Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 4: Worlds Apart

Beth's head was pounding and her ears were ringing as she sat up. She couldn't remember where she was, but she remembered fighting those vampiric assholes. She'd beaten two of them, nearly killed the third before being interrupted by…Ashley! Instantly, Beth shot to her feet and checked her equipment. It was gone, all of it. Her guns, knives, grenades, everything had been taken from her. She was alone, captured, and unarmed. Some things never changed it seemed. It wasn't the first time she'd been caught, but this time felt different. Nobody was coming to help, and Ashley had made it clear she had little intention of keeping her alive. In the past, she'd been eventually used for sick games, but Ashley had one goal and it wasn't sexual satisfaction.

Beth looked around and tried to figure out where she was. It was one of the holding cells in the Birdcage. She'd seen them many times before and again when she'd first spoke with this world's Ashley. She walked over to the glass to look out and study her surroundings. While she knew the layout of the Birdcage better than most, she also knew this world wasn't hers. Ashley had taken over, and the mad vampire had most likely made it her own. Plus she needed to see if she could see her equipment. Even if she couldn't, learning the lay of the land was a must if she had any chance of escape. Unfortunately, she couldn't see any of her weapons nearby. She'd have to improvise if she managed To get out. 

There was a machine off in the distance that she could just barely make out. A steel bed with restraints was off in the center of three consoles. One of them was Jake's master computer, but the other two she'd never seen before. A large metal spike was over the bed with four pillars with orbs sitting atop them surrounding the bed. Her guess was that they were conduits for something based on what she knew about magic and technology. The question was what were they for? She'd never been as tech savvy as someone like Ingrid, and her knowledge of magic was limited at best. Combining the two was an entirely different world that she couldn't even begin to fathom. The irony of that thought wasn't lost on her. Whatever that thing was, it didn't look pleasant.

Beth sighed and leaned her head against the glass. She was stuck here until she could figure out a plan. Her only shot was going to be ambushing and overtaking Ashley when she finally came for her. That was only a half-baked plan at best too. Her chances weren't great, but she knew she needed to save her strength until the time came. That was when she saw movement in a cell across from hers. She frowned and tried to see who it was. Were they keeping others down here? What the hell for? Her guess was probably to use as cattle, but why would they store someone down here?

“Hello?” Beth called out.

There was no response. A shadow on the opposite side of the cell moved, but it looked like whoever it was was cowering in fear. “Hey, it's alright,” Beth tried again, “I'm not gonna hurt you. I couldn't even if I wanted to. I'm a prisoner here like you. Can you…can you talk to me?”

Beth waited in hopes that whoever it was might step forward. She could use the conversation to take her mind off of the ass kicking she'd taken from Ashley. Not to mention a distraction from whatever they were planning probably wouldn't hurt. She waited for a few minutes before sighing to herself and sitting down. Whoever it was clearly didn't trust her. It was something she could understand to a point, but she was literally locked up just like them. Beth leaned her head back against the wall of the cell and stretched her legs out. She'd have killed someone for some aspirin right about now, or a stiff drink. She tried to distract herself by wondering about Pam. She could only hope that her girlfriend was faring better than she was right about now.

“B-Beth?” a familiar voice stuttered from the other cell, “Is…is that really you?”

Beth opened her eyes and stood back up. It couldn't be, could it? She looked over and her jaw nearly fell slack as she saw a warped version of her best friend. Jake was weakly leaning against the glass looking more frightened that she had ever seen him. Dark circles were around his eyes, his hair was messy and matted, and his skin was unbelievably pale. He was skinnier than she'd ever seen him, at least since they'd grown into young adulthood. His muscles had atrophied quite a bit, but she could still see faint remnants of them in his arms and chest. He was shirtless and his ribs were showing from being starved. A pair of tattered, baggy pants were all he had on, and he had the makings of a rather unkempt beard showing on his face.

“Jake?” Beth asked, staring at her friend, “I mean-yeah, it's me. Holy shit, what happened to you?”

Jake swallowed and looked away, “Ashley…she did this.”

“That bitch,” Beth spat, lowering her voice when she saw her once fearless friend jump at her tone, “Woah, it's alright, it's just me. Take it easy, buddy, I'm not here to hurt you. The only person I'm gonna fuck up is Ash when I get the chance. I was already pissed at her for jailing me, but now it's personal.”

