Chapter 76- Into The Thorns

The once scarlet blood oozed down Ruby’s blade, in thick droplets that splattered onto the wooden floor.
The blood that had once flowed freely within the man’s veins, pooled around his neck, and soaked into the corpse’s clothes.
Ruby didn’t know her victim’s name. All she knew was that he had a family, the photo’s that lined the house of him and a woman both holding a little girl each told her so.
Their kid was better off without him anyway. He would one day betray her. Cause her heart to break.
Wiping her knife on a tea towel that hung from the cooker she left the scene. She had done her job. Killed a man. It was time to return to her captor and await further orders.
She hoped he didn’t take too long in sending her back out. She enjoyed the kill the desperation in their voice as they begged for their life. The thrill when her victims screamed. Watching the blood and life drain from their body gave her a sense of power.
Ruby was aware of the stares from strangers. She gave them all a scowl that quickly sent them on their way. Dried blood covered her blue jeans and white top. She didn’t care. It served as a reminder of the crime she had just committed.
The demon she served had hidden himself well. She laughed at the irony of her new home, which caused passer-byes to look at her like she was insane.
She now lived in a church that had long since been abandoned, in the house of God. Most of the legends and myths ever to be told were false. Like Chinese whispers, they changed until that very legend/myth no longer held any truth at all.
The humans thought that evil couldn’t enter a church, which only made the hiding place better.

She tossed the wooden door open and waltzed down the aisle past all the pews and into the back where there was a room that held a single bed and a set of drawers.
“Change your shirt,” a voice bellowed from the shadows. Without a care she stripped off her top and replaced it with a black vest top.
“Anything else master?” she asked eagerly.
When there was no reply, she curled up on the bed and closed her eyes.
The girl she used to be flashed behind her lids and she forced her away. That girl was nothing. Weak and naïve, she would never be that Ruby again. Her father would pay for his betrayal. One way or another, she would make him suffer. He had taken away her innocence. One day she would hunt him down and send him to hell where he belonged.

***
Darkness. It was everywhere, thick, and solid. Perl couldn’t see past the black void and fear crept up her back causing her to shudder. It was the first time she was waking up to a future unknown, and it scared the life out of her.
For hours she sat crossed legged in her bowered room. Meditating and clearing her mind to no avail. Each time there was nothing.
Her fear turned to true terror. Perhaps it was the end of the line for them all. If she could see no future, then maybe there wasn’t a future to see.
With shaky legs she descended the stairs, as she turned to head towards the kitchen she came upon Mary.
“The future is never set in stone, our choices and the paths we take are forever changing,” Mary said in a slow and musical voice.
“There is no future, Mary. Just darkness,” Perl whispered.
“For now,” Mary winked and linked her arm through Perl’s, leading her towards the kitchen.
Perl smiled. Mary was like her. She had seen it within her eyes the very first time she had met the woman. Her words of wisdom gave her faith that all was not lost.
“So, what’s the plan for today?” Crystal directed her question at Seth while waiting for her toast to pop from the toaster.
“We need to find a way to stop the virus. We are hitting the books,” Levi replied which caused a groan from Crystal. Research wasn’t something that interested her and bored the life out of her.
Seth was staring at the cooker and raw bacon on the side.
“Seth, the bacon will not jump into the frying pan itself,” Crystal said. With the maids and servants sick with the virus, Seth had no idea how to work the appliances. Crystal was amused. For a man that had been around centuries he lacked knowledge of the everyday world.
“Fine,” he muttered and picked up the raw meat taking big chunks.
“What?” he asked Crystal who had a look of amusement on her face.
“That is what I like to call disgusting,” she pointed at his hand holding the remaining food.
“After all we are family. Let our dirty habits be known,” Seth mocked.
“Family? Not in my book,” Crystal raised her brows and Perl chuckled at the banter between the two.
“You and Levi are now married after all,” Seth pointed out and Crystal chocked on her food. Levi patted her back and she gasped.
“WH..A.. T!” she yelled.
“You were married before the worlds became one,”
“Great just great,” Crystal muttered.
“If you think I am calling you dad you can think again,” she said pointing her finger at him.
“Father would be appreciated or even sir,”
“Why not go all out and call you my Lord,” Crystal took a bow and they all laughed. She had always been one to lighten up a room with her crazy personality. She didn’t take orders and said what she thought. At times it got her into a lot of trouble, but Perl always knew where she stood with Crystal.
Most of the time, it wasn’t a good place. She was a good girl. One that would help anyone in need, however she was young and didn’t understand the world. Her kindness one day would be her down fall. The façade she puts on, was just that, pretend. Deep down she was a sweet girl trying to figure out the person she was.
“Perl can you see a way to fight this virus,” Seth asked, she closed her eyes taking into account what Mary had said.
A vision came to life, it was dark, however she could make out what was in front of her.
“Mason, you need to take him. Get as far away from here as possible,” Ruby held her hand to a tiny baby’s cheek.
“Ruby, he’s our son and should have his mother in his life,” the man responded with a sorrow in his voice.
“I will only bring him harm. You must trust me. My mother is dangerous and will see you both dead.
“Goodbye my Prince,” Ruby kissed the baby’s head and held his little fingers in her own.
“Take care of Ethan.” She whispered into Mason’s ear.
“We have a problem,” Perl said in a shaky voice.
“Another? Add it to the ever-growing list,” Crystal mumbled.
“Ruby as a son,” she blurted out. The cup of coffee that Seth was holding dropped from his hand crashing to the floor.
“Then we must kill the child,” Seth said gravely.
“What, hell no!” Crystal stomped her feet.
“We have no choice. If not The Lady of The Forest will rise,” Perl tried to explain. Crystal didn’t feel what she felt. The woman was evil in its purest form.
“So, we kill an innocent child? Our nephew?”
“What other choice do we have?” Perl asked.
“There is always more than one option, death and destruction fixes nothing,”
“And the alternative option Crystal will see us all dead,”
Crystal looked away; she would never be party to taking an innocent life. She would die first.