Eight

The group went down to the dining room where the servers were placing placemats for everyone that would be present for dinner. Ash and Snow sat next to each other and Alan and Charlie sat across from them.

“I can’t believe this is happening.” Alan said as he looked down at the ornate wood table.

“It is, and this place has no issue with serving seconds.” Ash said.

Alan’s brown eyes lit up with glee. The boy was rail thin but was known for having a huge appetite.

“What is with you and food?” Snow asked.

“I enjoy the many varieties it comes in. Is that a crime?” Alan retorted.

Snow just rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair crossing her arms. Ash rolled her eyes and looked towards Charlie and put out her hand in a sweeping gesture. “These are my children.”

“I’m a month older than you.” Alan replied.

“I’m a year older than both of you.” Snow said with a smile.

“We know!” Alan and Ash said at the same time.

“Do they always speak in unison?” Charlie asked.

“Only when they’re yelling at me.” Snow pouted.

“Well things seem to have gotten livelier around here.” Queen Anabelle said as she entered the room. She was pushing Ellis in a wheelchair and placed him next to Charlie.

The Queen took her spot at the head of the table.

“My Queen, Prince Ellis allow me to introduce my best friends Xue Bai-Song, she prefers to go by Snow, and Alan Altin.” Ash said gesturing towards her friends.

“It’s an honor to meet you.” Snow and Alan said in unison. Charlie raised an eyebrow and looked towards Ash.

“Yep, they do it too.” She said.

“Fascinating.” He stated.

“Don’t you and your friends tend to do weird things?” Ash asked.

“Talk in unison.” Alan listed.

“Walk in unison.” Snow added.

“Unconsciously wear the same colors on the same day.” Ash stated. “We’re doing it now.” She observed.

It was true she, Alan and Snow were all wearing red and black outfits. Ash was wearing black jeans, a scarlet shirt with black sleeves and a matching ruby choker with a black ribbon. Snow’s dress was a lighter shade of red with black lace on the low collar and a red ribbon in her hair. Alan was wearing a red shirt under a black leather jacket, and black jeans.

Charlie looked down rubbing the back of his head. “I don’t really have close friends.”

“Gee thanks!” Ellis and another voice said.

Everyone turned to look at Vincent who sat at the table next to Ash. The two nodded at each other and Charlie rolled his eyes.

“Siblings don’t count.” Charlie argued.

“Well too bad, we know all your secrets.” Vincent said.

“My siblings were my first friends.” Anabelle chimed.

“Whose side are you on?” Charlie grumbled.

“I love all my boys equally.” Anabelle said innocently.

“Boooo!” Ellis, Vincent and Charlie jeered playfully, Anabelle snorted.

Truthfully, Charlie didn’t have many friends his own age. He had gone to university when he was twelve and graduated with degrees in architecture and agriculture. Most of his real friends were adults and the ‘friends’ around his age were snotty nobles who went to school abroad. They had all left Alonia once school started. Charlie was happy for the break. Being friends with self-entitled rich kids was exhausting. Besides it’s not like they were really interested in being Charlie’s companions, they were just vying for bragging rights. Not like it would get them anywhere.

“Well now you’ve got three friends that are always nearby.” Alan said.

“That’s right we really have nothing going on in our lives, so we can stop by whenever you want.” Snow said with a smile.

“Eloquently said Snow.” Alan stated drily.

“Well am I wrong?” She retorted.

Ash rolled her eyes and drew her attention to Charlie. “Are you sure you want to be friends with us? Me, I understand, but these two are nuts.” she said with a smile.

“Excuse me?” Snow said.

“Don’t let her fool you she’s actually crazier than we are.” Alan said throwing a grape at Ash who just caught it in her mouth and started chewing.

Ellis and Vincent clapped impressed while Alan looked offended and Anabelle snickered.

“I don’t mind crazy.” Charlie said staring at Ash with a grin.

“Perfect!” Alan, Ash and Snow said in unison.

“Wow that was creepy.” Charlie commented.

They all laughed, and Anabelle smiled into her cup happily observing her sons interact with their new friends.

Some time had passed and Alan, Snow and Ash were sharing stories about their adventures as semi-normal teens.

“So then in the middle of her solo Snow throws a knife at her understudy who had previously tried to set her dress on fire.” Ash said.

