Ashlynn, Part 2
Melanie Ann Billings




The family gathered
around the table. Everyone was seated by the time Ash came into the room. Her father smiled broadly as she sat down by his side.

“Thank you for joining us, Ashlynn.”

She looked up at him with angry, hurt-filled eyes. Then she fixed her gaze upon her plate, purposefully ignoring the rest of the people at the table. From the corner of her eye, she saw William shoot a glance at his new wife.

Ash shuddered as Violette reached for her father’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

Silent through the entire meal, she sullenly picked at her food with full knowledge that her behavior was causing her father much exasperation.

As they were all finishing up, Ash jumped to her feet and began clearing the table.

“Here, let me help you!” Angella hopped up from her seat and reached for the main serving dish in the middle of the table.

“No. This is my job. I don’t want any help from you.” Ash’s retort was sharp as she snatched up the serving dish. “In fact,” she announced to all present, “from now on, I will be the one who clears the table after meals and washes up the dishes.”

Ash’s father looked at her in surprise. “Thank you, sweetheart, that is very thoughtful of you.” He smiled at her.

She glared in return.

After the dishes had all been washed and put away, Ash lit a small stick of wood from the fireplace. Shielding the sputtering flame with her hand, she carried it out of the house to light the little oil lamp in the shed. The lamp leapt to life, causing shadowy forms to dance along the four small walls. Ashlynn changed into her sleeping clothes and snuggled down into her straw bed. She heard music playing inside. It was a violin. Her father had a violin, but he hadn’t played it in years. So, now he was playing it for the new members of the family? A lump rose in Ash’s throat. Playing it without me. That was the thought that hurt the most. The lump was quickly replaced by anger. It looked like she was really losing her father. She closed her eyes.

Her eyes snapped open with the sound of the creaky screened back door opening.

“Ashlynn?” Angella was calling her name. “Please come inside. We’re having such a lovely time.” Ash pressed her lips together, refusing to voice a reply. After about five minutes, she heard Angella call her name again.

“Ashlynn?” After Ash made no response, she heard Angella say, “Well, good-night then! Pleasant dreams!”

Then she heard the screen door slam shut. Ash strained to hear, half hoping that someone else would come out and invite her in. No one did. When she finally fell asleep, her angry tears were still falling.



*

The morning meal bell woke Ash from her slumber. It had been three days since the wedding. In that time, she had taken upon herself all the cleaning responsibilities of the little home.

After breakfast each day, Ash cleaned up the dishes. Then she dusted and swept the house from top to bottom. The day ended for her after dinner with the bringing in of firewood. And every time she turned around while doing her self-appointed chores, there was either Angella or Belinda.

“Please, Ashlynn, let us help with something,” Angella would plead. Belinda wasn’t much better, always rushing ahead to clean a room before Ash got there. Even then, Ash ignored the help, cleaning the already clean room just to spite them all.

This day wasn’t much different either. After spending all morning in the garden, Ash came inside to do the normal household chores. Angella met her at the door.

“Ashlynn, Belinda and I would like you to join us in front of the fireplace for some tea and pound cake.”

“I have too much to do,” Ash said as she pushed by Angella.

“No, you don’t,” Angella returned, a slight smile brightening her face. “Belinda and I did all the household chores, just so you could come and spend a little time with us.”

“Well…I’m sure I can find something else to do.” Ash stormed back out the front door. Angrily, she stomped her way to the backyard and into the shed. Slamming the door, she leaned against it, clenched fists held up to each temple. In her brain, she screamed to wake the dead.

What could she do? There was just no escaping them. Those girls dogged her every footstep. The only rest she had from them was here, in the shed. Her father took no sides, and that made Ash even angrier.

*

Inside the house, Angella and Belinda sat in front of the fireplace, sipping tea. Belinda busily worked at a cross-stitch.

Angella just stared into the cold, dead fireplace.

“What is wrong with us?” Angella asked the ashes. “All we want is to be her friends, but everything we try backfires.”

“Oh, cheer up!” Glancing at Angella, Belinda smiled. “Ashlynn is just having a hard time adjusting. By this time next week, I am sure things will be better.”

Angella wasn’t sure she shared her sister’s enthusiasm. There was something seriously wrong with Ashlynn, and they couldn’t just sit and wait for her to come around. There had to be something they could do to win her trust, to show her that all they wanted was to be friends.

The front door opened and Violette entered, breathing heavily, her face fully flushed. William followed close behind. They were both drawing ragged breaths, as if having run a long distance. The smiles on their faces brightened everything in the dimly lit little living room.

“Oh, girls!” Violette began, fanning her face with one hand. “You will never guess what we have just heard!”

“Oh, no you don’t!” William laughed. “No fair telling them without Ashlynn to hear as well. The surprise can wait until breakfast tomorrow.”

