Half of Ruby

Chapter 46

Cautiously, Ruby stepped back to the door, poking it open as she stuck her head outside.

A cool evening breeze swept by, heralded by the warm golden glow of sunset's approach. They would be meeting up soon.

The voice graced the air, flitting through the trees as though bearing wings of its own. Ruby stepped out onto the rope bridge, flinching as it jolted under her weight, and walked to its halfway.

No words decorated the tune. It did not need any. Ruby craned her neck, trying to locate the source of the music.

It was one of the tree houses, two to the right of hers. The rightmost of the private chambers.

You live on the second bridge to the left—I'm on the furthermost left. Vyella's to your right and Azure...she lives in the rightmost house.

A chill of foreboding swept through her. Azure. Who else could it be?

She'd only heard stories, as well as the claims of Rafael and Vyella, of the Giant princess' madness. A young woman who, having been locked up by Thyrema for fifteen years of her life, surrendered to insanity's hold and lost her mind.

But why would Thyrema lock her up? Why Azure and not Vyella or Rafael?

Frowning, she strode off the bridge, hands never leaving the ropes, and crossed over to the bridge leading to Azure's house. Without a moment of hesitation, she set off, striding down the walkway towards the small, quaint residence.

She was halfway across the bridge when she paused. What was she going to do when she approached? Would she greet the princess or just listen to her singing? And what if she was seen?

She bit her lip as the tune started up again, bursting forth from the wooden walls of the tree house. So what if she sees you? If she's insane, she won't care.

She neared the door, raising her hand to the weathered wood before lowering it.

With bated breath, she backed away from the door, the song drifting into a silvery warble, one as high-pitched as the birds'.

And then, as though cut off by a blade, it stopped.

"Who's there?"

The voice was soft and silky, yet taut and restrained, as though it'd said too much and now regretted it. Ruby backed away, swallowing, as footsteps pattered to the door.

"I said...who's there?"

When Ruby did not respond, the door flung open, revealing a wide-eyed young woman, blond hair curling down to her waist in a tangle of gold, pale blue eyes like frozen glaciers. A simple white gown wrapped around her slender limbs, a single silver necklace dangling down to her collarbones.

The loveliness of her features, nor the delicate outline of her dress, could disguise the gauntness of her cheekbones, the painful protrusion of her bones.

So this was Princess Azure, youngest daughter of Queen Thyrema. The girl both Rafael and Vyella had talked about with fear, disgust, in their voices.

Azure's eyes widened as she took in Ruby, as though just realizing that somebody stood at her door.

"You."

"Me," said Ruby, unsure of how to respond. "I am..." She trailed off, names flashing through her mind as she opened and closed her mouth. Who was she? Ruby? Constance?

"...you are many," came Azure's answer. She nodded, as though satisfied with her answer. "You are Giantess, Fae, and human. Born in Autemira, raised in Cerebria, taken through mind to Imbria."