“I can’t. Disrupting the natural process of a pregnancy could cause problems with the baby unless you want that then which I could totally do.”
“Okay. Never mind. I just don’t like seeing her like that.”
“I know you don’t. It’s so sweet.”
“So what does that mean for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You heal yourself. What do you think that’s going to do?”
Jaylyn’s eyes got wide and she looked over to Adele.
“No!” Adele said as she pointed at her. “Don’t read into that. Nothing will happened.”
“But what if it does?!” Jaylyn asked with worry as she started to sit up straighter. “I mean, I have no control over that! I could be killing him!”
“You’re not.” Troy tried assuring her while he put his arm around her.
“Well, how do you know that? You don’t. You can’t say that and know for sure.”
“Okay.” Meg got to her feet and went over to Jaylyn. “I think someone is in need of a nice long hot bath.”
“But how can I—”
“I think it’s a good idea.” Troy said as he brought Jaylyn to her feet. “You know better not to listen to Darius.”
Jaylyn was taking deep breaths still thinking about it and Meg started to take her by the arm and put her other on her back. “It’s okay, Troy. I’ll take her.”
“Thanks, Meg.”
Jaylyn didn’t say anything else while she walked off with Meg and they started up the stairs.
“Wow, I think we should keep Meg around longer.” I said. “Like nine months.”
“Why did you have to say that?” Troy asked. “Now it’s going to be all she thinks about.”
“Not necessarily. Your son is going to have that healing thing too. I mean, right? It could be possible that he’s healing her too which would be a solid case for why she’s not effected by anything.”
“Mmm. I love it when you just prove everyone wrong.” Ruby stepped off the last step, completely dressed for the day and came over to be seated in my welcoming lap.
Zayden laughed. “How often does that happen?”
“Well, you have to at least admit that he’s right. I actually chose for Jaylyn not to heal me not that she actually couldn’t.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I don’t want anything to go wrong. We’re not the first women ever to get pregnant you know? Many have had to let it run its course for centuries without having Jaylyn’s luxury and so will I. What happens, happens.”
I admired her. She was such a strong woman and I let it go. If she was going through this because she thought it was nature’s way then I would let her but I would always worry.
Chapter 20
Ruby
Three days drifted away and Darius couldn’t help but want to do every single thing he could for me so I could just relax and give our baby a healthy environment to grow in. I guess I should be happy he was happy about this compared to what I had always feared but quite frankly, I was getting extremely bored. Staying in bed all day with only reading material or my sketch book wasn’t what I had in mind of fun. Darius was making it quite pointless for me to even have to get dressed in the morning if I was just going to stay in bed.
When he first started out behaving this way, I was savoring every moment to be spoiled by him and enjoyed it but after days of constant laziness, I felt like I needed to get out and keep my body in a healthy state of strength with a little workout. I got myself dressed for the first time in days and left the room to go out on the back balcony up on the seventh floor where I planned to do some light training while he was off probably thinking of another way he could help me.
I was glad to know I was the only one outside though. I would rather being doing this alone so he may never find out. The cool air was perfect on such a day and I was ready.
First, I started out stretching all the muscles I haven’t used in days then decided to take a trip around the obstacle course that wrapped around the outside of the training ring.
I stood ten feet back and took a breath. I started towards the first set, six wooden pillars set in heights like stairs. I stepped up on the first one only one foot high and leaped to the next ones all a foot higher than the one before it. I made it to the seven foot platform with ease and jumped up grabbing a bar over the twelve foot gap and shimmied across to another platform.
From there, I jumped over to a ten foot high wood stile and climbed up, hopping over to a pillar on the other side and then to another stile. I climbed up it and jumped over to another platform, climbing the ten foot notched wall in front of me. When I reached the top, I moved down to the ledge just two feet below it and jumped over to a metal pole. I swung from it to three more and flipped onto another ledge, hanging on to the top wall and climbing over. I climbed down that notched wall to another platform and ran along a six inch plank straight in front of me, taking a sharp left turn and back to the right to get onto the last platform.
Lastly, I jumped over to a pillar at platform height and flipped off of it down to the ground. I stood up straight with my eyes closed and a relaxing breath. I felt good. I needed that but when I opened my eyes however, Darius was standing in front of me with his arms folded across his chest, showing off his tense muscles. “What are you doing?”
“Darius!” I was a bit startled to see him because I didn’t want him to find me out here but I tried to play passed it like it wasn’t a problem. “What? I had to get out.”
“You know I don’t want you doing stuff like this.”
I huffed and walked passed him, turning back as he turned to me. “What’s the big deal? I can’t sit inside forever and just do nothing!”
“I’d prefer it if you did.”
“Why? Nothing is going to happen to me!”
“You don’t know that!”
