Aveline
It's been a week and a half since we came to Eterna Notte, yet Ruby's mafia world still refuses to let her breathe. That bastard Millet—he stole three million dollars. To others, it's just money. To Ruby? It's betrayal. And she hates betrayal.
I was in the backyard playing with Leon, dancing barefoot on the grass while Obsidian—the beast of a horse—actually let me play with him. He followed me, head nudging my shoulder gently like he understood me.
Next morning, I stepped outside again, but this time small sharp rocks dug into my foot, cutting me. I hissed in pain, crouching slightly.
Ruby had been talking to Adam nearby. She turned, saw me, and the moment our eyes met—I knew I was doomed.
"You. Did. What, Aveline Sun?"
Her voice dripped venom. Cold. Sharp. Made my skin crawl.
I flinched and turned to face her, already dreading what came next.
"You like hurting your ankle, don't you?" she exhaled, massaging her temple. "I swear, next time I will tie you to the damn bed."
She was serious. Not joking-serious. Ruby serious.
She bent down, lifted me into her arms and carried me through the long marbled halls of Eterna Notte.
"I should've done this weeks ago," she muttered darkly. "Accidentally stupid act."
"…Ruby it's just—"
"—An accidentally stupid act," she snapped.
Not wrong. Just scary.
Cause I often hurt my ankle not on purpose definitely not.
She set me down, cleaned the cuts, bandaged me in silence, jaw tight. Then without a word, she carried me again—bridal style—straight to our room.
She dropped me (gently-ish) onto the bed and said with that mafia-commander voice, "Don't. Wait. Up for me tonight."
Then? Slammed the door shut.
Leon barked softly from beside me, and I whispered, "Your mafia boss is scary."
He barked again like he knew. He really understood.
And me I just smile.
And yet, I waited.
It was midnight. No sign of her.
1 a.m. passed.
Still nothing.
By 2 a.m., I was shaking. Calling Adam. Calling Luna. Ruby. Over and over. No one answered.
I...guess about thousand time.
Then—I heard the front door open.
I rushed toward it. And what I saw made my stomach drop.
Ruby. Behind her, Adam and Luna.
Blood. Everywhere.
Her face was blank. Hands stained. Blood on her shirt, on her neck, her pants. Some of it hers. Some of it definitely not.
She muttered, "You guys go clean up. I'm heading upstairs."
I grabbed her hand. "You're not walking away like this."
I pulled her upstairs. Sat her down. Pulled off her jacket. Her black shirt clung to her body like second skin. I undid the buttons and froze.
Her stomach was bruised. Deep purple and red welts across her skin. A cut on her cheekbone. Her knuckles cracked open. Her hand? Bleeding.
"You're in pain…" I whispered.
She glanced at my ankle and frowned. "Why are you kneeling?"
My heart twisted. She's bleeding. Bruised. But she still thinks about me.
I muttered, "Are you immune to pain or something?"
And she smirked. Smirked. Like blood was perfume and bruises were medals.
"I'll shower," she said, already walking toward the bathroom.
"No. Let me clean you," I insisted.
She didn't argue.
She just said "you sleep". And went to bathroom.
I'm stubborn as always.
I brought her a tank top and loose trousers, helped her change, and patched her up.
"You won't believe what they look like now," she muttered while I treated her ribs. "I beat them harder than they could imagine."
Her voice was low. Controlled rage.
I held her face gently, cleaned the cut on her cheekbone, and she stared at my lips.
Just shut up ruby will you! I said she just smirk.
When I was done, she leaned in and kissed me—slow and soft. Like I was the only thing in the world that didn't hurt her.
"You need rest," I whispered against her lips.
"You're my healing," she breathed back.
She lay on me, head on my chest, arms wrapped around my waist. I stroked her hair gently until sleep took her.
---
Next morning, she woke with a gasp. I didn't need to ask—I knew. Her mother haunted her dreams again.
I just held her later, we ate breakfast with Adam and Luna. She didn't say much.
Later that day, she took me to the stables.
"Let's ride."
She was teaching me. Me, riding Obsidian.
She held the reins, walking calmly while I sat on the horse, and Obsidian followed her like she was the moon.
And me? I was just laughing like a child.
Maybe she is changing.
Maybe she's letting herself breathe.
That night, we wandered into the garden of Eterna Notte. It was glowing under the moonlight—roses blooming, lilies asleep. The place felt like magic in my lungs.
I looked at Ruby and whispered, "You look hot, by the way."
She smirked.
And I swear—I caught her smiling. Not cold. Not calculated.
Just… soft.
And maybe… maybe she's falling too.
And I think I'm changing her.