He smiled, as he walked out of the gardens and headed back out of the park. Now that he had the right place, he only needed to check out the pub and hopefully see her there.
Lucian dodged quickly as someone came darting out of the pub. He couldn't place it, but he felt he had seen that person somewhere before. However, he didn't dwell on it too long. He had better things to do. Things to figure out. Things to plan. He walked in, shocked to see how empty the place had been. His eyes met that of a young blonde-haired man who stood fixing his glasses.
«Is everything all right?» he asked.
It wasn't as if he really cared if he was all right or not. Lucian grinned to himself as he watched the young man's erratic pulse calm. It was too bad, Lucian was beginning to wonder just what his blood was going to taste like.
«Yeah, I'm all right.»
Lucian knew he was lying. He saw through those sapphire eyes the boy held. Still, there was no mess meddling in something that didn't concern him. He was there for one reason and one reason only. Ruby. If this really was her place of work, then maybe this man could help him out.
«Say,» Lucian said, «I'm looking for someone, perhaps you can help me?»
«Sure,» the bartender replied.
«Her name is Ruby, I'm told she works here,» Lucian began, «I was hoping I could see her.»
He wasn't sure if this guy would let him see her or not. And by the looks of the bar, he wasn't even sure if she was still there.
«Damn Ruby,» the bartender whispered, «she sure is popular. Unfortunately, she's not here right now. What's your name? I'll let her know you stopped by.»
«Would you tell her Lucian was here,» Lucian said, «tell her that I'll see her soon. Thank you, Reid.»
Lucian turned, leaving Reid standing there with a confused look on his face. Lucian had sensed a connection to Ruby from him, and now that he knew where she worked, and who else might be important to her, the only thing left was setting up his trap. As he exited the pub, Lucian waited until the door shut slowly behind him before tilting his head up to the sky. Finally, everything was falling into place. Every piece he needed was perfectly in place and easy to get to. But there was one thing that hung in the back of his mind — that man who rushed out of the bar.
He was familiar to him. He just didn't know why? And then like a bullet shot out of a barrel, Lucian remembered him. That caramel-colored hair, the smell of dust, ash, and blood clung to his clothes, even the small cross tattoo behind his left ear could only belong to one person: Kai Blackwell, the hunter. Lucian let out a howl of laughter as he gazed into the sky.
«This is too perfect!»
19
«You're not gonna like my answer»
Ruby sat gazing out to the rain-filled city. Her mind buzzed with what Joshua mentioned. After telling him she needed a few minutes to collect her thoughts, she had wandered into his living room. The view he had of the city was one she had always wished for. Spots slid down the window covering the image of the other buildings in a watery blur. Glancing back at the table, she let out a breath. Joshua had left to go somewhere to give her space, even though she didn't need, or want, him too.
Looking down at her hands, she wondered just what she was. Was she human? Or a monster? She felt like a human. She even had a mundane routine she performed every morning, noon, and night. However, deep inside her, she knew something dark lurked there. Looking back to the city, she tried to bring her mind back to Joshua's timid voice.
«Those aren't nightmares. They're memories twisted by fear.»
«Memories?» she whispered.
She tried to search back as far as she could remember. Something had to be hidden there. Somewhere in the shadows. Yet, as she searched, she couldn't find anything. The only thing that appeared was the sound of a car crash that faded into the crackle of the flames. Then screams. Shaking her head, she focused her eyes on the reflection staring back at her. Her body shook, yet she didn't feel cold. She trembled out of fear. She wanted Joshua to return from wherever he was.
After staring out the window for what felt like hours, Ruby got up from her spot and stretched her arms. Wandering back into the kitchen, she stood at the table and gazed off at the wall. She wanted to ask him so many questions. And the one on her mind right now was how they had met the very first time. How could he have known her? He kept so many secrets from her about herself that she needed to know.
«Damn it,» she barked.
How was it that everyone knew something she didn't? First Kai, and now Joshua. Who else knew something about her? Lifting her gaze, she knew of one other person. Naomi. She would have been the only other person who would know exactly what had happened. However, it had been ten years since Ruby had last seen her, and she wasn't exactly sure where her Aunt was. Not like she would get anything from her anyway. Naomi was just about as stubborn as Kai, if not worse. There was no way Naomi would budge.
Ruby let out a defeated breath. She just needed to be patient and wait for Joshua to return. He seemed to be the only person who was willing to talk to her.
«Where did you go?» Ruby asked, «I need you.»
Her voice was shaky, not of fear but of longing. His apartment seemed smaller without him in it. It didn't matter what room she was in, the walls looked as though they were shrinking with each second. Even time itself seemed to stall. It ticked by like a snail. Ruby tried to keep herself busy, with little luck. She began pacing back and forth, not only with her steps but with her mind as well. She thought that maybe, just maybe, she might be able to figure something out by the time Joshua returned.
«Damn it,» she yelled as she rustled her hands through her hair.