Jake smiled for a brief second before it fell, “It really is you. I thought…I thought I might be hallucinating again, but you can't fake that attitude and language.”

“Fuck you,” Beth smirked, despite their situation, and asked a serious question, “Jake, what has she done to you?”

Jake bit his lip and shook his head, “She keeps me here as a trophy. She drains my blood once a week, and she drinks it from the vials it's stored in.”

“She doesn't feed off of you directly?” Beth asked, confused, “Why?”

“She says it's because I'm not ready to take my rightful place beside her and at her feet,” Jake replied, “She won't kill me, but she won't give me any chance of escaping. If she bit me, then I'd have her gifts and her weaknesses. So she has her lackies come in, restrain me, and draw my blood. All because I don't agree with what she's planning. Her hope is that I'll break down sooner or later. It's been…difficult over the last couple of weeks. The blood loss, the hunger, they're getting to me. I've talked to myself more than once down here without realizing I was alone.”

“Fucking hell,” Beth breathed, “She's trying to break you in the worst way possible. Jesus, I thought Goth was twisted, but this is next level.”

“Rebecca was bad, but even she had limits,” Jake said, “How are you here, Beth? Ashley said she killed you after she got to Pam. I saw you walking with one of her guards, but I didn't think it was real. At least, not until right now.”

“That's a complicated story, man,” Beth sighed, looking around, “Lucky for you, it looks like we've got some time to kill. I'll tell you everything, but first can you tell me what that thing is over there?”

Jake looked over at the machine Beth was pointing at and frowned, “It's an extractor of some kind. I've only seen Ashley use it once, but it was horrifying to watch. She…she strapped Pam to it before you came after her. Those orbs are crystals that conduct some kind of weird energy. They pull from the atmosphere and the ground, and they feed into that big pyramid spike. Then the energy is poured out into the person strapped to the table. It rips the mind apart and lets Ashley see whatever she wants from somebody.”

“Jesus, and my dumbass thought it was a shitty bed,” Beth scoffed, trying to make light of a gruesome situation, “It doesn't kill the victim, does it?”

“I think it could, but that's not what she wants,” Jake replied, “She wants the victim to live, to suffer. When she let Pam out of it, she was a broken woman. I'd never seen her like that. Scared, weak, and practically begging for someone to kill her. Ashley took her back above ground and cast some kind of spell with what she'd taken from Pam. Then she…she used her as bait to get to you.”

“And my hard-headed ass ran headfirst into the fire,” Beth sighed, realizing how reckless she could be, “You both always told me I sucked at thinking things through. Fucking shit, I can honestly say my dumbass would probably do it again.”

“Ashley said your passion was what made you predictable and weak,” Jake continued, “She said it was easy to manipulate you and get you out of the way. I'm sorry, I should have-”

“That wasn't me, Jake,” Beth cut him off, “Well, it was, but it wasn't.”

“What do you mean?” Jake asked.

“Okay, buckle up, because this is a bit of head-fuck,” Beth sighed, “Do you remember Voidfoot? You know, Emily Brunswick?”

“What about her?” Jake asked, “She's dead, isn't she?”

“Hell if I know anymore, man,” Beth shrugged, “I'm not even sure if I believe in death anymore. Seems like when someone dies, they find some bullshit way to come back. Aurora, Pam, Ashley, fucking Goth, all of them escaped death. Well, I'm not exactly mad about Pam, but-”

“Wait, what are you talking about?” Jake stopped her, “Rebecca is alive?”

“Probably not here, no,” Beth replied, “Okay, so I'm from an alternate reality. Oh boy, I guess I better start at the beginning. I guess I need to go back to before shit went sideways and everyone lost their damn minds. Get comfy, because this might take a bit…”

—-------

Elsewhere in the ruins of Metropolis, Rebecca had finished healing Pam and recounting her story to Courtney. It had taken a while, but Pam's injuries had been more severe than they first appeared. She needed rest, but all of them knew that wasn't an option. Rebecca had done what she could, but restoring her energy reserves would take either time or a potion. So she'd sent her familiars out to try to find the proper ingredients for her to use. Wherever they'd landed, the place didn't seem like it would be welcoming to any of them. They were relatively safe from their vantage point, but they weren't sure how long it would last.

