“All done,” Leah sang and stepped away, letting Ruby take in her new look.
Well this is different. Her fingers ran through the short strands, turning from side to side to get a better view. She felt like she was playing a role on a stage. Between the still healing scars on her arms and legs and the jagged haircut, she couldn’t even tell that this was her. Maybe that was for the best. Maybe this new girl could get a grip and step up already.
She tousled the hair again, roughing it up to look well worn.
“I love it!” she yelled and jumped up to give Leah a hug.
“You look like a totally different person,” Leah said, clearly proud of her creation.
“Yeah. That’s kind of the point.”
The small, east coast fishing town was a welcome sight and Ruby was deliriously overjoyed to finally wrap her jacket around her waist. Sporting only a tee without getting frostbite felt like a definite win. Her and Liam led the way down the bustling main street, and she couldn’t help but gallop past the small shops and restaurants. This place reminded her of Lakeside, with all its charm and perfectly arranged shop windows. Even the people who walked down the street seemed happier here. Every lunch sign they passed boasted fresh fish and varieties of seaside inspired menus. Ruby had never realized how much one could do with shellfish until she walked by yet another variation of fried tacos. Despite being near the water, Westerlake was not quite as proud of its shoreline, making places like Lakeside such a novelty for the city dwellers. Marlton, however, put Lakeside to shame. There was not one building that they passed that didn’t somehow manage to grasp attention.
“We almost there?” Ray yelled out from behind them, tearing her away from the window sirens.
Ruby rolled her eyes, hoping her silence would make Ray leave her alone but within seconds she could hear tiny steps rushing to her side.
“Did you hear me? How far is this place?”
“It’s just a few blocks more. Do you have no patience at all?”
“Patience? Are you kidding?” Ray scoffed. “We’re literally marching to some stranger’s house just because she’s a Fire Elemental and lives by the water and hoping she’s not dead. How do you have patience right now?”
“Okay. You don’t need to be so morbid about it. We made good time and Demas doesn’t know we figured it out,” she leaned in, almost whispering his name. “She’s not dead.”
“Well, at least we have more peeps this time,” Ray gestured behind them to the large group of Elementals following down the street, “The three from Dalhurst look like they could kick some ass. Even Barbie.”
She scowled at the mention of Sealie. Even though Liam explained what happened she still cringed when she heard her name in conversation.
“What’s up with her anyway? She tryin’ to get in on your dude or something?”
“Mind your own business, kid.” Ruby said and sped up her pace to catch up to Liam who was already well ahead of them.
“Ah! So she is. The tramp!”
“You need to back off. And don’t call people names! Didn’t your parents ever teach you to be polite to strangers?”
Ray shrugged and walked fast enough to be next to her again, “Didn’t really have those. So, no.”
“Sorry.”
“For what? Never had a curfew either, or someone that told me what I should say and what I should wear. It was great!”
They turned the corner, crossing the small street towards a long line of three storied townhomes. Trees lined each side of the street and Ruby could have sworn she heard the birds sing in unison. This place was like a fairy tale.
“It’s the one with the green door!” Elena noted.
“Finally!” Ray rolled her eyes and ran back to join the others.
Ruby couldn’t agree with her more.
The townhome was divided into three apartments, each floor getting its own unique resident. Ruby scanned the names on the doorbells, her eyes finally finding what she was looking for. M. Sutton. Madeline. She started to ring the doorbell when the door opened and an older man stepped out.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” he muttered, clumsily trying to push past the group.
“No, no. We’re sorry! We’re in your way!” Ruby said and painted a friendly smile on her face. “We’re just here to see Madeline. I’m a friend of her family, they said I could find her here.”
“Maddie? Oh, yes of course! I’m glad to see she finally has some friends over!” He flashed a toothless grin and started to hobble slowly down the street. “Oh! Can you perhaps ask her to keep that cat quiet? It’s been hollering all hours of the night!” The man yelled and disappeared behind the corner.
Cyril and Elena exchanged a melancholy look when he passed which left her feeling anxious. Maybe this Maddie wasn’t home? Maybe she was on vacation? That couldn’t be it. People don’t leave their cats alone and possibly unfed while they go on vacation. There was a growing bulbous pit in Ruby’s stomach when she pushed the green door open and took the first steps up the stairs. She jogged to the second-floor apartment with the group on her heels and knocked. One knock. Then three. Soon she was banging on the door like a madwoman until Liam seized her wrist and lowered it, twisting the handle instead. The door to the apartment slid open, sending the pit in Ruby’s stomach into her throat. She all but choked on it when the small orange cat bolted out the open door down the stairs.
Liam held a hand out to stop her but she knocked it out of the way and flew into the apartment. The pit exploded, firing a thousand nails into her mouth. She tried to inhale, tried to breath, tried to look away. There was no point looking elsewhere. Her eyes followed the light movement of a girl’s small feet swinging back and forth, swaying ever so slightly from the blow of the air conditioner hitting the noose. Ruby shifted from side to side, swaying with her. Her eyes filled with tears. She opened her mouth to cry out but there were no words.
