Half of Ruby

Chapter 11

Salem, Massachusetts, 1692

Ember huffed as she swept her dark hair from underneath her rough cotton hood into a ponytail, glaring at the pile of herbs. 

"Yes, yes," she muttered. "Stay here, Ember, because you're so weak around humans." 

She shoved the herbs away from her as the dried brown leaves bloomed to a tentative green under her touch, only to wilt once more at her anger. 

"Never show your face because you'll betray our Coven," ranted Ember. "Never handle the exchanges—that's what Ash and Flame do. Never look into a human's eyes, because you'll fall in love and be whisked away and never return—"

"Um...ahem." 

Ember yelped and spun around, the hood flying off her head. "Janus! Janeka!" 

"I've told you," snapped Janeka, "don't startle her when she's mad." 

"Well, he says that it's urgent!" retorted Janus, trying his hardest to glare at his other half. 

"Everything which goes to Ignatroix is urgent—what makes this different?" said Janeka, bristling at Janus. 

"The two of you, quiet down." Ember instinctively lowered her hood over her head again, effectively concealing her face. "You know I'm not supposed to take guests at the moment." 

"Janus!" groaned Janeka. 

Janus meowed guiltily. "I'm sorry," he said, "but...er...we went to get you and basically showed him that you're here." 

"Tell him to go away." 

"Somebody's bad tempered today," mewed Janeka. She gave Ember's leg a nudge. "Come on, Ember—one human can't hurt you." 

Ember blushed. "Well...." 

"Come on," yowled Janeka, bowling down the hallway amidst Janus' mews of protest. 

Ember smiled faintly at her two-faced cat, then followed Janus and Janeka down the hall. 

She saw the stranger before she neared the end of the hall. He was a dark silhouette against the periwinkle sky behind the window, his cloak billowing out behind him as he paced back and forth.  

"Who's there?" asked Ember, less than pleased to hear her voice quaver. Excitement thrummed through her as the figure stopped pacing.  

"It is I," responded the stranger. "I am named Augustus." 

Ember bit her lip. He's lying. But why discourage a customer, especially one who looked so worried? "Very well," she replied, then swung open the door. 

Wind and rain lashed into the house as thunder boomed overhead, and Ember gasped at the cold. The gale lashed out at the stranger's embroidered cloak and caught its hem, revealing intricate patterns of gold and silver silk. Silk. 

Ember caught herself staring at the cloak, then turned back to the stranger, silently cursing the warmth stealing over her cheeks. 

"Hello," she said cautiously. "...Gus." 

The stranger lifted his face—not so much that Ember could discern his features, but enough to let her know that he knew she doubted him. "Hello," he responded. "My father is sick. I heard that Ignatroix is the strongest Coven in this entire area, so I decided to come and get herbs from here. I have payment, if you'd like—"

Ember tilted her head. He's truly desperate. And rich. Most customers are reluctant to even give a coin. "I don't need the payment right now," she snapped. "Tell me what sickness he has."