Ruby couldn't sleep that night. She always twisted and turned in her bed while the guilt in her chest weight down her heart. She betrayed Geneva, Aleister is mad at her, and she made Manticat cry. Her poor baby must be really missing her if he cried to Aleister. She sighed and sat up from her bed.
She went to the bookshelf and pulled a brightly crimson book, making the shelf flip and reveal a minibar. She grabbed a bottle of vodka and drowned herself in liquor. Tears started falling from her golden eyes.
Why did it have to be this way? Betraying someone you love feels so terribly bad even though it bears good results for you. Even though Geneva is a bit arrogant at times and narcissistic Ruby had learned to love her greatly. She's the only person who visited her not to buy potions or hexes or use her for her own gain but purely for company and friendship.
Geneva was always kind to her and even though she won't admit it she always had a big heart. She can still remember the first time that they met. Geneva went all the way to her cottage bearing a basket full of sweets and delicacies from her hometown to give to Ruby. The gesture astounded the witch since no one really visits her for a mere chat over tea during the afternoons so she became suspicious of her visitor though she retained a friendly attitude. Surely this girl is like the others trying to get on her good side so that she will give her what she wants.
"This tea you made is really magnificent. I've gone to the best cafés in the Realm of Twilight but I've never tasted something as perfect as this one." Geneva had complimented as they drank tea in the garden surrounded by blooming roses and bougainvilleas. The mage had dropped by unannounced and introduced herself as the new fighter mage for the Royal Tournaments and started chatting with her about casual things like the flowers in her garden, magic, skipping stones in the lake, and the temperature of the day.
The mage seemed to be truly enjoying her time with the witch making Ruby completely confused about her true purpose for visiting so she began to ask.
"Uhm... May I ask the true purpose of your visit? I'm still quite not sure what business I can do for you. All we've been doing is pleasant chatting. If you need anything from me there's no need for pleasantries. I can give you anything I can for a fair price so you can cut the acting." Ruby had said.
Geneva had a surprised expression on her face at the witch's words.
"The true purpose of my visit?" Geneva contemplated this for a moment looking at the sky, wondering how she will start with her answer.
"Well, I just want to talk to you and get to know you better. I saw you fighting in the arena and I was really impressed by your skills. All those dashes and lifesteal it looked like you were merely waltzing with your enemies in an enchanting dance macabre. I also noticed that you are quite pretty however you don't seem to like showing your face so I came to see you. I quite fancy seeing beautiful blooming flowers like you." Geneva answered with an embarrassed smile, blushing a little as she answered.
Ruby was taken aback by the mage's reply but more so on the sincerity of her words. The witch had lived long enough to know when a person is lying to her however there seems to be no pretense from this lady in front of her making her blush in utter and complete flattery at one of the sweetest lines someone has ever told her.
Since that day they've become the best of friends and each other's greatest confidante. Ruby eventually told Geneva about her past which the mage accepted with an open mind never judging her choices and her actions which delighted the witch while she confessed about all her insecurities and frustrations.
Soon enough Geneva met Gallen and she fell in love with him instantly however he's already in a loving relationship with Leanna. He doesn't want anything to do with her other than be friends. He wanted to break their engagement but Geneva refused, breaking her heart instead so she went to Ruby and begged her for a love potion in exchange for something in return which the mage gave willingly though with a bit of hesitation. Ruby warned her about all that the potion entrails especially about living in an illusion where the greatest fool will be herself, for believing in a faux and enjoying it, however, the mage only brushed off her warning and continued with her plan.
Being with the assassin made her friend happier and while Ruby couldn't find herself agreeing with her friend's choice she didn't make any move to oppose her nor lecture her further since it was her willing choice and it's her life to rule.
Ruby knew that her friend's fairytale world will soon come to an end as smoke will always fade and mirrors will shatter but she never expected for herself to be the prime cause of her illusions to be destroyed. She always expected someone else to burst her bubble but now that she had done it herself, she can't help but feel remorseful of her shameless betrayal to the woman who risked her own life to save her during the Blood Moon. To the woman who visited her every day in the hospital and tried her best to peel fruits for her even though they always end up deformed. She's the woman that boosted her hope to free herself and never stopped believing that there's a future where she won't be bound by the chains of her past.
