A Divine Rose 2/5

[Ashlynn Black]

Yeah, yeah. As my only reader so far as pointed out, I have some typos. I type rather fast on document, and with auto word, some things can get switched around. Hopefully you guys know what I mean. But this is my favorite chapter so far; the appearance of the villan! Hazzah!

Enjoy!

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Chapter Two:
Hidden Ashes

November 1st, 2002
9:57 pm

I didn?t even realize what I said. It just slipped out. Throughout the entire ride, there was no talking. No music. Just he and I, and the road. Surprisingly, the funeral home wasn?t too far away from here, my dad was buried in our city. I had never visited his grave, and Christine didn?t let me go to his funeral. I had been thinking about going there for the longest time, and then decided that would be where my search began. This would be where I could figure out everything. My next step.

I wasn?t surprised when the car stopped. I just didn?t want it to. I looked over after a few seconds, to look at Chris, and saw he had an apologetic, almost forced, smile onto his face. I felt bad, and then hugged his arm, which was on the stick shift next to me. I hopped out of the car, after giving one last glance over to him.

?Get going.? He said, ?I have to get back to Jenna.? He looked at me as I stepped out of the car.
I looked over my shoulder, noticing he was still there. ?Goodbye, Chris.? I said, and then waved. Eventually, he nodded, and drove off.

I turned my head to see a black fenced gate with the words: Happy Ending Funeral Home, engraved into the ebony metal. I couldn?t believe I was standing there. It, all of a sudden, just hit me. He was really gone. I took the pain from my mind and made it courage, taking a step passed the gate. I looked outward to a mysterious, shadowy plain covered with a sea of sculpted angels, stones, and bells. The darkness gave off a strange, dark aura to all of those around me; laying in their eternal sleep as I walk their resting grounds. I felt true fear.

The air was humid and smelt as if it were rotting, a corrupted white mist floating around my ankles as I walked. There was a road going up to where, I figured, the ceremony was held; a church-like place. Although, there were no lights, as it too looked distorted. I took another step, looking at the stones around me as I shook my head.

It didn?t feel like any of this was real. It felt like I was dreaming, still dreaming a nightmare of a nine-year-old girl, awaiting her birthday the next morning. I couldn?t believe how things have changed. I was alone, again. I didn?t want this, I needed someone. Something to keep me striding for, possibly a someone.

It just didn?t feel right. I was only fifteen, and I had no one. Sure, a mother and sister who torment me. And a father who sleeps in the heavens. However, I have nothing else to live for now. What was I supposed to do? There was nothing? no one? no place to run to. Therefore, I came here. Why?

I left that unreciprocated enigma in my mind as I wandered by, looking at the tombstones of the many resting people. I couldn?t help but wish that I wouldn?t find his name. I didn?t want to see his name there; I didn?t want to know that he was actually dead. I wanted to hope. I wanted to dream that he was alive. I didn?t want to remember. I didn?t need to think of the past. All I needed was him, and a way to run away. Some way? to get out of here?

Yet, I was proven wrong.

I stopped in my tracks as I saw a rhinestone in the ground, with my father?s name imprinted into the cold, hard stone. Michael G. Black. Beloved husband and father: 1955-1996. I shook my head as I felt my legs go limp, giving away as they struck the ground. My fingertips began to grasp the letters on the stone, as if it were a joke. They traced along the words repeatedly, until the sharp edges cut the tips. Tears struck the stone in the ground, as I lay down over it, closing my eyes.

This wasn?t true. I?m dreaming, I thought, None of this is true. It all never happened? I?m just having a nightmare? just? wake up! Now!!

It didn?t happen. I opened my eyes and saw that I was still lying there, in the damp grass. I buried my hands onto my face as flashbacks of his death ran through my mind, and I found myself screaming at the stone. I let my hands down, letting the fallen tears strike the tombstone.

?What am I to do now?!? I screamed, ?You left me here alone?? I said, tracing my fingertips along his name, ?I have no one?? I clutched my eyes shut and saw him in my mind, smiling. I kept them closed as I whispered to him, watching as the image faded away. ?Why did you have to die? why did you leave me??

I opened my eyes once again and took a stand, seeing that Jenna did what I asked. She was able to go to the funeral, and I told her to set my black rose onto the stone once it was all over. She did, and I saw it there just now. I reached down and grabbed it, feeling its petals. I figured it was the only thing I had left of my father, and decided I would keep it. I don?t think he would want it there anyway, since it was left the day he was murdered.