Nothing made any sense. It bothered her that no matter how much information she had, there were still missing pieces. Crossing through the kitchen and back into his tiny living room, Ruby found a spot on the couch and stretched out. Since the silence was her only company, she decided rather than fighting with it, that she'd just accept it. It wasn't as if Joshua was going to walk through that door at that very second with any more information.
She laid on her back, gazing blankly at the ceiling. She wished he was there with her. They could be lying in his kingsized bed, not talking and just taking in each other’s company. As the thought of her lying next to him came into focus, her body began burning. It started off lightly, but as her mind continued to focus on the image of his face, the burning intensified.
Suddenly, she saw flashes of white light. She flinched as she tried to shield her eyes from the intensity of the light. Around her, she swore she heard birds chirping. This was odd given that she was right in the middle of New York City, where you could only hear the engines of cars rev as they wait for the light to change. There may have been the odd bird sound every once and a while, but nothing as loud and as clear as this.
When she opened her eyes, she wasn't in Joshua's apartment. Instead, she was in an open field. Green grass stretched out in an almost perfect circle of trees around her. The forest before seemed familiar to her, and the darkness from the forest seemed to taunt her. It called to her. She rose, cautious of her surroundings. She took a step towards the shadows before stepping back when a pair of glowing red eyes appeared.
Ruby tried to call out to it. To try and figure out where she was and what was happening. However, as her lips moved to form the words, her voice was mute. Nothing but air escaped her lips, leaving her with more questions. She knew following the eyes might lead her to trouble, but not following would only leave her with more questions. And that just wasn't an option.
She took another step only to fall short and down on her knees. Her stomach throbbed and burned as she wrapped her arms around it. She let out a scream in pain as the burning grew. Falling to her side, she let out short spurts of air, all while keeping her focus on the eyes in the darkness. She couldn't let it escape. Not when the answers were so close.
As the burning sensation consumed her, Ruby looked down at her arms. A thic
k red liquid seeped from between her arms. Her heart raced as she squeezed her waist tighter in hopes to prevent it from getting worse. When that proved futile, she let out another scream for help. She couldn't die here. Not here. Not without any answers.
Slowly, as the blood continued to flow over her arms, Ruby found herself losing her sight. The forest, though dark, was growing darker. Even the eyes looked duller than the bright crimson they were. But there was something else that caught her eye. Something white twinkled a few inches below the eyes — something she would only describe as sharp-pointed fangs.
«Ruby... Ruby...»
Joshua's voice sounded distant to her. His faint low voice drew her closer to him, and out of the darkness she had found herself. What was she doing? Where was she? She tried to remember. She was having dinner....blacked out...Joshua spoke of something...her past...then left. Slowly, her mind began to piece back her evening. And with it, the sensation of her stomach burning. Shooting up straight, Ruby let out a shriek of pain and quickly wrapped her arms around her stomach to quell the pain.
«It's okay,» Joshua said, placing his hand gently on her back, «It was only a dream. You're safe.»
Turning her face to his, Ruby let out a breath. Her heart hammered against her chest as she tried to calm herself down.
«I'm back,» she said as she looked to see she was back in the living room.
«You never left,» Joshua replied, «what happened after I left?»
That was one question she would like to know herself. She told him of her spacing out at the window watching the rain. Then of her anger with everyone - including him- of the lack of answers. She gave up and went to relax in the living room. Ruby took a moment to collect her thoughts. What she was about to say was going to sound crazy to any normal person. Even it seemed crazy to her, and she hunter monsters before. As she gazed into Joshua's coffee-colored eyes, she wondered if he'd think she was crazy.
«Then,» she said after weighing her options, «I wasn't here. I was in a field surrounded by forests. Through the trees, I saw blood-colored eyes glowing in the darkness. They were fixated on me. Like I was some kind of meal. It wanted me to follow. And I tried to, believe me, I tried.»
She paused to inspect his expression. His eyes stayed on her like a hawk to its prey. However, there was no shocked expression on his face. There was only his usually calm expression. It felt different to her somehow. Like what she was saying was making a connection to him. One she was going to make sure to ask about.
«I got up,» she continued, «but there was a burning pain in my stomach. I fell clutching my gut, hoping that it wasn't anything serious. Then I saw it. Blood flowed through my arms like a creek. I panicked. Then... When I looked back to the eyes, there were glowing white fangs beneath them.»
A long silence stretched between them after she had finished her explanation. She grew more and more curious as to what he thought about all of it. However, it seemed as though he wasn't going to give her any answers. She was disappointed but not surprised. The only ones she knew who weren't keeping secrets, were Reid and Nikky. Unless they were keeping something from her as well.
All those years of hearing Kai drill into her not to trust anyone, she was beginning to understand. If no one was willing to give her the answers she wanted and when she needed them, then she was going to find them herself. She rose from the couch and headed for the door. She couldn't sit around anymore. She couldn't be idle anymore.
