Seeking Favor
Chapter ten
By Spirit of Eowyn
~~~ Sorry about the lateness and the chopiness of this chapter. But it is
rather
long =) 8 pages yay! Lots of Cameos. This is the 2nd to last chapter
::cheers::~~
Thank you for all the reviews and calls for getting this done. I hope this
chapter makes sense _ If it doesn't let me know and I'll revise it. I
didn't add more details cause I thought it was getting very long already..
Life at the Mansion
Ash was moodily playing a video game at the mansion. He killed another generic baddie. They had just been grilled on the circumstances of Jessica's death. Typical after mission drill until Laurel had mentioned some vision she'd had about some old soul, Thierry had gone pale. He looked the way Ash felt daily. He forgot about asking them more questions and had ushered Ash and Nielson out of the room and had Lupe called in. He was acting very wierdly, trying to remain his usual stoic-ness and failing. On the upside Ash hadn't been questioned further. On the down side, it was like Ash wasn't important anymore. When he had first got here people had been a bit skeptical of his change but were thrilled to have him on. Here he was risking his reputation helping C.D. and Thierry became concerned about some old soul who had nothing to do with human rights or the end of the world. Stagehog. Laurel was always trying to get attention, trying to be better than everyone else even when they were kids. It was annoying. Speaking of the devil, Laurel came in looking excited.
" So he wanted all kinds of details, had me call Aradia for her opinion." Laurel from the couch behind him ranted on. " I think I may have fell upon some exciting news! He mentioned his soulmate. Ash! I think I ran into Thierry's soulmate! Isn't that exciting?" She sounded smug now.
" Single handedly saving ... nothing oh joy." Ash said bitingly She frowned but continued.
"So He's sending Lupe's team to check."
" Not you? oh you must be sooo disapointed, someone else getting your laurels." Ash vented. He'd only been half listening anyway. With any luck she would get the hint and leave me alone. Laurel bit her lip and got up to go. Ash was being too moody to deal with. It was then that Ash decided decisively that he wanted to do Solo missions. People were a pain when you had to work with them instead of just maneuvering them.
"Oh hey girl, wanna come watch Buffy with us?" Poppy said at the door hand in hand with James.
"Oh Hello Ash." Poppy said cheerfully. James still looked on his cousin in distrust.
" Hope you don't mind but We're watching Buffy." Ash rolled his eyes at the irony. Vampires watching a show about a vampire killer. Oh Angel Oh Buffy.
"I can't be with you because you're a human and I've been a bad bad vampire." Ash mocked and then paused realizing the same could be said of his own love life. Laurel snickered from the back of the room. Ash glared. I should never have let her know about Mare.
"It's cute" Poppy argued, talking about the show.
"Maybe I'll watch it." Ash said.. During the show Ash kept getting upset when Buffy and Angel were continully kept apart. He seemed honestly distressed. In the back Laurel understood why. He's moody. He must be seeing Angel as himself and his soulmate as Buffy. But he still had no right to say those things. ~~~~~ The next afternoon Ash woke up to the sounds of gossip. He imagined that the populace thought they were being quiet about it, but it was clear that something was up. Laurel was whistling in the kitchen completely relaxed while everyone else he ran into seemed to be on edge. Had someone attacked? Laureldidn't seem concerned... that meant something...Oh. Miss vision girl had foreseen something and it'd come true. It had to be, she looked like a cat who'd gotton away with eating the family bird. He idly wondered how much money from bets she was going to get from this one.
"Good Morning Ash."
"Afternoon." He corrected. " What's up?" Ash waved his hands at the nervous populace.
"New Recruits this morning." It had to be someone with a past much like his own for people to be this nervous.
" You seem confident."
"I'm going to be calling in quite a few bets." She rubbed her hands together. Ash left before he made a retort. He went into the upper lounge to escape. Everyone seemed to be avoiding that area. Which was perfect cause he was feeling antisocial. A couple was occupying the loveseat. They seemed jumpy too. Ash gaped.
"Quinn?!"
