To read the first part to the story — Ruby In Onyx I
Adele, wearing a flowing maroon summer dress, burst through the front door with a shriek and ran towards me. Her eyes glowed, and a warm smile lit up her face. We held each other for a moment, then I pulled back to look into her eyes. There was a hint of sadness in them. She must have been quite close to her great-aunt.
“I'm so glad you're here. We'll have this evening to ourselves before I face the crowd tomorrow. Everyone RSVP'd, so it's going to be a full house, eek,” she puffed, gesturing with her slim fingers. Then my eyes caught something unexpected—a blue onyx ring nestled within the embrace of gleaming gold—on her finger. The shade of blue was the same colour as her eyes.
Adele barely wore jewellery; stud earrings were the most effort she made. She caught me staring. “Oh, this. You like? It's a family heirloom.”
“It's beautiful,” I whispered as she let me touch it. I held her hand and rubbed my thumb on the smooth, polished surface. It was mesmerising, like the blue called to me. I wanted to….be a part of it. I shook myself out of my reverie and chuckled to cover the awkward moment.
“So you have to tell me everything. How was the funeral? Wait, my dress?” I asked with a mocking pout.
She laughed quietly. “Let me show you around first. Quentin, please take her bag to my room.”
I didn't realise the elderly man was standing behind us all the while. I turned and caught his eyes. They were almost grey, like fading blue, but piercing and cold. And familiar. A chill ran through me and I shivered involuntarily. I disliked him right there and then. He barely nodded, bent and picked up my bag before walking into the house with a straight stride.
“Are you okay?” Adele asked, taking my attention off Quentin. We shared a brief pause, gazing at each other, before bursting into laughter. My one-time favourite question to her was directed to me. “Come. We have a garden here, though a bit bushy.”
She dragged me towards the side of the mansion. Dusk was fast approaching but I could see the garden was overgrown and tangled, as though it harboured some secrets that I couldn't put into words.
My friend and I sat down on an iron bench nestled in a corner when a maid appeared out of nowhere with a tray of fresh fruit juice and glass cups. I thanked her as she placed it on the bench and watched her enter the house through a dense shrubbery intertwined with ivy. I was going to ask where the door was when Adele grabbed my hands, her nails biting into my forearms. Her eyes were wide and panicked.
“Adele—”
“Shh, Ruby,” she hushed me. “Please listen, I don't have much time but you must help me.”
“Adele? What…what are you talking about?”
“It's a long story but the short version is - my life is in danger. I was forced to come back here.”
“Hey. Slowly, Adele. You're rambling. What do you mean?” My heart began to race when I saw the urgency on her face. My friend was rarely humourous—I was the funny one. She couldn't possibly be joking at that moment. From the crazy way her eyes darted around, I knew something was very wrong.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight as I felt the air around us become thick and cold. My friend glanced back and forth as though someone might appear to hear whatever secret she was about to spill.
“I never talk about my family because I'm an only child and my parents are dead. My great-aunt is my only living relative…”
“Wait, but she's dead,” I interrupted, realising that this beautiful twenty-year-old lady whom I had known for about eight months was about to spill a dark secret. And once she did, my life would never remain the same. I couldn't just up and leave right then. I imagined if I tried to, I wouldn't make it past the iron-wrought gate.
Adele shook her head, cruelly chewing on her lower lips and almost drawing blood. “I'm sorry I lied. I had to. She's been bedridden upstairs for a year now.”
“What?” I whispered, feeling hot and cold at the same time.
“She's dying actually, but they want me to give my life for her.”
“Give your life? Who are they? What are you talking about?” I stood, flustered and Adele paled. Then I felt it—we were no longer alone. I spun on my heel to face Quentin who gave me a grim smile.
“Dinner is served, Ms Adele. Mrs Kerr insists you bring in your…friend,” he drawled, his gaze hardening. “It's warmer inside.” His hoarse voice made my skin bubble with goosebumps. It was when my breath came out as vapour that I realised I was shivering and terribly cold.
Adele stood and raised her chin. “Of course, Quentin. After you.”
Once the elderly man turned, walking towards the shrubbery, Adele grabbed my hands and shook me, her eyes wild and desperate. I believed her then.
There was no time to think the situation through. Her life must be in danger and her family, for reasons beyond my understanding, wanted to hurt her. I must help her. As she had helped me.
Quentin pushed open a door behind the dense shrubbery, waving us in. Adele gripped my hand tight and we walked in together.
[TO BE CONTINUED….]
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