Days after Days turned into weeks and in counting it wasn't just two months but half a year without a word from Jake. I tried all I could; I even went back to Terent mill to have a face to face conversation with Ruby about it, I stayed two days and had to go back because Orpheus thought I would bail on him. I had never felt happy to see her wrinkly face, I hugged her tight against me for quite a while and tears wet my face to see she was actually very much healthy. She led me inside for the first time every welcoming a vampire into her home; Cassuis and two others to stay on watch outside but I asked them to leave immediately. They have no use especially we were at a werewolf territory and they will be irrelevant during the day,
"You've grown older" she said in her melodious old lay voice, I had equally never seen her that happy about anything
"It's just been months, I look the same"
"Yes you do but your experience grew. Oh and did you do something to your hair" she quickly noticed that I cut my hair and had it in waves, giving it an even shorter look I smiled pulling her to me again saying
"I missed you so much"
"I will brew some tea, go along to your room for a while" I left Cassuis in the living room and went inside, she'd kept it the same and it smelled the same wet dirt and different kinds of flower scents. I sat in the bed for a while to gather myself because I could only get the memory of Maya and Jake back in this room. After a minute or two I came back to the living room and she was sitting in the sofa, all quiet.
"I missed your tea" I said upon entering grabbing the tea cup off the table and sitting beside Cassuis, she responded with a smile
"Are you ok?" she asked placing the cup carefully down onto the table
"I will be" We continued drinking our tea silently while Cassuis sat there not touching his although he knew it was a gesture of kindness towards him, undeserving.
"So, why is he here?" she finally asked after the tea while Cassuis went just outside to get some air
"I don't know, some kind of protection"
"You cannot trust him" She warned grabbing my hands into hers
"I know, I cannot trust them but I have no choice"
"What do you mean?"
"I will tell but you have to promise on not hitting me" She stared into my eyes before letting my hands go and clearing her voice "Go on, talk"
"I will be getting married to the vampire prince" I stated hesitantly, biting the inside of my mouth. It was very silent for a moment before she stepped back and took a seat at the table quickly I followed and lowered to my knees beside her
"But I will not let that happen," She looked up and I saw her eyes were getting moist
"I promise" I assured
"I had found a way but I will need your help with it all through the wall" Her eyes lightened up as I said that I needed her help
"I will need you to help me find the Paradlag" her eyes dimmed and they bulged as her eyelids pull backwards
"Are you mad, girl?" Her voice pitched as though I had just strangled her
"I know it sounds ridiculous but I really need it" I begged
"No" She stated outright getting on her feet to avoid any further persuasion from me but I insisted on following her around
"Please Ruby you have to help me"
"You will not pursue that object and that's it" she left the kitchen for the living room and I called out to her
"I will get to it with or without your help so it's better you just help me!" I sounded like a little child adamant about having some more for desert; Ruby didn't answer. Frustrated I went outside to find Cassuis was standing on the porch leaning against the wall of the cabin
"She didn't agree as anticipated" he said casually his gaze straight ahead Sighing I answered
"She will eventually, I will have to make her want to do it"
I could see the corner of his mouth curl up as he stated, "I thought you hated such manipulative ways"
Without answering I jumped off the porch and walked ahead, he was starting to get under my nerves as it was clear I needed a more stable plan about this and I need my thoughts cleared out. I walked down the dirt path and took a turn into the dense forest and I could only get Jake walking beside me; I could virtually hear his footsteps, what he smelled, how our skins occasionally brush against each other when we walked, what his laughter sounded like and how sweetly he smiled. I could all feel that at the moment but all I could not do was get myself talking to him, I really needed him alongside me. Call me selfish if you will but since when I took a step in Arctos Kiba's territory, every bit of this place has his essence in it, he loved this place and it was his home. Wait, I suddenly stopped in my tracks something just came through to me
"Every bit of this place has their essence" I raced back towards the cabin and crashed inside, Cassuis was sitting by the table and quickly stood to his feet as I came in
"Where's Ruby?" I asked I didn't even let him answer and I was gone through the house and found her in her room.
"Ruby, I need that location spell"