Ruby threw the bottle against the wall shattering it in a million pieces like how Geneva's heart will be in a few days. She released a loud tortured cry. If only there was some other way but she knew that a path where there is less casualty is always too good to be true. She can't reverse what she did because she had only redressed her grievance against Leanna who had suffered for so long thinking that she was insufficient and irreplaceable. She knew that she did the right thing but why does her heart feel heavy? She's not in the receiving end of the unfair scale of their requited and unrequited love since she is merely the catalyst that tips the scales from one end to another but why does it feel that regardless of where the scales tip she will always be the one to be crushed underneath the weight even though she's just an outside party?
"If you can't sleep then have enough courtesy to let other people do so." Aleister said with monotonous annoyance looking down at her from the doorway. He had a disinterested look on his features as he gazed down at her pitiable state.
"I'm sorry..." was all Ruby could reply but it seems to be directed to someone else other than him.
"You are such a troublesome woman." Aleister sighed before walking towards her and grabbing a bottle of Bourbon and pouring himself a cup.
"What are you doing? I thought you're mad at me." she whispered, wiping away her tears.
"The Aleister that's mad at you is your lover. I'm here as your friend, no strings attached. And friends drink with their sad friends to make them feel better and listen to them cry and watch them get all snotty. It's the "humane" thing to do." he answered, taking a gulp of his drink.
"Plus I can't sleep anyways if you keep throwing expensive stuff on the wall and screaming worse than a dying beowolf." Aleister said before taking a seat beside her.
Ruby stared at him for a moment assessing his motives, gouging his words, and dissecting the contents of his soul like she always does when meeting new people. She's been with Aleister for five months now but he keeps on surprising her with almost everything that he does. Why can't he make himself less desirable? Ruby gulped as she watched him drink down the liquor seemingly unaffected by its spirit. He looked so hot and cool it made her heart skip a beat but she slapped herself. You're grieving not flirting, she reminded herself.
"I did something wrong." she started meekly.
"Care to elaborate? There seems to be a long list from that category." he replied sarcastically. Ruby frowned at him but didn't talk back; she just grabbed the bottle from him and drank from it.
"Take it easy there, moonlight. You're not a demon, you're not immune to the effects of liquors especially hangovers." Aleister warned but didn't do anything to stop her.
"Shut up. You're not my mom." Ruby replied stubbornly, the effects of the alcohol clearly kicking in.
"Obviously, because I can't fuck you if I am." he replied with a bored tone.
"Didn't you just say no strings attached?"
"There won't be once I pull the strings of your bikini."
"You're such a creep."
"Just get on with your depressing story and be done with it."
"Fine. I feel guilty that I betrayed Geneva and helped Leanna get back with Gallen."
"Ugh. Chick drama. So boring."
"I thought you were my friend." Ruby reminded giving him a weak slap on the arm before gulping the bourbon.
"I am but I'm also bored of such trivial matters. Fine. I will humor you. What are you so guilty about?" He replied beckoning her to pour his glass another round, Ruby did so with a cute frown making the demon giggle mentally.
"I feel terrible about how easily I sold my friend out for my freedom. I broke her heart for my selfish reasons. I keep saying to myself that I did the right thing but why does the right thing feel so heavy? It feels like an oppressive excuse to help me block out how much of a bitch I am. Not only that but I made you very worried and angry and I made Lucius cry again I'm such a bad mother!" Ruby cried out.
"Lucius? Is that Manticat's true name? Okay look, what you did may seem wrong, but is it?"
"Wha-what do you mean?"
"Selfishness is a natural human quality and looking after yourself is not completely selfish or wrong. You told me that you only provided the love potion therefore it was Geneva's choice to live in that illusion. You've warned her about all that it will entail and it was her choice not to listen. Leanna was the receiver of the shorter end of the stick so she received most of the agony, as far as I can understand human emotions. She wanted things to be redressed by going to the primary cause of all this so she went to you and strike a very reasonable bargain like that violet bitc- I mean Geneva. You gave them what they asked for as it is your business and accepted their payments however the results of how they used your services are entirely their problem and not yours. You gave them what they want and they agreed to your price, therefore, the trade is finished. From then on the events that will unfold is entirely up to their will and not because you favored one over the other. There is no justice or right and wrong the only thing that matters is that the trade is fair." Aleister grabbed her chin making her face him as he wiped her tears with his thumb.