I put it onto my notebook and sighed, looking down at his name for the last time. I felt awkward for screaming, but I was willing to talk to him now. I was a little worried I was about to have a conversation with a stone, but I figured I?d worry about that soon enough.

?Daddy?? I whispered, ?I know that you didn?t mean to leave me? and I know that you would have changed anything to make me happy? but I wanted to ask you to guide me to the next path I need to take.? I said, smiling as another tear fell from my eye, ?I wanted to tell you that I love you very much, and I wish you well in the after life. I?m sorry I couldn?t have been there at your funeral, and I really wanted to be there, but Christine wouldn?t let me. If it?s possible for you, let me know that everything will be alright,? I asked, ?I need that now.? I laughed, remembering the day he died, ?I miss your blueberry pancakes, too.? I whispered, giggling a bit, ? I never liked any one else?s.? I said, and then narrowed my eyes a bit. I bent down and kissed his stone, then stood up again. ?Bye, Daddy?Thank you.?

I turned and began to walk away from the tombstone.

I frantically wiped away my tears as I turned my head to a dirt road. It led its way out of the cemetery; the same dirt road I walked upon when I first entered. Shaking my head absentmindedly, step by step it felt as if I were being torn apart. Pain was lurking deep inside me; vengeance floating to the surface.

Somehow, since I never was able to watch my father?s funeral, I thought as if he wasn?t dead; just gone. Gone on one of those business trips, or to a worldwide vacation. At least, that?s what I wanted to believe. Now that I saw his grave; his name written in cold stone, I knew. I knew he was dead, and it ached inside of me. I watched him die, I know. Nevertheless, I couldn?t just stand here and walk away. I wouldn?t let him be murdered, and to be thought to kill himself. I watched him die; that infernal being taking his life into it?s hands. Call me crazy. Call me insane, but it?s true. I watched a vampire kill my father.

I was shocked to how my pain had quickly turned into hatred. I had never really hated anyone in my life, not even Jenna or Christine. Nevertheless, this? creature took my father?s life. That I would never forgive. That I can never set aside. I will avenge my father, now more then ever, I was sure of that.

My father was such a kind and gentle man, he never had done anything wrong. He had no enemies, no grudges, I don?t even remember him being mad. I don?t understand how anyone could just? steal his life; his soul. How could someone just murder him ?take his breath- without care?

I broke away my thoughts as I realized I was now walking on the side of the road again. My hands were clenched together harshly at my sides, to the point to where my nails were digging into the flesh at my palms. My teeth, too, were gritted together; my jaw began to ache badly. Eventually, I loosened my grip and relaxed my jaw. I noticed that the vengeance was becoming too strong; too deep a wound in my mind? possibly even corrupting me. I wouldn?t let myself seep down into being as cold-hearted as that letch. I would get my revenge, eventually. As for now, I had a bigger problem.

I have no place to go!

Suddenly, everything became unclear. Where am I to go now? I have no real friends, to family now? Wait! There is someone! Aubrey! Aubrey Michaels was my childhood sweetheart when I lived with my father; after Jenna and Christine left. It had been such a very long time since I had heard from him. We lost contact after my father died. I could still be able to find him, hopefully he was still living in the same place. He?d be all right; and he?d definitely help me.

I looked out to the distance, and saw a small, distant light. It was bright, but definitely not a car?s headlights. More than likely, a gas station. I smiled. Gas stations has pay phones! Before I knew it, I could feel my feet pounding onto the ground, the heels of my feet beginning to hurt. I felt the ground beneath me, and the wind in my face as I ran. My long, black hair shifted from side to side; rarely brushing against my cheeks a bit.

When I got there, I closed my eyes shut. There were lights all right, rather bright ones at that. They burned my eyes. Being that they were so used to darkness. My eyes had always been light sensitive, I could never figure out why. I squinted as I quickly ran passed the gas pumps and to the pay phone at the corner of the store.

I rummaged through my pockets, praying to god that I had some change left from the Taco Bell that I ate from lunch today. I felt my fingertips a cold, hard metal, and finally slipped it out of the tight pocket. One quarter, barely enough for a single phone call. I looked around for a phone book, and sure enough, there was one attached. I opened it and flips it open to the Ms, and I finally found his father?s name.

I popped the quarter into the slot of the pay phone, and punched in the numbers as I awaited anxiously for a ring. I brought the phone to my ear and smiled, picturing his voice.

