Royal's Way

Chapter 14

"So, why do we need a disguise?" Ruth had asked me on our way to the mall. I scoffed. "I really don't mean to offend you, but there is no one on Earth who is almost seven feet tall, has broken horns on the top of their head, and-or has bright white hair against black skin. I mean, the white hair thing is more possible, but I don't think anyone has horns."

Ruth chuckled a bit. "Yeah, that's understandable. I always forget that your world isn't nearly the same as mine."
She had her hood up, but her height still drew eyes to her. My shoulders sagged. "I don't know how we're gonna cover those up."
Her lip curled briefly, and she shrugged, tucking her hands in the pocket of the hoodie she borrowed from Levi. Well, more like stole, considering she took it while he was asleep. "I can manage." I blinked. "Can you shapeshift?" She laughed, a laugh that came from the gut. "No. But my lantern can do the job." She sighed. "Once I get it back from Levi."

I rose a brow. She looked genuinely annoyed at Levi. "Why are you so hard on him?" Ruth chuckled a bit, tucking her hands in the pockets of the hoodie she stole from Levi. "Because he doesn't listen. He underestimates the severity of his situation, and therefore, it causes him to lash out and act on his own. I need to teach him what he was never taught." "To listen?" "To care about himself." That last sentence made me shudder.

We stopped outside the store, hesitating at the door.
Ruth rose a brow. "This is what modern human stores look like, huh?" I nodded. "Overwhelming, clothes that will never fit you good..." "Convenient."

==

When I woke up again, my bathroom door was open, and I could hear the girls muttering inside. "Stop moving." "Sorry."

I sighed, pushing my blankets off and grabbing Ruth's lantern, then using it as support as I headed for the bathroom.

Ruth was sitting on the counter while Miriam was doing her makeup, covering up the freckles decorating her cheeks and painting her eyebrows to make her hair look dyed.

I scowled, leaning on the doorway as I said, "Did you guys... have fun?"

Both looked at me in sync. Then, Miriam rose the makeup she was using and exclaimed, "Fifty bucks. Fifty bucks for concealer to cover her freckles. You owe me."
I smirked a bit. Ruth looked somewhat normal now, besides the horns. "How do we explain the horns?" "I have that covered," Ruth replied, slouching forward on her knees, "We won't have to explain anything." I rose a brow. "Did you get clothes that fit her?" "Covered," Miriam explained, not even looking at me as she continued to work on Ruth's makeup.

Ruth looked a little uncomfortable. I didn't blame her; she was having to pretend to be something she wasn't.
But she was doing all this for us. And I was flattered.

I swallowed. "Thank you, Ruth."

Her eyes darted in my direction. Then, she smirked. "You're welcome."

==

The next day was full of anxiety and excitement. I was so excited to get Ian back, finally able to talk to him, not his carbon copy created by my mistakes.

"Morning."

Speak of the damn devil.
I didn't reply, knowing that I was just gonna be talking to nothing.

I heard him sigh. "Come on." I stayed silent.
"I won't leave," he continued in that awful voice, that voice that sounds like him but just isn't him. "Even after you get me back." "After I get him back?" I muttered as quietly as possible. A pause.

I rolled over, looking to the window. It was open. Ruth must've been on the roof again. I groaned, standing again and heading for the window. It wasn't raining for once, but wind was blowing hard. Probably another storm coming.