Quinn seemed just as surprized to see him. The human girl next to him inquired
." You know each other? I thought you only knew the worst kind of schondrels."
" I do." Quinn defended. " Meet Ash Redfern." Rashel looked at him carefully. It was hard not to stare, he was disarmingly handsome. She'd heard of him, he was known for being a womanizer and very manipulative, leader of the Redfern clan out here just the kind of guy the old Quinn would know. The door was opened without ceremony by Laurel.
"Hey, I've got a mission for you guys if you really want to start today." She held a folder grinning.
"No one else had enough guts to deliver it themselves?" Rashel said with a bit of contempt.
"Pretty much yeah. Currently." She was all smiles. Rashel took the file. Quinn looked like he thought it was foolhardy of her to mention such things in front of Ash. His jaw hardened.
"Thierry accepted him into circle Daybreak? We can't be that desperate! Quinn hates humans. And who's the chick?" Ash said in disbelief. Quinn was quiet for a moment-studying Ash.
"You. You're part of Circle Daybreak?!!" He'd always trusted his ability to read other people's minds, but it was too impossible to believe. Ash stiffened. The girl was looking fondly on Quinn, he was manipulating her for sure. Quinn was too short for any girl to look at like that, especially with himself in the room. Quinn was infiltrating C.D. for the counsel, couldn't people see that?
Thierry was too used to people following his lead, he'd made a fatal mistake. How could Laurel be grinning like that? Was she working for the counsel too? Any moment they were going to be attacked for sure. How come his counsel contacts hadn't warned him? Thierry entered from another side, or was it appear?
"The "chick" is Rashel,Quinn's soulmate." Laurel nodded as if she'd suspected this for a long time. Likely story. Ash thought. Rashel got up with too much grace which made Ash more nervous. No normal humans did that. James and a few others stormed behind Thierry as if they'd been running to catch up.
"Quinn has a soul?" Ash said in mock amazement. Thierry ignored the comment.
"They'll be helping us, Rashel was the slayer known as "The Cat" murmurs abounded.
"I don't believe you. I've gone up against THAT slayer, and she's a man hater." Ash argued. " Was." Rashel said with confidence going into a pose with vampire fast speed and slapping Ash. ~OK maybe was. And maybe I deserved that- did I kill a friend of hers? Hmm~~ Ash pondered Ash relaxed more, it was possible that others had been ruined by the soulmate curse. Why not Quinn?
" So Little Quinny boy likes girls?" Ash teased. Quinn glared and brought to his mind what a strong telepath like himself could do.
"So why did Ash Redfern betray his family and become a damned daybreaker?"
"Why does anybody? and I'm not one of them.. I'm just- here."
Quinn nodded. "So why are you here?"
"No reason" Ash put his hands in his pockets. "Just felt like it. If you'll excuse me." Ash left the room doing his "I'm cool and unafraid thing"
Laurel was outside talking on her cell phone. "This is great news, Of course I'll help, this'll be so much fun." Upon seeing him she paused as if caught and stopped smiling.
Talking about me are you? She nodded at him acknowledging his presence and walked away. Curious and Curiouser.
Next day~~~
"Who were you talking about me to last night?" Ash said annoyed. His partner didn't look at him, said nothing.
"Well?"
"Thierry said that you wanted solo missions."
"Yes. I work best alone I decided." Ash said practically saying because you failed at the last mission.
"Please! My fault? Do you really think Thierry is going to give it to you? You don't give solo missions to someone who's-" Laurel stoped looking at the dark ciricles under his eyes that he was probably ignoring.
"Who's what? Come on Miss. Perfect never made a mistake, say it. I'm not perfect."
"You're not whole. And I've made plenty of mistakes that have ended with people I care about dead. So don't go there Ash."
Ah Yes that's where miss perfectionist came from. Her look reminded him of last September. Of when he was trying to find Circle Daybreak. He'd arrived at Aradia's where he knew she was apprenticing. He knew she'd been trying to clean up her life for years. Since the death, she'd been especially difficult. He'd been avoiding her as a stick in the mud, but now. It was convienent. She'd answered the door and looked at him as if he was very unwelcome.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just Visiting."
