“You passed out. You were on top of me and then you just passed out. You’ve been out for ten minutes! I was about to call an ambulance!”
“It was just a vision. I’m okay.” She sat up quickly but the spinning in her head had not quite receded yet, and she reached for a pillow to help balance her out. Liam moved fast, propping her up on two more pillows and handing her a glass of water from the bedside table.
“A random vision? Now? What did you see?” He asked.
Ruby took a giant gulp of water, swirling it in her mouth before swallowing. “I seriously don’t even know.”
Chapter 16
With all my love
The vision still lingered in Ruby’s mind when they arrived in the back alley where Sam’s body was found.
She followed closely behind Cyril, Jake and Liam with Zag, Leah and two knights a few feet back. Dominik and Silas crept behind them slowly, constantly checking their backs for a possible imposter. The two Fire brothers were the first to volunteer for the trip, leaving the remainder of the knighthood at the center in case of an attack. Ruby was glad to have them nearby. While the two looked like complete opposites of each other– Dominik the tall, brooding brother with sleeve tattoos while Silas was shorter and stockier, resembling a small refrigerator in his build– they had one thing in common; Ruby trusted them with her life.
The dimly lit, crawl space of the alleyway was so narrow that they could only fit through single file, and even then, Ruby could touch each one of the brick walls if she stretched out her hands. She was happy they decided to split up, the place could not hold more than a few of them at one time. It was smart to leave the body here. Hidden away from large crowds but still controlled enough if a quick escape was needed. The thought made her even more convinced that Demas was behind it. Clever bastard.
When they managed to squeeze through about thirty feet between the two buildings, the alley gave way, opening its mouth to a gaping hole that reeked of street garbage. Ruby looked around the space, trying to figure out where they were now in relation to the main street they entered from. If she was right, they were sandwiched somewhere in the center of the block, in a courtyard of sorts. There were a few windows on the buildings that sat around the yard, but they had all either been blocked off or bricked over. She doubted anyone had used this space in the last few decades.
Ruby joined the group that was now huddled close to one of the walls where the body was found. They were pushing rocks around carefully, trying to uncover any small clues that might be helpful. Jake leaned down to pick up a garbage bag, eyeing it before tossing it to the side and hitting Liam square in the chest.
“Watch it!”
“Oh, sorry,” Jake smirked, “didn’t see you there.”
“Are you serious right now?”
She hurried over, putting herself between the two of them. “You guys know that if there’s anything to see here you won’t find it like that, right?” She smiled, changing the subject, and was about to start coating the space in black fog when two figures appeared in the small entrance they had used to get in.
Ruby twisted on her feet and pulled her energy inward, landing in a crouch to face the entrance with her palms outstretched. The energy twisted from her and pushed its way from her hands, shooting towards the figures opposite them. It shaped and formed itself as it flew. Shifting from smoke to fog to plasma until it was nothing but a sharp mass barreling forward at an unthinkable speed.
The figure on the left lifted an arm in defense and a shield of thick ice formed in front of him just seconds before the plasma spear hit. The spear cut into the ice, shattering it into pieces before dropping to the ground. Shards of ice coated in plasma melted beneath the feet of the impostors. It looked like someone had chopped a dirty snowman into pieces.
“Well that is definitely quite the hello!” the figure on the left exclaimed. As he moved toward her, she tried to make sense of his familiar dark hair and black eyes, something about him made her feel like they had met before. She quickly looked behind him to the other man he came with, her eyes drifting over his shaved hairline down to his light skinned sharp face. Before Ruby could realize who she was looking at, Zag pushed his way past her and ran to them.
“Ren! Elijah! Dudes!” He ran over, pulling them into a massive bear hug.
“Been a while, brother.” Ren said trying to wiggle his way out of the embrace. His bald head ducked under Zag’s arm and he was free in under a second, leaving Elijah trapped. Ren patted Zag’s shoulder to let him know to ease up, and she was baffled by how quickly he obliged. The last time she asked Zag to do something, it took him weeks just to get started. He must have really liked these guys.
Elijah jumped at the chance and took a step forward and away from Zag as soon as he let him go. “And who are these lovely people?” He asked, his black eyes rolling over the group and landing on Ruby.
“Yeah, dudes, sorry! Let me introduce you guys.” Zag shuffled over, naming each person one by one until her got to her, “and this is Ruby. Our little queen bee. Obvi.” He motioned to her with a swirling hand and an over-exaggerated bow.
“Great to meet you!” Ren offered excitedly and elbowed Elijah who only managed to get out a quick nod of the head.
Ruby watched the pair interact and wondered how they managed to be so effortless together. Everything about Ren and Elijah pointed to them being a couple. From the way they stood next to each other, always touching lightly in some way. Their playfulness with one another when they spoke. Even the way they looked complemented the other’s appearance. Elijah’s bronze skin and bushy dark hair was an intricate balance to Ren’s paleness and piercing narrow eyes. It was as if they were formed to fit into a mold together, intertwined somehow until both bodies filled the space in their own way. She wondered if Liam and her had a similar outward appearance. After all, Elijah towered over Ren in the same way Liam did her but somehow, she doubted they looked as flawless. One glance back at Liam had her almost laughing as she watched him motion forward with his head, his eyes wide, beckoning her to snap out of her daydream and be social. I guess we fit a different mold, she thought and waved a hand. “You too!” she yelled back, looking at Liam again with a quiet thank you.