Arms wrapped around her as Liam pulled her in, turning her into his chest. Away from the girl. She fought against him, pushing him away and rushing to get her down. She had to cut her loose. She could still be alive. They might not be too late.
“No! No! No! No!” she yelled, struggling to cut the rope with the dagger.
Jake and Liam ran over, holding up the body while she stabbed at the rope, ripping it to shreds until it finally gave way. The two of them lowered the young girl to the floor and Ruby pounced on her, trying her best to remember how to perform CPR. Why didn’t she pay more attention in that class in high school? She was so useless! She pumped at her chest, taking small breaks and blowing air into her unmoving lungs. All the while whispering, “No! No! No!”. Her hands were starting to turn red form the repeated pressure, but she couldn’t stop. When Liam knelt beside her to pull her back, she pushed him away. Continuing to pump her chest. She could save her. She’s not dead. She’s fine. She’ll be fine.
She felt another hand on her shoulder, cold this time, frailer than Liam’s and turned to see Cyril standing over her.
“She’s gone, Ruby. There’s nothing we can do for her now.”
Her eyes burnt, floods escaping their prison like a dam had burst. The tears rushed down her face. She grabbed his hand, tossing it away from her. “Don’t touch me!” She screamed, “Don’t you dare touch me!”
“I’m just trying to help. You need to let her go.”
“You’re trying to help? You?” She continued to yell, “I don’t need your help! You’ve done quite enough!”
His face contorted as he tried to figure out what she meant. “Please, Ruby, calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down! You murderer!” She was angry, so angry she could burn him down right where he stood. Her hands shook. She scrambled on the floor, looking for the dagger. Where was it? She had dropped it when they got the girl down, but she couldn’t see it anywhere near her.
“Rue! What the hell are you talking about?” Jake yelled from behind his father.
“Oh, he didn’t tell you? Wai
t, that’s right! He probably doesn’t even know it happened! How convenient! You kill someone and don’t remember you did it. Is that how you can sleep at night?” She yelled, eyes still madly searching the floor.
“Ruby, you need to calm down,” Cyril took a step towards her, motioning to her arms.
She glimpsed down, catching only a peek at the black veins speedily making their way up her body. She could feel them rush through her blood until they were at her chest, encasing her heart.
Her eyes spied a light jump on the floor in her peripheral and she ran in its direction, speeding to pick up the dagger.
She raised it with a quivering hand, shaking the blade at Cyril. “I know who you are, Cyril!” She howled, “You killed Liam! You slaughtered him right in front of me! If my powers hadn’t kick in, he’d be dead! You’re no better than this monster! You murdered him in cold blood all over some stupid sword!”
She chucked the dagger to the floor and stood breathless. Her blood burned with the power of the plasma, stifling every heartbeat. Claiming her very essence as its own.
A light hand grazed her shoulder and she turned to see Leah inching closer towards her. Nudging her to breathe. She obliged, her attention turning back to the room. To the group in front of her.
To Liam.
To Jake.
Then to the rest of them, standing wide eyed and open mouthed in front of her. Their eyes dancing between her and Cyril who was slouched with his head bowed in the center.
They were afraid before; Leah had told her that much at least. They were even more afraid now.
Except this time, it was her they feared.
Chapter 40
It’s not real
“So, this is why you hate Cyril so much?”
Liam sat on the front steps of the townhome while the others stayed upstairs to put the crime scene back to the way they found it. Elena suggested they clear out as soon as possible before someone else saw them. It was a unanimous choice to reposition Madeline’s lifeless body to the noose and Ruby was surprised that so many stayed behind for the foul task. Although, after her little melt down, she doubted anyone wanted to spend much time in her company.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
She bit her bottom lip and slid her hip lower on the railing. “I thought it would make you upset. Or mess you up somehow.”
Liam raised an eyebrow in her direction.
“I know. It messed me up instead. I get it.”
“I’m just saying, it would have been good information to have. This whole time I thought you just carried a grudge against Cyril for no good reason.”
“Yeah. I wish.”
“Seriously, though, you should have told me.”
“I really didn’t want to hurt you.”
“You think that would hurt me? Something that sort of kind of happened? Rue, it’s not real. Not as far as I can tell. What’s real is you driving yourself crazy carrying it around all this time.” He rested his chin in his hands and sighed loudly. “And not that I’m a huge fan of Cyril or anything but you have to admit he’s been solid when it comes to the Elementals.”
“I guess.”
His arm reached around her legs and pulled her closer until she was perched on his lap. She dropped her head on his shoulder, breathing in the musk beating off the side of his neck. The hair on his chin was already starting to grow in and she let the rough surface scratch the top of her brow; finding some comfort in the touch. Liam’s hand ran through her short hair and she perched uncomfortably in his lap.
“I like this look!” He declared, almost in answer to her self-consciousness. “It’s pretty sexy.”
“Ha! I’m glad you think so ‘cause it’ll be a while until it all grows back.” Ruby fired back while trying to tuck a loose strand behind her ear.
His hand reached for hers, pulling it away. He leaned in – slowly at first – then, as if struck by sudden urgency, he crushed into her, his lips claiming hers. The anger she had felt in Madeline’s apartment was just a memory now; the plasma in her veins gone. The only burning she felt in her heart was her desire for him.