“So, Ashley and Jake share a mind?” Courtney asked.

“Mind and body, yes,” Rebecca nodded, “As infuriating as that leach can be, I have to give her cunning credit. I won't say she outsmarted me, because she didn't, but she knew that my quest for power would eventually lead me to the underworld. She also knew that it was more likely that I would send Jake and the others in my stead to clear the path for me. I was selfish and self-serving back then. Well, let's call that a work in progress for now.”

“She waited for him,” Courtney surmised, “She knew he'd come, and when he did they…did what again?”

“Their souls are bound together,” Pam answered, sitting up and trying to stand.

“Pamela, you need to rest,” Rebecca warned, trying to stop her friend, “You've-”

“I am fine, Rebecca,” Pam brushed her hand aside, “I'm not much good in a fight right now, but standing and walking won't kill me. While we wait, I may as well see what I can ascertain about where in the nine circles we landed. I'd also like to know why Ashley is currently in control of Jake.”

“Ask that parasite yourself,” Rebecca huffed, “She and I can't have a simple exchange without it devolving into hate speech. Arrogant, outdated vermin.”

“You know, that probably doesn't help,” Pam sighed, “Honestly, you two are more alike than either of you will ever admit.”

“I am nothing like that parasitic curse!” Rebecca scoffed, “To even compare me to her is more of an insult than anything your little girlfriend has ever thrown at me.”

“Oh, shut up,” Pam rolled her eyes, “I've spent the last two days being flung across different realities, fighting a psychotic version of the woman I love, and now I have to deal with two bickering old women. One of which is currently hijacking the body of my friend. Oh, and to top everything else off, I have no damn idea where we are. The absolute last thing I want to hear is you and your rival hurling childish insults at one another. Do I make myself clear?”

Courtney watched the exchange with mild interest. She'd never seen someone speak to Goth like that and walk away in one piece. She braced herself for a fight, but to her surprise Rebecca smirked after staring Pam down for a minute. “You've come quite a long way from the scared little street hustler and purse thief I found years ago,” she chuckled, “I see your point, though. Believe it or not, I have tried to be civil with her. I freed her in the underworld, but she has fought me about every plan I've made.”

“I've had time to grow in those years in more ways than one,” Pam said, her tone returning to an even kilter, “As I said, you two are more alike than you realize. I'd be surprised if you went along with any plans she made, but time will tell if that's the case.”

“What did you mean when you said she'd hijacked Jake's body?” Courtney asked.

“Normally, Jake maintains control while Ashley takes a passenger position,” Pam explained, “It's been that way since we returned from the depths of Hell. Thanks again for that wonderful vacation, Rebecca.”

“Do you want a handwritten apology, Pamela?” Rebecca asked, “I'm afraid I don't have any parchment or pens with me right now.”

“Anyway,” Pam continued, ignoring Rebecca's sarcastic remark, “Ashley has only ever taken control from Jake a handful of times to my knowledge. Once when we were preparing to fight Rebecca whilst our city was under siege, thank you again for that fond memory. Another time when we faced the you in our world, and then once more when Jake was thrown into prison and a cult ran rampant throughout the city. The times she's taken control, she's never remained there for long. I can feel him behind her, but she's refusing to let him out.”

“Why?” Courtney asked, “From what you've both said, that doesn't seem like her.”

“It is entirely like that selfish-” Rebecca began, but stopped when Pam shot her a look, “Fine, fine, I'll let it go.”

“I don't know, but I intend to find out,” Pam answered, “You two stay here and rest while we wait for the ingredients. I'm going to go have a chat with an old friend.”

“I want to come,” Courtney stood up.

“Absolutely not,” Pam stopped her, “You are as much of a trigger to her as Rebecca. I need to speak with her alone first. I know you're not a threat, Courtney, but she doesn't know that.”

“I fought beside her,” Courtney argued, “Even though I didn't know it was her, I saved her more than once.”

“She has a point, Pamela,” Rebecca agreed.

“I understand that, but you of all people should know how easy it is to let emotions cloud your judgment,” Pam countered, “Let me speak with her. Whatever is waiting for us here, we can't face it if we are at odds with one another. I'm not going to spend an entire day keeping you three from ripping each other's throats out.”

