Chapter 41- Whispers In The Wind

“Did you see Ruby?” Crystal asked as she sat on a bench that overlooked the lake. She smiled as she thought back to when she was just a child and Ruby would hold her hand while they glided across the ice. She closed her eyes and her childhood memory played out behind her closed lids. It was one of those rare times she felt free and like an average child.
“Ruby look!” Crystal had yelled while she spun on the ice. She remembered the feeling of pride, one that gave her more courage. At full speed she shot across the lake and jumped in the air. Her trainers had glided smoothly.
When she landed the ice cracked and broke. She was instantly absorbed into the freezing depths of the lake. She had seen the figure skaters on the T.V jump and twirl. She had wanted to try it out for herself.
The cold took her breath, and her body became numb within seconds.
Ruby was her hero that day. Pulling her from the water and rushing her to the coven’s doctor.
“Yeah, I was there,” Levi’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. Ruby had felt so guilty afterwards, playing nurse and keeping her company while she recovered. Her mother on the other hand had not once stepped foot into her room to see how she was doing.
“Wow sarcasm.” Crystal gave him a gentle push and then looked back at the shimmering water. The moon made it look enchanting as the light danced across the surface.
“It was more than that. The look in her eyes. There was fear,” Crystal couldn’t get the look on Ruby’s face out of her mind. The terror she held in her eyes was raw.
“You have both just lost your father. The world has changed around you both. Of course, she is scared,”
“Yeah, maybe your right,” Crystal leaned her head against Levi’s shoulder and sighed. He had a way with words, most often than not he was formal. She tried to live by the code she had been raised by, yet she had picked up the slang of the world and spoke as common as they brought them. Unless she was at an important social event, then and only then did she pick her words carefully.
The world was forever changing. Day by day new things occurred. It was more than that, she knew Ruby and she wasn’t one to cower to fear. She embraced it.
“What did you need my help with?”
“It’s okay. It can wait for now,” Levi responded putting his arm around her. She felt safe wrapped in his arms, something she hadn’t felt since she had returned from Athens. She wanted to stay that way. The forest used to feel like home to Crystal. Levi’s arms gave her the same feeling, yet it was more powerful, she felt tiny tingles spread over her skin and goosebumps rise. It was a feeling that excited her and scared her at the same time.
It was like she belonged there. She would have to shake that feeling. Levi was a man her mother had picked out for her. She wanted to make her own choices. Yet each time she set her eyes on him, the wall around her crumbled brick by brick.
“We need to find a way to destroy the vortex. We can’t let them open the door,” Crystal whispered as she remembered the dreadful place roamed with monsters and ancient creatures.
“We will, but now isn’t the time.” he whispered in a soothing voice.
***
Ruby’s legs and feet felt like cement, heavy and unwilling to corporate, as she made her way home.
Had she seen her father’s sprit? Or did she just imagine it? There was only one way she would find out if what she saw was real or not and that would be to find the diary. But why had he chosen her? She was the weakest link out of the family. She would have liked to believe that it was because he trusted her the most. Yet her heart was telling her there was more to it than that.
Feeling her baby kick, she placed her hand on her concealed stomach. She couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that she had a tiny life growing inside her. She was responsible for her baby’s safety. Something she feared she would not be able to achieve.
She paused as she neared her mother’s home. It towered above the rest of the simple houses. It was hidden behind a large black iron fence with a long cobbled paved drive that led to the front door. Brilliant white paint work made the house look new with bright green vines that grew up the walls and gave it an enchanted feel.
When she was a child, she used to imagine and pretend that she was a princess. Little did she know back then that fairy-tale didn’t exist. She was no Cinderella. The only part of fairy-tale that existed was the wicked witch. Unfortunately for her she was her mother. Ruby had never agreed with the sacrifices that her mother had made. Nor the ways in which she run the coven. However, she wasn’t like Crystal and all she did was turn her back. Pretend those vile things weren’t happening. It was all good and well to pretend, but the ever-present guilt she felt pushed her further and further into a depressive state.
Each day she wore a mask, one that hid her inner turmoil and sadness. She would smile and make polite small talk. What she really felt she buried deep inside in the darkest parts of her heart and soul. Ruby only allowed those emotions to burst forth when she was alone. It was a lonely life, a life built on pretend and lies.
She had always been the perfect daughter and she played the part well. Until she made one mistake, it was a big mistake but still it was one that her mother would never forgive her for.
From time to time, she had tried to tell her mother what was on her mind. Her response was always not today. Jeanette wasn’t interested. To have emotions or show them made you weak in her eyes.
Looking at her childhood home and her dreams of princesses and prince’s she knew she had to leave before her baby was born.
The whole coven would know what she had done, and she was afraid of what the consequences would be.
She wasn’t worried for herself but the child she carried. There would be no claiming that Greg was the father. She would never be able to hide the fact that her child was part African American.
The person she feared the most was her own mother, what lengths would she go too? To keep the respect of her people and keep any shame away from her door? Ruby wasn’t delusional she knew deep down that her mother would have her unborn child taken care of, if she ever thought that the baby would cause her problems.
If only her younger self had known the hardships of adult life. If only she knew that everything wasn’t all roses and colourful. She would have been more prepared for the future she now had to face.
She almost laughed as she heard her mother bark orders to her men. “Find him! Now!” Even if they did find her father it would be too late.
Sighing she carried on her walk home. When she entered her house, she could have cut the tension with a knife. It lay thick and hostile in the air.
Greg sat on the couch with a glass of whisky in his hand. She could tell with one look he was drunk and angry. It wasn’t anything new, Greg loved his alcohol.
Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath. Stepping into the room she prepared herself for his outburst.
“Where have you been?” he asked calmly as he took swag from his glass.
“I went for a walk,”
At her words he threw the glass which shattered against the wall. Any other time Ruby would have flinched and backed off. Beg him for forgiveness. Tell him how much she loved him and how sorry she was. Not that time. Her entire world had collapsed. Granted parts of the problem were her own fault, she had brought on most of her misery herself.
Greg grabbed her by the throat his eyes wild with rage.
“Crystal completely embarrassed me!” the smell of sour alcohol on his breath nauseated Ruby.
“You did that yourself!” she yelled back. It was time he owned up to his own mistakes instead of blaming someone else. Her face flung to the side as his hand connected with her face. She could taste blood and feel her lip swell.
Squinting her eyes, she used her power to lift the bottle of whisky he had left on the floor.