The Disaster at Hexside

Chapter 19 - Harmony

We explain to Avery and Thyme who Tristan is working with and how we found out, when we finally arrive at our destination.
'Are you sure you're ok with this Harmony?' Lili asks me. I take a deep breath, then nod.
I knock three times on the door. After a few seconds, Ruby answers. As soon as I realise it's her that opened the door, I summon my violin and play a note, holding her in place.
'Ugh, what are you doing, let me go!' Ruby says, struggling. I scowl at her, playing another note to shut her mouth. We're about to leave when Avery stops us.
'Just give me a second.' She says. She traces a circle with her finger, closing her eyes to concentrate. Then an illusion of Ruby appears in front of us. Avery sends it inside, then we leave. We fly to the set spot in the forest, Ruby on my palisman behind me. Once we land, I use my violin to unseal Ruby's mouth, but I keep her legs bound.
'What do you think you're doing? You just kidnapped me! And sorry not sorry Harmony, but mum and dad actually care about me, so they'll come looking!' she yells. I smirk.
'Actually, they don't even know you're gone.' Avery says, holding up the finger that has continued tracing the circle.
'We know what you've been up to Ruby. Attacking students just to get into the Emperor's Coven? That's so stupid! It's fair thinking that you probably wouldn't get in, but attacking students is not the way to get there!' I say, smirking a bit at the insult I managed to slide in. Ruby snarls.
'Well, I'm going to let you go, and I don't care if you try to run, I'm just doing it to give you any sort of fighting chance.' I say sweetly. I play a note and Ruby's restraints are gone. As soon as I do this, she starts running. I sigh and looks at the others. They nod and summon their palismans, and I do the same. At this point, Avery has stopped making Ruby's illusion, so it wouldn't be long before a search party was sent out for Ruby. As we chase after Ruby, who has also summoned her palisman, I think of what she said. She's right, mum and dad care about her way more than they care about me. I don't even know why, but they do. I makes me a bit sad, but then I remember, my friends are better than them anyways. We catch up to Ruby, and Avery wakes an illusion of a wall of trees in front of her, which makes her swerve to the side, which I was prepared for. I had already prepared for her turn, and knocked her off her palisman, which turns back into its animal form. Not a second later the others have appeared over us, Lily bending down to heal my injuries as Avery and Thyme fight Ruby. They make illusion after illusion, faking Ruby out until they have her trapped in her own thoughts. I summon my violin as I signal to the illusionists to stop. As soon as they do, I play a note to hold Ruby in place. She looks exhausted, but it was good to know she put up a good fight, even though it was going to be her last.
'Good job Ruby, I'm actually impressed. Maybe I was wrong and you would have made it to the Emperor's Coven, but I guess we'll never find out.' I say, slowly walking towards her. At my last statement, her head perks up and she looks panicked.
'What do you mean we'll never find out?' she says frantically.
'Well, dearest sister, I'm sorry to say, none of us think you should be left alive after this whole 'ordeal', as it could grow into some terrible habits when you're older.' I explain, half smirking, half feeling sorry for Ruby.
'We would hand you into the Emperor's Coven or the Warden, but we doubt they would punish you appropriately.' Avery adds.
'So, any last words?' I say. It felt weird to say it. Ruby looks down and thinks for a few seconds. Then she looks up and me and the others.
'Im sorry I was so mean to all of you, and I'm sorry that mum and dad always hated you so much, I have no clue why, but you didn't deserve it.' She says, tearing up. I lower my bow, which I had raised to the strings of my violin as she was thinking. I smile sadly.
'I know a cave on the Knee where you can hide out for a while. I'll come visit with food everyday. I wouldn't suggest going back home, cause mum and dad will probably find out you were behind the attacks.' I say quietly, holding my hand out to her slumped frame, which had fallen to the ground. She looks up at me, then takes it. I pull her up and before I could say anything, she pulls me into a tight hug. Lili, Avery and Thyme look at each other the smile and join the hug.
'Just to let you know Ruby, I didn't entirely agree to this. The others know I'm a pacifist. But I knew they would change their minds.' Lili says smiling. After standing around for a while, we head up to the knee on our palismans. Once we get there, I lead everyone to the cave and Lili gives Ruby a couple bags of Hex Mix and Apple Blood. Avery, Thyme and Lili all go wait outside, knowing I'd like a private moment with my sister. I go sit next to Ruby near the back of the cave.
'We'll post on Penstagram that you've died, and that should be enough. If they decide to come look for your body, Avery's making an illusion that this is caved in, though you'll be able to walk through it. I'll come with some proper food tomorrow as well as some warm clothes and other supplies.' I tell her, almost starting to tear up myself. Ruby pulls me into a tight hug.
'Thank you.' she whispers. I hug her back, and we part ways. I meet the others outside, looking back to see if the illusion works. Sure enough, it looks like it's caved in, and impossible to get through. We mount our palismans and fly back to Lili's house.

Wow that was aong chapter compared to the others. There was just so much to fit in!