Riiiiing?? Riiiiiiiiiiing??

?Hello?? A voice answered sleepily; it was Alex, Aubrey?s father.
?Mr. Michaels?? I said with a smile, ?It?s me. Ashlynn Black.?
?Ashlynn!? He said excitedly, ?Wow! It?s been such a long time!?
I giggled, ?It has.? I said to him, fiddling with the phone cord.
?May I ask why you are calling here so late?? He asked me, sounding a bit less excited, ?Is there something wrong??
I looked down a bit to my fidgeting hands, ?No?? I said quickly, hoping that it didn?t sound obvious, ?I was just wondering if I can talk to Aubrey??
?I?? he started, his voice slowly fading away, ?I?m sorry, I can?t let you do that.? He answered, his voice almost as if deadpan.
?What?? I said oddly, cocking my head to the side as I raised a brow, ?Why not??
?Aubrey?? he said, as if tasting the word on his tongue, ?I thought you knew? Christine said she told you.?
?Told me what?? I asked him, my voice rising in fear. Something had happened. I felt it.
He sighed sadly, almost as if I were pouring salt in an old wound, ?He? was murdered.? He said quietly, ?About a year or so after your father.?
Tears began to weld in my eyes. No. Not Aubrey. Not? ?She? She didn?t tell me?? I said sadly sinking down as I pressed my back against the telephone pole near me.
?I?m so sorry, Ashlynn.? He said to me sadly, ?Aubrey really missed you after you left, you guys were such good friends.? He said to me, ?He liked you a lot.?
I shook my head, taking in a deep breath, ?I know? He was the only friend I had??
There was silence on the line for a while, but Alex broke it. ?Is? there anything I can help you with?? He said sadly.
?Yes,? I said to him, ? I ran away from home. Christine kicked me out, and Jenna hurt me a bit.? I said quietly, ?I really need a place to stay for a while.?
There was no reply.
?Hello?? I asked, ?Are you there??
?If you?d like to make a call, please hang up or try again later.?
?Damn!!? I screamed, flying the ebony phone back down onto the receiver.

I sank down to my knees. Aubrey. No. He couldn?t have died. He was the only person I had left. He was the only one who? actually? cared about me. An image of him flashed into my mind, shaking my head as I wiped my tears.

He was actually pretty cute, but I only knew him when I was seven. He was eight then. He was tall and very sweet, a very kind guy. He had fairly tan skin and brown eyes. I loved to look at his eyes in the sunlight, because if you looked carefully, there were golden swirls in his eyes. It was hypnotizing. He also had short black hair; occasionally he spiked his bangs up. He was always so sweet to me, so caring and loving. I couldn?t believe? he?s gone, too.

?Excuse me, Miss?? a voice asked; clearly a male?s tone.
I turned my head to face his knee, then stood as I wiped my tears, ?Yes, sir?? I asked.

I felt idiotic for that last comment, seeing that he was clearly not an older male, but ?oddly- a rather attractive teenager. He seemed about eighteen, and I blushed immediately as I looked at him. As you could say? he was my? type.

He was quite tan and had short brown hair, all of it spiked up. His eyes were a crystal shade of blue; with darker lines disappearing into the pupil; following the color of a navy. When I looked at him, it was as if a chill that shot up my spine; it made me freeze and get all shuddery. He was in long, baggy black jeans, the knees of the jeans torn out violently; probably skateboarding or just? tearing. He also wore a dark red tank top that showed off his muscles. He had a pierced right eyebrow with a black ring; to match the silver one on the top of his left ear.

He smiled at the fact that I was blushing, ?Did you say something about Aubrey?? He had sadness; almost worry, in his voice.
?Y-yes.? I said to him shakily, looking down at my feet. ?But it couldn?t be the Aubrey that you know.? I said to him, frowning a bit, ?My Aubrey died a few years ago.?
?Aubrey Michaels?? he said with a smile, ?That Aubrey??
I nodded, bringing my gaze into his ice blue eyes.
A kind, warming smile escaped from his lips. ?He?s still alive. Trust me.? He said happily, his voice trailing off.
?What-?
?If you want to know how to see him again,? He said in all seriousness, ?I can tell you where you can go.?
?How can I trust you?? I asked him, blushing a bit. ?I don?t even know your name.?
He gave me a toothy smile as he took my hand. With his other hand in his pocket, he pulled out a blue pen and brought the tip to my palm. ?You don?t have to know anything about me in able to trust.? He said to me with a smile, ?You have no where else to go, right??
I looked at my hand and saw he was writing down an address, and he said nothing after he put the pen back into his baggy, black pocket. He was right. What of mine do I have to loose?
He looked up to me and pointed west from the gas station, ?It?s about two miles down that way.? He said, beginning to walk off, ?You can?t miss the place.?
I looked up from my hand and to his face once again, ?Thanks?? I said to him, hoping I wasn?t blushing too much.
?You?ll meet Aubrey through him.? He said from the sidewalk near me.
I looked up at him after looking at my hand, ?Him who?? I asked, and then blinked a few times once I realized.