“But-” Courtney started.

“Let her go, girl,” Rebecca held up her hand, “As frustrating as this may be, Pamela has a valid point. Out of all of us, she's the only one that Ashley can stand. You and I would do more harm than good right now. Sit down, be patient, and we will see what comes of their little chat.”

Courtney huffed but sat back down, “Fine.”

“Smart girl,” Rebecca smiled, “Don't think I didn't miss your age comment, Pamela.”

“I wasn't hiding it,” Pam waved her off as she walked across the rooftop, “You're centuries old, Rebecca, don't act so easily offended. You've been called far worse than old.”

“Cheeky little girl,” Rebecca scoffed, sitting beside Courtney and watching Pam walk towards Ashley.

Ashley was standing on the opposite end of the rooftop. She had barely moved since lashing out at Courtney. She'd checked behind her a couple of times to make sure that Rebecca hadn't tried anything with Pam, but she had been subtle about it. “You're mobile,” she said as Pam approached, “It's good to see you moving again. I was worried the witch might be siphoning your essence for her own gains.”

“Rebecca is many things, but she's on our side for the time being,” Pam said, coming to a stop beside her friend, “She caught me and kept me from falling into the void between worlds. If it weren't for her, I imagine you three would be killing each other about now.”

“Hmph, I wouldn't kill her, not until she served her purpose,” Ashley scoffed, “The Tellar girl is another story. She deserves to rot in a pit for what she's done.”

“She saved me, Ashley, twice now,” Pam sighed, “That isn't the same girl from our world.”

“Maybe not, but ill intent will always be present in an evil heart, Pam,” Ashley said, “The girl we fought didn't seem capable of such things either, according to Jake's memories, but she turned out to be a ruthless killer.”

“If memory serves, you were once a Conqueror and a warlord,” Pam pointed out, “Are you saying that people can't change?”

“Don't twist this around on me, Pam,” Ashley warned, “It's bad enough I've had to accept help from the witch. I don't need you lecturing me on the complexities of the heart.”

“That's another thing I want to talk about, but we can get to that in a moment,” Pam sighed, already sensing this was going to be a challenging conversation, “Do you want to tell me why you're in control of Jake?”

Ashley frowned and looked away, “His time with Lilith wore him down. He needs his rest.”

“Bullshit,” Pam shook her head, “You know I'm an empath and can sense deceit. Even in the throes of exhaustion, that is one power that is always present. I can feel him, Ashley. I'm not the only one wondering why you're holding him back.”

“You're calling me a liar, Pam?” Ashley accused.

“I'm stating a fact,” Pam countered, “You're alienating everyone here. Do you really want to add me to the list? We've been through the fires of Hell together, literally and figuratively. Why are you keeping him locked away?”

Ashley glared at Pam for a minute before sighing, “To protect him from himself and others. His judgment when it comes to women is flawed, and I don't trust the witch. Combine that with the harlot we brought with us, and the safest place for him is tucked away.”

“Your idea of keeping him safe is to lock him away,” Pam clarified, “I've been in controlling relationships, Ashley, and it never ends well. You're going to drive him away if you're not careful.”

“You, of all people, should know what that woman is capable of,” Ashley defended herself, “She abused him, nearly killed him, raped him, Pam. She broke every promise she ever made. The one that she always kept, her repulsive mind control, was even broken when we returned from Hell. She returns from the depths of Hell, and I'm supposed to do what, Pam? Forgive her and forget about all the wrongs she's done?”

“Of course not,” Pam scoffed, “Do you think I've forgotten about all the things she did to me, to Beth? How about the fact that she nearly caused me to lose the woman I love without a single act of violence? Forgiveness takes time, but it doesn't mean we forget. However, you cannot forgive if you're not willing to give a person time to prove they can change.”

“She doesn't deserve forgiveness,” Ashley crossed her arms, “Not after everything she's done to Jake and myself.”

“For fuck sake, am I the only adult on this damn roof?” Pam asked, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration, “You do realize that we are trapped in an alternate reality, don't you? Do any of you outside of Courtney, who has zero understanding of magic, give a collective shit about the situation that we are in?”

Ashley frowned and looked off to the side. “Hush,” Ashley snapped at the space beside her.

