United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 14 - Ruby

It was taking everything in Ruby not to stare at the ominous knife hilts lined along the belt the newcomer was wearing. The queen was previously made aware that this was the tracker that was to help them through their situation, and Ruby wasn't exactly sure what she had been expecting - but this young woman was not it. 

It wasn't like there was anything wrong with Amy Brown. She had a strong personality - she was lively and spunky, and determined and joyful, which Ruby felt was needed while everyone in the kingdom was in a somber mood.

After Amy had arrived, Falte had gathered the king and queen, the captain of the guard, Linda, and Shintaro into the library office so they could begin, which didn't seem rushed at all. Everyone in the castle, including the tracker herself, seeming raring to go. 

The thickset, tan woman was standing near Linda, clapping the shorter woman on the shoulder warmly; but it made Linda jerk forward with a grunt of surprise and a frown. Shintaro was leaning against the wall on the right of the door, his arms crossed casually over his chest and a curious frown creasing his brows as he studied the tracker. Ruby and Marcus were seated on the chairs that were placed near each other, while Falte was sitting on the desk - having hopped dramatically onto the surface. Ezekiel was standing behind the king and queen alertly, keeping his eyes on Amy in full guard mode. 

As Linda rolled her eyes at her friend, Amy turned readily toward the royalty and clapped her hands together dramatically. "All right!" she said cheerfully. Her eyes darted over the group with the speed of lightning, the grin never leaving her face. 

"I'm gonna get straight to the point, if Your Majesties don't mind," she said with a teasing grin at the two seated in the chairs. She cracked her knuckles and gazed over them again, her multicolored eyes studious. "So I'm going to ask you all a series of questions - leave nothing out. Especially the minor things," she added, wagging one finger. "Even leaving out so much as a sound that you heard or a small thing that you noticed could send this whole thing downhill." 

Ruby tilted her head sideways to cast a glance at her husband, who was watching Amy with a surprised and grim look. Answering questions wouldn't be that hard, but the night her father had been attacked, Ruby hadn't been paying too much attention on anything but finding Aaron. She hoped Marcus had taken note of the things around them. 

"Okay? Okay," Amy said with another clap. "First question: How long ago did strange things begin happening, and what were those things? Wait, that was two questions... Whatever, someone answer." She waved her own comment away and beamed at the people around her. 

Seeing as no one else was going to answer, Ruby raised her hand slightly to get Amy's attention. When the multicolored eyes fell on her, the queen composed herself and put on her queenly manner. "Almost two months ago, Arielians began disappearing without a trace. Two weeks ago, the killings started with the guards, but now the killer has moved on - into our castle, even." 

"Which is why you're here," Marcus said roughly. "They've stepped way over the bounds, and I've had enough. They've gotten into my home, but they're not going to do it again." 

"Well, Your Majesty," Amy said reluctantly, screwing up her mouth in thought. "We may just have to let them, because I've got to be near them if I'm going to catch them." She shrugged her broad shoulders apologetically. "Sorry, Your Majesty, but that's probably how this is going to have to go down. 

"Anyways," she continued, her eyes darting away from Marcus and over the group once more. "Was there ever any pattern in the abductions? As in, did the culprit snatch away citizens on a certain day or in a certain way?" 

Marcus, Ruby, and Ezekiel shook their heads, but this time it was Falte that spoke. "Believe me, we tried to find a pattern in order to catch them ourselves, but we found none. They attacked at random, taking with them whoever was closest, I guess."