He was gone.

I looked down to my palm for the last time, and read the dark blue ink. The handwriting seemed somewhat familiar; as if I had seen someone else use it before. It rather reminded me of my own handwriting, but I had always hated mine. His was cleaner, understandable than mine.

4106 Westbrook Street

I began to walk away from the pay phone, and smiled as I eventually crossed onto Westbrook Street. I had been down this road a lot with my father when I was little, he always used to tell me that Westbrook Street was where he and Christine had met. It was where my father?s old school used to be. I smiled as I walked down the road, letting a few thoughts from my past run through my mind.

Aubrey?


?Tag!? He screamed, ?Your it!!?

I felt a rough hand strike my back as I turned around, seeing myself in the lawn of my old house. Aubrey was running backwards, looking at me as he tried to dart away. A giggle escaped from my breath as I ran after him, tackling him once I got enough speed.

?Beat that!? I said, grabbing his shoulders as we fell into the front lawn.

We rolled around in the grass for a few seconds, and then ended up looking up at the sky after loss of breath. I smiled and watched the blue skies; the white puffy clouds floating overhead as out laughing came to a stop. I watched in awe of the world above me; the wind brushing lightly against my cheek.

?Ashlynn?? He asked me after a while.
?Yeah?? I replied, turning my head to him as he spoke.
He turned his head to me as well, ?Do you think we?ll be friends forever?? He asked me, turning to his side after a while.
?I hope so.? I said to him kindly, ?Your really the only friend that I have.?
He smiled, ?Really?? He asked, ?That?s kinda hard to believe.?
?What do you mean?? I asked him, feeling a bit curious.
?Your really cool,? He said to me, ?I thought you probably had a lot of friends.?
I shook my head, and then looked back up to the sky, ?Nope.? I said to him, ?Just you.?

I felt my cheeks burn red as I felt a hand grasp my palm. Our fingers, after a while, were intertwined, and I could hear my heart beating loudly. It felt as if the world was spinning faster, as if the time between us was affecting the future.

?? Aubrey?? I asked him, closing my eyes in bliss for a second.
?Yeah?? He said quickly, his voice cracking a bit.
?If we ever get separated?? I said to him, ?Like, you know, if Christine came to get me,? I started, then there was a moment of silence as my voice trailed off, ?? Can you promise me that we?ll be friends forever?? I asked him, ?I don?t want you to forget me.?

There was silence for a while, and then he turned his head to look at me. I could tell, there, in his golden eyes, that he was worried? about me. He really did care about me?

?Of course.? He said to me, ?I?ll never forget you.? He held my hand harder, as if he didn?t want to let go.
I nodded, ?Alright.? I said to him, and then let go of his hand as I stood above him. I began to back away as he noticed I was leaving.
?Where are you going?? He asked me, standing from the ground as he turned to look at me with kind eyes.
I smiled a sly smile and giggled, ?Your it.?

I shook the flashback out of my mind as I realized that I was almost there, although I didn?t see a house in sight. There was nothing there, really. I looked around for a mailbox, or something that could be able to show me the address, sure enough, there was one. A tall, brick mailbox across the road from me. I quickly ran across and looked at the numbers. 4106. I smiled, and looked behind the mailbox. My eyes softened.

It was a playground, the only remaining thing of my father?s school. I walked across the grass and looked around, looking at it in awe. There was two pairs of swing sets, a merry-go-round, a seesaw, and a sandbox. There was also wooden tables around; picnic tables. Everything looked so dark; it must have been around eleven thirty already.

I walked away from the rusty merry-go-round, and the half-wooden seesaw, and sat on the swing at the end of a half-burned swing set. I pushed myself back and forth with the heels of my feet, and just waited. There seemed to be no one around, and I don?t think I could hear anything moving in the distance. I hoped that guy at the gas station didn?t pull a prank?