She'd known why he was there, Aradia had suspected. But still she'd looked at him as if she wanted to slam the door. It was if she had gotton over alcoholism and he was her drinking buddy with a 6 pack. He was dangerous to what she had chosen to become. Aradia had insisted that she let him in.
"Stop changing the subject."
"Excuse me." She said leaving him alone in the room. Fearing that Ash had been using her all along, the way he had used so many people she'd known.
Ash watched her leave, scanning her thoughts, someday he'd have to come clean and tell her... Well thats what tomarrows for right? No need to burn bridges today.
A week or so later Ash came back from his first solo mission to a much agitated Mansion. Thiery was gone but everyone else was being-weird. He ignored them and went straight to sleep. Technically he didn't need it, but sleep was one of those luxuries he enjoyed generally.
~~~There she was in the forest looking at the stars,with arms around Mare. A
guy,who wasn't him. "Mare!"
She glared back at him in contempt. " I never want to see you again.. what are
you some stalker? I thought I made it perfectly clear that you'll never be good
enough for me, you monster!"
He looked down on himself, to see that he had claws, his fangs were much longer
than they ussually were, and his skin was gray. In her eyes he say his
reflection, eyes that shifted color darkly. He got closer to her trying to deny
his appearence and she cut him with her silver letter opener. Drops of his dark
blood fell, in the way of a dream he saw in them was the deaths of four innocent
babies shining blue. Their deaths and so many others. Blue eyes accused him.~~~~ ~ He woke up in a chilly sweat that choked. A hot shower rid him of the sweat but not of the memories- not all of them from his dream, but of things he had done. In the hallway some silly girls were talking.
"She's here?"
"No way!"
Ash opened his door. "Her Who?" Ash asked one of the daybreakers who thought they were whispering.
" Thierry's soulmate!"
Oh. "Wait...the old one he killed?" Ash said Glare from the witch girls.
"I mean, he's not here-but she is?"
"No one knows where he is."
"OooK" Ash left trying to find a quieter spot.
"Welcome to the meeting Ash." Thea smiled pulling Ash into a room. Ash groaned.
****read Soulmate for details::
It was late one night after talking to Hannah that Ash realized that he felt a strong presence- Maya. He left Hannah to tell the others only to realize too late that that was Maya getting him out of the room. He rans back, but Hannah was gone.
"Great, can't save anyone's soulmate now can I ?" On a more personal note he realized that being the last person with Hannah before she was taken that he was going to get blamed for it. His cousins pretended to trust him but this- was not good.
Ash ran to the balcony, looking around. Maya the human form returning was running away.
"Maya!" He jumped off and gave a somewhat futile chase. This was Maya after all.
"Come on, you just running off? Not staying for some Tea? Tsk Tsk." Maya turned around abruptly and glared at him. She was still a bit bat like. He looked into Maya's eyes.. which were just like his. I am is related to that monster, trying to get Mary Lynnette to go with me, but, my eyes are just like hers. Thierry had only been changed by that blood, it wasn't who he was. But me, I'm one of the monsters. There isn't a cure for what you are.
~~So why fight it?~~ Maya said in his mind. Ash blinked. She'd been trying to get him back- to the council.
~You were good at what you did once. You can be again~~ His yells were starting to gather the attention of the guards. He blinked and she was gone.
"You just let her get away!"
"You could have at least stalled her so we could help!" Ash was disoriented. He didn't even give them the time of night. It's too much. C.D. will never trust me no matter what I do, they blame me, and I used to be looked up to. I used to be The man. I could do anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunny months passed. Seniors graduated, and celebrated their new freedom. Kestrel was listening to Mare go on and on about all the acceptance letters she'd recieved from colleges all over the country. It was a minor concern since she planned to follow Mare where ever she moved to, not for more schooling, as a Redfern she didn't really need any, but to get the heck out of Briar Creek! Rowan had become fond of this small town life and Jade was still infatuated with Mark. Kestrel alone was sick of the small town. She needed a place with more vamps and plenty more guys her age. Uh oh. Mare was getting that dreamly only a few months left look.