“It was the worst night of my poor sister’s life. She had to redesign the dress five times before the show was over. Needless to say, she’ll never work theatre again.” Alan said.

“That sounds like a play I would love to see.” Ellis said.

“What you should’ve seen was Ash jump into the forest and fall down into a ditch.” Charlie said.

“No actually you should’ve seen Charlie’s face when he almost ran her over. I thought he was going to scream.” Vincent said putting his hands on his cheeks in horror.

The table laughed.

“Looking back it was kind of funny she got grass and a twig in her hair.” Charlie said.

“I didn’t see a twig.” Ash said confused.

“It fell out when you faceplanted into my chest.” Charlie asked amused.

The table broke into a chorus of suggestive ‘ooohhhh’s causing Ash to turn red.

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about that.” Ash sputtered hiding her face in her hair.

“I made no such promise, it’s not like we told them about…the other thing.”

“Other thing?” Alan asked.

Ash was now sliding down her chair to hide under the table, while Charlie avoided the gaze of the rest of the table.

“Ash! Get back up here.” Snow said laughing.

“Nope.”

“Why are you two acting so weird?” Ellis asked.

Charlie ate more of his pasta refusing to make eye contact.

The whole table laughed, but the mirth was interrupted as a guard entered the room. “My Queen, there is Caleb Fai and Bernard Black here.”

Ash popped up from under the table in shock, her father was back already? He came home early? She was speechless feeling anxiety take over. There were too many emotions going through her. Relief, fear, elation, nervousness. She definitely wasn’t ready for this. Maybe she should duck back under the table.

“Send them in.” the Queen said.

Charlie, Alan and Snow turned their attention to Ash who had an expectant look in her eyes as she stared at the dining room entrance. A tall man with fair freckled skin and red hair walk through looking around bewildered his gaze landed towards the table and then locked his hazel eyes with Ash’s.

Ash stood up and walked towards her father who scooped her up. Caleb came in after his stepfather and stopped as soon as he saw the two hugging, a small smile on his face.

The father and daughter reunion ended and Bernard placed Ash back on the ground. “Ash, what’s this I hear about you being sent here for protection, and from Morgana?” he asked confused.

Ash put her head down and sighed. “Papa, there’s something about Morgana that you need to know.” She said. “I-she…” she broke off unable to find the words.

“My mother is abusive and has been severely mistreating Ash for years.” Caleb blurted. Everyone’s attention turned to him. “She’s beaten her with her own hands, and worse.”

Snow stood from her chair an angry flush on her face. “Since when do you care?” she yelled.

“I’ve always cared, who was the one who took her to your house so that she could get stitched up the night she was whipped? Who’s been patching her up when we couldn’t go anywhere else? Who’s gone to Alonian Patrol to report it for two years? Me! It was all me Snow! And you know it!” Caleb shouted.

“Calm down both of you! Yelling at each other is not how we’re going to go about this. Don’t make it any harder than it is.” Alan said also standing.

Charlie, Vincent, Ellis and Anabelle sat in silence as they watched the scene play out. Ellis was leaning into Charlie. Snow and Caleb exchanged angry glares, but Snow sat back down and shoved a forkful of pasta into her mouth.

Bernard looked from his daughter to his son in confusion, Caleb stood scowling and clenching his fist and Ash was looking down hugging herself.

“Morgana’s hurt you?” he asked.

Ash nodded still not meeting his gaze.

“Will you look at me?” he asked gently.

She shook her head. She could feel tears coming to her eyes. Bernard knelt to look up at her face and their eyes met again.

Bernard saw so much pain and embarrassment in his daughter’s eyes. He hadn’t seen her like this in a long time. He had been that way once too, and she tried her best to help him. She was always trying to help him. He had thought marrying Morgana would help her, but it didn’t, she suffered abuse all this time. Right under his nose, how could he have been so blind?

“Where did she hurt you?” he asked wiping away her tears.

Ash sniffled and drew up her sleeves to reveal her scarred arms. Bernard took them in his hands and inspected them. Ash’s brown and freckled skin was marred by dark and raised lines. “How could she do this?”

“I have more.” She said quietly.

Bernard turned his head to Caleb questioningly and Caleb just looked down in shame. “Where… where are the others?” Bernard asked taking a shaky breath.

“My back, but not everything she did resulted in scars.” Ash replied.

“I want to see them.” He said.

“What will you do after you see them?” she asked.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” He replied.

