WIND ROSE (Ruby Rose Fanfic)

TWENTY-THREE (ISELEN POV)

"What's going on here?" I ask confused, looking at the outdoor living room in Ruby's house with surprise. I lean to one side to take a quick look at the garden and pool, gently lit by fairy lights. Everything is so clean that shines like it's new, there're no dry leaves from trees floating on the water, someone has watered the pots and flowers look fresh, there're clean towels on the sun beds... it looks like the spa of a fancy hotel.

Ruby doesn't answer and ignores me while setting the table and punching colorful pillows to put them on the armchairs, moving a step back to check if they look perfect. Terra shrugs when walking past me carrying porcelain plates and Bohemian crystal glasses that she puts on the table, Ruby rushes to help her and mumbles something about napkins before running into the house and opening one kitchen drawer. I look around me confused again, something weird is going on here but I don't know what it is, I have a strange feeling... Like I'm forgetting about something important...

"Where are the dogs?" I ask when I realize everything is too quiet.

"My friend Rob took them to the beach, they'll be back tomorrow and won't disturb us today..." Ruby answers coming back to the garden carrying white, blue and cream napkins, putting them right next to the plates and stepping back before interchanging them while grumbling something. Terra heaves a sigh behind me and I open my mouth to ask what's going on again but the human cuts me off. "If you're going to have breakfast, do it now. I made a toast and coffee for you, there're bags of blood in the fridge, but you must clean it all later. Make sure there's not a single crumb on the counter... and you have to pick out the wine." I look at the kitchen and blink shocked when seeing dozens of bottles of red, white and rosé on top of the island.

"Are we going to hold a party?" I whisper more and more confused.

"There's an important meeting today, do you remember?" Ruby keeps touching napkins nervously and shoots an angry look at the vampire when she tries to sit down on a chair, Terra moves away from the fluffy pillow and leans on the wall, shaking her head.

"Important? You're talking about those idiot guys from my clan..."

"I've never had vampire guests in my house before," the human replies adjusting the position of a gorgeous crystal centerpiece holding several candles.

"Ruby Rose, are you trying to make a good impression on those bloodsuckers?" I ask in disbelief. "Babe, it doesn't work like that," I whisper taking her tattooed hand, feeling her pulse racing. "I'm the queen and you're my partner, they should be worried about making a good impression on you."

"But they're elegant and classy..."

"Snobs..." I hear Terra grumbling quietly.

"The plush toy is right, they're unbearable haughty idiots. Ruby, I don't know what kind of romantic image you have about my people in your head, but you're going to be very disappointed. I think you've read too many novels, my love. Everything will be all right, okay?" The human nods reluctantly but I realize she's still nervous.

"Go and have breakfast, I bet you're hungry." I nod and walk to the kitchen, gesturing at the wolf to follow me inside discreetly.

"How long has she been behaving like this?" I ask quietly, grabbing my cup of coffee and taking a sip, feeling relieved when the caffeine wakes me up definitely. The egg and avocado toast looks delicious too.

"Since she got up this morning, she's dragged me to two supermarkets and a homeware store and has got more and more nervous as the hours went by. Later, she started cleaning the house like crazy. If one of your vampires dares to be mean to our girl, I'm going to punch them, I warn you."

"I'll hold them so you can punch them harder," I answer opening the fridge looking for a bag of blood. "What this stuff?"

"Trays full of canapes from the most popular catering company in the city, enough to feed an army despite only a handful of representatives of your clan will come here today to discuss our plans for Tuesday. She didn't let me try them, not even a tiny one..." I shake my head, rolling my eyes before grabbing my bag. "My people would be happy with cold beer and pizza."