I put my foot on the ground and heard a high-pitched screech. My eye immediately locked onto the merry-go-round, and my pupils dilated as I looked out to it. It was spinning. The cold silver metal was screeching because of it?s desperate need of oil; and normally, it wouldn?t have ever been able to spin without a strong force pushing it. Nevertheless, there was nobody there. How was this happening? I felt absolutely no wind, nor anything that could move it. I sighed and looked down to my feet, taking my eyes off the sight. There was nothing there. I was imagining things.

Screech? screeeeeech... BAM!

I looked up just in time to see the seesaw end fall to the ground. I didn?t like this, where was I? I looked away from it again, and just sat there. There had to be some kind of reason to why I was supposed to come here. Why that guy at the station sent me. I looked to the right of me and saw the first swing move, then the next, and then the next. Soon enough, every single one but mine was moving.

I jumped as I felt a hand push my back, and found that I fell out of the swing and onto the ground face first. I was shaking from fear, and then pushed myself as I noticed that everything had stopped. The seesaw stopped pushing and falling, the merry-go-round along with the swings froze in their imaginary movement. I stood up and turned around quickly, to see a shadow step out from behind the swings.

?You must be Ashlynn.? The voice called from the shadows, it?s hidden features masked perfectly with darkness. The person?s tone was clearly male; almost taunting.
?How do you know my name?? I asked the shadow, stepping forward while my legs shook lightly, ?W-who are you??

The man stepped from the shadows, as he took me breath away. His appearance, his smile; everything. It amazed me. He had short, firry red hair that was cut neatly; yet it seemed to be made to look messy. His bangs were long enough to cover his eyes, but was designed to be shaped around his face. It was shaggy, but seemed, at the least, mysterious. His skin was an off white color; as if liquid paper white. He was tone, and a little taller than me. The number one thing that caught my eye, though, was his eyes. A beautiful, jade green color. They, too, were almond; like mine. As I studied him, he spoke.

?I know your name, because you are long due to my world.? The man spoke, coming near me, although I backed away into a picnic table. ?My name? is Niklas Shadow.?
?Niklas?? I repeated as if an idiotic parrot, ?What do you want?? My tone was full of panic; each breath I allowed out was a unstable one.
He laughed a short, almost flirtatious laugh. He most definitely new something that I did not, and was holding that very thought against me. He moved his way closer to me, eventually pressing himself aligned with me. He moved like water; mystic and rhythmic with every flowing motion. Tenderly, his lips fell near my ear as he spoke quietly his answer. ?You.?
I felt a chill run down my spine as I heard his words; his breath running against my neck to give me a wave of unwanted pleasure. I felt repelled, but not scared. I pushed him back, far enough to where I could study his expression: cunning. My eyes narrowed as I sat on the tabletop. ?A man told me you could show me Aubrey Michaels.?
He snickered, ?Aubrey? Is that who you really want?? He said and then sighed, ?Yes, he, too, is in my world.? He said to me, stepping persistently close.
?Your world?? I said oddly, ?How does one get there?? I jumped off the table and backed away, surprised at how unrelenting the bastard was. I blinked, and he was gone. Suddenly, hands wrapped around my waist and I felt my back push against his chest.

?Die.?

[The Elelmental Paladin]

So the plot thickens. This chapter is excelent, although I did have a small problem with " he had short, firry red hair". Is that sopuse to be fiery, fire-y. Sorry for post ing so late but I had and still have family over at my house for my Mom's wedding. It's like 3:50 AM here and my older brother, his girlfriend, and their daughter (yeah, I'm an uncle) are leaving tomorow. please don't pay attention to any grammer mistakes i make cause i'm kindof tired. post the next chapter soon 'cause I love your story.

[Ashlynn Black]

Actually, Firry is the correct spelling. I thought it was strange, too.

Anyway, I'll make sure to do that. -Smiles- The next chapter is my favorite. x^__^x

[The Elelmental Paladin]

Well If it's the authors favorite than it should be good!

[Ashlynn Black]

If you'd like, I'll go ahead and post it now. xD

[dragonmaster892005]

nice work reading the next one now great it ties itself togather greatly PROPS

[*~Illusions Kiss~*]

Wicked...nice job so far...the plot is definately thickening!can't wait to keep reading!