With a sigh, Ash grabbed her father’s hand and took him to a more private room leaving the others behind. The dining area was much too quiet now.

Caleb looked at the crowded table his eyes stopping on a familiar face. “Vinny?”

At that everyone turned to look at Vincent who was staring straight ahead avoiding eye contact, then back at Caleb.

“Vinny?” Charlie and Ellis asked with raised brows.

“Vincent is this the young man you’ve been dating for a month?” she asked.

“Yes ma’am.” Vincent answered.

“Did you know who Ash was when we met her?” Charlie asked.

“Yeah, but I didn’t…”

“Please don’t be mad at him! Sometimes I talked about my sisters, but I didn’t tell him about my actual home life.” Caleb explained.

“I understand Caleb, but why did you keep the abuse a secret for so long?” Anabelle asked.

Caleb sat down. “I’ve tried to convince Ash to go to the authorities, but the last time Alonian Patrol got involved, Ash lied about what happened to her. We couldn’t convince her to do otherwise. Without her account on the abuse the issue was dismissed.”

“After that Morgana’s harsher abuse stopped, but she still treated Ash like…like...” Snow struggled for the words.

“A red headed stepchild.” Caleb muttered.

“Yeah.” Snow agreed stuffing food into her mouth.

Alan frowned at her. “Snow don’t you have something to say to Caleb?”

Snow stared at him as if he just asked a preposterous question. Alan however was not backing down. “Xue!”

She sighed and turned to Caleb. “I’m sorry. I know you’ve been by her side through it all. I know you’re not exactly Morgana’s favorite child, and sometimes I lump you in with her.” Snow said.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I just couldn’t hold it in any longer. When Dad came home, I told him where Ash was and we rushed here. I knew they had to see each other as soon as possible. When she wasn’t there to greet him, he freaked. Mother was unable to explain herself.”

Charlie examined Caleb, he had the same hooded eyes as Morgana, but his gave off a less hostile vibe and they were ice blue. He was lean, and toned, he was darker skinned than his mother and sister, whether that was natural or from the summer sun he wasn’t sure. His hair framed his face and stopped at his strong chin. He eyed Vincent, who was letting Caleb rest on him. He knew Vincent was in a relationship, but he rarely talked about it. Now they knew why.

“So you were there when Morgana…” Charlie started.

“I’ve been there for every single time she hurt Ash. Since the first time when Ash was thirteen up until yesterday morning, and I’m the reason she was…” Caleb trailed off hanging his head in shame and running his hand through his blond locks.

The room went silent again save for Snow aggressively shoving food in her mouth. Alan sat quietly in his seat his appetite gone.

Anabelle’s motherly instincts kicked in and took Snow’s plate away. “That’s enough dear.” She said gently.

Snow put down her knife and fork and swallowed what was still in her mouth. She grabbed her cup and drank her tea silently wishing it was something stronger. “How do you think Mr. Black will react?” she asked.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him angry before. Have you?” Alan asked Caleb.

“No, Ash has been making sure he was oblivious and happy whenever he was home, so had my mother. It’s the only thing they seem to have in common.” Caleb stated.

“Ash had been slapped yesterday, why?” Snow asked.

“She tried to give Alex a bigger serving of eggs than usual. My mom waited until Alex ate and left for school before yelling at Ash. Ash yelled back, something she hadn’t done in a while.” Caleb said.

“I understand that Ash didn’t want to interfere with her father’s relationship, but to put up with Morgana for so long.” Anabelle mused.

Caleb sighed. “My mother is sick.”

“Clearly.” Snow deadpanned.

“Xue!” Alan scolded.

“Well!”

“I meant that she’s ill, and she’s getting worse.” Caleb clarified.

“Isn’t that because of how she uses her powers?” Alan asked.

“It’s because she’s using her powers in general.”

“Morgana is a Gray, correct?” Anabelle asked.

“Yes, ma’am. She used to be an exorcist.”

“I see. How long has she been affected by her ailment?”

“Eleven years, she took a case for a small town overrun with vengeful spirits and she exorcised them all by herself, it made her sick every time she used her powers. She…developed a tumor in her brain. She gets migraines, nosebleeds and sometimes she isn’t able to walk far distances without getting nauseous. Then she…has mood swings.” Caleb explained.

“Violent mood swings?” Anabelle asked.

