Placing her things carefully inside, she shifted closer to the door, fishing a master lock out of her pocket. She glanced discreetly to her left and right. No one else had locks on their lockers. It would draw attention if she were the only one who did. She hid it in her bag. She needed to hide it. She couldn’t be new and ‘over-protective’.

Hattie lifted her hands and rubbed her temples. No. What she really had to do was loosen up. It was just another school, the same as the last one, as the one before that, and the uncountable before that. It really didn’t matter if she fit in or not, did it? She knew she’d be whisked away in a matter of months. All she needed was one person to be too observant . . .

That’s why she put so much specification in her actions. She had to blend, even if she was new. A new student always drew attention, but she had to be thrown in with all the rest of them. A normal girl attending a prestigious academy. Untalented, inadequate, unpopular.

Because Hattie was not normal. She had the abilities, if she wasn’t try to hide her most fantastic, to become the best in all those categories and more.

But she had been brainwashed. She had been told countless times that her endowment was a corrupted gift. And she had to hide it at all costs.

Hattie turned from her locker, shifting carefully through the identically dressed student body once again. She jumped as the hum of words around her was broken by a loud screech.

“Gillen! Get back here this instant! Look at what you did!”

“What I did?” A saucy voice followed. “Beg your pardon, Mr. Thompson, but I’ve never seen this girl before! How would I get out of making her cry?”

Hattie, curious as to what happened, wove her way through the teenagers, peering over a shoulder of a boy who blocked her view.

An older man, his hair combed back, streaks of gray lined with the brown, glared at the adolescent smirking before him. Between the two was a young girl, tears welling in her eyes as she gathered up her scattered things. A few onlookers handed her her belongings, giving her encouraging smiles.

“You don’t need to know her, Mr. Gillen, to push her out of your way. She’s a little girl for God’s sakes! What are you thinking?”

“Well, considering what you’ve told me,” he drawled, turning to the side, “I must not have been thinking anything!” His hair was short, a sun-bleached gold, framing his cocky grin. His uniform was anything but: his shirt untucked, and his jacket unbuttoned, his pants loose. A grade A troublemaker, Hattie thought, before something else caught her attention.

Another boy, who’d been making his way lazily to the front, stepped forward with an innocent smile. His hand lifted, ‘Gillen’ turning just in time to see himself being shoved forward, his face connecting with an open door.

“Addison!” Mr. Thompson shouted, moving as if to lunge forward, but freezing halfway.

Gillen swore, crumpling to the ground as he held his wounded head, gritting his teeth. A burst of laughter erupted from those watching as Hattie’s eyes widened in shock. Her gaze flickered from Gillen to the boy that had pushed him, gasping when she noticed the boy was still smiling.

His eyes caught Hattie’s attention immediately after his mocking grin. A vibrant violet splashed with green, half-secluded as he stared coolly at his bleeding classmate. Around them was a heavy line – eyeliner? She wondered briefly – curving up from one corner of his eye, and down from the other, streaking down his cheek beside his nose. It was almost exotic and Hattie was amazed anyone could do that without looking stupid. Instead, it drew quite a lot more attention in quite a different form.

The boy’s eyes disappeared behind their lids and a thick arching stripe of black and long effeminate eyelashes. Then he bowed as if in atonement, causing Hattie to blink, before he straightened back up. “Mr. Thompson, please forgive him. He lacks self-control and discipline. Apparently his training hasn’t kicked in yet.” His eyes opened, the dazzling bi-color unveiled and they flashed dangerously as they set on Gillen. Still smiling, he jerked his head, another boy stepping out of the crowd and pulling Gillen to his feet. “Isn’t that right, Todd?”

Todd Gillen rose a hand, flipping the other off.

Mr. Thompson shook his head wearily. “Just don’t let any of this happen again.”

Hattie swallowed as the boy bowed again. That was it? He wasn’t going to get in trouble for hurting Todd? And Todd wasn’t going to get in trouble for hurting the little girl?

Addison’s wild, yet tamed eyes watched the teacher retreat. He smiled down at the girl who had gotten to her feet. “Go to your section, little girl.” He murmured. He paused, studying the frozen girl before bending forward to whisper another message in her ear.

In response, her cheeks flushed and she shook her head, stepping back.

He waved, watching her stumble before taking off in an obvious sprint for her life. He turned back to Todd, whose mouth was currently covered by the third male’s hand.

“Oh Jesus, cover your ears,” a girl in the crowd giggled softly. Hattie glanced at her. “Jade’s gone off again.”

Jade’s smile fell, eyes darkening. Hattie took a step back. Memories of the boy flickered to her. She shook in fear. How could she see this? She hadn’t touched him!

