What could Aria want from him? He wondered. She was always good at manipulating people, the one Ash knew of was Nelly who Aria manipulated almost to the breaking point.

"Hello Ash," Aria said again with her appealing smile which Ash knew was deceptive. He had so many dealings with Aria in the past and he definitely knew how she worked. She would use a smile to get you to relax then she would always strike like a venomous snake which she was, if not worse. He remembered her from taking away the first man Nelly ever loved, the first one she had blissful fantasies about.

"You might think I've...