“Let me guess, he's beside you,” Pam sighed.

“He still finds it amusing when you curse,” Ashley rolled her eyes, “He says that it shows how much Beth has rubbed off on you.”

“So he is conscious,” Pam said, “I'm surprised he isn't arguing trying to get out.”

“He is awake, yes,” Ashley admitted, frowning as she looked at the empty space beside her, “He has been since shortly after we arrived in the other world. I wasn't lying, not at first, but he's been shouting at me since we arrived here and I attacked Tellar.”

“Ashley, if you're not going to let him out then you need to tell me what's really going on,” Pam sighed, “Help me to understand where this is coming from. What is the real reason you're holding him hostage in his own mind? Don't stand there and tell me it's about protection because we both know it's more than that.”

Ashley frowned as she sat down and gestured to the sky, “Do you see that up there? The black sun sitting behind the clouds.”

“Are you ignoring my question?” Pam asked.

“It's relevant, I assure you,” Ashley said, “There were scrolls, legends, in my early years about such a feat. I spent over a century scouring the continent with my armies searching for a way to enact it. All I ever found were tattered shreds of a ritual that would give my people the reign they deserved. I became obsessed as the years went on to the point where I let the empire I'd built begin to decline. I chased after a myth in hopes of finding absolute power and dominion until my forces were all but depleted. My ambition led to the downfall of the new world I tried to create. A coven of witches led by an unknown and unnamed woman surrounded my kingdom. They sacrificed many to cast a spell that would burn my kind and lock me away in the void. There I remained for centuries until your friend, the would-be Goddess, decided to reverse the spell and free me. Of course, she had thought she could control me with a binding ritual, but her arrogance has always been her greatest weakness.”

“You'll have to forgive me for not following how this relates to my question,” Pam said, noticing the way Ashley seemed somber rather than hostile.

“The truth often requires context,” Ashley explained, “A brief history of my life before this one was necessary for you to understand the person I was before Jake. It was when I fled the witch and began assessing the new world that I found him. The world had changed so much in my absence, and my kind were all but erased beyond a fictitious story. I had been forgotten about by everyone; the world had moved on from me without a second thought. That was what I'd thought until fate introduced me to Jake. By chance, he'd been on his way to meet another woman named Ashley as I was wandering the streets. He mistook me for her, called my name, and spoke to me in a rather informal way. While I was somewhat put off by his seeming familiarity, he carried a level of respect in the way that he spoke. I mistook him for some sort of fan, a scholar that knew of me, and I decided to indulge him in his request to take me to dinner. Of course, I had originally thought he'd have someone for me to feed on, not something.”

For the first time since they'd been reunited, Pam saw Ashley give the faintest hint of a smile before she continued, “He took me to a restaurant and talked quite a bit about himself. I saw him as arrogant at first, but then he did something unexpected. He apologized to me. He made it a point to mention that he was nervous despite being one of the wealthiest young men in the city. At the time, I still thought he believed it was because he knew who I was. I let him talk, and he shifted to asking questions about me rather than focusing on himself. I kept my answers relatively vague and short, but that never bothered him. I was…surprised by how taken I was with him. A handsome young man with a striking physique and an almost selfless attitude. I decided then that he would make a fine addition to my ranks, but more than that, this boy deserved to be my first turn.”

“There's a significance to that, if what I've read is true,” Pam said, sitting down beside Ashley.

“There is indeed,” Ashley nodded, “A bond is formed between someone of royal blood such as myself and the first to be turned. Chemically, I believe it has something to do with the mingling of the bloodlines. Jake, for all his humanity, carried a powerful name and had strong roots. I could have bled him dry that night, but I wanted him for myself. Sadly, I was forced to retreat shortly after I gave him my blessing. You may be aware of the events that transpired shortly after.”

“Jake went to Rebecca for help,” Pam nodded, “The two of them began a quest to find and exterminate your kind and banish you back to the void.”

