“You never used your gifts,” I said to her. “Maybe that’s why. But Ava, you really should have. There’s no escaping what you are. I can see in your memories that you’ve let the dead walk all over you. That time of your life is over.”
“How do I stop ghosts from bothering me?”
“I’ll show you,” I said to her, much too excitedly.
“I don’t know,” she responded apprehensively. Even if she was forming this idea in her head of me being a victim, she still knew I shouldn’t be entirely trusted.
“You’ll listen to me soon. You’ll need to accept what you are to save your men,” I said and to that, she didn’t respond.
I looked up to the desaturated sky and smiled. There wouldn’t be light forever. Soon my time would come.
“Who wants to play a game?” I asked aloud, smiling at Caspian’s back. He looked over his shoulder, eyeing me warily.Ava, not Ava, his brain was short-circuiting. It was funny how he couldn’t seem to disconnect us. What was rattling in his head, I wondered.
Caspian seemed easy to bother and also, incapable of denying Ava what she wanted. Something she conveniently didn’t like to think about. Whereas I was more than okay to abuse his animal brain. I wondered if it would still work now that he knew I wasn’t Ava. If I asked him to kill like before, would he just nod and sayyes,anything for you?
“Hey, do you want to fuck me?” I asked him. I was developing a plan and planting seeds of discourse I’d make use of later.
“Fuck off,” he snarled, coming to a sudden stop. Mothman however, didn’t stop and Caspian was tugged forward by the chain. His body fell into Mothman’s and Mothman pitched forward.
* * *
“Hey,do you want to fuck me?” Makwa asked and Caspian responded with a snarl. I sighed then felt the chain tug, making me go off balance. Usually, I’d use my wings to steady myself but I didn’t think I could manage to get them unfurled with all these chains and bodies. And then Caspian slammed into me.
Ah, fuck. I began to topple over. The chain held, pulling my hands backwards so I couldn’t properly catch myself. I landed face first, my duster flipping up and a cold breeze touching my exposed ass.
Caspian sounded like he nearly fell too but managed to catch himself and then jerked back.
“Why the fuck are you wearing assless chaps!” He cried. Makwa began laughing loudly. “The whole time?” Caspian asked. “The whole goddamned time!” I rolled my eyes and managed to get back up, my duster falling back down. The cult members shifted around uncomfortably.
“You’re just out here, walking around with us, and sitting in chairs, with your ass hanging out. The entire time?” I stared at him, blinking slowly. It’s not like I had a change of clothes so I didn’t need to answer him. Yes, the whole time. Didn’t he notice before? It’s not like I tried to hide it.
I liked the feel of fresh air and the sensation of my duster sliding across my bare skin. It didn’t hurt that I had a really great ass. Plus, it made me feel mysterious and sexy.
Caspian looked betrayed and I rolled my eyes.
“Keep walking,” someone insisted.
“Fuck off,” I snapped in his head and the man winced but was okay. They were all drinking the tea now, I’d come to realize. That stuff was curious and made little sense. What plant in this world could protect minds from my voice? It didn’t add up.
We started walking again while Caspian muttered and mumbled over my choice of clothing.
“You sure are freaking out a lot,” Makwa said with his slithering voice and I knew right away this was headed towards trouble. The…thingseemed like he only thrived when attempting to create chaos.
“He’s been wearing assless pants the whole time,” Caspian responded in agitation. Makwa nodded.
“Does that bother you?”
“Yes.”
“Is it because you want to fuck him too?” He asked and Caspian tripped on something and we all nearly tumbled down with him. Makwa laughed and laughed.
“Do you ever shut up?” I asked Makwa. His black eyes tipped up to me and a wide smile stretched over his face. The aura was mostly black when he was out, just hints of gold on the edges to show Ava was in there somewhere. My talking didn’t bother him at all. If he wasn’t such an asshole I’d be happy to have someone to talk to without having to hold back.
“Don’t like me teasing your boyfriend?” He asked me and I sighed and turned forward again.
“Boyfriend!” Caspian choked out as he climbed to his feet. It was actually entertaining how easy it was to push Caspian’s buttons, something Makwa was finding out with much glee.
“What’s Mothman telling you?” Caspian demanded of Makwa, shooting me a mean look. “I know you two are talking.”Oh boy. Makwa’s smile grew even larger. He looked off to the side and squinted as if trying to remember something.
