Descendants//𝐸𝐿𝐼 𝐻𝒜𝐿𝐸

𝖋𝖎𝖛𝖊

"Did you really think going into the woods was going to be funny?" Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow at Eli, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and concern.

She didn't actually mind being in the woods, though, despite what she said. It was quiet here, and there was something about the stillness of the trees that calmed her. But her dad's one and only rule was that she should never venture into the woods without someone else. It was the only thing he'd ever been adamant about.

Eli moved some branches aside, pushing through the underbrush with ease. "I know you're not happy about not being able to prove your theory about the trees, so we're just looking for evidence," he replied, sounding casual.

Ruby couldn't help but smile a little to herself. It was sweet, really. The thought that he cared enough to help her search for something so random. Her smile widened just a touch, but she kept it hidden behind her hair. It wasn't something she was used to. Eli was doing something for her that no one else would ever do. The fact that he was here, doing this for her, made her feel... important, in a way.

"So... you don't think it's a stupid theory?" she asked, her voice quieter now, barely hiding the grin at the corner of her mouth.

Eli immediately stopped, turning to face her, the soft rustle of leaves fading as he met her eyes. His expression was serious, his lips slightly parted as if trying to find the right words. Ruby tilted her head, wondering what was going through his mind.

"Our parents are supernatural," Eli began slowly, his voice gaining a rhythm with each word. "My aunt's a coyote, Parrish's a hellhound. Oh, and don't forget your mother—she can predict death, and your dad was possessed by some evil Japanese spirit." He paused, catching his breath, as if he hadn't meant to spill that much all at once. "So why would I think that burned fires having something special is stupid?"

Ruby blinked, speechless for a moment. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She wasn't sure how to respond. Eli was right. She never thought about it like that. They had all sorts of weird things going on around them, and it didn't seem so crazy to think there could be something more to the fires.

So, instead of forcing words, she simply smiled at him—a genuine, grateful smile—and murmured a soft, "Thank you."

Eli froze for a moment, his eyes locking onto hers. For the first time that day, Ruby felt the weight of his gaze. His eyes weren't just looking at her; they seemed to be seeing her. There was something in them that made her heart skip a beat. Something magnetic, something she hadn't noticed before.

But neither of them said anything. They just stood there, the quiet of the forest stretching between them. Neither of them knew that they weren't the only ones feeling this unspoken connection.

Ruby quickly broke eye contact when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was a message from her mom.

Mom: I'll leave tomorrow morning at 10am, honey. Can't wait to see you.

Ruby's heart sank, the weight of the words pressing on her chest. Why hadn't her mom told her sooner? Why wait until now? She didn't know if she wanted to respond or not. If she called her, her mom would probably ask why she hadn't already texted her.

She stuffed the phone back in her pocket and looked up at Eli, who had been watching her intently while she read the message.

"It's my mom," she said, her voice quiet, almost distant. "She's coming tomorrow."

Eli gave a small nod, his expression unreadable, and turned to continue walking, brushing past her.

Ruby followed, her mind still swirling. She couldn't understand why her mom hadn't told her sooner, and she hated that feeling of being left out.