“Correct, but I'm sure that witch only told you part of the story,” Ashley smirked, “While I was forced to leave my lovely new project, I went to find and revive the others that had fallen. It was more difficult than I had imagined, but I found descendants of a handful within the city. It wasn't hard to invoke the blood that laid dormant in them, and I soon had the makings of a new court. That was until she got involved. That selfish and arrogant pretender manipulated Jake into killing my family. She told him that their existence would weaken me and therefore weaken the curse he was stuck with. In reality-”

“She was siphoning their essence to further her own strength,” Pam finished for her, “I know. I was still with her and her operations in Citiville back then. While I was away dealing with business in another city, I heard the stories once she finally returned home.”

“I was furious at Jake,” Ashley continued, “I thought that he was forsaking my gifts, the honor, and wasting his potential to try to usurp me. I felt betrayed at the time, but then I cornered him on the night when she sealed me away again….”

—---

The estate house on the outskirts of Metropolis was where Ashley had set up her base. It was a temporary position of power until she could take a proper throne within the city. Her empire was barely on the cusp of revival, but one man had been standing in her way. The very same man that she had hoped would lead beside her in her new world. Jake Blackridge had decided to team with that insufferable witch to undermine everything she stood for. That was going to end tonight. She'd made the proper arrangements for it, and she'd managed to catch him without that nagging woman by his side.

“You!” Ashley screamed, throwing Jake to the side, “I give you everything, and this is how you repay me?! I should have known a boy would see power and wish to steal it, but I had thought you above such petty notions!”

Jake's body crashed into the railing of a stairwell and he fell to the floor. She hit harder than he expected, but Goth had said she was some sort of vampire queen. “You infected me against my will!” he argued, “You sent your minions out into my city, and you planned on taking it for yourself! Nobody, and I mean nobody, messes with my city!”

Ashley stopped and scoffed, “You naive little simpleton. Is that what you think this is? A coup to steal your precious little city? Tch, I am the great Ashley Bilefoot, boy, and this world once bowed before me. Where some see chaos, I see truth and order. I bring a reckoning when I come, but with that reckoning comes peace in the aftermath. I ruled empires, cities, and more before you were a thought in your ancestors head! The only thing I wanted was to rebuild what I'd lost, and I had hoped to do it with a competent viscount by my side. Someone who could help me to navigate the intricacies of this new world. That, my sweet Jake, was supposed to be you.”

Jake pushed himself to his feet and glared at her, “You expected me to just go along with you? You thought I'd willingly surrender the people I cared about to you?”

“Insolent little brat,” Ashley shook her head, “Do you know nothing beyond what that liar has told you? Who do you think brought me back to this world, hmm?”

Jake frowned, but he didn't relax, “Goth? She summoned you?”

“Summoned and attempted to bind me,” Ashley corrected, “Her intentions were to use me as a thrall to further her reach in the power she wields. When she failed, she began using you, your fear, and your stupidity to take out my elite guard! It is because of you that she has been able to steal from me and my kind. She stole their strength for herself.”

“No, that…that can't be true,” Jake shook his head, straightening up and taking a step back, “She said that it was the only way to break the curse. I got stronger each time I killed one of them too!”

“Of course you did, you fool!” Ashley snapped, “My blood is within you. Do you think I have never dealt with insurrection? Each time I have to slay one of my own, their power is transferred to me. If she hadn't been there to steal their essence, you'd have been able to stand far more of a chance against me tonight. Instead, you're little more than a half-measure. The only way to rid yourself of my gift is either with my death or with me being sealed away again.”

“She's been playing me,” Jake whispered, his fists falling to his sides, “Dammit, I fell for her lies again…all I've been doing is making her stronger.”

“You really didn't know?” Ashley asked, skeptical but confused by his sudden drop in aggression, “Are you truly that much of an idiot?”

He surprised her, yet again, when he chuckled, “Apparently I am. Shit, all I've done is trade one threat for another. But I can't let you take my city, Ashley. I can deal with Goth later, but you're not going to hurt anyone else.”

“Turning criminals into cattle, that's so wrong?” Ashley asked, “The innocent will be spared, boy, and the worthy will be turned. Those that I take should feel honored that their lives amounted to anything more than suffering and pain to others. Is war truly what you wish?”

She expected him to retaliate, to lash out on some excuse of justice, but instead he shocked her once more. “War isn't the answer,” he said, “That just means more people will get hurt. When I took up this fight, I did it because I got sick of seeing good people get taken advantage of. But I don't see an alternative here.”