“Eli,” he purred, voice low.

The ebony-haired boy holding both Todd and his mouth removed his hands. His finger jabbed Todd in the back, forcing him forward.

“Todd.” His smile returned. He reached up, touching the boy’s face. Jade was almost a head shorter than the other, his head tilted back as he gazed almost lovingly up at him. “My dear Todd, what did I tell you?”

He mumbled something against the other’s hand.

“Good boy,” he cooed, his eyes sliding close as his grin widened. “If you know, why do you insist to defy me? And the finger you rose to me before,” Jade reached down grabbing the other’s hand with his free one, stroking Todd’s middle finger. “I want you to – “

Hattie bit her lip, still shaking from the memories flooding to her. A flash of someone’s back, littered with whip-marks, and seeping blood; a boy on his knees; Todd on his knees as Jade approached; Eli holding Todd still as Jade hit him, hissing about deliberately disobeyed orders.

Her eyes snapped open, tears welling and she shoved her way forward, trembling in fear. “St – stop . . . “ Voice a hundred times weaker then she’d wanted, Hattie shrunk back as everyone looked to her. “Stop,” she repeated, her tone barely audible.

Jade’s eyes flashed, his hand lowering to Todd’s shoulder. He found his smile again as he turned to face her squarely, nodding once again to Eli who moved forward and grabbed Todd’s arm. “Oh my . . . And who might you be?”

Another memory flickered to her and she winced, the image almost sadistic. “I – I – “ she stumbled, her mind reeling. Should she tell him?

But as if someone seized control of her, her name slipped from her lips in a monotone fashion. “Harriet Matthews.” She gasped before pressing her lips tight together. What just happened?

Jade’s grin widened. “Miss Matthews, I don’t believe it would be in your best interest to interfere.” He drawled, words lined with poison.

“Jade.”

His eyes slid over her shoulder to the male who’d spoke behind her. “Malic,” he replied languidly.

Another boy stepped forward, regarding Jade with beseeching eyes. “Wait till you’re in the dorms. Don’t you think you humiliated him enough when you slammed his face into the door?”

Jade was silent for a moment, his smile gone. He turned, his shoulder touching Todd’s as he faced the opposite direction. He reached out, touching Todd’s middle finger again. “I’ll break it next time,” he hissed. Waving his hand, Eli turned and followed Jade as he disappeared down another hallway.

Hattie choked on a sigh of relief as she placed a hand to her racing heart. Her body shook, one final piece of Jade’s memory flashing before her closed eyes. Stiff shoulders slumping, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

Great job, she scolded herself. Wonderful! Good job blending in. Now what? You can’t go home and tell mom that you –

“Miss Matthews?”

She jolted. Her head whipped to the side, coming face to face with the boy that had gotten Jade to leave. It took her a moment to remember she’d told Jade her name. Of course everyone else would have heard. She gave herself a mental pat on the back. “Uh, yes?”

The boy gave her a concerned look. His thin eyebrows rose to their peak, soft emerald eyes almost overloaded with worry. His features were set perfectly, corners of his mouth curled slightly down. His skin was unblemished, much like Jade and his ‘consorts’, though he had more color. More . . . life.

“Are you all right? Jade’s not – he’s not the most compassionate person.” He said, as if it explained everything. “But he was right to tell you to stay out of it. You don’t want to be involved with his affairs. They’re not exactly . . . becoming.”

Hattie blinked. ‘Becoming.’ He had quite the vocabulary, didn’t he? She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant, curiosity over-powering her screaming senses to shut up and walk away, to disappear into the pack of rushing students. But she managed to shut her mouth, until a sensible question donned on her. “Oh. F – forgive me: you are?”

His chin drew in toward his chest in a jerk. The concern narrowed to confusion. Hattie flinched. What the hell could she have possibly screwed up this time?! But then he relaxed, giving her a weak smile and brushing his chestnut bangs out of his eyes. “Malic Aylae. And I’m sorry. It slipped my mind that you wouldn’t know.” Malic paused for a second. “But you’re okay? You were shaking.”

She nodded, glancing around nervously to find most of the crowd had dispersed. “Yes. I – “ She stopped. “Is he?”

Malic lifted his head, green eyes catching sight of Todd. He was leaning against the wall, his hands streaked with blood from the repeated times he’d wiped at his bleeding lip and nose. Malic sighed softly, causing Hattie’s attention to flicker back to him. “He won’t ask for help. He’s not . . . allowed.”

“Allowed?”

The brunette jerked his head as if in an indication. “Jade.” He looked her over for a moment. “It would be best if you forgot about it. It would help Todd out. And Jade might let your interference slide.” Once again he paused, noticing her glance back to Todd at his name.