She took large strides to the door, hoping that Joshua wouldn't hold her back. He knew full well just how messed up she felt. How confused she felt. Looking back for a brief second at where Joshua sat kneeling by the couch, she felt her heartbreak. He looked deep in thought and for a second, she thought of not leaving. Of staying and hearing his thoughts. However, she couldn't bring herself to. Turning her gaze back to the door, she was shocked to find Joshua blocking her path.
«What the..?» she said as she quickly turned her head back to the living room only to find it empty. «How did you...»
Before she could say anything else, Joshua took a step toward her. Her mind raced as she locked eyes with him. His gaze was intimidating, making her step back a little. She backed up until her back brushed up against a chair. Glancing down to the chair quickly, she thought of how it might have gotten there. Her attention was soon brought back to Joshua as he gripped her arm tightly.
«Ouch,» Ruby said, «Joshua let go.»
«No,» he hissed.
«Let go,» Ruby demanded, «I can't stay here. Not when the answers are out there somewhere. Joshua, let go!»
«No,» he shouted.
This time Ruby froze. She had never heard him shout before and never seen a house rattle at the sound of one either. He had frightened her, something that wasn't easily done either. Nothing scared her much, except for her nightmares. And now, she could add him to her list. She felt his grip loosen on her arm and watched as he stepped back. Perhaps he had seen the error in his way. She moved slowly and tried to step by him but was stopped once more, this time by a more gentle touch. A touch that meant for her to stay. Her heart leaped to her throat.
«You're not gonna like my answer,» he said.
«How would you know?» she replied, «you haven't said a damn thing. I was starting to think that you might have been on to something. But now...Well, now I'm not so sure. So unless you're going to tell me something, I'm leaving.»
Her words weren't hers. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay, seeing his hurt gaze hurt her. He was struggling with something just like she was. And there she was, pushing him away for her own selfish reasons.
She wasn't sure when her body started moving on its own, or why. But as her hands reached out to him, she let go of everything. Every thought of finding answers, of leaving him alone, of whatever that dream was, was nothing more than that. A thought that had consumed her. Out of the kindness of his heart, Joshua had opened his home to her as a safe place away from everything. She had forgotten that and forgotten to thank him.
She placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled his face closer to hers. She had forgotten how cold his lips were against hers. The tingling sensation of her lips numbing left her wanting more. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer to her. His body felt just as his lips did. Frozen. The cool sensation engulfed her, but it wasn't enough to extinguish the heat that her body was producing.
She felt his hands slide down the center of her back, leaving behind a chilling sensation until they came to a stop at her waist. As they rested there, the coolness of his touch sent her spiraling down a hole she wasn't sure she wanted to get out of.
There was one thing she remembered from all of her aunt's training. That never showed weakness. Showing weakness meant death. Or in her case, a really good night. No matter how hard she tried to resist - which wasn't that much, really- she was weak when it came to him. The way he looked. A balanced body that was powerful, sturdy, strong and firm. The way he was gentle when it came to handling her. Even though they hadn't been together for long, he seemed to know her body as if they had been together for years.
Ruby let out a breath the moment Joshua lifted her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she held on loosely as he walked her toward his room. She liked feeling so light that he could move freely to wherever he wanted. Hell, she would be fine if he stopped in the living room. She wanted him, and he hoped he felt her urgency as she deepened the kiss.
Her tongue tangled with his for a while. She let out small breaths that she hoped didn't sound as weird as they did to her. Feeling Joshua's tongue twirled around her and moved further in, she felt like he enjoyed that.
In the room, Joshua stood holding her. She was afraid that if he let her go, her mind would go right back to finding the answers she desperately sought. However, as he moved his lips away from hers, she drew in a few breaths. She hadn't realized they hadn't stopped for a breather since she first kissed him. Fearing her mind losing track of what she really want
ed, at that moment, she leaned in and began slowly kissing his neck.
«Ruby,» Joshua whispered.
She paused for a moment with her lips placed gently on the nape of his neck. Closing her eyes, she waited to hear more of his low, raspy voice. Hearing it sent shivers down her spine. However, his tone seemed somewhat casual. Like he wasn't quite as affected by what she was doing like she was with him. Worried, Ruby moved her lips away from Joshua's neck and waited to hear more.
«I'm sorry,» he whispered, «there's something... Something you need to know.»
She wasn't sure she wanted to hear it. So instead of giving him time to say what he wanted, she pressed her lips against hers, in protest for silence. Sure it was selfish of her to do. But the time for words was over. At least for her anyway.
As she deepened the kiss, Ruby slid her hands down along his chest, making sure to unbutton each button until she reached the last one. Her fingers felt frozen there on the last one. She was so close to what she wanted, however, something tugged at her to wait. She moved her lips from his.
20
«We need to talk»
Joshua let out a soft breath as he gazed at her. She stood before him wearing a black bra with red lace that ran halfway down the breast and matching panties. He studied every inch of her pale body, every curve, and every mark. As his eyes trailed down her torso and down to her scar, he paused and waited. He could see her heart beating erratically in her chest, signaling her nervousness. She was second-guessing her decision, something he himself was doing. After all, he did just tell her they had met before; surely, she had more questions.
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