Ruby Rising (17 page)

CHAPTER 20

I put Krystal’s letter on my desk unopened. I didn’t feel ready to open it yet, needing time to let what I had learned from Julie sink in.

I was also feeling guilty and ashamed by the fierce attraction I had felt for Father Michael. He was a priest for goodness sake!
And what about Scott?
I thought to myself. I desperately wanted to cry, but I told myself to suck it up. I didn’t want to cry anymore, especially over a boy. I didn’t know what we were, if we were every anything at all. I trust him completely anymore and I didn’t know if I wanted him in my life, but I wasn’t sure if it would be that easy to get him out of it either.

I stretched out on my bed, putting one hand under my pillow. I felt something cold and put my hand around it, pulling it out I realised that it was the black onyx dagger that I had found when I was searching for Scott’s things in the debris at camp. I rolled it around my hands staring at it, feeling it in my hands. It was light, but I felt safer knowing it was in my hands, I had to find out what it was, I knew there was more to this beautiful crystal than its colour.

I opened my laptop and waited for it to load, than went to Google and typed in ‘Black Onyx Dagger’ and stared at over four million results. I sighed scanning the pages, eBay listings, and Amazon listings; everything that had loaded were items for sale. I changed my search to include ‘meaning of’ and hit enter again this time only wielding eight hundred and fifty thousand results. At least that would be doable, considering I was on holidays and had time for it.

One of the pages gave me a description of the gemstone which didn’t tell me a lot other than its basic properties. Then I came across
Sonia Perozzi
’s article on
Hubpages
which indicated that it was a powerful protection stone that had other special properties including rejuvenation, balance, strength, change, and banishing negativity. I wondered why Scott had had it with him at camp.

I found numerous other pages linking the gem to protection rituals from demons, improving mental focus and self-control. Soon enough the information became repetitive so I put the stone in my pocket, I liked knowing it was there even if I didn’t know what to do with it yet.

Suddenly, Scott’s mobile beeped and I looked at it, it was a message from Mikayla, at least that’s whose name it was under. I figured I already stole his phone I might as well read his messages. I opened up the message centre and was surprised that there was only the new message there. Opening it, I realised it was Scott.

Hey Ruby, I’m sorry about the trip going so badly. I don’t really know where to start, but if you’ll meet me at the lake, on the rock, we can talk. I’ll be there at six and stay til seven. If you don’t want to talk then just leave the phone. Scott.

I didn’t text him back, I checked the time, it was five thirty now, he hadn’t really given me much time to think about it. I did want to confront him about the phone number I had found on his phone.

I went downstairs and found my mother in the kitchen having a cup of coffee and staring out the window.

“I made one for you too honey, I was hoping you would come down.” She nodded at the seat opposite her where, sure enough, a steaming hot cup of coffee sat.

“Thanks Mum,” I sat down, tucking one foot under myself.

“How did you go with Krystal’s parents?” My mother was relaxed, her fingers brown and dirty from her day in the garden.

“It was hard, I learnt a few things, but nothing that can explain everything. She, her name’s Julie, gave me a letter that Krystal left for me. But I can’t seem to bring myself to open it yet. I’m not sure I’m ready.” I sipped my coffee and let the warmth seep into me. It was the end of summer but I felt chilled to the bone.

“You’ll know when it’s the right time honey.” She got up and put her hand on my shoulder. “I’m not feeling the best tonight, so I’m going to have a shower and tuck myself into bed with a book. Can you get your own dinner tonight?”

“Yeah no worries, I was going to go for a walk soon though, it’s still light out.” I looked up to my mother, she did look slightly pale and tired. “Are you sure you’re alright though? I don’t mind staying in if you want.”

She gave me her smile that was meant to make me feel fine about leaving her but failed dismally. “No honey, it’s okay really, nothing a good night sleep wouldn’t fix.”

I stood up, hugged her and thanked her.

“For what?” she asked.

“Just for being there for me without asking too many questions and letting me try and work this one out for myself.” She gave me a little kiss and headed for her bathroom.

I looked at the c lock, it was six now, I patted my pocket where the little dagger was and walked out the door, this time deciding to leave Phoenix at home. I didn’t want to be distracted with him around the lake again.

When I reached the rock Scott was already there, staring out over the water.

“Hi,” I said as I sat next to him on the rock, immediately feeling the intensity of our physical connection from being so close to him.

