Ashley stared blankly at a wall until she felt something hot burn her skin "Ouch" hissing from the pain. She dropped the kettle of hot water on the counter, picking up a rag to clean the mess she made
The past few days, was a series of her stubbing her foot on a stool, burning her food, getting startled by anyone who walked past her front door thinking it was the reaper coming to take her. She was either zoning out or in fight or flight mode.
Finding out that she needed to save humanity was like pouring a bucket of ice cold water on her. She wasn't ready to die, she was just a nineteen year old girl what part of the world has she seen...and most importantly she hadn't seen her brother in months
She couldn't even imagine the look on her brother's face when he returned and they break the news that she's dead to him, the thought broke her heart.
Deciding there and then, she wasn't going to let that silver eyed ghost man kill her 'he could go find someone else to use as his ghost bride or whatever' she thought, the determination to refuse him burned brightly, putting her in a better mood.
Which didn't last long, as the door bell rang. A familiar figure walked in, with his black cloak covering his face
The shop darkened like the weather had changed in a matter of seconds. Ashley's face hardened seeing him walk past her door, she wasn't going to let this man take away her happy life for some old folktale.
"I see you're not going to come with me willingly" Kyle said, he was already bored of this back and forth game
"Why does it have to be me...can't the goddess choose someone else?" Ashley spoke, her voice wavering contrast to the determination she had ten seconds ago
"I ask the same question everyday...but alas, the goddess never makes mistakes" Kyle replied repeating the same words Ananke spoke to spite her broken essence
Ashley's eyes darted around, looking around for anything that could protect her if he attempted to kill her in the shop. "If you're looking for protection nothing in this shop can protect you from me" he said dashing her hopes to the ground
Ashley gazed at him, her eyes narrowing. "I will not let you take my life from me" she said her voice sounding stronger, like the words could make him give up and leave her alone
"Do you know the implications of rejecting your place?" Kyle asked, his voice deepened...the shop darkened expressing his anger, he was growing impatient
He paused.
Not getting an answer from her, not like he expected one
"Everybody you know and love will cease to exist, all seven realms will fall into chaos and ruins...and I will destroy it all. Just because of you" every word came out more as a threat than a warning, he needed to make her understand refusing to be the bride wasn't an option. She was going to die either ways
The shop went quiet, the air was tense. Ashley almost stopped breathing, gripping her chest with her right hand. It was either she died keeping the balance or died watching it fall into ruins, so she was going to die either ways
A small part of her wanted to watch the world fall into ruins, atleast she would be with the people she loved during her final moments, but she knew that was selfish of her...she wanted Leora to get married and live a long life, same as a her elder brother who has done nothing but try to provide for her since they were little
Heaving a deep sigh. She said "I will go with you on two conditions"
"Speak"
"You will let me say my farewell to my best friend and you will only kill me if we do not find an alternate way for me to go to the underworld alive" Ashley replied, she had thought that since she was chosen as a mortal bride, whoever decided that would have reasons for choosing her fully aware that she was alive. And she was ready to exhaust every option that if it meant keeping her alive
Kyle didn't speak, he wondered why this human girl was so stubborn...he never had to deal with such behavior before, all his brides were compliant and wouldn't dare go against him. Seeing that she was determined to not budge until he agreed
"So be it" he relented
Ashley let out a breath she didn't know she was holding "Good when do we leave" she asked, getting bolder
"Now" he answered
"What?!"
"We are leaving now" Kyle repeated
"We can't...I've not even said goodbye to my..."
"We will find her on our way" he interrupted impatiently
'hell no' she thought, there was no way she was going on a journey she wasn't mentally prepared for
"I've not even prepared myself to leave, I can't just leave my shop untidied...I haven't even packed cloths for the journey"
Tired of her constant rambling, he thundered angrily
"By the third dawn, I will return" saying this, he faded into mist. The intense dark air vanished with him returning the shop to its light atmosphere
Watching wide eyed as he disappeared into dark mist in front of her 'wait until I tell my best friend I'm married to a ghost' she thought, concerned on how unbelievable it sounded, but since she had no choice she was going to find a way to relay the message to seem less crazy.
Evening came fast, Leora walked in with her sword visible by her side and her cloth half stained with sludge
Since the day she returned from the forest, Leora and the veil keepers had been fighting off the creatures that attacked her in the forest, trying to hold them off from entering into the town
"More shadow creatures huh..." Ashley said, pouring her a cup of water. Picking the cup Leora chugged it like she hadn't drank water in days
"They're coming in faster and they keep multiplying" Leora said out of breath. The battle wasn't over, the other veil keepers were at the edge of the town fighting off the creatures
Ashley felt guilty. she was the cause of the mishap, it was getting even harder to tell Leora everything "are you guys holding up fine?" She asked, contemplating on where to begin.
"Barely...we've lost ten keepers already, we just hope that the veil closes soon before we all die"
Ashley flinched at the word 'die', her chest tightening. She had to tell Leora and leave before things got worse. She would never forgive herself if something happened to her dear friend
"Lee...I have something to tell you"
"Yeah what is it?" Leora replied, her attention fully on Ashley, concerned.