“You’re beautiful.” Liam said when their lips finally parted, “But if you keep hiding things from me, I’ll call your parents. Don’t think I won’t do it!” He raised a mocking fist and shook it in front of her, “Please stop acting like you’re alone in this.”
“Wait, what did you say?” She curved her back to face him.
“Stop acting like you’re alone?”
“No, before that! Parents!”
“Huh?”
“Madeline’s body, he made it look like a suicide.”
“So?”
“So, why?” Ruby hopped off his lap, pacing back and forth on the porch. “All the other murders were big shows that were meant to look like murders. He left them in public places, bunch of ash everywhere, hid little notes, came for me in the Aether Plane. Why not this time?”
“Maybe he was in a hurry?”
“No. That’s not it. He would have made time. This was different. You heard the neighbor. She didn’t have anyone over, and Zag said he couldn’t find any trace of a family. This girl was all alone. No one would think twice if she had killed herself. No police. No news. It’s like–”
She stopped pacing, her gaze meeting Liam’s. “He knows.”
“Knows what, Rue? I’m not following.”
“He knows we’ve caught on. No more breadcrumbs, there’s no need to string us along.”
“So, it was just a game?”
“Not a game,” she said, “a tactic. He’s been baiting us this whole time. Getting us away from where we should be.”
The pinching tingle at the back of her neck told her she was right.
“He’s going to Westerlake.”
“I think so. And we’re not there to defend it.”
Liam sprang from the steps, his face contorting into a mess of worried wrinkles. She could tell that he was no doubt listing out everyone that was in the center. Everyone they had left to fend for themselves. “We need to get back there immediately!” He yelled and started to make his way into the townhome. Ruby jumped in front of him, blocking him before he could get inside the door.
“Not yet. Please,” she begged, “not here.”
He caught her eyes as they flew up to the second-floor window.
Not after what I just did in there, she thought. Loud enough that Liam understood and sat back down. His head heavy in his hands again, waiting for the others to finish so they could get back to the hotel.
“I’m leaving, Ruby.” Elena crossed her arms, leaning against the hotel doorway, her eyes locked on Ruby’s.
“What? Why?”
Elena rubbed the side of her arm with an index finger. “Someone should get back to Westerlake as soon as possible.”
“I know. We’re all going there. I thought–” she trailed off. “Why really?”
“I can’t stay with you. Whatever this is, it’s no longer my fight.”
“What are you even talking about?” Ruby’s voice raised, her blood starting to boil. “It’s everyone’s fight! We have to defend ourselves!”
“We both know this is no longer about that.”
“Oh, please enlighten me! What is it about then?” She balled her fists until the knuckles turned a pasty white. Their light shade more evident against the red of her skin, against the fire sparkling to the surface.
The mayor nodded in the direction of her hands. “It’s about that.”
“My powers?”
“No, Ruby. Your lack of control. This is no longer about the Elementals. You’ve–” Elena rubbed her forehead, “You’ve changed.”
“I haven’t changed,” she scoffed. “I’m just stronger now.”
“There is a difference between strength and revenge.”
“Not from where I’m standing.”
“I think that is exactly the problem.”
“So what? You’re just leaving us?”
“No. I’m going to catch the next flight back home. I want to be there. Harv and Myriam shouldn’t be the only elders in the center. Not if they’re in danger.”
Ruby raised her hands, the sudden movement made Elena take a step back. She pushed the hurt out of her mind, not willing to accept that the mayor might actually be afraid of her like the rest of them.
“Elena, please. We need you. I–” she lowered her eyes.
“I can’t stay. I won’t stay. I’m sorry.”
“Is this about Cyril? About what I said?”
“The next flight is in a few hours,” the mayor started to back away, ignoring the question. “I should head out now. I wanted to tell you in person. I will do what is best for everyone in the center, but I cannot do it your way.”
She watched as Elena walked away. Her heart leapt until she could feel its beat pummel at her chest. She knew her loss of control might have shocked them, but this was something she didn’t expect. The elders were supposed to be on her side. She was the one that united them. The one that saved them from a future of self-destruction. How could Elena walk away from her? From everything they’d been through so far?
Her hand reached to clasp the edge of the doorframe, letting the fire in her scorch the metal. She pressed her fingers tightly into the frame, feeling its weight buckle beneath her grasp. Tears flooded her eyes and she gasped for air as the realization hit her.
She was losing them.
Ruby’s body shook and she tipped forward, letting the tears flow down her face and hit the floor. She missed home. She missed the comfort of her childhood bed, her mother’s cooking. She wanted to run after Elena. To tell her that she was sorry and that she needed her help. That she needed her to stay.
Her eyes turned to the singed doorframe; the shape of her burning fingers embedded in it.
Ruby straightened up, brushing the palms of her hands against her stomach. Elena was right, she had changed. It was up to her now to decide what she would do with that change. She’d been scared and angry for too long and being an AetherBorn had cost her too much. She wasn’t going to wait around until more people left her side.
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