"Pick this one Already." ~~~~~~~~~~~
Ash tried to hide his nervousness when he got on the plane. In a few hours he'd be rightfully in Oregon. He tried not to linger on such thoughts as not being invited to Mare's graduation. It would be a year to the day. He would never tell her about the last few dark months. He'd hide those from her as best he could.
He'd done a lot of good and Hannah had said that she didn't blame him, and that his soulmate was waiting for him. He kept fingering the return ticket for her in his pocket. She would join him. They were destined for one another so why was he so nervous. He'd raced his rental car towards Briar Creek. Rowan had never mentioned Mare getting a boyfriend. He turned onto their road. This whole year had been leading up to this. A deep breath, another. Act Casual. Burdock farm looked nice. newer. He knocked. and when he heard footsteps coming he cleared his throat.
"Ash! It's so nice to see you, we've been expecting you." Rowan said in her usual polite manner. "Come right in." She seemed a little nervous.
~I wonder how upset he'll be when I tell him?~ Ash's eyes widened, he didn't think he was supposed to hear that thought.. A nervous couple was behind Rowan. Hand and hand. The girl looked defiant.
~I don't need your permission anymore buddy, I run my own life, I date who I want to.~
"Hi" the dark haired guy said.
"Mark" Ash was surprized how different, more confident and taller he looked.
"So. Where's your sister?" Ash tried to be Casual. Mark winced. Rowan responded.
" She's left already." From his confused look she added.
"For college, I don'tknow where though, it's some big secret, they were planning on a long road trip first."
"They left about a week or so ago."
"You missed them."
"Them being- Kestral and Mare- right?" better not be a boyfriend.
"Yeah." Ash still deflated. After working himself up so much to see her, it was a real let down not to. Was this some subtle hint that she didn't want him?
"You didn't expect her to be waiting here for you, did you? Human girls aren't like that" Jade said with newfound confidence.
::insert evil laughter here::: Cliffhanger. No Mare? Where are they? Will Ash ever see her again? Next time on Seeking Favor, "Whatcha going to do now?"
Life at the Mansion
Ash was moodily playing a video game at the mansion. He killed another generic baddie. They had just been grilled on the circumstances of Jessica's death. Typical after mission drill until Laurel had mentioned some vision she'd had about some old soul, Thierry had gone pale. He looked the way Ash felt daily. He forgot about asking them more questions and had ushered Ash and Nielson out of the room and had Lupe called in. He was acting very wierdly, trying to remain his usual stoic-ness and failing. On the upside Ash hadn't been questioned further. On the down side, it was like Ash wasn't important anymore. When he had first got here people had been a bit skeptical of his change but were thrilled to have him on. Here he was risking his reputation helping C.D. and Thierry became concerned about some old soul who had nothing to do with human rights or the end of the world. Stagehog. Laurel was always trying to get attention, trying to be better than everyone else even when they were kids. It was annoying. Speaking of the devil, Laurel came in looking excited.
" So he wanted all kinds of details, had me call Aradia for her opinion." Laurel from the couch behind him ranted on. " I think I may have fell upon some exciting news! He mentioned his soulmate. Ash! I think I ran into Thierry's soulmate! Isn't that exciting?" She sounded smug now.
" Single handedly saving ... nothing oh joy." Ash said bitingly She frowned but continued.
"So He's sending Lupe's team to check."
" Not you? oh you must be sooo disapointed, someone else getting your laurels." Ash vented. He'd only been half listening anyway. With any luck she would get the hint and leave me alone. Laurel bit her lip and got up to go. Ash was being too moody to deal with. It was then that Ash decided decisively that he wanted to do Solo missions. People were a pain when you had to work with them instead of just maneuvering them.
"Oh hey girl, wanna come watch Buffy with us?" Poppy said at the door hand in hand with James.
