Page 23 (1/2)
"What’s Mother doing with a Bastet?" I whisper to Sebastian
"They have natural defenses against Darklings, like toxic veno musk that they spray fromwell, you don’t want to knohere"
"Is that as in that Go Away Wrath Spray?" I ask, re that horrific stench when Craven used it on the Wrath the first time I was down here
Sebastian nods "Probably Coo"
I peer at the Bastet boy one last tiht of us
The next day I pace around et out of the house without being noticed by Sebastian or Mother I called Ash earlier, letting hirounded but that I wanted to see hiht I’ur Marwick
There’s a knock atinvited in He’s holding a letter and grinning fro okay?" I ask
"I’ve been summoned to Centrum to spend a few days with Purian Rose," he says breathlessly, showing h, Sebastian has been invited to a spiritual retreat hosted by Purian Rose
"Only a dozen other people are going--it’s really exclusive," he says
"Congratulations," I say flatly
I wonder what Sebastian did that piqued Purian Rose’s interest ItSebastian out of going, but the thought of hiood to pass up
"Have a good tiuard you while I’oing to pack" Sebastian pecksa happy tune
At thatwhat itsured since you couldn’t come to me, I’d come to you," he says
I throw et onto ht?" I say
He indicates the flattop roof a few feet above us "It’s surprisingly easy to get up there if you kno"
I bite et into uards on the roof
"The view up there is a," he says "Come on, I’ll show you"
He hoists himself onto the roof and pulls me up after him The ling We sit up and survey the burning ruins of the city It really is a out in a joyous chorus ofthe anniversary of Armistice Day, while ribbons of black smoke lace the skies Below us, the streets are filled with faet sos: Sentry tanks patrolling the streets, barbed-wire blockades, the Boundary Wall
Up above us, a crow soars through the gray skies, its long black wings cutting through the clouds of smoke and ash that continue to rain down on the city
"Sometimes I wish I could fly away," I say
Ash stands up and takes ?" I ask
"Do you trust ?"
He grins "Flying"
He starts to run, my hand still entwined in his I have to sprint to keep up with hiets closer and closer I start to panic
"Ash!"
We’re going to fall off, we’re going to die, we’re going to--
Ash leaps into the air, bringingwith hi as we ju on the opposite side of the street We land with a thud on its roof I grin at hio of my hand and bounds onto the next roof The distance between the buildings isn’t that far since the city is so craet around No wonder Ash et on ame of cat and mouse The world around me blurs as we leap froh sthrough the sky
I jump off another roof, and Ash catches me when I land We fall dorapped in each other’s arms His body is hard underneath ht Every ti up and down on the waves
I trace htly, showing a hint of fang My heart quickens The sight both scares and thrills ainst his
The jolt of electricity that passes between us is intense
I laugh "Did you feel that?"
"Feel what?" he mocks
"That zap of electricity?"
He shakes his head, but I know he’s lying
"Maybe we should try again?" he suggests
I roll ain, and it’s just like a bolt of lightning zinging through my body He pulls s against my lips, but it’s not an unpleasant sensation After a few ly pull away, but I continue to lie on top of hi to his heart He plays with er
"You should wear your hair down le No one’s ever called my hair beautiful before, not even Sebastian But I don’t think he actually likes hs contentedly
"Are you happy?" I ask
"Yes"
I shift slightly on top of hi I did that
"What was it like not having a heartbeat?" I say softly
He’s silent for a moment, and I wonder if I’ve put my foot in it
"It was hell," he eventually says "It was like being stuck between life and death; I could walk, talk, breathe, eat, but I never felt truly alive I never felt part of this world"