“You can’t be serious.” Violette’s face fell.

“Now, don’t worry. The surprise will keep for another day. I want to see the look on all of my children’s faces when we give them the exciting news.” William gave his wife a hug and a small peck on the cheek.

*

Morning came. The breakfast bell rang and all gathered, bleary-eyed, to the table. As was becoming custom, Ash arrived several minutes after the bell sounded, still seeking to punish her father.

As she took her seat, William stood up next to a seated, smiling Violette. “Good morning, my children!” he said.

“Your mother and I have some wonderful news.” Pausing, he smiled broadly at each of them. “The town is going to hold its very first Young Ladies’ Ball!”

A collective gasp of excitement escaped from the now eager listeners. Even Ash forgot her grievances for the moment.

“The Ball will be held Saturday the next, at seven in the evening in the Town Hall. It is a formal ball, so all of you will need new dresses! I expect all of you to attend.”

Ash scowled. Her father’s last words had been directed at her. The excitement of the upcoming ball began to fade from Ash’s heart.

“Oh, girls! There will be dancing and juggling and games like you have never seen before. I have the mayor’s word on it.” William’s eyes sparkled and Violette giggled like a little girl.

Ashlynn thought she was going to be sick. Seeing the other two girls bouncing happily in their seats, shouting out the kinds of dresses each would wear, she decided to leave. She could not take seeing her new family so happy together. Quickly, she slunk out the back door.

The rage burning throughout Ash’s body was nearly unbearable. She threw herself down on her makeshift bed, too angry to cry. How could they dare to be so happy? Here she sat, all by herself, and did they even notice that she wasn’t at the table anymore? No! They would rather be happy and rub it in her face. At least that is how Ash felt. She closed her eyes against the burning red of rage that screamed at her everywhere she looked.

Finally, with a long exhale, she opened her eyes. The red light was still there. And it was throbbing. After a few moments, Ash realized that the throbbing of the light matched the beating of her heart. She sat up in alarm. As she did, her eyes fell upon a strange sight just opposite her bed against the wall of the shack. A bright red ball of what looked like fur sat against the wall. The red light seemed to be coming from the strange object.

Shakily, Ash slipped off her bed and crept haltingly toward the ball of fur. As the tip of her shoe reached out to test the solidity of the round shape, the curious ball whirled around and seemed to unfold. Before she realized what was happening, Ash was tossed roughly to the floor. In front of her stood a very strange little creature.

“Well, here I am, Mistress!” The creature’s whiny voice sent shivers of terror up and down Ash’s back.

She scrambled back to her bed and pulled the blanket up over her face. It had to be a bad dream. Yes, that was it…a bad dream. She took a deep breath and lowered the blanket. The furry red creature was still there! And worse, it was coming closer!

Ash finally found her voice. “No! Stay back! What…who are you?” Her voice was wobbly and she had to fight hard to keep from screaming.

“Why, Mistress, I belong to you. Don’t you know who I am?” The creature’s tiny coal black eyes glittered mischievously. Without waiting for an answer, the creature continued. “I am your rage demon. The anger inside of you has grown so much that it is impossible for you to contain it. So here I stand; the embodiment of your anger and rage.”

“Well, what do you want from me?” Ash whispered, terror lacing her words.

The demon laughed. “The question is: What do you want with me? I am here to serve you, Mistress.”

“Go away…please?” Ash buried her head in the blanket, shutting out the sight of the little demon.

“As you wish, Mistress, for now. When you need me, I will be here.”

There was silence.

Ash peeked up from the blanket, expecting to see the evil glowing face peering up at her. Instead, all she saw was darkness. Inside of her, Ash could feel the anger growing once more. For a brief moment, she wondered why she had not felt angry when the little demon had been there. Ash dismissed that thought and all thought of the recent horrific happening, by focusing her mind on the happiness of her family. Snuggling down into her blanket, she carried the anger in her heart with her into dark dreams. Even as she slept, her dreams were filled with bright balls of burning fire. And somewhere, always behind her, she could hear the demon’s laugh.


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~~~~~ <~
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After four years at Roberts Wesleyan College, Melanie graduated in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in her double major of English and Communication. Marriage and becoming a mother put her dream of being a full-time writer on hold. In order to keep up with all things written, Melanie has dabbled joyfully in freelance editing and proofreading work over the years. This dabbling has given her new excitement over the prospect of seeing her own writings published. She has the love and encouragement of her husband and two boys, and hopes to extend that love and encouragement to everyone around her. Melanie has a compilation of poetry, Climbing the Mountain: Inspirational Christian Poetry, available from Whiskey Creek Press (www.whiskeycreekpress.com) in both electronic and paperback format