"Oh Hello Ash." Poppy said cheerfully. James still looked on his cousin in distrust.
" Hope you don't mind but We're watching Buffy." Ash rolled his eyes at the irony. Vampires watching a show about a vampire killer. Oh Angel Oh Buffy.
"I can't be with you because you're a human and I've been a bad bad vampire." Ash mocked and then paused realizing the same could be said of his own love life. Laurel snickered from the back of the room. Ash glared. I should never have let her know about Mare.
"It's cute" Poppy argued, talking about the show.
"Maybe I'll watch it." Ash said.. During the show Ash kept getting upset when Buffy and Angel were continully kept apart. He seemed honestly distressed. In the back Laurel understood why. He's moody. He must be seeing Angel as himself and his soulmate as Buffy. But he still had no right to say those things. ~~~~~ The next afternoon Ash woke up to the sounds of gossip. He imagined that the populace thought they were being quiet about it, but it was clear that something was up. Laurel was whistling in the kitchen completely relaxed while everyone else he ran into seemed to be on edge. Had someone attacked? Laureldidn't seem concerned... that meant something...Oh. Miss vision girl had foreseen something and it'd come true. It had to be, she looked like a cat who'd gotton away with eating the family bird. He idly wondered how much money from bets she was going to get from this one.
"Good Morning Ash."
"Afternoon." He corrected. " What's up?" Ash waved his hands at the nervous populace.
"New Recruits this morning." It had to be someone with a past much like his own for people to be this nervous.
" You seem confident."
"I'm going to be calling in quite a few bets." She rubbed her hands together. Ash left before he made a retort. He went into the upper lounge to escape. Everyone seemed to be avoiding that area. Which was perfect cause he was feeling antisocial. A couple was occupying the loveseat. They seemed jumpy too. Ash gaped.
"Quinn?!"
Quinn seemed just as surprized to see him. The human girl next to him inquired
." You know each other? I thought you only knew the worst kind of schondrels."
" I do." Quinn defended. " Meet Ash Redfern." Rashel looked at him carefully. It was hard not to stare, he was disarmingly handsome. She'd heard of him, he was known for being a womanizer and very manipulative, leader of the Redfern clan out here just the kind of guy the old Quinn would know. The door was opened without ceremony by Laurel.
"Hey, I've got a mission for you guys if you really want to start today." She held a folder grinning.
"No one else had enough guts to deliver it themselves?" Rashel said with a bit of contempt.
"Pretty much yeah. Currently." She was all smiles. Rashel took the file. Quinn looked like he thought it was foolhardy of her to mention such things in front of Ash. His jaw hardened.
"Thierry accepted him into circle Daybreak? We can't be that desperate! Quinn hates humans. And who's the chick?" Ash said in disbelief. Quinn was quiet for a moment-studying Ash.
"You. You're part of Circle Daybreak?!!" He'd always trusted his ability to read other people's minds, but it was too impossible to believe. Ash stiffened. The girl was looking fondly on Quinn, he was manipulating her for sure. Quinn was too short for any girl to look at like that, especially with himself in the room. Quinn was infiltrating C.D. for the counsel, couldn't people see that?
Thierry was too used to people following his lead, he'd made a fatal mistake. How could Laurel be grinning like that? Was she working for the counsel too? Any moment they were going to be attacked for sure. How come his counsel contacts hadn't warned him? Thierry entered from another side, or was it appear?
"The "chick" is Rashel,Quinn's soulmate." Laurel nodded as if she'd suspected this for a long time. Likely story. Ash thought. Rashel got up with too much grace which made Ash more nervous. No normal humans did that. James and a few others stormed behind Thierry as if they'd been running to catch up.
"Quinn has a soul?" Ash said in mock amazement. Thierry ignored the comment.
"They'll be helping us, Rashel was the slayer known as "The Cat" murmurs abounded.
"I don't believe you. I've gone up against THAT slayer, and she's a man hater." Ash argued. " Was." Rashel said with confidence going into a pose with vampire fast speed and slapping Ash. ~OK maybe was. And maybe I deserved that- did I kill a friend of hers? Hmm~~ Ash pondered Ash relaxed more, it was possible that others had been ruined by the soulmate curse. Why not Quinn?