It went against all of her base instincts, but there was something about this boy that she couldn't wrap her mind around. He seemed unwavering in his cause, but his crusade wasn't wholly against her. He wanted to fight injustice, but he wanted to do it without bloodshed. She lowered her guard and softened her tone, “What if I had a way?” she asked, “A way that you could realize your ambitions and live out your life at your rightful place by my side?”

“I've been sold these kinds of stories before, Ash,” he said.

“You are afraid,” Ashley remarked, seeing it for the briefest of seconds on his face, “You think I'm lying to you because she has, because so many others have in the past. I am many things, Jake Blackridge, but I am not a liar. I can offer you a peace that you, and this world, can only dream of. Combat and conflict may be inevitable, but they don't last forever.”

“You're proposing sentencing hundreds of people to death,” Jake shook his head.

“Only those that pose a threat to peace, Jake,” Ashley explained again, “With your knowledge of this world, and your connections, I'm sure we could navigate these difficulties together. I'm not unreasonable, and if you have ideas on how I can feed our people without sacrificing the unworthy, I'm open to hearing them.”

His frown remained, but he didn't seem unwilling to her parlay. “How can I trust you?” he asked, “You did this to me, and you're a warlord.”

“I am more than the stories that witch has told you, I assure you,” Ashley said, circling him, “I can take care of you, if you let me. I made you my first turn because I saw something in you that I haven't seen in years. Even when my empire was at its highest, I failed to see integrity and decency amongst my closest advisors. You, Jake, have something in you that is rare in both of our kinds: heart. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want to serve me. I think you'll find that I am far more benevolent than most women you'll meet, not to mention beautiful.”

“You're humble, I'll give you that,” Jake scoffed.

“Evading my question is a sure way to earn a punishment, my little man,” Ashley purred, noting the way his posture changed the instant her tone shifted, “Mm, a boy that likes to be put in his place is indeed a rare find. There is more to you than meets the eye, Jake Blackridge. You'll find that my rewards and punishments are equal in value. One doesn't rule an empire without learning the benefits of proper training. You must choose, Jake. Will you be a dog to the woman that's used you, or will you be an equal to a woman that seeks reform? Will you be a predator, or prey?”

Jake bit his lip as he weighed his options. She could tell he wasn't completely adverse to her proposal. The way the hair on the back of his was standing up was evidence enough of that. “You're asking me to live life under cover of darkness,” he said, his arguments and objections slowly waning.

“I'm offering you a chance to be the man I know you can be, the one you hide day in and day out,” Ashley corrected, “If you're so worried about daylight, then I have some good news for you. There is a way to make it so that our kind can live and move freely, but it would require time and patience. It won't happen soon, but we can wait it out together. With you by my side, I know that we can make this world into something truly spectacular.”

“I won't kill,” he said.

“I won't ask that of you unless it is absolutely necessary,” Ashley assured him, “All I ask is that you let me do what needs to be done when the time comes. There will be those that stand against us, those unwilling to accept diplomacy as a means to an end. I will let you do what you feel is right, but there can be no great victory without great sacrifice.”

“You're talking about Goth,” Jake said, “You want to kill her.”

“If she will not submit to the new order, then she will lead a revolt,” Ashley shrugged, “I am willing to give her a chance, if that will placate you, but I have met women like her before.”

“You're willing to let me try to make peace before attacking?” Jake asked, continuing when she nodded, “What's this plan that you have for us to walk?”

A glimmer of hope spread throughout her body. She hadn't made a mistake in turning him. He was amicable to her crusade, albeit through different methods. Perhaps it wouldn't be terrible for her to have someone to temper her older way of thinking. She smiled as she pulled him around and kissed him. She'd wanted to do this the night she'd turned him, but fate had plans to delay it. Oh how it was worth the wait. He didn't resist her, and in fact kissed back with vigor and encouragement. He was good. This man would be the cornerstone of her new world; no, their new world. 

Suddenly, she was pulled away from her young lover by an unseen force. Something was restraining her! She looked down to see glyphs appearing on the ground. The witch, she'd forgotten about the witch! At first she'd thought it had been a ploy on the boy's part, but he looked just as shocked as her. He tried to run to her, but he was cast aside by the same force. No, she wouldn't go back to the void. She had come too far, and she'd just found some semblance of hope. The portal opened before her and began to draw her in. She growled and cursed as she tried to break free, but to no avail. The last thing she heard was him shouting her name before she was once more sealed in the darkness.

