Chapter d Aster

Lot, now at his side, rippled his eyebrows, yet still managed to grin. "What are you talkin' about, buddy? Head on through. We're going downstairs."

Iggy looked over at him. "But, the mess?"

Lot's hand waved in front of Iggy's face, interrupting his train of thought. "Don't worry about it. You're our guest. You know, us suckers need to stay together, right? So, go on down. Take a good shower, we'll give ya some clothes, and then you can tell us why you decided to rip that guy into pieces. And other stuff, like where you come from. OK?"

With a smirk that seemed out of place, Aster rounded Iggy and came to stand right before him on the clean floor with her dirty heels on. "Come with me. I'll get ya cleaned up." Her hand caressed the back of his hand and the other pointed toward the stairs. A television played loudly on the lower floor and images flashed brightly against the wall that was made up of black windows. "Come," she sang, flirtatiously. "Don't be afraid. You're the scariest one here, after all."

She was more correct than she could have guessed. Although he felt terrible for doing so, he walked forward and continued the trail across the freshly cleaned floor. Aster attempted to wrap her arm around his lower back but he jolted down the stairs to be out of her reach.

Lot planted himself in front of Becca. "You stupid bitch," he barked at her. "Stand up!" She stood before him with a dull look in her downturned eyes. "Why are there still cookies on the table? I told you to eat that shit. You know I like it when you taste sweet!"

Becca glanced up for only a moment and Whack! The sound was loud. Iggy stopped and looked back up the stairs. Becca held her hot cheek in her hand and she glared down at the floor with eyes absent of fear, yet full of quivering rage. Iggy understood now that she was the house slave that they'd been seeking to replace.

Lot pointed down the stairs. "Now, go be hospitable, and get our guest some clothes."

Becca dared to ask, "wh… what kind of clothes?"

Lot took a step closer and she cowered. "Whatever clothes that fucking fit him."

"But… but… that's all I have left of him."

Lot snatched her by the arm and tossed her down the stairs. Resisting the tumble, she navigated around Aster and Iggy, still cradling her cheek in her palm. Never mind her blistering hot cheek and the wet frustration in her eyes. Her bare legs. The scars. That's what Iggy saw. And as she hurried past a wave of vanilla air smacked him in the face.

The lower level was a large living room with a row of plush seats and a television, however no one was there watching it. There was a hallway, too, lined with four doors. Becca retreated into a bedroom and went to her dresser that was positioned near the door.

Aster noticed how Iggy was observing Becca. How he leaned in and watched her through the doorway, scrambling through her top drawer, searching for something. Becca's beautifully round mouth was clenched in an angry frown, as she peeled out a shirt, a pair of pants, and a pair of boxer shorts. She clutched them to her chest, her chin lowered over the bundle, and her eyes shut. She inhaled deeply, savoring the remnants of the scent that she was missing so dearly.

Aster tugged the hem of Iggy's white shirt and he stood upright and alert. "You don't need to bother with her," Aster said. "She won't be around for much longer."

Even so, Iggy couldn't help himself. He leaned in to watch Becca again, but happened to lean right into her path as she exited the room. Becca startled to a stop, gripping the clothing to her flat chest, while facing him directly.

Before they even locked eyes, Aster drove herself in between the two and glowered at Becca. Then, Aster stole the clothing right out of her hands. As if she were losing her own child, Becca covered her mouth and sobbed into her hand. Losing what seemed to be worthless clothing was more devastating to her than the bruise swelling on her cheek.

Aster, however, was indifferent. "Geeze. Step back, you lazy slut. It's just clothes. Get a hold of yourself." Becca choked back her crying, swallowing each sob, and Aster turned to face Iggy. Her entire affect changed from cruel lioness to smiling kitten. "Everything you need for a shower is in here." She extended her long arm to the nearest door and opened it. She flicked on the light and set the clothing on top of the counter. "Let's get to it then. I'm still wondering what you look like under all dirt. Scrub-a-dub-dub, now!" She pressed Iggy's lower back, and to avoid the contact, he hopped right into the bathroom.

Now alone behind a closed door, Iggy looked down at his shredded blood covered shirt, slipped his fingers into the holes, and ripped it off of his shoulders like paper. The cuffs of his pants were heavy and caked with mud that continued past, matting his feet. He undressed and stepped through the plastic shower curtain into the hot waterfall. He squatted with his back toward the water and arched over his arms and knees to rest. Even through the water, he could hear the two talking on the other side of the door.

Aster's voice was deep and quiet. "Quit crying, Becca," she demanded.

Becca.

Iggy's ears tingled.

"I…" she sobbed, again. "I… don't have anything left to remember him by."

"Maybe if you hadn't run away, your brother would still be here. You're the reason why he got killed, so get over it. Your whining got old a long time ago." Aster turned toward the closed door and knocked on it. "Are you alright in there? I'm waiting!"

Iggy jumped right up to his feet, clashing through the force of falling water. His time was up. He turned the water off and came out, and then dried off slowly in front of the mirror, but did everything that he could to avoid his own reflection. He opened the folded clothing and the smell of salty vanilla struck his nose as if it had been unraveled with it. The first item was a dark long sleeved green shirt. He put it on and stuffed his nose in the neck hole and sniffed it like a dog, searching for the vanilla over the saltiness. It wasn't difficult. It was as if he had already been intimate with the girl and was holding onto her lingering essence.

After putting clothes on his lower half too, Iggy stood before his reflection dressed and surprised that such trivial things, like a new outfit, could change someone's appearance so drastically. He was getting used to not being able to recognize himself. He opened the door with his old clothes heaped in hand.

Aster stood the closest, practically leaning against the door as he opened it. When she looked at him from his head to his feet, her eyes glistened, her pupils dilated, and her mouth became wet. "Oh…" she smiled. "There was a person under there after all. I like what I see." She snatched the dirty clothes out of his hands and shoved them into Becca's chest without looking at her.

Becca's face was hard, wet, and very sad. She could hardly stand to look at him at all.

Aster gently pulled his shoulder. "Come this way." She led him to a square windowless room that was uninhabited and clean. The walls were dark gray, too gray for the room's size, but what difference did it make? There was a small bed and an empty dresser that sat on top of a dusty blue carpet. Aster huddled near the door, desperately resisting the urge to follow him inside. "This is our guest room," she said. "Get some rest. We'll see each other again tomorrow night." As she backed away, she smiled that teasing smile and whispered, "sweet dreams, Prince charming."