Freed (Magics AU - Part 2)

Chapter 8 - Ruby

Although the sight of the chain around Emily's neck made Ruby want to whirl around and punch the Dark behind her in the eyes, Ruby's overwhelming worry, sadness, and relief were stronger than that urge. She had immediately pulled her daughter into her arms, sobbing in a broken way that she never knew she was capable of. It had only been five months, but to Ruby it had felt like eons had gone by without seeing Emily. Simply the sight of her young daughter was enough to scatter the fight in Ruby's chest. 

It was obvious that Emily felt the same way. She was clutching Ruby like her life depended on it, her hands gripping Ruby's shirt and her face buried into Ruby's collarbone. Her whole body was shaking with repressed sobs, ones that broke Ruby's heart. Emily hadn't cried like this in years, and Ruby had hardly been able to stand it the first time. 

After what seemed like hours, Ruby finally took ahold of Emily's shoulders and pushed her daughter away to examine her. The princess looked thinner, paler, and sadder - her usually bright hazel eyes were almost lifeless, like she had lost sight of her happiness. Looking into her daughter's eyes made Ruby's throat tighten and tears rise to her own eyes again. 

"Mother," Emily whispered, but she couldn't seem to say anything else. "Mother." Tears began flowing down her cheeks again, and she hugged Ruby once more. 

"Oh, Emily," Ruby murmured, resting her chin on Emily's shoulder and stroking her daughter's hair. "What have they done to you?" Her vision was swimming with tears, but she could plainly see that her daughter was trapped, chained, in her own room. 

"Are you done yet, woman?" the Dark behind them spat impatiently, his grating voice like gravel against Ruby's skull. She hated that voice from the moment she heard it, and that wasn't even thirty minutes ago. 

"Where is he taking you?" Emily asked her mother, ignoring the persistent man and glancing up at Ruby. "What's going on?" Her hazel eyes searched Ruby's eyes expectantly, nervously. 

Ruby shook her head solemnly, uncertain. "I'm not sure myself," she answered quietly without looking down at Emily. She just wanted to hold her daughter for a while longer. Was that so much to ask? 

"Where's Dad?" Emily asked, pulling away from Ruby but not letting go. "Is he with you? What about the others? Are they okay?" Her questions were spilling out in an eager rush, and Ruby couldn't blame her daughter for her nervous earnestness. 

Ruby sighed lightly. "Your dad is with me, and so is Falte. We're..." She hesitated, unsure of how to answer her daughter's last question. What was she was supposed to say when Falte's spirits were crushed, Ruby's hope was slowly diminishing, and Marcus was battling hard against himself? 

"We're as all right as we can be," Ruby answered, feeling as if everyone had said this way too many times. But how else could Ruby answer? She didn't want to worry her daughter more than she already was.

"Why did they take you up here?" Emily prodded, tilting her head and glancing at the guard behind Ruby with a look that seemed like disdain. 

Ruby shook her head again. "I don't know." 

"You're bound to find out," snapped the Dark, "as soon as you cut the sappiness." 

That was crossing the line, which was enough to cause Ruby's anger to come flooding back. She kept one hand on Emily's shoulder, but she whipped around to face the man with a scathing look. 

"What if this was your child?" she shot back, looking the guard up and down challengingly. "What if you hadn't seen a member of your family in five months, and they're lives could be in risk without your knowledge? Wouldn't you be quite relieved to see your family again?"