The meeting with Sarasvati had taken place on Ruby’s fifth day in Undaina. She had no more of her mother’s blood, so she decided to wait out the remainder. Sure, she could have completed the ritual herself, now, but she didn’t want to. She needed to say her goodbyes, so it was best to just wait out the clock.
Eric arrived later in the day, looking much worse for wear; there were little holes pierced all along one side of his face, and a big wound on his abdomen that he’d frozen shut. He’d also lost his right leg below the knee. Ruby hadn’t been allowed to talk to him until he’d undergone life saving treatment, and when she was finally let into the room, she collapsed against him and wept, Bozo howling sympathetically beside her.
Eric put his hand on her head and ruffled her hair. “I’m sorry, Ruby,” he began.
“It’s my fault,” said Ruby. “I’m such a burden on everyone—”
“Hush now, girl,” he chided. “Remember that I was on this quest for myself. I didn’t go out of my way for you, a fact which I regret. If I’d taken responsibility I wouldn’t have left your side, and you wouldn’t have suffered so.” He shook his head. “But tell me, what happened after I left?”
Ruby told him about Dusk and Callisto.
“Remarkable,” said Eric, looking proud. “You’ve grown so much, defeating a pirate and a kanaloan! And what a good hound you are, Bozo.” He reached down and patted his nose; Bozo licked his hand. “But tell me, Ruby, how did you defeat the imposter?”
Ruby wiped her eyes. “He was a bad liar. But…but…” She took a deep breath. “I wasn’t sure. I wanted it to be him, but I wasn’t sure, even until he turned back into a monster.”
“So you were willing to attack me?” he replied. “Because you thought I was doing something evil?”
She nodded, throat tight.
He stroked her hair. “Good.”
Ruby sobbed into her hands.
Sarasvati taught Ruby how to shield her dreams. The power inside her would take care of any physical changes that needed to occur. Still, Ruby went to bed with a deep anxiety, and almost didn’t sleep. But when she finally did, her sleep was lovely, dark and deep. But she missed Fenetre.
She awoke to physical changes, as promised. Her nails had gone black and hard, with a texture like shell. Her teeth were much sharper, though not pointed, just edged. The inside of her mouth felt tougher to compensate, thankfully, as she bit her tongue about once a week. Her lungs felt different, better, stronger, more capable.
Ruby had been provided a hand mirror, and used it to check her face for any surprises. Her lips were stained black, and two flower buds sprouted from either side of her head. Red Anemones that turned black at the edges.
Ruby clutched at them. That was certainly going to attract attention back home, at…school? She wondered if her mother would let her go now. Certainly no reason not to…
She had time today to walk the halls and explore the island. She wished she’d had a camera, only to realize there was one tucked deep into her backpack. She felt a little stupid about that, but oh well. There was time now. There were thirty-six slots in the disposable camera, and she spent a few of them on Bozo, and most on the scenery, or the architectural wonders of the settlement, or the greatswans. She very solemnly asked to take a picture of Sarasvati, and she complied. Eric was fascinated by the thing, as they hadn’t been widely available the last time he was on Earth. He took a picture with his arm around Ruby’s shoulders, still lying in his sick bed.
That night there was a great feast to bid Ruby farewell. She wasn’t sure why. She didn’t think Dusk could have hurt Sarasvati, or Callisto for that matter. Were they just indulging her? Why?
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
She asked Sarasvati in private after the feast. The marid just sighed and shook her head.
Ruby had one more night of sleep in Undaina, and it too was uneventful. She would depart from this world in the mid-morning, returning to Earth around midnight.
The people Ruby had come to know gathered in a small room overlooking the sea, where the greatswans bobbed on the water and fished for krill. Bozo was next to her, sitting proudly with a shiny spiked collar around his neck, a leather leash in Ruby’s hand. Of course he would be going with her. She didn’t know if he understood they would be leaving this world, but he looked like he was raring to go, wagging his tail just like a dog.
Sarasvati stood opposite them, at the back of the small group, solemn and mysterious. Ma’alia helped support Eric, who had insisted on coming here with a cane instead of a wheelchair. To Ruby’s surprise, Bob’s jolly rag-mask was floating beside him, seemingly stretched over an invisible head. “Spirits don’t really die,” he said, tickling Bob’s underside. “It was easy to conjure him up again. I’ve grown accustomed to his face, you see.”
Ruby giggled, then she felt a tug around her navel. “I think it’s time.” She clapped her hands together. “Thank you, all of you.” She closed her eyes, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Not like this, Ruby,” said Eric, shambling towards her. He put his hand on her shoulder and made her look up. “There’s an old song for goodbyes. Listen.” He started to sing. His voice was like gold.
Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine
Come lift up your voices all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again.
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again.
“Come on, join me,” he said, and repeated the last verse. Clumsily, Ruby sang along with him. The words were sad, but trying to learn them pulled her out of her funk. Together, they struggled through another verse more or less in harmony;
Our ship lies at anchor, she's ready to dock
I wish her safe landing, without any shock
If ever I should meet you by land or by sea
I will always remember your kindness to me.
And as the words left Ruby’s lips, she was pulled from Undaina, and into her mother’s living room.
Ruby told her story for what felt like the hundredth time, but this time she actually felt excited. It was already starting to feel like she’d been on an adventure, instead of mostly just suffering and shivering and crying.
Morgause sat attentively, paying close attention to every word, and her expression seemed almost grave. She didn’t even seem to care that Bozo was tearing up one of the ottomans.
At the end of it, she gave Ruby polite applause. “I’m proud of you.”
Ruby felt light headed. She’d felt that, in spite of everything, her mother would find some flaw in her work, some idea that she should have tried, that would make Ruby feel like an idiot. But it didn’t happen. She was proud. Ruby sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve. Morgause’s brow furrowed, but she said nothing. Ruby took note though, and reminded herself not to push it. “Oh, I took pictures. Mostly of the last island, though.”
One side of her mother’s mouth quirked up into a smile. “I would like to see them.”
Ruby handed over the camera, and Morgause skimmed through the pictures. Her expression was the same, somewhat-pleased-yet-neutral affect throughout the experience. Until she got to one of the last ones. Her face contorted in shock, and she dropped the camera.
She recovered quickly, scooping it back up and handing it to Ruby. “What’s wrong?” Ruby asked, tense.
“Nothing,” Morgause said quickly. “I just realized how late it was. I’m sorry darling, head off to bed.”
Ruby rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m not sleepy, it was daytime over there…”
“Better to try to adjust to our time zone as quickly as possible,” said Morgause. She stood up and ushered Ruby out of the room and upstairs, shutting her in her bedroom.
Ruby sat down on her bed. It felt very strange. She turned her dress into a set of pajamas, feeling suddenly too apathetic to change her clothes the normal way, and looked down at the camera. She peered through it to see what image it was that had spooked her mother.
It was the picture of Eric hugging Ruby. “What?” she muttered.
----------------------------------------
Fin