—-----

“I had been prepared to kill him that night,” Ashley concluded her story, “But I saw something in him that made me think twice. A good boy that had been mistreated and abused. A scared young man that needed someone to look after him; someone that would keep him safe no matter the cost. I had planned to enact old schemes, but I would have changed them to ensure he would be happy. Instead, I was denied the chance at happiness by that vile woman. He was all I thought about while I floated adrift in the space between worlds, and I swore that I would give him the safety and peace he deserved if I ever made it out.”

“You saw him as I see Beth,” Pam sighed, finally understanding more of Ashley's view, “I would do anything to keep her safe, Ashley, but locking her away would only drive a wedge between us. If you truly love him, you need to let him make his own choices.”

“Even when that means he may choose to be with her?” Ashley asked, nodding at Rebecca, “Despite everything she's done to him, he has longed for her since her demise. I fear that I am not enough to sate him, Pam. More than that, I cannot bear to see her hurt him again. Not once, but twice she has robbed him of a chance to be happy with me. She brings nothing but pain and misery wherever she goes.”

“If he didn't love you, he wouldn't have joined with you,” Pam pointed out, “Is it not possible that the three of you could coexist?”

“Would you be so open to sharing Beth?” Ashley asked.

“If my choices were to do that or lose her, yes,” Pam admitted.

“So you would share her with Isley if it came down to it?” Ashley asked, scoffing when she saw Pam's face, “I knew it, you're lying through your teeth.”

“Fine, I'm possessive and I don't like the idea of it,” Pam sighed, “Be that as it may, you need to let him make his own choices. Ingrid may be a thorn in my side, but I haven't stopped Beth from her desire to see her in prison. I don't like it, but I'm not going to control every facet of her life. Jake deserves to be able to make his own choices, or was he wrong to believe in you back then? Was he wrong to trust you in Hell?”

“I am not a monster, Pam,” Ashley defended herself.

“Then let him have his body,” Pam said.

“Perhaps once this is over,” Ashley sighed, still unwilling to concede her position, “If only because I know he is likely to hesitate to do what needs to be done. You, Beth, even the witch may not hesitate to kill, but Jake has his code. I won't lose him, not again.”

“Fine, but you have to put aside your differences with Rebecca and Courtney while we are here,” Pam sighed, tired of arguing, “The only way we get out of whatever this is will be by working together.”

“Do you really believe we can trust the girl?” Ashley asked.

“She's proven herself to me, and if you can't trust her then trust me,” Pam said, “Rebecca is trying to do the right thing too. Put your hatred aside until we can get home, and listen when he speaks to you. He's always granted you that much, so it's the least you can do for him.”

Rebecca's raven returned shortly after Pam finished with the ingredients in its talons. Her wolf wouldn't be far behind. Pam sighed as she began to make her way back to her friend. It was finally almost time for them to move. “Pam,” Ashley called, “What makes you so certain that we can trust them?”

“Because right now we don't have a choice,” Pam admitted, “You said you wouldn't lose Jake, right? Well, I won't lose the woman that I love. I have to believe that the four of us together can accomplish this seemingly insurmountable task. If you'll excuse me, I have a shitty potion to drink once Rebecca has concocted it.”

Ashley watched her friend limp away. She was still in pain, but she wasn't going to give up. Loathe as she was to admit it, Pam may have had a point. It stung to be called controlling like that, but this was for Jake's own good. “She's not wrong, Ash,” Jake sighed, beside her, “I can take care of myself.”

“We can discuss this later,” Ashley shut him down, “This is for your protection, my love.”

“That's not the first time I've heard that from someone holding me against my will,” Jake said.

“We have some time,” Ashley said, “I know you have questions. Ask them and I will answer them as best I can.”

“That's how we're gonna play this?” Jake asked, “You're just gonna ignore everything Pam just said, everything I've been saying?”

“Until I know we are safe, until I can see that she is trying, yes,” Ashley admitted, “I will say it again. I won't lose you, Jake, not again.”

“Fine,” Jake sighed, “Let's start with the obvious. What the hell is going on?”