Half of Ruby

Chapter 38

"Ember?" 

She started as the door opened. Ronan stood over the threshold, eyes flickering from her to the nightstand. He frowned. 

"Ember, what happened?" 

"I—what do you mean?" 

"You know what I mean. Elizabeth was talking about it. Something happened with you and Lord Tivas." 

She took a deep breath. "I...I lost control, Ronan. I attacked him. I think I was controlled." 

He crossed the room in two strides, standing above her. "What do you mean? Was it Constance? Did she control you?" 

She nodded numbly. "Yes." 

"What...what did it feel like?" 

She sighed. "Exactly the same as it did when I attacked the guard. Arnold. A wave of red, and I just...I just felt so angry. And then I just lunged at Tivas and shoved him off his feet." 

Silence. And then a grin burst across Ronan's face. 

"What?" she demanded. 

"Nothing," he said, smiling so broadly it looked as though he wanted to explode. "Nothing. I just find it funny that you could shove Tivas." 

"Sorry, what?" 

He burst out laughing, pointing a finger at her as he doubled over. "You! You're so small and you—"

Heat rose to Ember's cheeks as she stood up, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't say that about me. I could shove you right now." 

"You sound so funny threatening me," choked Ronan, still bent over with laughter. 

"You are not funny." 

"No, I am not. You are." Ronan grinned as he plunked down on the mattress to her left. "So, you knocked down Lord Tivas. And how did the townspeople react?" 

The expression on Ember's face quelled the mirth across his. "Well," she said, "as a matter of fact, they didn't take it too well. A lot of them scattered. I don't know; I was too occupied with attacking Tivas to really focus on them." 

Ronan grimaced, and the atmosphere in the room instantly darkened. "Ember, you could be in serious trouble. If Elyvera hadn't saved you...." 

She nodded, throat dry as she swallowed. "What do I do?" 

"Nothing," came the simple response. "People already suspected you of being a witch; they'll just think so even more strongly, now." 

"No," said Ember, panic rising up within her. "No, that can't be." 

"Unfortunately, Ember, there is nothing you can do. Try focusing on the ball tonight. What are you going to wear?" 

"Elizabeth told me to stay away from the ball. Away from trouble, that is." 

He gritted his teeth. "I do not give a—well, you should at least come in a disguise. I don't want to spend the entire night with Yvonne." 

"She's not that bad," said Ember. 

"Oh? And how do you know that?" 

"Ronan!" came a shout from downstairs. "Go run some errands, will you?" 

He rolled his eyes at Samuel Parris' voice. "It looks as if I need to go. Care to run some errands with me?" 

Ember smiled. "Will they let me, though?" 

"It doesn't matter what they think; wear and cloak and hide your face." 

Ember nodded, glancing at the clock outside her window. It was ten in the afternoon. "All right. Um...I shall avoid the square for now."