“Dudes, we are so glad you’re here! You can show us around! What’s the best place to chill out at night? Oh, how about dancing? Tell me everything!” Zag hopped around the couple like a puppy waiting to go for a walk.
“Can you cool it down on the man-crushing?” Leah interrupted, pulling her brother back by the scruff of his hemp shirt. “They literally just got here and we’re not really here to socialize.”
“It’s not a problem at all. We’ll be happy to show you all around later tonight,” Elijah smiled, the first smile Ruby has seen on his face thus far. Her attempt to kill them earlier likely had something to do with that.
“Yes, that would be lovely gentleman. We should all meet tonight for some food and drinks. In the meantime, would you mind helping us look around?” Cyril noted to her relief. She was more than eager to get back to work. “Ruby here was just about to fog the place and see if anything pops up.”
“Oh right!” Ren exclaimed, “I heard you can see symbols and stuff!”
“Not always,” she admitted, “only when someone leaves them for me.”
“You think someone would? Why?”
A memory of Cyril’s safe room covered in symbols flashed before her. Demas left the symbols for her then and she missed their meaning, not realizing the danger they were truly in. By the time she’d figured it out, it was too late. If she had just paid more attention maybe Alice would still be alive. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Ruby clenched her teeth. “If it’s who I think it is, then he’s toying with us. Using this as a way to drag us out here, like some sick game.”
“You’re telling me that Sam could have died because of some game?”
Her eyes widened as she looked over Ren’s slumped body. She felt so fo
olish and embarrassed. She hadn’t even thought about what this must be doing to him, to be in the same place his brother’s body had been found.
First you try to kill them and now you’re acting like an insensitive tool. Great first impression.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just I wouldn’t put it past Demas to do something like this is all. I’m really sorry for your loss.” She wanted to run over and wrap her arms around Ren for comfort but doubted her affection could help him in any way right then.
Elijah gripped his boyfriend’s hand and squeezed it lightly before walking closer to her side of the courtyard, “Well, let’s see if we got something then, shall we?”
She nodded. Relief coated her heart with a grateful sigh, letting her get back to what she was actually good at. Her eyes darkened, not quite the pitch black they were in the Aether Plane but a deeper, fogged shade than the brown they normally possessed She moved her hands from her sides, to her heart, then back down to her hips. As she started to push the fog away from her fingertips, readying herself to coat the small yard with her power something caught her eye. A piece of paper tucked behind one of the bricks in the wall opposite her. Ruby let go of her power immediately, her eyes lightening, and her hands returning to their usual clammy state.
Her steps quickened as she almost ran towards the wall.
“Rue! What’s up?” Liam yelled behind her, but she was already at the wall, clawing at the brick to pull it out.
“There’s something here! Come help me!”
He rushed to her side, followed by the rest of the group on his heels. His hands were stronger than hers and it took him only a few seconds to wiggle to brick out. It had definitely been taken out before, there was no debris or cement to hold it in place, but it was carefully positioned so that it wouldn’t look out of place compared to the rest of the wall.
Ruby reached a shaking hand into the brick-sized opening and pulled out the paper. An envelope sealed and hidden for her to find.
“Demas.” She whispered as she turned the envelope over in her hands.
“Rue, we don’t know that. It could be anything. Some kid playing around from when this place was still in use. Or a random note someone left behind. Don’t jump to conclusions.”
“It’s for me. And it’s from him.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because my name is on it.” She said and lifted the envelope up to face him. The intricately scribbled words looked like they had been etched by an artist. Every letter was perfectly sized as if it was typed by a computer.
“To my dearest Ruby. With all my love. Demas.”
Chapter 17
One more time
“Read me the note again,” Liam urged when they were back in their room, “Maybe we missed something.”
“We didn’t miss anything.”
“Please?” He tilted his head to the side and made a begging motion with his hands that made Ruby want to chuck a pillow at him. “Pretty please?”
“Ugh! Fine. Just stop whatever it is you’re doing,” she laughed and unfolded the note. “I don’t see what you think you’ll find here all of a sudden but here goes.
“My darling Ruby.
It’s been some time and I cannot help but wonder how you’ve been getting on. I must admit, I truly hated how we last parted. Such gloom! But I am glad to know that we shall see each other soon and this time I’ll make sure to make it a memorable event for you.
I do hope you enjoy the little gift I left for you, I thought it might pique your interest. He was a tad bit more of a whiner than expected, and I imagine even you would have found the silence when it was all done pleasurable. A most needed relief after hours of screaming. Like laying in bed after a hard day of work.
Here’s hoping that this note finds you well.
We’ll talk soon my little queen and don’t forget, you chose this.
Best wishes,
Demas
PS. Please send my regards to Elena.”