The injured boy was sucking on his lip as if to drink the wound dry, stopping the blood flow. Guilt unfurled in her chest. He was better off like that? That meant . . . No one would help him?

“You’re first class. You’re late.”

Hattie heard him talking but a sudden rush of fear froze her to the spot. Todd had lifted his head, his eyes catching her’s. They flashed, dangerously, and she inhaled sharply. He shrugged himself off the wall, the hand touching his lip falling to his side.

“Miss Matthews? Are you – Todd.”

If he heard Malic, he did not acknowledge it as he moved swiftly toward them. “Do you have any idea,” he growled, “what you did? You stupid – “

“Todd!” Malic grabbed her shoulder at the same time Todd gripped the collar of her uniform. Her body stiffened but the impact that came was nothing she could ready herself for.

Not a fist, but two lifetimes worth of memoirs. Her jaw fell slack, chocolate eyes wide, staring through the boy in front of her. She choked, knees giving out.

Let go . . . Make it stop; please . . . let go of me . . . she begged, unable to work her mouth.

But instead, Malic caught her as she fell. His memories clashing with Todd’s for dominance as he too reached out to catch her, despite his previous motive.

A scene much like what had happened moments before. Todd wounded, Malic standing his ground as his classmate glared heatedly at Malic. He spoke, feeling an unnatural wave of fury. ‘Jade, stop it you’re – ‘

‘ – Hurting me!’ Todd. His back was . . . a mass of blood and sliced skin. Something hit him, hard. Hard enough to cry out, hard enough to draw tears to his eyes. ‘Jade! You – ah, fuck!’ He’d hit him again in spite of  his begging. ‘Please – ‘

‘ – Wake up.’ Malic, almost in tears as he hugged a still form to his chest. Wires connected to the body’s wrists, his pale skin. They kept him alive. ‘Wake up, Mikko. You – you can do this. Do it for – ‘

‘ – Me!’ He was screaming. He’d never been this mad. How could he do this? Get away with it over and over and over again? How could he think it was right? ‘You don’t! And if I ever try to show you, you – ‘

‘ – Hit me?’ His eyes were unfocused, staring through the boy’s in front of him. ‘Do then. Prove you’re – ‘

‘ – Stronger then me.’ Todd lowered his head, pressing his forehead against the closed window. Someone stood beside him, but he would not look him in the face, would not identify him. ‘I know. Mentally, physically, just don’t tell me anymore.’ His eyes closed. ‘Knowing is – ‘

‘ – Hard enough as it is without you’re bitching!’ Malic shoved the man back. His eyes flashed, an inhuman rage building in his chest. ‘You don’t even care that he’s – ‘

‘ – Dying? Nuh-uh.’ He took a stumbled back as Jade approached, a corrupt grin plastered to his face. ‘You – you’re lying. That’s not true! You fucking – ‘

‘ – Idiot.’ There was no meaning to the word as Malic reached out, ruffling the other’s hair. ‘Be careful, all right? I can’t fix – ‘

Todd’s image was crushed as a Malic walked slowly forward, his hands soaked in blood. ‘It’s done,’ he murmured. The response he received was a swift head bob as another stepped forward, running his hands on Malic’s shoulders.

‘You’re highly obedient, aren’t you?’

‘Shut up.’

‘Malic.’ A woman’s voice. Flat and empty rang out, silencing him.

‘That’s wonderful. Remember why you are allowed – ‘

Than something else. Someone entirely different. A sliver of their face was visible, the rest concealed by the lack of light. A single eye wide open, unblinking, lips parted, bleeding as it spoke. ‘Do . . n’t . . . d . . . on’t . . . ‘



“Hey! Hey!”

Hattie inhaled, a shockingly horrific sound, finding herself able to see again. She’d resurfaced, if only for a moment and flailed wildly at the hands holding her, managing to have herself dropped to the floor. She gasped for air, trying to scream as they bent down in dismay, reaching for her again.

“Miss Matthews?!” Alarmed concern.

“What the fuck’s wrong with you?” Hysertia.

She kicked at them, jerking away, trying to scream. Please God, please make them stop. She scurried forward on her hands and knees, stumbling as she got to her feet. Panicking, she sobbed, whipping around as Malic tried to grab her.

“Something’s wrong with you! Stop! We’ll take you to the – “

Tears ran down her cheeks. How could someone be so sad? How could someone be that brutally beaten and have it known? How come no one helped them? No one tried to fix their pain? Treat their wounds?

Hattie ducked away from their hands, lurching forward as she tripped over her own confused body. She fell against the wall, sliding down it before she regained her feet.

She ran.