Manipulating Fate (Carousel Series #2)

Chapter 4: Santa Cruz, CA | 1987

The bike gunned down West Cliff Drive, the salt air stinging their eyes. So close to home, to the cave. Only one thousand yards to go. Ruby blinked and could see Paul, Dwayne and Marko boil up and over the rickety staircase. Hooting, hollering and greatly happy to see their leader and Ruby safe and sound.

Ruby only hoped it would last.

David stopped short, the bike jerking forward then settling back. Almost angry its free run had ended. The Boys crowded around the bike, David and Ruby. At first Ruby was almost afraid of them; partly their reaction to what had happened, but also because her new set of instincts did not know them. They were not her kin, fully. She was David's childer. She seemed to almost shrink into him, clutching.

Marko reached out to her, his child-like grin wider then ever. "Ruby, sweetheart!" Then he stopped. Maybe it was internal; maybe it was a scent on the wind. But then he knew. "David, what happened?"

David paused for a moment, looking out over the cliff for a minute. "I'd like to tell you inside. It'll be... better there."

Marko eyed Ruby, wary, like this wasn't the Ruby he knew. The grin was gone. Paul and Dwayne shared a glance; both knowing something was much different now. David clasped Ruby's upper arm and helped her slide from his bike, then dismounted himself. Ruby found she couldn't meet Marko's face. Though she was still herself, there was another side now that he didn't yet know. She headed directly to the staircase and descended, the Boys hanging back.

"Holy shit. Ruby's a vampire?" Paul's voice was carried off by the wind.

***

The Lost Boys sat around the main cave, each in his respective place. Marko on a box, Paul on the edge of the broken fountain, Dwayne on a battered couch. David in his chair, in his typical dark brood. Ruby sat on an old wooden kitchen chair across the cave, on the opposite side of the fountain. She was tired, and wanted more then anything to go to bed and wake up to find this was all a nightmare.

"Why is my girlfriend a vampire?" Marko broke the silence. His voice trembled with anger. As long as she had known him, very little had made Marko angry. It wasn't his nature.

"It was that or bury her in Forest Lawn." David's voice was low. He was tired as well; Ruby felt it. He didn't want to explain yet again, but he was the leader of the Lost Boys. It was his responsibility. He started the story, going all the way back to their arrival at the premiere of the movie and straight on through to their arrival back on the cliff minutes before without interruption. Even Paul was silent.

"You didn't have a choice." Dwayne spoke first after the deafening silence that followed David's story.

"No bro. You didn't." Paul chimed in, casting a glance in Ruby's direction. He smiled a little at her, seemed to be of the mind that it was for the good what David had done. Ruby smiled a little back at him.

"Marko?" David's voice was still low.

Marko was still silent. He was picking at his gloves. One could almost call it childish, his reaction. Suddenly he looked up. "What do you want me to say David? 'Thank you for saving my girlfriend, bud!' I can't. As grateful as I am, and will be forever, you took her away. If she hadn't gone with you, this wouldn't have happened. She wouldn't be bonded to you."

"I know." David's voice barely registered.

"Dude, David saved her. Ruby wouldn't be sitting over there if he hadn't done what he did." Paul interjected.

"It doesn't matter. Everything I worked towards is gone." Marko slashed his arm across the air, cutting Paul off. "Even if I gave her blood now, it wouldn't ever be able to combat David's grip on her. A mental link would be obliterated by it. My blood is no where near as powerful as his."

"Marko, shouldn't you just be thankful she's here?" Dwayne cut in now. He seemed impatient, shocked Marko was behaving like a spoiled brat.

"No! Well, yes I am! But she's David's!" The three Boys dissolved into a heated squabble. David rose and turned, heading up a tunnel without a glance towards Ruby or the Boys. Three voices rose higher, each trying to cut the others off. Until a sound of crying mingled at first, then broke between them.

"Sweetheart!" Marko was beside her first, on his knees in the dirt. "Ruby?"

"You don't want me anymore." Ruby managed, between soft sobs.

"No..."

"Ruby, Marko's being stupid." Paul was there next, his hand on her shoulder. "We all wanted you to be one of us, so bad. This isn't the way it was planned, but I'm happy you're a Lost Boy now. Er, Lost Girl?"

"What Paul is trying to say is he's happy you don't have to wait anymore. Even if the circumstances sucked badly and it came out this way. He's trying to look at the bright side of it all." Dwayne explained, there beside her as well now. Marko began to stroke her hair, but that was all the physical touch he would give her. Ruby still cried, her tears pink for all that was inside her was blood. No salt tears left.

"David saved me. I wouldn't be here if he hadn't done what he did. He left out how it nearly killed him."

"What?" Dwayne raised a brow. Paul glanced up at him.

"Yes. He nearly died. It was so bad, you honestly have no idea."

"Show me." Dwayne reached down and took Ruby's hand in his. "Mentally. Show me. I can show the others." Ruby looked up at him slowly. "I know, we're not bonded but it's one of my gifts. Just relax and show me the memories."

Ruby rubbed at the tears on her cheeks with her free hand, looking at Dwayne. Marko was still silent, hand on her hair, eyes closed. Paul stood beside Dwayne with his eyes closed. Dwayne nodded to her, closed his eyes. Ruby swallowed and let the little shield she'd carefully worked to make drop. The memories traveled from her mind to Dwayne, then through his bond to Marko and Paul. First the movie premiere, then the alley, the attack. All three Boys slid into vampire form while they watched the attack on their leader and Ruby. Tears streamed down Marko's cheeks as he watched the Blood slash her throat to ribbons. Dwayne howled and Paul was nearly foaming at the mouth, watching David turn into a whirling dervish and destroy the enemy.

Then it was the touch and go of the first nights after, Ruby on the mattress, stained by blood and gore. David trying to save her, dealing with the guilt of what he was doing and taking away from Marko but the love and care he felt for Ruby and how much he wanted her to make it through. Marko tried to look away several times, especially when Ruby had thanked David for what he had done and causing tears to spring to David's eyes, but was unable. Finally the last image faded and the Boys' eyes slowly opened.

"I didn't know David had that in him..." Paul trailed off, so taken with the sacrifice David had made.

Dwayne nodded. "There's more to him, more that even I don't know. That was what we felt that night, when we all felt so tired and drained like we'd been in a fight. He was able to tap into our strength and save them both." Both turned and looked down at Marko.

Marko had buried his face in Ruby's lap, his arms around her tight. Repeating how sorry he was, for how he had reacted and treated her. Ruby held him best she could, her fingers stroking out his curls.

"You're one of us now, forever, Ruby." Dwayne nodded then departed the main cave with Paul. Leaving Ruby alone with a tormented Marko.

***

Ruby was asleep in the sleigh bed, Marko beside her with his arm protectively, possessively, draped over her. David sighed, no sound issuing. She'd probably feel that, but she wasn't awake and wouldn't wake again till the sun had set again. He had wanted to talk to them, apologize or at least made amends with Marko, but they were already out cold for the day.

This time a sigh slipped from his lips, as soft as the velvet curtain that slid back to hide the doorway. David turned up the tunnel and headed to his own bedroom, to a whole day of his own mental torment.