"What you did may not be considered morally acceptable, it may even be evil in some ways but you did what is necessary even though it is painful. Even though it led you to a path of sadness, regret, and betrayal to a friend, it was a necessary means to get to your end." He reasoned in a gentle charming manner like the opposite of conscience, justifying her wrongdoings and yet it sounded so alluring and true. His words aren't entirely a lie yet they don't feel completely just, but somehow it is soothing to hear like a siren song.
"Ruby you are a businesswoman and as I see it you invested where there is a lot for you to gain when the situation gave favorable cards to play and you gambled well. You didn't lose anything so you must stop your crying. If anything, you freed this Gallen dude from a life of lies and reconciled him to his true love. For example, do you really think that the two of us would enjoy our life if I had poured you the love potion?" Aleister questioned with a charming snake-like smile reminding her of Lucifer tempting Eve to grab the fruit of enlightenment.
"Absolutely not." She answered.
"Do you think you are at fault for any of their choices?"
"No."
"Is Geneva really a victim in here when she's the one that bought a lie and foolishly believed in it, destroying a relationship with true affections as well as relishing an illusion? Is she a victim?"
"No. It was her choice. She gambled all in and I'm merely the dealer, however now Leanna got a better hand. I dealt them the cards fair and square now it's up to them who will call stronger or weaker." Aleister seemed extremely pleased with her answer.
"Very good. Did you really betray anyone when you only invested in the highest bidder?"
"I'm... not sure..."
"It's a no, my love." Aleister corrected placing a kiss on her cheek. "You didn't do anything wrong so you don't have to feel guilty about anything, okay?"
"Okay..." Ruby replied weakly.
"Feel better?"
"No." Aleister mentally facepalmed in her reply. He merely sighed and gulped his Bourbon, pulling away from her.
"And here I thought we were getting somewhere. Well, I tried reasoning with emotion, clearly, that is illogical. Of course, you have the freedom to feel however you feel. Honor your emotion and pain and I'll just be here until you get better." Aleister beckoned her again to refill his glass but Ruby only snuggled closer to him instead of doing it. He sighed and poured for himself.
A calm silence settled between the two of them as they continued drinking. Tears continued pouring from her eyes and Aleister stayed quiet as he listened to her sobbing. Time continued to pass while they stayed still in each other's company. Ruby started getting less sober every passing minute and she started to slur words together and babble illogical stories.
"I am freeing Gallen from an illusion. Oh my gosh, that rhymes! Hehehehe." Ruby giggled drunkenly.
"Yay, you're a poet." Aleister cheered humorlessly before taking a swig.
"Aleister take this seriously!! I'm sad here, don't tolerate me not being sad!!" The witch complained sloshing her drink and ended up leaning against his shoulder.
"Okay, this needs to stop. Just take the wine and give me the Bourbon." Aleister forced the liquor from the maiden's hand but she protested profusely not wanting to let the bottle go.
"You alcoholic flat-chested loli, let the bottle go!!" Aleister groaned as he tugged the bottle from her hold.
"I don't want to! You persistent tsundere yandere demon!!"
"What the hell did you just call me you short thicc assed witch!?"
"I SAID SHUT UP!!" Ruby screamed before unexpectedly crashing her lips against his completely taking the demon off guard.
Ruby's soft pink lips kissed his chapped ones sending fire into his whole body. She let go of the bottle and pressed herself on top of him and Aleister held her waist to keep her closer. His head spun as he gently danced his lips with her sweet ones while his hand roamed the curves of her body. He felt Ruby push her tongue on his lips and Aleister parted his mouth to let her in. His tongue twirled with hers in a heated passion.
He opened his eyes and gazed up at her drunken features. He gently pushed himself up and pulled away from the kiss. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed with a blank expression.
He placed her gently over the sheets and started removing her liquor drenched clothing. He sat beside her bed and grabbed her hand trailing butterfly kisses over her knuckles and gazing up to her gentle features with a faint frown. He tucked a silver strand of hair behind her ear and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
"I'm sorry, Ruby."