Red

Eight.

"Letting them know you are alive puts them in danger. They'll eventually come looking for you. The best thing you can do Ruby is let your memory be the only thing they have. If it didn't put them in danger, I'd have let them know." Court watched me.

All I could do was nod as Court turned back around. "I have to go. It's my turn to hunt. Xerxes is out in the living room if you need anything." Court said before he left.

I stood up and went to the window in curiosity. I watched as Court walked out and disappeared. I went back to the bed and sat down. I grabbed the book before laying down to begin to read.

☾

There was a knock at the door before it opened, and Xerxes stepped in. Xerxes is one of Court's brothers. He was taller and had dark hair. He held a bowl in his hand.

"Court is still out hunting with Lyell. I made soup." Xerxes said as he handed me the bowl.

"Thank you." I murmured and he smiled. 

Xerxes then turned around and left as I began eating the soup. The soup had chunks of chicken along with some noodles, carrots, and potatoes floating in with the broth. I didn't waste a single bite of it and had the bowl cleaned.

I set the bowl down before grabbing the book and opening it up. Then I returned to reading.

The book I had was a classic fairy tale 'Sleeping Beauty' which was pleasant to read. I had been doing nothing but reading today since Court had left. I knew I would be exhausting that shelf of books at this point.

I needed something to keep myself busy with. And the book happens to be the best way to do it. There is nothing more relaxing than just curling up with a book. Relaxation is what I need in a situation such as this.

There wasn't much to do here, and I needed something to occupy myself with instead of just sitting here bored out of my mind. Court wasn't here all the time either too keep me occupied. He also didn't take me out a lot.

The most he had done had been Lucia's. That had been to get me some new clothes. Lucia had made some nice dresses and two nightgowns. Speaking of nightgowns, I should be changing and getting ready for bed.

I stood up and went over to the wardrobe and opened it. One of the nightgowns were hanging up. I grabbed it and removed it from the wooden hanger before removing my current dress and slipping the nightgown back on.

I then returned to the bed and got in. As I got in the door opened and Court came in. He had changed from his earlier clothes.

He wore a loose white cotton shirt with a pair of low-rise leather pants and then his riding shoes. His hair was messier than when he left.

"Did Xerxes feed you?" Court asked and I nodded at that as I put my book away.

"Good." Court murmured as he unbuttoned his shirt and let it slide onto the floor before coming over. Court climbed into bed as I moved over to give him more room. Sharing a bed with him isn't as bad as I thought it would be. He gave me my own side of the bed to stay on. 

I never had to worry about him coming over onto 'my' side of the bed. He stuck to his side of the bed and gave me the room I needed which I appreciated. Court settled down onto the bed as he took a deep breath in.

He put an arm around his head as he stared up at the blank ceiling silently deep within thought.

"I hope one day you will understand why I am doing all of this. Everything I've done has a reason behind it. I promise I didn't just rip you from your life for the fun of it." Court spoke and I looked over at him.

His amber eyes remained on the ceiling as he talked to me. "I don't go around taking girls from their life. You are the only one. And I just hope one day you will see why I did this and that your safer here." Court took in a deep breath.

One day. He was hopeful for my compliance and understanding. The dangers of being alive as one of the sacrifices.

Two parts of me went to war. The one that wanted to scream at him that it was his fault and the other one who wanted to fawn. I ignored both as I nodded at Court and he smiled.

And the two of us came to a tense argument on how to stretch this relationship out until we learned what to do.

1453. Bit short but I'm tired. ***