I huffed again and lowered my head because I knew my eyes were going to turn red. I couldn’t stop it. “I know what you’re doing and it was sweet at first but now you’re really starting to piss me off.”
“Ruby.”
He tried taking a step closer but I started to back up. “No. I want you to stay away from me before I end up killing you.”
“You’re being—”
“Reasonable! Just back off. I don’t need you to smother me. I’m going to do this my way like I have been so just—leave me alone.”
Did I really mean it? I guess I did for now and my voice made it sound like it was all true too. I didn’t look at him again. I just took this anger with me and headed back inside to live in my mistakes.
Chapter 21
Darius
I had a dead stare at the door when Ruby walked away from me and the more I stood there, the angrier I got too. For once, I was going to listen. I was feeling too mad to want to see her and would live up to her request. I realized it was for the best. I cared about her but I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her either and being away from her right now would guarantee that nothing would.
I walked back inside with those thoughts and found it to be quite easy to keep distance between us in a place this big. I secluded myself to a room Ruby probably hasn’t even seen on the third floor and just let the day pass.
That night, everyone was around the table for dinner and it was the first time Ruby and I were together since that morning. We both sat quiet and didn’t even look at each other as Adele passed around the drinks. She, Ruby and Jaylyn just got water while she handed the rest of us a glass of wine.
She set mine down to the right of my plate where it belongs and I casually reached for it. “Thank you.”
I didn’t even take a sip. I put it down to the left of my plate and Ruby looked over with a sigh. “What are you doing?”
“What?” I met her eyes for the first time all day since I last saw them red.
“You moved your glass. Think I’m going to take it?”
“Just limiting temptations.” I looked
away first and got back to eating. I didn’t want to openly fight or make it seem like I was but she noticed something.
“You’re doing it again.”
“What? I don’t want our child to have brain damage because you’ve been drinking more than you should have been.”
“Well, he’s going to be yours. He’s bound to have some mental issues.” She stood up with her plate and glass of water like she just wanted to get away from me.
“Oh, it wouldn’t be all from me. Believe me.”
“Real mature. You might want to think about finding somewhere else to sleep tonight.”
“Good. I already moved my stuff.”
“Good.” She left completely and I turned back to my plate. It was quite for a few moments but I knew someone was going to ask.
“What was that?” Zayden asked.
“What? Nothing.”
“Are you splitting up or something?” Jaylyn asked it with a little worry in her voice and I didn’t even like to think of the answer.
“If she keeps it up. Excuse me.” I took my plate and glass and left the dining room to be alone.
I spent that night in the room on the third floor, far from Ruby. After I finished dinner, I set the plate aside and stripped down to just my pants for bed. I laid there for a moment looking up at the ceiling and then turned my head to the left at the empty space beside me where Ruby would normally lay. I saw an image of her and had to turn away from it and face the edge.
“Stop thinking about her. She hates you. It’s pretty clear that means you lost her. Move on.”
I knew I couldn’t even after saying the words out loud. I just laid there and tried to fall asleep. I loved her and wanted to make things right again but every time we saw each other, things went in an entirely different direction. It was hopeless but I knew what I had to do. I had to stay out of her way completely until she decided to want me back and that meant I’d have to try and get my meals without being seen by her. I was going to make it as if I was never here at all and wait until Ruby showed signs of missing me, if she ever did.
Chapter 22
Adele
It’s been days. Things were different now; worse.
Ruby and Darius were not even seeing each other and we feared what it could lead to. We couldn’t let that happen but the more time passed, the more either of them planned do to anything. It was time we stepped in and tried to do something about it.
“You talk to Darius and we’ll talk to Ruby.” I said to Zayden.
He nodded and left breakfast that morning with Troy just after Ruby left from finishing hers and I went with Jaylyn and Meg to find her.
“You think it will work?” Meg asked.
“I don’t know but worth finding out. Jaylyn find her.”
She nodded as we walked out of the dining room and she searched for Ruby’s presence. “She’s out on the balcony.”
“Then let’s go.”
We walked up the stairs to the seventh floor and walked out on to the back balcony. Ruby was in the training ring with two short wooden sticks about the length of her swords, doing some practice drills.
“Hey, Ruby.” Jaylyn said as we approached and sat on the bench by the entrance of the ring.
“Hey. What do you want? I’m kind of busy.”
She should have known better and I decided to get right to the point. “What’s with you and Darius?”
“Who?” Ruby just continued and has yet to look at us but I’m sure she was just trying to not talk about it.
“You’re husband.”
She finally stopped and turned, holding the sticks still in her hand. “I don’t want to talk about him. The last few days have been great.”
“You’re splitting up, aren’t you?” Jaylyn asked in worry.
“It’s crossed my mind.”
