Howl~ Ruby Lucas x OC

Chapter 5

I couldn't stop the fresh wave of hot tears that flooded down my face, not expecting Ruby to be throwing her own body in front of someone she barely knew, especially someone like me. I struggled to my feet, my naked body covered by a thin blanket, my wounds bleeding through the bandages on my side, and gently shoved her out of the way. "No- They're right.. I did do all those things. I really did. I wasn't in control those times either, but that doesn't make me less of a monster, does it? Maybe they should put me down. At least it'll be better than whatever that hunter has planned for me when he catches me again.. I don't know who he is, but he's been tracking me for a long time, and I owe him, actually- I would've killed Henry if he hadn't shot me with those silver arrows. Now, I've cursed a little boy who doesn't deserve that to my own fate.." I saw Regina's eyebrows move together in confusion, her face going white. "What did you just say??"

I looked down, narrowly holding down the urge to vomit everywhere, the silver in my blood making me sick and weak. "You heard me. I didn't kill him.. Killing him would've been a mercy, but since he's alive- You know how werewolves work in stories, don't you? When you get bitten, what happens to you?" I wasn't prepared for a blonde haired woman to shove her way through the crowd, and slap me hard across the face, shaking with anger, as she stood near Regina. "Then you fix it. You fix our son.. If you cursed him, you have to know how to cure him." I touched my bleeding lip, and cracked my neck. "You must be the Emma Swan I've heard so much about around town. There is a cure.. For him. Nothing can cure me, except death, which I guess is ironic, since that's how you can cure him, too. To cure someone who was infected with the bite, you have to use the heart of the wolf who bit them, but I'm sure Madam Mayor knows that." Regina looked away from me, and I saw her swallow hard, the townspeople around me clamoring more for my demise after my statement. "Get out. All of you, go home! NOW!" Regina shouted at them, and as they dispersed, except for Ruby, who glanced at me in concern, and Emma, she walked over to me, yanking me closer by the arm.

I smiled wryly at the expression on her face. "Let's get it over with, shall we? Rip it out. My heart.. I don't use it for much, anyway. Rip it out and crush it, and make the potion. Kill me, and have your son live. There's no ifs or buts about it.. It's an easy choice to make." She clenched her jaw, and stared into my eyes, her eyes flickering with pain and anger. "You really think it's that simple, Bella? I know what you think of me.. What everyone in town thinks about me, except for Henry and Emma. But I'm not that monster anymore. At least, not like I once was. I can't just-" She smiled sadly, and I flinched, as I saw tears form in her eyes, confused as her hands gently cupped my face. "I haven't taken a good look at you since you got to town, but now, I see you.. You look so much like him, you know." I saw Ruby and Emma give each other confused looks behind Regina, Ruby shrugging as Emma raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry for hurting you earlier, in the woods. I just- I had to protect.. My son." I gently moved her hands away, my heart feeling conflicted and confused. "Yeah, I know. It's fine.."

I tried to move away, but she wouldn't let me, her grip on my arm tightening. "We'll find another way to save Henry. There has to be another way.. One you don't know about. We have a whole twenty four hours before the third night of the full moon, and if we have to, we can.. Lock both you and Henry up below the library. I don't want to do that, but I-" Emma interrupted, saying, "Regina, what the hell are you talking about?? We can't lock Henry up down there! That's where the.. Dragon lady lives. Why is this girl so important to you, anyway?" I glanced at Ruby, seeing the leather bound book Henry had stolen from my room slid under her red cloak, a weak smile on her face as she met my eyes, my face heating up as I realized she must know who I was, but she didn't care at all. "If you must know, Emma, she is- She's a-" I felt my heart sink, glancing at Regina, and yanked my arm away. "For all your pretty words, you can't even say it, can you? Not even now. You still refuse to admit it, even after so long.. You said I look like him, but you deny I look anything like you, don't you?" I felt my breathing speed up, the pain in my body increasing by the second, hot tears in my eyes.

Regina flinched as if I'd slapped her, and she shook her head, looking like I'd hit a nerve with those words. "No, wait- I'm sorry. It's not that at all.. Please-" I shook my head, moving even farther away from her. "No! I get that you love him, but that Henry? He's not your son! Not like-" I whimpered, clutching my side, hot blood gushing through my fingers, soaking the bandages entirely, and I coughed hard. "I wish I had never existed, either! Does that make you happy?! We both want the same thing, so just kill me and save your perfect child! Then you can go back to denying I exist.." I yanked the locket and necklace from my neck, throwing them at her feet. "Here.. I don't want them anymore. All they do is hurt me.." I started limping away, determined to go back to her house, if only to get all my things, and I nearly fell, Ruby catching me. "Here, I'll help you. Just- Take it slow." I let her lead me out of the building, and we slowly made our way to the house, and I avoided looking at Henry, as he opened the front door to let us in, bandages covering his arm and shoulders, a smile on his face. "Hey! Are you okay? I saw you get hurt.."

I tried to ignore him, as I led Ruby up to my room, falling heavily onto the bed, and curled up under the covers, shivering badly. "Go away, Henry.. You shouldn't be near me." He sighed, and quietly replied, "Just so you know, I'm not mad at you. It wasn't your fault.. I read your story. Mom cursed you, didn't she?" I flinched, and muttered, "It doesn't matter. Forget what you read, and forget about getting to know me." He went quiet, and walked back to his room, and I tried not to cry again, the taste of his blood still on my lips from earlier, and as Ruby began to leave, I grabbed her arm, scared to be alone. "Stay. Please.. I- You're the only person who doesn't seem to hate me or care who I am. I don't think I can move much right now, and I don't want to be alone." She hesitated, then nodded, and sat on the bed beside me, setting the book on my nightstand, before clearing her throat. "So.. Regina is-" I nodded, and she sighed. "That explains a lot. But it's still not your fault, Bella.. And I'll stay with you as long as you want me to. I- I ate my boyfriend. His name was Peter.. I couldn't control myself, either. I killed a lot of innocent people. Maybe I can help you learn to control it, like I did.."

I went quiet, and whispered, "No. It's no use.. I tried everything. Nothing works. And besides, I'm gonna die one way or another soon. There's no point.. I think you'd be the only one who'd notice me being gone. You're a good person." She chuckled awkwardly, and she gently set her red cloak on a chair near the bed. "I try to be. It never makes up for what I did as a wolf, but.. it helps the pain a little bit. And Regina loves you, but she's scared to say it, after so long, and after what she did to you. She can't make up for that, and she knows it.." I flinched, as the bed creaked, my face heating up as she laid down beside me on the bed, one arm gently wrapping around me, being careful of my injuries. "You know, my wolf, even under my control, still usually feels lonely around the full moon. But ever since I met you last night, it's been.. Happy. Weird, huh? Being near you makes me feel.. Safe."