“Thanks for coming, I didn’t think you were going to show. I mean, I didn’t know if you would want to.” His nervousness reminded me of being on a first date and that feeling of trepidation as you walk into the unknown. I smiled a little at him confusing him further. “Can I ask what you’re smiling about? I’m so nervous I’m about to vomit and you’re smiling?”

“I think it’s a nervous thing,” I answered. “I need you to be honest with me and I’m not sure you’re going to be.”

His eyes met mine for the first time since I’d arrived, my hand instantly going to his face. His eyes were blue, a beautiful sky blue and in that moment I wanted to fall into them forever. I’d seen this blue so many times now that I knew it was his natural colour. He had a large gash above his eye with eye Steri-strips across it but they didn’t hide the several stiches that has been carefully sewn there.

“Mikayla…kicked me out…” he began, “of youth group. Well actually it’s more like a banishment. I know you know a little bit, but, she can do things, to people, to your mind.” His eyes were full of truth, “she made me tell her…what I thought you knew...what I thought you were. She’s going to come after you Ruby, but I’m not sure if she wants to kill you or use you.”

I pulled away from him, the physical contact making my head cloudy. “She wants my water ability? I’m pretty sure she already has that and more, there’s nothing else I have that she would want.”

“You still don’t know what you
are
, do you Ruby?” He stood up in front of me.

“I’m not this Chosen One that you all think I am, I don’t know why she thinks I’m so damn special.” I raised my voice, but tried to keep calm and I had flashes of what happened on the mountain. “I didn’t fall on that damn hike did I? She had people hold me down…she… dammit I can’t remember!” I pushed at Scott in the chest, he took a step backwards. “What did she do Scott? Why didn’t you stop her?”

I pushed again and he staggered backwards, I felt the anger running through me and my adrenalin started pumping.

“Ruby, you don’t understand.” He staggered again, the air whooshing from his lungs as I pushed again. “Ruby, you have to calm down, you’re going to hurt me!”

I stopped, my nostrils flared as I tried to control the power that had grown within me. My breaths were deep and ragged and tears threatened to spill down my face.

“The girl you were touching, the one you stopped from fighting? She, Mikayla has no hold on her anymore. She left the youth group and Mikayla couldn’t do anything about it.
Nobody
leaves the group, do you understand? You either stay in or you…”

“What?” I started pacing.

“I think that you
are
more than us, more than Mikayla, you just don’t know it yet. Or you don’t want to know. I don’t remember…look I’ve lost parts of my memory and I’ve been kept out of the loop since I told her I was in love with you. Ruby, there is so much more I need to tell you. Can we go to your place?”

He did love me! Part of me was relieved that it wasn’t some idea that I had concocted in my head.

“First I need you to answer a question for me. Why you have my father’s work number in your mobile.” I pulled out his phone and handed it to him, slamming it into the palm of his hand. I stared at him as the hairs on the back of my neck rose and I turned to see Mikayla and a small group trailing behind her. There was about ten of them all together and they didn’t look like they wanted to talk.

“Big brother, I thought we had an
agreement
.” Mikayla raised her hands and flicked, Scott fell to his back his head bouncing off the ground.

“Mikayla!” I directed all my rage at her, everything that was still lingering from being so worked up by Scott. I raised my hands and pushed them out towards Mikayla’s group, a massive pulse released, throwing me back onto the ground. I scrambled onto my feet to see the wave hit Mikayla and her group like a nuclear bomb. No fire, no flames, it was just air. Mikayla wasn’t affected by it and just raised that really annoying eye brow of hers. The rest of the group had been knocked down, by the force of the gust but they quickly regained their footing, flanking Mikayla.

I grabbed Scott by the arm, dragging him to his feet. He was woozy but conscious. “Run, Ruby, you’re not strong enough yet. You need to run!” He turned to Mikayla. “You’re terms sucked, little
sister
. I won’t hurt her anymore.”

I stood still, unable to run, and felt the crystal in my pocket heating up. I didn’t dare pull it out but I could feel it manifesting in my own powers. I felt stronger, more aware of my abilities. I stretched out my senses towards the lake, feeling it whirl, feeling its liquidity fuelling my own energy.

“I don’t want to hurt her Scott. It was never my intention, although I certainly would enjoy it. He’s not ready for her yet, we need a little more time. But, He will be ready for her soon. Quite soon in fact.”

She flicked her arms towards me, fire ripping from her fingers. I watched it in slow motion and moved my own hands slightly. The water I was controlling from the lake meet the fire head on, dowsing it in a cloud of steam before it could reach us. “I see you’ve been practicing, you’ll need to do better than that though, if you want to remain alive, but as much fun as it would be, I’m not here to kill you. But thanks for showing me some of your talents.”