“But you can’t! You’re going to have his son.”
“So, I’ll give it up for adoption. I’m sure there’s plenty of women who would just love to have his child.”
I sighed. “Ruby. Be realistic. You know you won’t do that.”
“Then I’ll just be a single mother. What’s wrong with that? My mother did it. So could I. I don’t need him.”
“I know I haven’t really known you that long but I think he’s going to want to be involved.” Meg said.
I shook my head. She should have said anything but Ruby took it rather well and laughed. “Darius? Yeah, he plays that off well, doesn’t he?”
“Ruby, come on.” I said, trying to actually get somewhere with this. “You know that’s not even close to being true.”
“How about you not worry about it, okay? I’m fine with how things are.”
She got back to her practice drills and I looked at the two beside me, my frustration rising silently. “Let’s just go. I don’t think there’s anything we can do here.”
They nodded as we got up and went back inside. We didn’t get anywhere with her and I guess I should have known that. I was just hoping the others were having better luck because it was kind of up to them now.
Chapter 23
Zayden
We found Darius in his room―or a different one he’s been calling his. He was alone of course and we tried to see if we could get somewhere. He was just sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard, throwing daggers at the footboard.
“Hey. Can’t be lunch already.”
“No, we just finished breakfast.” Troy laughed.
“Then what do you want?”
“Why are you staying in here instead of with your wife?” I asked. If I learned a thing or two from Adele, it was to never drag out conversations no one wanted to have. Getting them over and done with the quickest way was best for everyone.
“Because she hates me. It’s better this way.”
“How can you say that?” Troy asked. “She’s carrying your child.”
“I know that and I’m still protecting him without having to be around her.”
I laughed while I sat at the end of the bed and started taking out the daggers stuck in the footboard. “How do you figure?”
“I don’t want her to be mad and she is when she’s around me. Ever think of what could happen if she stayed mad long enough?”
“What do you mean?”
“She could kill him if she got mad enough. I’m not going to let that happen.”
“Even if that means you won’t be with her anymore?”
He paused for a moment but I knew it was only because he tried to keep his facial expression from becoming sad. “Yes.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yes I do. If she wants it to be over than it will be and I’ll leave.”
“And go where?”
“I do have a house, you know? I wouldn’t have to stay here.”
“So, you wouldn’t be in his life at all?” Troy asked.
“A kid can grow up without his father. We know what that was like.”
“Not really. We got a new one. Do you want that to happen? I think I know exactly who’ll replace you.”
“Say his name and I’ll kill you.”
“See, you know you don’t want that.” I said.
“It’s not really my choice. If she doesn’t want me in her life anymore then I won’t be. She has to be the one to make that choice. That’s what I’ve been waiting for and so far, my chances don’t look good so I don’t even know why you came up here to talk to me.”
“We have the girls talking to Ruby right now.” Troy said.
Darius sat straighter by leaning forward and looked both worried and angry at the same time. “You what?! They better not be making her mad.”
“I don’t think they will.” I assured him. “We just wanted to know what was going on. We don’t like seeing you apart probably just as much as you don’t like to be.”
“Been fine so far. It’s easy to stay away from each other in such a big place. I haven’t even seen her in days so I haven’t really been thinkin
g much of her.”
Troy laughed. “I don’t believe that.”
“You can leave now.” Darius sighed as he got back to throwing daggers at the footboard. “Let me know if you see a change but it’s very unlikely.”
Troy and I looked at each other with sighs and got up.
“All right. Fine.” I said. “Just don’t do anything crazy like decide to leave.”
“How long do you expect me to wait?”
“How long would she wait for you?” Darius sighed because he knew she once said she’d wait forever. “Exactly. We’ll see you later.”
We walked back down stairs to the first floor where the girls were already sitting in the lounge.
“Hey, how’d it go?” Adele asked.
I sighed and sat down next to her. “Not so good. He’s leaving it up to Ruby to make the choice. What’d she say to you?”
The girls looked at each other a little worried and I began to worry.
“Ah, well—” Jaylyn began. “Not so good either.”
“How so?” Troy asked.
“Not good as in she would either be a single mother or give him up after he’s born.”
“What?!” Troy and I were equally stunned and shouted it together.
“She seemed fine with both of the outcomes.”
“Please tell me you got through to her.” I said.
“Not really.” Adele replied. “And to be completely honest, despite what any of us want, I think they’re going to split.”
I didn’t want to think about that happening. It would change so many things if they weren’t together anymore. Our family would forever be broken or just awkward all the time and I couldn’t stand that. They had to work through this―we just didn’t know how.
Chapter 24
Darius
After dinner had come and gone, I took a shower using the bathhouse on the third floor since I couldn’t use my own without running into Ruby.
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