Chapter 10
"You doing okay there champ?" Aghony asked as Ruby wobbled down the hallway beside him, the brace strapped tightly to her knee as she maneuvered as best as she could without crutches.
"Doing just fine" she said concentrating on keeping her balance. Aghony wanted to laugh at her little dance she was doing as she tried to walk. It reminded him of a newborn lamb just learning how to use its legs.
"It's not much further I promise" Aghony said grasping her hand that started to wave in the air violently.
"Good because I'm bushed just making this little trip" Ruby said exhausted as Aghony led the way. She had woken up a little bit ago and had been given a nice set of sweat pants and a T-shirt to change into before Aghony suggested she be taken to her room out of the OR. Ruby knew she needed to take a shower here soon from the way her hair was plastered to her head and by the smoke smell still coming from her skin.
"Ugh" Ruby said closing her eyes trying to feel some sort of comfort "I swear I'm in need of a hot shower and a big juicy doughnut once we get to the room."
"I'll check on that doughnut situation" Aghony said finally giving up and scooping her up in his arms "But I can definitely provide that shower." Ruby wanted to giggle at the small flirtation, but her heart was starting to scream warning signals all over the place. Not but a few hours ago she had been laying naked in this geeky god's arms thinking wonderful thoughts, but now she felt that too good to be true starting to creep into her mind.
"You alright?" Aghony said suddenly stopping, catching the wariness coming from her.
"Yea it's just..." Ruby said looking away "I'm not used to someone talking to me like that..."
"Oh sorry" Aghony said grimacing "I'll tone it down. I just thought that after what happened downstairs..."
"I know! I know" Ruby said shaking her head "I just...well..It's just been a long time since anyone has really...you know...Or since I've been..."
"In a relationship?" Aghony said raising his eyebrows.
"Is that what you want to call this?" Ruby said quietly, scared to know the answer. She had been known to get touched with a velvet hand often, knowing that the term "just friends" meant "I just want to bang you and that's it."
"I was hoping to" Aghony said smiling "I don't get intimate with just anyone."
"But we barely know each other" Ruby said astounded.
"I have over a hundred years to know you" Aghony said smiling as he shook his head "I'm not going anywhere as long as you don't."
"If anyone else in the world said that to me I'd think they were crazy" Ruby said rolling her eyes.
Finally they came to the grand door that led into the bedroom, with high ceilings and lavish furniture around a nice flat screen TV. A large wardrobe sat in one corner while the four post bed looked like something out of a furniture catalog it was so nice.
"Jeeze" Ruby said as Aghony let her down "You guys shop at Nebraska Furniture mart much?"
Aghony laughed and shook his head "No all of this has been here for centuries, minus the TV and a few more modern things around."
"So this is my bedroom?" Ruby said looking around "Where's yours?"
"Well" Aghony said shrugging his shoulders "This is my room. If you liked it I thought we might share it while you are staying here."
Ruby felt panic run through her body for a moment "Look Aghony when I said I hadn't been in anything like this for a while I meant I have never been in a real relationship. I wouldn't know the first thing of domestic living if it hit me over the head with a frying pan. I'm not an easy person to live with."
"I realize this" Aghony said putting his hands in his pockets "But I'm here for the long haul, whether you realize that or not. Any problems that come up we can work out I promise."
"Why do you want me so badly?" Ruby said confused and bewildered at the same time "Really? What have I done to deserve all of this" she gestured around the room.
Aghony was confused at her question for a minute but understood where she was coming from. This was a lot, and it was all happening too fast for her he assumed. He thought for a good while on what he was feeling to try and explain to her why he was doing this.
"You..." he said trying to get the words straight "There's something about you...something I've never felt, ever. I can't explain it but it's like...like a part of me has a string, and that string has been tangled up for a long time, and finally that night at Sal's I felt like it was untangling somehow, and when I finally got to the end it was tied to you. I know that sounds strange but it's the only way I can really explain it. I can't let you go, not after seeing you so badly hurt. I want to keep you safe and keep you mine, for as long as I can have you."
