The Storm is Broken

You are pissed! She wanted you to come. She wanted you to try to save her. She wanted to hurt you, maybe even kill you. Her selfishness knows no bounds. You knew she wanted to get back at you for yesterday and she was willing to sacrifice herself to get at you. Without your gift, who knows how injured you two would be right now and you are still in danger, underwater in a rushing river. You swim upwards, dragging the selfish witch up with you. Your righteous fury propelling you back to the surface. If you survive the river, she was in for it. With great effort and pain, you break through the surface as the river carries you downstream out from the deeper bend and towards the rapids. Ashley is sputtering and fighting against your grip so you shift her so you have just one arm around her but have a tighter grip around her waist. You now have one arm free and both legs. You start to swim with the current downstream but a bit closer to the bank with each stroke. You're body is burning as you work yourself and Ashley towards a downed tree in that's in the river. You finally make it to the tree and use it to reach the bank. You toss Ash to the ground once you've made it ashore. The adrenaline starts to wear off and your feel the pain and fatigue. Thank god for the testing that you did with Abigail and giving yourself some extra strength. You look intently at Ashley, your pain and anger taking priority. You see she's in a good amount of pain. You are so mad though, you just don't care.

"Ashley..." You growl and fix your gaze on her. "Would you rather all the pain and fatigue I'm feeling transfer to you or have your own pain multiplied by 50."

Her eyes widen in fear and the realization is beginning to dawn on her that she did not think this plan through. "Transfer." Her voice coming out barely audible as she doubles over in pain, your body feeling much lighter in exchange.

"Would you rather explain what the fuck you were thinking or would you rather be unable to ever speak to me again?" Your words coming out like venom.

"I'll explain... It's simple really... You still love me. And I wanted you to see how much you did. I wanted to prove to you that you would do anything for me. Even sacrificing yourself for me. I wanted you to see him much I meant you..." She spouts her delusions, gritting through each word.

"You would have killed us, crippled us or maimed us, just to prove a point?!?" Your anger raising higher. "How self diluted are you?!? The actual F*CK Ashley?" You let a guttural scream just to release some of your anger. You turn and sit facing away from her as she sobs. You don't care why she is crying be it the pain or your anger. You assume both. You breathe and start to let go of some of the anger and begin to think. You know that she is unstable and will continue to cause problems if you don't do something about her. After a few moments, you steel your resolve and turn back to her, still crying. "Ashley, would you rather stay here and fend for yourself or become my loyal and devoted servant, someone incapable of causing me or anyone I consider family any physical, mental or emotional harm, to never betray us, to serve me and the family in any way I wish for as long as you live?"

You can see the debate and are sure you know the answer. The pain she is in helping you greatly. "I will serve you." You smile as the storm finally breaks.