“So why the welcoming committee? Do I actually
scare
you, Mikayla?” The venom in my voice was no longer masked, she knew how I felt about her.

“These are called friends, you should find one someday.” She knew that had hurt me but she pushed the knife in deeper. “Heard from Claire since you moved? Oh, that’s right, she’s far too busy with Jake now isn’t she?”

Her laughter set off every single cell in my body, I was so full of pent up energy and the anger was quickly reaching explosive proportions.

“Even your
boyfriend
has an ulterior motive, nobody really
cares
about you, Ruby. Our little group are the only friends you’ll ever have.” I felt the tears burn down my face, ashamed and angry that I allowed myself to succumb to them.

“Ruby, ask your mother why you are so different, ask her about your eyes.” Scott whispered into my ear. “Mikayla, stop. We’re out in the open and this needs to end now!”

“You think you’re in a position to give orders Scott? You failed the one test you had. Failed!
He
will not be pleased.” Mikayla walked towards us but the group stayed behind. “It’s time to go home big brother, we have things to talk about.”

“Scott?” I held my hand out to him, he reached for it and kissed me on the cheek.

“I’m sorry, Ruby,” he whispered, the next words threw me completely off guard. “Goodbye. Just remember that I really did love you, even if it was for such a short time.”

“Goodbye?” My voice was small and full of pain. He walked past Mikayla, pushing into her shoulder as he went, but he never looked back.

“We’ll see you soon, Ruby. Give that mutt of yours a kiss for me, will you.” She walked up to me and put her hand on my face, running her fingers down to my chin, I shivered at her touch, yet at the same time it felt familiar. More than an intimate kiss, it reminded me of how Scott had touched me in the tent when I had given myself to him. My body responded to the familiar touch and I brushed scarlet as Mikayla let out a small laugh. She knew the effect her touch just had on me.

I watched them leave, none of them turned back to me, not even Mikayla. I still hadn’t moved fifteen minutes later when a woman walked past and asked me if I was okay. I looked at her, and felt the tears still streaming down my face, I was sobbing. I took off at a run without answering towards my house. I needed my mother.

CHAPTER 21

I flew into the house, the door slamming into the wall with such force the handle fractured the plaster behind it. I opened my mother’s door without knocking and looked at her, she was reading.

“Ruby?” She dropped her book and sat up, but she didn’t reach for me. “Are you okay? What happened? Did somebody hurt you?”

“Why am I so different from you and Dad? Why don’t I have his eyes or yours even?” My tears continued down my face.

I watched as the colour drained from her face and as she got up from the bed her body gave up and she collapsed helplessly on the floor, her hands shaking.

“Ruby…” her voice was barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

I fell to my knees in front of her, not understanding her pain, but knowing my world was about to be as shattered as my heart now was.

“Just listen, if you say anything before I’m finished it won’t come out right…it won’t make any sense.” Her eyes pleaded with me as her hands enveloped mine. I nodded and let her take the time she needed to tell her story.

“He’s not your father Ruby.” She paused to gauge my reaction before continuing, “He loves you like his own, but you’re not biologically his. When I was twenty three I was raped, I don’t remember a lot of it just the worst of it. I had met some new friends, they seemed to be quite sedate compared to my other friends who spent a lot of their time drinking and doing drugs. Allison befriended me at my job. I was working as a waitress at a local bar. One night she invited me out. She said she was having a party with a few close friends, only about six of us, she said it would be a good chance to get to know them.”

She sat quietly for a minute and I watched as her tortured soul relived the past. “We got along at work and she made me laugh. I was so introverted and shy and I thought a small group would make it less daunting and I would be able to relax. When I got there, the house was full of candles, no furniture, it was completely empty. The lounge room floor had a white circle painted on it, it took up the entire area. Inside the circle was large white star and inside that was even more little stars. I thought it was a little odd…but I didn’t listen to my instincts.”

I remembered the curtains at Scott’s when I had gone there to watch a movie, all the candles, and now I believed that I had seen the true pattern on the curtains. The circle with the stars inside it.