Ruby stared at him with wide eyes, unable to really come up with anything to counteract his words that seemed to come straight from his heart.
"I hope I didn't scare you off just now" Aghony said a little embarrassed.
"No you didn't" Ruby said quietly. She moved over to the bed and sat down, wrapping her arms over her stomach like she always did when she felt unsure.
"Then why do I feel like I've just said something wrong" Aghony said coming close to her.
"I'm..." Ruby said trying to find some clarity "I'm complicated Aghony. I've gone through a lot of shit, and when I mean a lot, I mean a ton. I've done some things I'm not proud of, and well...I just...burn..I burn everything I touch. I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't" he said taking her hand from her stomach and pressing it firmly into his "I believe in you."
Ruby smiled up at him when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Come on in" Aghony said turning to face whoever it was. Ruby watched as a beautiful woman with long ivory blonde hair and jade green eyes walked in with a silver tray in her hands.
"I thought you and your friend might like some tea" the woman said, her face bright at the sight of Aghony.
"Thank you mother" Aghony said smiling at her "I think that would hit the spot, don't you think?" he said turning to Ruby.
"Uh, yes it would" Ruby said a little surprised. Aghony's mother barely looked over thirty as she walked gracefully through the room and set the tray down on a table nearby the luxurious sofa.
"Your father would like a word with you as soon as you are done" she said looking back to them "I believe it's about the discussion we had earlier this week."
"Oh no" Aghony said hitting his palm against his head "He really needs to bring it up now? Of all times?"
"I'm sorry Aggie" she said looking sincere "I know you don't want to but it has to be done."
"Can it wait just a little longer?" Aghony said looking pissed.
"I'm afraid not" his mother said. Her expression showed that she did pity her son for whatever mess he was in with his father.
"Okay" he said sighing as he turned to Ruby "I'm sorry but I have to deal with this now before it gets too out of hand, I'll be back later tonight, I promise."
"Alright" Ruby said trying to lean back on the bed "I'll be here, not like I can go anywhere else right?"
"I'm sure I can keep her company while you are away" his mother said happily as she walked towards Ruby.
"Alright" Aghony said a little taken aback "I'll be back as soon as possible."
"See ya" Ruby said as she waved at Aghony before he disappeared out of the door. Ruby looked over at Aghony's mother and felt a little awkward silence creep into the room.
"Sooo..." Ruby said trying to find something to say "What is your name? I know most of the Brothers names, but I don't know any of the girls. Do you have dark and mysterious names too?"
Thankfully the woman laughed and shook her head "No, I'm afraid not, at least not most of us. My name is Cormia."
"That's very pretty" Ruby said astonished "My name is Ruby."
"That is also a very pretty name" Cormia said smiling at her "A dark red gem that produces a very magnificent sparkle."
"Yea well" Ruby said shuffling a bit on the bed "I got named that because the woman that was my social worker had a mother with the same name, and apparently I reminded her of her mother. So I was dubbed Ruby."
"Social worker?" Cormia said a little perplexed "Do you not have parents?"
"Well none that wanted me obviously" Ruby said shrugging "Later on I was adopted and given a last name, so it all worked out in the end."
"And where are they now?" Cormia asked going for the tea, interested in this girl that had fought her way to the mansion.
"They passed" Ruby said trying to keep her voice strong.
"I'm sorry for your loss" Cormia said shocked.
"It happens" Ruby said shrugging.
"Well for what it's worth" Cormia said sitting next to her on the bed as she handed her a nice hot cup of tea "I think you are very brave for coming here, and for all that has happened to you."
It was the first time anyone had really acknowledge her as brave.
"Thank you" she said quietly, taking a sip of her tea.
"You are very welcome" Cormia said also taking a sip. They didn't speak on the issue anymore as they found other subjects to discuss, Ruby wanting to know more about vampires and what went on in the mansion, and Cormia wanting to know more about this girl that had seemed to fall out of thin air, and right into her son's heart.