" So Little Quinny boy likes girls?" Ash teased. Quinn glared and brought to his mind what a strong telepath like himself could do.
"So why did Ash Redfern betray his family and become a damned daybreaker?"
"Why does anybody? and I'm not one of them.. I'm just- here."
Quinn nodded. "So why are you here?"
"No reason" Ash put his hands in his pockets. "Just felt like it. If you'll excuse me." Ash left the room doing his "I'm cool and unafraid thing"
Laurel was outside talking on her cell phone. "This is great news, Of course I'll help, this'll be so much fun." Upon seeing him she paused as if caught and stopped smiling.
Talking about me are you? She nodded at him acknowledging his presence and walked away. Curious and Curiouser.
Next day~~~
"Who were you talking about me to last night?" Ash said annoyed. His partner didn't look at him, said nothing.
"Well?"
"Thierry said that you wanted solo missions."
"Yes. I work best alone I decided." Ash said practically saying because you failed at the last mission.
"Please! My fault? Do you really think Thierry is going to give it to you? You don't give solo missions to someone who's-" Laurel stoped looking at the dark ciricles under his eyes that he was probably ignoring.
"Who's what? Come on Miss. Perfect never made a mistake, say it. I'm not perfect."
"You're not whole. And I've made plenty of mistakes that have ended with people I care about dead. So don't go there Ash."
Ah Yes that's where miss perfectionist came from. Her look reminded him of last September. Of when he was trying to find Circle Daybreak. He'd arrived at Aradia's where he knew she was apprenticing. He knew she'd been trying to clean up her life for years. Since the death, she'd been especially difficult. He'd been avoiding her as a stick in the mud, but now. It was convienent. She'd answered the door and looked at him as if he was very unwelcome.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just Visiting."
She'd known why he was there, Aradia had suspected. But still she'd looked at him as if she wanted to slam the door. It was if she had gotton over alcoholism and he was her drinking buddy with a 6 pack. He was dangerous to what she had chosen to become. Aradia had insisted that she let him in.
"Stop changing the subject."
"Excuse me." She said leaving him alone in the room. Fearing that Ash had been using her all along, the way he had used so many people she'd known.
Ash watched her leave, scanning her thoughts, someday he'd have to come clean and tell her... Well thats what tomarrows for right? No need to burn bridges today.
A week or so later Ash came back from his first solo mission to a much agitated Mansion. Thiery was gone but everyone else was being-weird. He ignored them and went straight to sleep. Technically he didn't need it, but sleep was one of those luxuries he enjoyed generally.
~~~There she was in the forest looking at the stars,with arms around Mare. A
guy,who wasn't him. "Mare!"
She glared back at him in contempt. " I never want to see you again.. what are
you some stalker? I thought I made it perfectly clear that you'll never be good
enough for me, you monster!"
He looked down on himself, to see that he had claws, his fangs were much longer
than they ussually were, and his skin was gray. In her eyes he say his
reflection, eyes that shifted color darkly. He got closer to her trying to deny
his appearence and she cut him with her silver letter opener. Drops of his dark
blood fell, in the way of a dream he saw in them was the deaths of four innocent
babies shining blue. Their deaths and so many others. Blue eyes accused him.~~~~ ~ He woke up in a chilly sweat that choked. A hot shower rid him of the sweat but not of the memories- not all of them from his dream, but of things he had done. In the hallway some silly girls were talking.
"She's here?"
"No way!"
Ash opened his door. "Her Who?" Ash asked one of the daybreakers who thought they were whispering.
" Thierry's soulmate!"
Oh. "Wait...the old one he killed?" Ash said Glare from the witch girls.
"I mean, he's not here-but she is?"
"No one knows where he is."
"OooK" Ash left trying to find a quieter spot.
"Welcome to the meeting Ash." Thea smiled pulling Ash into a room. Ash groaned.