“Initially we sat around on the floor talking and laughing and I started to relax. I was offered a drink, I thought it was water, but after ten minutes or so I realised that it had been laced with something. My head was spinning and I thought I was going to vomit but I was still conscious. I remember seeing Allison and another guy strip off and start having sex in the circle on the floor, she was muttering something, but I wasn’t awake enough to hear it. I…I remember crawling my way to the door. I wanted to leave, I knew something bad was about to happen, but I was picked up and thrown into the circle. I was tied up. I had cuffs around my wrists and ankles and I remember the sound of chains dragging on the floor. I was held down while they tightened the chains until I was spread out my arms above my head and my legs spread. Part of me is grateful for the drug they gave me. I was in and out of consciousness after the third one…I know that there were three men and two women including Allison. They
all...
took turns, muttering the whole time. I don’t know how many times they did it.”

I cried for my mother, for what she was telling me, for what she endured. She cried with me and we waited for our sobs to subside before she continued.

“Someone found me the next day in a park. I was naked and covered in blood. I was cut in various places, nothing that had been deep enough to kill me, though deep enough to need a lot of stitches.”

“So there was no car accident?” I had grown up believing that the small scars on my mother’s body had been the result of a nasty car accident when she was a teenager.

“No, honey. I’m sorry I lied…about everything.” She took in another shaky breath before continuing. “I had symbols painted all over me in my own blood. When I went to the police they said that no Allison had ever worked with me, that she simply didn’t exist and they convinced me I had taken drugs and just wasn’t willing to admit it. In the end I believed them, I didn’t have the energy to keep going over and over what I remembered. I didn’t know the address of where she had taken me. I didn’t even know her last name. I had no one to call. I had nobody to trust both my parents were dead. They didn’t even do a pelvic exam. Simply told me it was a waste of time and would be more invasive than it was necessary. I didn’t know it then but they were part of it, I’m not sure how, but they protected those animals. The morning sickness started a month later. I ignored it for another few weeks before I finally went to the doctors and they confirmed what I already knew. I was pregnant. I went for an ultrasound and when I saw you, in all your black and white glory, a tiny speck of a human growing within me…I knew you were meant for me. You had come out of all that violence…for me.”

I desperately wanted to say something but I held it inside so she could finish her story before her emotions over took and she couldn’t keep going.

“Your father was the man doing the ultrasound that day. Before he started consulting, he was a sonographer, but he changed jobs before you were born. He rang me and asked me out a week after the ultrasound.” Her lips curled up slightly as she remembered the phone call. “I played hard to get for a while, but he won me over in the end. He’s a good man Ruby, he loved me when nobody else did. I never wanted to have to share all this with you, it’s my pain to bare…mine alone.”

She fell into me, sobbing with such ferocity her entire body heaved. I held her, soothed her hair and shushed her until she was still.

“Please don’t hate me Ruby…” her voice was so small I barely heard her.

“Hate you? Hate
you
?” I pulled her away so she could see my face, “I don’t hate you Mum, but how could you not hate me? Don’t I remind you every single day when you look at me what you went through that night?”

She pulled me into her, and held me tight. “Ruby, you are the gem that shone in my darkness, you were the only reason I got up in the morning. You are the only reason I survived.”

I crawled into bed with my mother and she cradled me all night. I remember we used to do this when I was little, she would crawl into my bed or me into hers and she would hold me.

Before she fell asleep she told me that both her mother and grandmother had confided in her that they had also been raped but she didn’t know many details, only that my mother had been a product of rape herself. At least I had figured out what they wanted from me.

As she slept I held her hands and let my energy surround her. I delved into her memories much easier than it had been with Scott. I asked to see the memories from that night and soon enough I had a front row seat, seeing everything through my mother’s eyes.

There was an empty room, filled with candles. They lined the walls and the floor. People were talking and laughing, someone handed me a drink. His eyes were green. Soon the images became foggy and the glass in my hand fell to the floor and smashed. I saw Allison and man I hadn’t noticed strip and start having sex in the middle of the circle. I fell to the floor and started to crawl towards the hallway, desperate to get out.

Finally I could see the door. It was white and old and had flaking paint in sections showing the pale wood underneath. As the tip of my fingers touched its safety I was dragged backwards by my hair and thrown into the circle. I felt heavy cuffs on my arms and ankles and was completely vulnerable once the chains had been tightened. People moved over me, in me. Faces changed and seemed to morph together. I felt the desperation in my mother for death to take her.

As a large serrated knife was thrust into my vision everything went black. I had seen enough. Enough to know that Mikayla bore such a strong resemblance to Allison they could have been twins. Allison’s bleach blonde hair was cropped into a short pixie cut. It had been the single raised eyebrow that had been what convinced me.

Mikayla hadn’t aged in nearly eighteen years.