The Blood Rite

Chapter Forty Seven

The night was peaceful and quiet, with the scent of approaching winter. He sat pulling apart grass blades with a furrow between his brows. He didn't look up as she sat next to him, but asked, "Is it true that you can manipulate stars?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I don't know. It isn't just stars, it's the entire night sky."

"So you can control space?"

She paused, "I don't think I can control all of space."

Talon turned towards her and only when his eyes met hers did she realize how close she'd sat next to him, "Show me."

Ruby sucked in a breath and was suddenly nervous. She'd only shown Erick, Sonya, and Halle her power. It was her's and it was personal. Because of that, Ruby lifted her hand and brought on the power.

If it wasn't for the fact that the trees were suddenly gone, she wouldn't have been able to tell the difference in their surroundings. Talon's eyes widened slightly and he stared at her power in wonder. Ruby's heart swelled.

And when her skin started to glow, his lips parted and the awe deepened.

"Ruby-"

"I know," she laughed, "it's weird."

Talon shook his head, "No. It's beautiful."

She felt her cheeks warm but didn't look away. Talon's eyes locked on her's and she was hypnotized. Ruby had always been hypnotized the moment he looked her way. She just never understand how truly, deeply, she was sucked in until now.

"Thank you," she breathed.

He laid one hand against the curve of her cheek and leaned in. With an intensity she'd never heard from him before, he said, "God, I've missed you so much, Ruby."

"I've missed you," she choked, "you don't even know how much."

Those dark, beautiful eyes searched hers. They glimmered with unshed tears as he said, "I searched for you. Day and night, I searched for you. I even went to RedZone-"

"Wait, you went back? Why?"

"To find you. Why else?" He said. It was the way he said it, as if there was no other possible reason, as if his made complete since to him, that she didn't argue.

"What happened, Talon?"

His lips pressed thin. For a moment he was silent and she didn't think he'd answer her. Then, with a sigh he leaned back. She watched with an odd mix of confusion and awe as he removed his shirt.

Then everything seemed to crumble down around her.

"Oh my god, Talon!" She cried.

He had scars all over him. Some big, some straight, some jagged. There were so many and yet it was the one on his neck that stood out. Her gums throbbed. The flesh at his throat was torn, some of it raised, and didn't appear to be healing right.

"Who bit you? What-what happened?"

"It was the night I went back to RedZone to find you," he said, "this man appeared out of nowhere. He was super pale and wore a black cloak. He tore into my neck and then kidnapped me. Him and his friends talked about wanting my blood. So they took it. Every day, they cut into me to let the blood run into their vials. I have no idea why they wanted it. But I was there for three weeks before the hunters showed up and saved me," he shook his head, scoffing, "They healed me and offered me a spot on their team. I took it thinking that I could eventually lead a hunt to rescue you from the vampires who kidnapped you."

"And you thought they were doing the same to me?" She asked. She blinked rapidly but it didn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. He nodded. "Talon, I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"If I had known you'd survived I would have come back to you," she said. This drew his attention away from the ground. "I would have."

"I know," he said without missing a beat. He raked a hand through his messy hair, "I'm just glad you weren't suffering."

She gnawed on the inside of her cheek, watching him. Then with a small, sad smile she said, "Want to see something?"

"Yes."

Ruby laid her head on his shoulder and with the flick of her wrist, commanded her stars to turn into panthers, lions, birds, dolphins and more. She made them dance and race around Talon and her until he was laughing. A true, joyous laugh. Her stars danced in his dark eyes.

He stayed up even when it was her turn to watch. Ruby told him of her time at the mansion, even the part where she'd caught Orpheus converting with the Shadows.

"So what do we do?" He asked softly. They were lying back on the grass, watching the true stars.

She shrugged, "I have no idea. I was suppsed to defeat the Shadows on Orpheus's army. And now. . .I don't even know who is part of his army or if he has one."

"The Shadows are his army."

"It would make sense. But why had he expected me to work with them while telling me just how evil they were? Who are they really after?" He didn't respond, only tightened his arm around her. But Ruby played the question over and over again in her mind until it clicked. She gasped, "The hunters."

"What?"

"He's after the hunters. The Shadows aren't his army, they're his weapons. And I was going to be one of them."

Talon sat up and worry lined his features, "Do you know when they plan to strike?"

"No. Why?"

"Because, we need to stop them."

"Whoa," Ruby said, jolting up, "how are we going to stop them? You know how dangerous the Shadows are, Talon."

He sighed, "I know."

Gnawing on her cheek, Ruby ducked back to his level and grabbed his hand. There was something she had to tell him or else it would eat her up inside. "Talon," she said softly, "You know what happened between Orpheus and I," his jaw clenched, but he didn't say anything and let her continue. "I need you to know that a small part of me had fallen for him. Had fallen for the facade he wore. But, you've always held my whole heart and you always will."

Talon froze. As a human, she didn't think it was possible for him to go so still but he did. Ruby didn't think he was breathing.

Slowly his eyes lifted to hers, searching her face. She offered a weak smile. By the way his lips parted, Ruby could tell he got her message.

He squeezed her hand, an emotion she couldn't read shining in his eyes, "Ruby, you've had my heart since day one."

Her throat clogged with emotion and she couldn't fight it as the tears spilled over. He sighed, whispering her name, before pulling her into his arms and holding her.

They fell quiet, breathing each other in and listening to the night around them.

At some point, Talon rose to go to sleep while she stayed outside the cave, watching the woods and speaking to the stars.

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