~Alaya
Asher matches my blank stare for a moment.
“Sinful,” I breathe, testing the name on my tongue. “Who in the world is Sinful, and why do I have to kill him?”
Asher takes a moment to reply. He seems to forming a proper answer in his mind, as he looks out past the cliff edge at the lights in the distance. I’m nervous for what he is about to say. From the way Death said Sinful’s name with such disdain earlier, I don’t see how I, of all people, could do this. Especially since I’m only an average mortal who got resurrected from the dead.
“Remember, I never wanted you to. I wasn’t the one who brought you here,” Asher tells me uneasily, clearly wary of my reaction. “However, I have an idea of where you could fit into our plan, and make a difference.”
“You called him a devil. I don’t think I would make a difference at all,” I tell him honestly. I don’t mention at the end how I don’t want to help him either.
Asher sighs before he says, “I wouldn’t call him a good person. But he wouldn’t do anything bad to you, I can promise you that. If you decide to agree to our plan, I believe he would be too interested in you to hurt you, if that would make you feel better.
I feel my eyes narrow unintentionally. Interested in me?
“How can you be so sure? Have you not seen Death’s face when he was mentioned? Whoever he may be… no one has given me a very good explanation,” I tell him, my tone more spiteful than anything. He’s not the one I should be angry at. It’s Aspen and the rest of them for dragging me here in the first place.
“I can’t explain what he is like. I don’t think I would do you justice, since everyone sees him from a different perspective,” Asher tells me, adding, “he’s tricky like that.”
I sigh deeply, more frustrated than anything.
“You can’t expect me to be okay with this if you’re not going to tell me anything, I never asked for this-”
He cuts me off, raising his hand. He’s cringing, either irritated or distressed. I’m tempting to walk away from the situation, but I have nowhere to go. The door that took me here seemed to have vanished into nowhere when I first came through it, which I assume is magic. I also assume magic is everywhere in this place.
“Sinful and I have been working together for a few years now. It has been a way to gain his trust, for a moment where someone could come in and… distract him. All the while, the rest of them can work on the plan without him having complete reign over the lands,” Asher explains.
“And what exactly is your plan?” I question.
Asher shrugs loosly, and I scowl as he says, “the problem is, if you agree, you’ll will be walking straight into Sinful’s territory with the plan in your mind. As a mortal, you wouldn’t be strong enough to handle his mind games. If you don’t know, yout can’t tell him.”
I understand. He doesn’t trust me, and honestly, I don’t trust myself much either. Especially with the description of Sinful that I have been given.
“You’re telling me that I’m going to waltz straight into someone’s territory to do who knows what?” I say, mainly to make sense of it from my head. “And what is the alternative? Go back to the Pack Quarter into a different Pack with no memories. To never see my family and friends again?”
Asher nods solemnly, looking surprisingly remorseful. “I would perfer to send you home. However, if you stay here, it won’t be long until someone questions the presence of a mortal in these lands. My magic can only do so much.”
“You have magic?”
“What Sinful has given me, yes,” he tells me, and my eyes widen. I’ve suspected it, of course, yet it is still shocking to hear that my Alpha can wield something people doubt existed. That was until he continued, saying, “I’ve used it on you before.”
My anger isn’t in full force. Of course, it’s sated by his magic.
“Would you like your memories back? Of all those parties? I stole them each night,” he tells me, as if it is the easiest piece of information to handle. It explains a lot, that’s for sure. I knew the drinks took people’s memories, but I had no idea that Asher was behind mine. No wonder it still happened, even after not drinking that drink after two parties…
Asher draws my attention to me, looking straight at me. The intensity of his gaze shocks me for a second, before I realise it’s his way of giving me my memories back. I yeild, relaxing, letting his golden eyes take me, almost seeming to wrap around me like a warm blanket of security.
All of a sudden, a burst of pain exploded behind my eyes, and I flinch back, gripping the side of my head to stop myself from screaming.
When it faded, I remembered. Everything.
My first question came quickly, “who’s Myle’s to you?”
Another emotion was birthed in his eyes. Amusement? A smirk even showed itself on his face, which made me increasingly nervous. “No one too important right now… why?”
“You’re saying it as if I’m attracted to him,” I say warily, narrowing my eyes on the Alpha.
“Your words, not mine,” Asher excused.
“I would also like to say that I don’t appreciate the games you played with me in and out of that party. The money, wanting me to quit my job. And to meet me outside the whole thing and dangle information in front of me to take it away…:” I say, folding my arms over my chest.
Asher still smirks, knowing exactly what he did. “You were over working yourself. I thought that money could give you a break.”
I don’t reply after that. Instead I think for a moment, enjoying the sweet air around me. The air has a plesant chill to it, rolling off the mountains, while remaining mild enough to handle. Something to do with magic, I assume. Asher doesn’t say anything either, letting me stare until the lights from the nearest city blurred into the horizon.
“What exactly will I have to do, if I happen to except?” I ask softly, hoping the breeze hadn’t caught my words.
“You will pose as a lost mortal bride who’s immortal husband rejected her after finding out she was a Werewolf. You will come from Destiny’s territory, being innocent to everything. Hopefully you being there will distract Sinful enough to let Fate, Aspen and Death to execute our plan.”
Asher seems to notice the doubt on my face. “I will be there, as his ally. I can promise you I will not allow him to touch you.”
My shoulders relax at that, before I say, “give me one reason why I should accept.”
He takes awhile. He watches me carefully, his expression unreadable. I wish I could read what he is thinking. If he is coming up with an idea in his mind to make me agree to their crazy, potentially dangerous plan.
“If you stay, and we complete this, then we will be able to take Shanae down, and you will be able to go back to your Pack, to be with your sister, and your boyfriend, Carter,” Asher says.
I pretend he didn’t just claim that Carter was my boyfriend.
“How can I trust you?” I ask, my voice just above a whisper.
“I don’t know if you have any other choice.”
***
“I look ridiculous.”
“I agree,” Death says from where she stands leaning against the archway. “Wait until Asher gets his eyes on you.”
Turning back to the mirror, I examine the get up I’ve agreed to try on. I’m supposed to be a lost bride, so I’m wearing an appropriate dress, making me look so innocent and guiless, ready to be thrust into our apparent enemies territory as a distraction and spy. It’s lacy, skin tight and white, making me looking like something out of a catalog. It makes me nervous, standing in it, with Death behind me.
I have yet to decide whether it is worth it to agree… whether I can trust these people. If I don’t though, I will never see Sky again.
“What if Sinful kills me right off the bat?” I question, wondering for a second why I am asking Death of all people for advice. I’m still not sure how I feel about her. She hasn’t directly given me a reason to despise her yet, but it is the idea of her being… Death.
“He won’t, if he is still the same person I know,” Death tells me, although her tone isn’t reassuring. “He will be too interested in how a mortal got into his territory.”
I run the hands down the front of my dress.
“Should I trust Asher?”
Death smiles slightly. “You can trust him with your life, I can assure you. And if you still have doubts, Aspen will be going as well. Asher found a way to get him in.”
Aspen. He seems the most normal so far.
“Fine, I’ll agree,” I say, turning around. “But only for my sister, and my friend.”
Looking past Death, I notice an unfamilar man come up beside her, a brilliant smile on his face. He has the strangest blue hair with dark eyes to contrast.
“Perfect,” he purrs.