“Yes.” Caleb said fiddling with one of the earrings in his right ear.

They heard footsteps approaching and looked to see Ash and Bernard stand at the door. Bernard’s face was cold and expressionless. Ash was looking down hugging herself it looked like she had been crying. The air was now filled with a deep tension as everyone waited for one of them to say something.

Finally, Bernard cleared his throat. “Queen Anabelle, Ash told me that she is permitted to stay as long as she needs?” he inquired.

“Yes, she is my son’s guest. We were waiting for you to come so we could arrange an agreement for you to take her back.” She explained.

“I would very much prefer that she stayed here for the time being. I am also aware that a summons would’ve been sent to my home tomorrow, but that will not be necessary. I would greatly appreciate if Morgana Fai was arrested. I want to press charges for the abuse of my children.” He stated.

There was something behind Bernard’s eyes that exuded more than just rage. There was power and Charlie could’ve sworn that his eyes were glowing faintly.

“Caleb, say your goodbyes we’re going back for Alex.” Bernard instructed.

“Yes sir.” Caleb said rising. He walked towards Ash and hugged her gently. “I’m sorry.” He whispered.

She looked up at him and he saw how red her eyes were. “It’s not your fault.” She said quietly.

He hugged her again and this time she returned it. “I’ll see you tomorrow, it’s almost over.” He whispered.

They released each other and Bernard hugged Ash as well. “I’m going to fix this. I promise baby. I’m going to fix all of this.” He said stroking her hair. He released her and held her at arm’s length and looked at her. “You look so much like your mother, my strong girl. My wonderful, brave, strong girl. I love you so much.”

Ash gave him a small smile. “I love you too, Papa.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kissed her forehead and left, Caleb following behind.

Ash turned to face the others who were all looking at her in mild concern. “If it’s alright with you all, I’ll be going to my room now.”

As she turned to leave a wave of nausea came over her, clutching her stomach she fell to her knees.

“Ash!”

The room spun, then faded to black as Ash collapsed.

The queen knelt next to Ash and felt her forehead. “All the stress must’ve gotten to her.”

“I’ve got her.” Charlie said as he picked Ash up. Her head rested on his shoulder and Snow fixed her arms so they would sit in her lap. “If you come this way I can show you to her room.” Charlie said to Alan and Snow.

“I’ll send Dr. Cardenas up there.” Anabelle said rushing to find the royal doctor.

Once the group made it to Ash’s room Charlie set her down on the bed. From here, he could see that even passed out she seemed exhausted. There were tear streaks on her face he felt her face with the back of his hand and how warm it was.

“She definitely has a fever. Has this ever happened before?” he asked.

“No this is new.” Alan said walking over to stand next to Charlie. “I’m sure if we get some water and medicine she’ll be alright.” He said placing a reassuring hand on Charlie’s shoulder.

“You’re right, Dr. Cardenas should be here soon. Ash has done a lot of crying in less than two days, she might be dehydrated.” Charlie said looking down at Ash.

At the sound of a door opening the teens turned to see Dr. Cardenas, a tall, middle aged woman with short brown hair, come in with a medical bag. She pulled out a thermometer and stuck it in Ash’s mouth. Everyone waited for it to beep and the doctor looked at the small screen. “Hundred and two. I might have to take blood to get a better diagnosis.”

“If you do, could you run a full test? I know it’s been a while since her last physical.” Snow said.

“I can, do you happen to know her physician?”

“Dr. Goro Bai-Song. My uncle, I can give you the number to his office.”

“That would be best, I can tell from just looking that this young lady is in need of various treatments. I might have to move her to the infirmary. In the morning of course.”

Clara put a hand on Snow’s shoulder. “We should get you to your room hon.”

Snow looked from Ash to the older women. “Fine.”

Snow followed Clara out of the room biting her lip. She would have to get Ash her medicine soon. She was sure that was why she wasn’t handling the situation so well. After the whipping Ash had changed. She had already been depressed, but she developed PTSD and Caleb told her about Ash screaming in the middle of the night. That mixed with her backaches was why her uncle prescribed the cannabis. It was the only thing that worked. It kept her calm and numb, physically and emotionally.

“Here we are.” Clara said interrupting Snow’s thoughts.

Snow walked into the posh room. “Thank you, Miss Clara.”

“Of course, good night dear.” Clara said as she closed the door.

Snow looked around the room and sighed.