“What a piece of shit!” Liam yelled when she was done reading. His hands rolled into fists and before she could try to stop him, he ran one right through the lampshade on the bedside table causing it to topple to the carpet below.
“Liam! What the hell! Calm down.”
“I’m sorry. I just don’t understand how someone can be so vile. If he has a problem with us, then take it out on us. Why some innocent kid? And why make you the center of his psychotic obsession?”
“I think psychotic is the key word here. He’s insane. Demas let his anger dictate who he became, now it’s all he has. As far as he’s concerned, every Elemental deserves a death like his Eirene. He’s crazy. I just happen to be the first one in his lineage that stood up to him, he must hate that!”
“How did you even know to look there?”
“In the wall? Not sure, just caught my eye. I think he knew I’d look at the walls, after the symbols he left when he stole the sword pieces, the walls are the first place we’d check that no one else would. Makes sense to hide it there.”
“Weird there were no symbols though.”
She thought back to the emptiness she revealed after she dusted the courtyard in fog. The darkness just hovered in the air around them and dissipated as if it itself gave up on finding clues. “There’s still that ash. Did you see how much of it there was all over the floor? Like someone swept a chimney in there.”
“Yeah, I thought that was odd too. Just not sure how it relates to anything.”
“It might not, but I think we should check with some of the Elementals here for anything they might know on the other deities. If the ash isn’t from Demas, it might be from someone else that got out of the Room of Mirrors.”
“So, you’re convinced he had help?”
“I would if I was him. But it’s just a hunch. Maybe we can ask Ren’s family to help gather information from the Dalhurst Elementals. I’m sure that if we–”
“Rue, that’s not a good idea.” Liam stopped her before she could finish the sentence, “I know you want to find Demas, but I doubt Ren’s parents are in any condition to be helping right now. And besides, Elena hasn’t even spoken to them since we came, it’s probably not the best idea to push them together like that.”
Her eyes started to pool. “I’m an asshole,” she said, thinking about how insensitive she must have been this entire time. “Have you talked to her? Since we got here?”
“A bit. Not much. I think she was glad to stay back today but she did say she’s coming out tonight. I think she really misses Ren.”
“Speaking of, what’s with Zag around those two?”
“Ah! The Bewitched you mean?”
Ruby let out a high-pitched laugh, slapping her palms on her thighs before falling over onto the bed in a giggle. “He really is quite into them, isn’t he?”
“Zag has been wanting to find friends that get us outside of Westerlake for years. Those poor boys have no clue what they’re stuck with now.”
“Well, I think it’s sweet. And if you’re not careful, they’ll snatch your best friend right out from under your nose,” she bopped the tip of his nose with her finger.
Liam’s hand reached over to her, using the belt buckle of her jeans to pull her closer as his other hand grabbed for the note and tossed it on the nightstand. “Oh, is that what you think, huh?” he purred as pulled her into his chest.
“I think I need to get ready for tonight unless you want to show up with this unwashed mess on your arm!” She howled in response and jumped away from him.
As Ruby walked past the nightstand, she quickly scooped up the note and folded it carefully into her pocket, blowing a kiss to Liam before she ducked into the bathroom. When she was certain the door was locked behind her, she sat down on the bathroom floor and unfolded the note. Her eyes narrowed as she whispered the words into the lonely air one more time.
“My darling Ruby. It’s been some time…”
Chapter 18
&n
bsp; Live down a heartache
Ren wasn’t kidding when he described Dalhurst as being a stereotypical surfer town. The walk along the beach front to the bar they were meeting at was a cacophony of shops, cafes and hangouts that tailored specifically to the scantily clad beach residents. Ruby felt overdressed in her t-shirt dress and platforms. The last time she put on a bathing suit was years ago, and she wasn’t about to start sporting one now.
They passed a group of girls wearing brightly colored string bikinis and Ruby immediately felt like she disappeared in comparison. She glanced over at Liam to gauge his reaction, but he was more preoccupied with teasing Zag and seemed not to notice the posse of sirens next to him. Feeling foolish for checking in on him, she tried to avoid looking around for the rest of the walk and spent the time wandering over to the small shops to pick out knickknacks for Shaylah. Her best friend was quite upset about not being asked to come along; it took Ruby hours to convince her that it wasn’t a vacation. Although she was quite certain that it wasn’t her that Shaylah was eager to spend time with.
The Tiki bar they were meeting Ren and Elijah in was an over the top, loud, and dimly lit shack that was filled to the brim with locals from the beach. Ruby squeezed close to Liam as he led the way and continued to look back at Zag and Leah to make sure they weren’t lost in the crowd. Not that Zag would have any trouble fitting in, this was exactly the type of joint Ruby could picture him spending all of his time in. It was no wonder he was so intrigued by Dalhurst, it fit his personality much better than Westerlake ever could.
When they finally managed to bounce through the sweat covered, globs of people, she could see that the rest of their party was already seated in a straw-roofed booth. Jake and Nola were laughing hysterically over something Elijah had said; and she felt awkward sliding in next to them, as though she was late to a performance and had to move people out of the way to get to her seat. Jake’s eyes met hers, lingering for a moment before he caught a glimpse of Liam at her side and frowned.
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