Chapter 44
Ruby
Wait a minute, how did I get dressed?
It's already morning, I find myself dressed in a long blue dress, low-heeled shoes, and my hair is straightened and tied behind.
I don’t remember doing this by myself, what’s happening. I can’t remember anything, I only remember when Möbius got out of the room, the rest is just a blank.
A knock at the door brings me to my sense, I open the door.
“You are ready, you look remarkable.” Möbius stands at the door looking so dashing and for a moment, I forget my worry.
“I guess so, where are we going again.” I ask. My whole being knows that I must accompany him.
“To a meeting, but first I will take you down for breakfast. The meeting doesn’t start until nine, so we have like two hours or so.” He says, smiling. Something seems so wrong, but I can’t wrap my head around it.
“Shall we.” He extends his arm and I take it willingly.
“How are your legs, are you feeling any better?” he makes small talk as we descend the stairs.
“I’m much better now, thanks to these shoes.” I say, my legs today can breathe.
I really miss Owen though, I want to ask Möbius to take me to him, but something in me stops me. Something which is much stronger than me.
We find the dining table staffed with every kind of food, some I recognize, some I don’t. I see one side has foods that I like, Möbius helps me take a seat on that side. I notice more than six ladies dressed in maid uniforms standing at either corners of the room. It makes me uncomfortable to be watched while I eat, but I go with it.
“Can you leave us alone?” Möbius commands, looking at the maids. They all bow and exit the room.
“Thank you.” I say.
“I noticed you weren’t comfortable, you can eat now.” He smiles. To be honest, despite being so arrogant, he is thoughtful as well. All I hope is for him and Owen to finally get along as siblings, and that’s what I will do when I go back home, I will make sure to sit Pearl down so we can resolve everything, I can’t take living like strangers at all.
“Thank you for breakfast, it was wow.”
“You are welcome, we can proceed now.” I wonder what the meeting is all about.
The meeting
More than thirty strong men are seated along a huge curved table and at the center there are two seats, my gut tells me the seats are for Möbius and me. It’s like we are going for a trial or something of that sort.
“Hey don’t be afraid, I’m here aren’t I, I won’t let anything happen to you alright Ruby.” Möbius says in the most honest tone I’ve ever had. I wonder why he is being so nice to me. His words soothe me and all the fear vanishes when he takes my hand and holds me tightly, escorting me to the middle of the packed room. I hear murmurs, and whispers. I think he is in some kind of trouble.
“We are here.” He announces as we take the seats.
“You have a filthy human by your side, what kind of King Will you make, huh?” a tattooed man asks in rage. His hair is in two braids, and the darkness radiating from his eyes is alarming. He must be his rival by the look of things. He is so scary.
“You said you didn’t want a king with no mate” Möbius interjects.
“But we didn’t mean a human.” But why are they calling me human, is it because I don’t have a wolf.
“She still is my mate.” and why is he calling me his mate? I don't feel offended though, I even wonder why.
“She is beautiful and all, but she isn’t cut out to be the queen of the underworld.” Some other man interjects, this one has only one eye. The other looks like it was gouged out.
“Shut up, Morrison, what do you know?” Möbius answers in anger. “Do you have a mate yourself, is there any woman who can fall for your ugly as face.” He adds, shit, why is he being so offensive. I don’t like it, what if these men turn on us. I have no way of defending myself, I don’t want to die here.
“How dare you speak to my brother like that?” another man gets up all raged up. His muscles seem like they want to barge out, I can see the resemblance between the two men. They even look like twins.
“Just sit down Dorrison your opinion isn’t needed. I only came here to show you that I actually have a woman beside me, the rest of your nonsense take it to netherworld court, I’m done here.” Möbius gets up.
“Let’s go baby.” His tone makes it sound so believable.
“Not so fast, lovebirds.” A fierce voice says right behind me, the look in Möbius’ eyes changes, his grip on me tightens. The commotion in the room ceases, and I notice everyone’s head is bowed.
‘Run when I let go of your hand, Ruby. Run and don’t even look back, grab the wand in my room and go to Owen. Get him out and run away from this place.’ I hear his shaky voice in my head.
“You aren’t cut out to be a king, and this woman, I need her soul.” The voice adds.
“Now!” Möbius shouts, letting go of my hand, I don’t hesitate, I just run, not knowing where his room was or what the wand looks like. I hear the door closing right as I step outside and chaos break in the room.
I run, but my mind is on Möbius what will happen to him. Why did he get afraid all of a sudden, who was the man who wanted my soul? I didn’t even get to see him.
Fortunately, I meet the girl who brought me the dress the other day.
“Hey.” I call out, but she pretends not to hear me and continues walking away. “Hey bh I'm calling you, I really hate being ignored you know.” I say, grabbing her by her shoulders and shaking her a bit. I'm so anxious and her behavior isn't helping. I feel bad for addressing her like that, but I can't help it.
She closes her eyes in fear. “Open your eyes, darn it.” I shout, shaking her even more.
“I'm so sorry, ma'am.” She says, opening her eyes slowly.
“Just tell me where Möbius' room is.” I ask letting go of her. She is breathing so heavily, I didn't know I could scare someone like this.
“It's over there, ma'am.” She says.
“Take me.” I command. She walks so fast, and I follow her, she opens the door for me and runs away before I can say anything. I will apologize later, for now, I need the wand. I close the door behind me and look around, the hugest room I've ever been in.
The vast room has a king-sized bed in the middle. A three-seater brown sofa set on the adjacent wall, a coffee table and a dressing mirror full of so many items, you might think it's a woman's room by how neat it is. I look around it and there is nothing out of place, now how will I even find the wand.
I think it's in the walk in closet, I enter, and I only find clothes, shoes, jeez! he has wallets of every color, and watches OMG he really loves dressing up?
Where is the wand? When I'm about to give up, I see a safe under the full-sized mirror, it's well positioned and well camouflaged that you cannot, it's a safe? I bent on one knee and examined to to see what kind of lock it has. I notice it's a combination safe. Now what is the code?
I estimate Owen's year of birth and Möbius' too but it doesn’t bulge.
What do I do? What if I'm running out of time?
Wait a minute, I try my birth year and I hear a small cracking sound. Did it just open? I pull the small door and I really open. Inside I see a crown and a small wand, both gold. I pick both, I'm sure they are important, I will safe keep them. Something strikes my mind as I'm heading out.
I wonder what the wand does. I stand in front of the mirror.
“I want to look like Möbius.” I say while closing my eyes then I open one eye slowly, I almost faint when I see Möbius reflection on the mirror instead of mine. Omg it really worked, I stretch my arm to look at my hand, but when I do, I see myself and not Möbius. That's when I understand that it's just an illusion.
I rush outside heading towards the dungeons, everyone bows before me as I'm passing through. I'm so nervous though, what if the wand stops working all of a sudden what will become of me?