****read Soulmate for details::
It was late one night after talking to Hannah that Ash realized that he felt a strong presence- Maya. He left Hannah to tell the others only to realize too late that that was Maya getting him out of the room. He rans back, but Hannah was gone.
"Great, can't save anyone's soulmate now can I ?" On a more personal note he realized that being the last person with Hannah before she was taken that he was going to get blamed for it. His cousins pretended to trust him but this- was not good.
Ash ran to the balcony, looking around. Maya the human form returning was running away.
"Maya!" He jumped off and gave a somewhat futile chase. This was Maya after all.
"Come on, you just running off? Not staying for some Tea? Tsk Tsk." Maya turned around abruptly and glared at him. She was still a bit bat like. He looked into Maya's eyes.. which were just like his. I am is related to that monster, trying to get Mary Lynnette to go with me, but, my eyes are just like hers. Thierry had only been changed by that blood, it wasn't who he was. But me, I'm one of the monsters. There isn't a cure for what you are.
~~So why fight it?~~ Maya said in his mind. Ash blinked. She'd been trying to get him back- to the council.
~You were good at what you did once. You can be again~~ His yells were starting to gather the attention of the guards. He blinked and she was gone.
"You just let her get away!"
"You could have at least stalled her so we could help!" Ash was disoriented. He didn't even give them the time of night. It's too much. C.D. will never trust me no matter what I do, they blame me, and I used to be looked up to. I used to be The man. I could do anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunny months passed. Seniors graduated, and celebrated their new freedom. Kestrel was listening to Mare go on and on about all the acceptance letters she'd recieved from colleges all over the country. It was a minor concern since she planned to follow Mare where ever she moved to, not for more schooling, as a Redfern she didn't really need any, but to get the heck out of Briar Creek! Rowan had become fond of this small town life and Jade was still infatuated with Mark. Kestrel alone was sick of the small town. She needed a place with more vamps and plenty more guys her age. Uh oh. Mare was getting that dreamly only a few months left look.
"Pick this one Already." ~~~~~~~~~~~
Ash tried to hide his nervousness when he got on the plane. In a few hours he'd be rightfully in Oregon. He tried not to linger on such thoughts as not being invited to Mare's graduation. It would be a year to the day. He would never tell her about the last few dark months. He'd hide those from her as best he could.
He'd done a lot of good and Hannah had said that she didn't blame him, and that his soulmate was waiting for him. He kept fingering the return ticket for her in his pocket. She would join him. They were destined for one another so why was he so nervous. He'd raced his rental car towards Briar Creek. Rowan had never mentioned Mare getting a boyfriend. He turned onto their road. This whole year had been leading up to this. A deep breath, another. Act Casual. Burdock farm looked nice. newer. He knocked. and when he heard footsteps coming he cleared his throat.
"Ash! It's so nice to see you, we've been expecting you." Rowan said in her usual polite manner. "Come right in." She seemed a little nervous.
~I wonder how upset he'll be when I tell him?~ Ash's eyes widened, he didn't think he was supposed to hear that thought.. A nervous couple was behind Rowan. Hand and hand. The girl looked defiant.
~I don't need your permission anymore buddy, I run my own life, I date who I want to.~
"Hi" the dark haired guy said.
"Mark" Ash was surprized how different, more confident and taller he looked.
"So. Where's your sister?" Ash tried to be Casual. Mark winced. Rowan responded.
" She's left already." From his confused look she added.
"For college, I don'tknow where though, it's some big secret, they were planning on a long road trip first."
"They left about a week or so ago."
"You missed them."
"Them being- Kestral and Mare- right?" better not be a boyfriend.
"Yeah." Ash still deflated. After working himself up so much to see her, it was a real let down not to. Was this some subtle hint that she didn't want him?
"You didn't expect her to be waiting here for you, did you? Human girls aren't like that" Jade said with newfound confidence.
::insert evil laughter here::: Cliffhanger. No Mare? Where are they? Will Ash ever see her again? Next time on Seeking Favor, "Whatcha going to do now?"
