The Mate of Two: The Ruby Wolf Series
Chapter 17

Two days later my phone began to ring.

"Hello."

"You aren't supposed to be the one with the phone." Rose snapped on the other end.

"Damien left it here with my ring. He won't look for me. He gave up." I said, tears coming to my eyes as I looked around at the trashed cabin. The ring still laid on the floor.

"He gave up? Is that a joke?" She asked.

"No. You win. Now send someone to kill me."

"Kill you? Why? He wasn't supposed to just give up. That's the whole damn reason I made things this easy."

"So what. Why should I stay alive? If he doesn't want me why would I stay like this? Why would I stay something I didn't want to become. You killed me. He forced me to become a vampire because he wouldn't let me die. But now he ended everything. He rejected me.... He won't come looking for me. So why would I live? I just want to die and be with my mother and brother."

"What about your father?" She asked, standing at the doorway.

I hung up my phone and stood.

"He will be fine. He has Jake."

"He really rejected you?" She asked again.

"Yes."

"He was supposed to fight for you."

"Well he didn't!" I snapped. Feeling the tears rise again.

The ground began to shake.

"Damn it."

"Caleb knows I'm here. But he didn't tell anyone else, I don't think."

"Not even Damien?"

"He told him. But he didn't believe him. That's when he rejected me."

"Fine. We will talk later. I'm leaving." She said, then she vanished and the ground settled.

"Ariel?" Caleb said.

"Still here."

"Rose was here?" He asked, Britiny walked in behind him.

"Yes."

"What are your plans?" He asked as he began picking up the broken furniture.

I stayed silent.

"Damien still won't believe him." Britiny said, sadness in her gaze.

"But he told you?" I snapped. I didnt want their pity. I didnt want the sad looks

"No one else will go against Damien. They will not look for you. But Britiny felt like it was her fault. So she's been trying everything to replace you. So I told her." Caleb explained.

"Fine. But its not your fault." I said, looking at her.

"Damien's in bad shape." She said.

"I dont care. He made his own choice." I said.

"And what did you decide? What were you talking to Rose about?" Caleb asked.

"Nothing. You don't need to worry about it."

"Are you planning on leaving? Going with Rose?" Britiny asked.

"Leaving? Yes. With Rose? No."

"We brought you more blood."

"What's the point? Of staying fed? Of staying in control?"

"You don't want to live." Caleb stated.

"I have no reason.."

"So you're just going to kill yourself? Or let Rose do it?" Britiny snapped.

"He doesn't want me anymore! He won't look for me! He won't fight! He gave up! So why would I live? Why would I stay alive? For him? Hes the one who wanted me to live! He's the one who forced this on me. Yet he's allowed to just leave? Reject me and be done? How is that fair to me? How is it fair? He brought me into this! He brought me into this life and he is the one who put me in danger! But he's the one whose allowed to give up and leave? He's the one whose allowed to leave me alone? But if I want everything to end I'm the selfish one!" I said as I cried.

They stood silently watching me break.

"Get out!" I yelled. "Get out! There's no reason for you to be here anymore. I'm not going to ever be apart of your family. So leave. Let me just die."

"Well we will see what Damien says when he listens to this recording." Caleb said holding out his phone, before they walked out.

I collapsed on the ground and cried.

"How about this." I heard Rose say.

I was still laid on the ground. I didn't have the energy to get up and I continue to cry.

"Let's put you to sleep. If he doesn't come for you with in a week. I'll wake you up and I'll let you have what you want. If he comes for you. I'll give him hell and you peace. Four months of you out and him not being able to wake you up. After those four months you'll be awake and free to be with him as long as he's still around. If not again you'll get what you want."

"Why? Why are you doing this?" I snapped. My anger giving me the energy to sit up.

"You were once my Best Friend. You were nice to me. Even though I had a different motive to befriend you than just being friends. You are feeling the same pain I did when I lost him. Your soul just isn't yet lost. Damien hasn't fully said the rejection words to you. I can show you this mercy. You deserve as much."

I looked at her, anger began to dull my pain. "Fine."

"Frany, do your thing." She said as someone else walked in.

The witch began speaking in a different language.

After a while my eyes became heavy. Rose knealt down beside me and slipped something on my finger.

Everything went black.

_____________________________________

The door bell continued to go off as we all sat at the dining room table. Damien excluded.

"Caleb, go get the door." Mom said as she sat playing with the food on her plate.

I stood and headed for the door.

When I answered it there was only a note tapped to the door.

"Damien!" I yelled after I read it.

I headed for his room and pounded on his door.

"Damien!"

"What?" He snapped through the door.

"I need to talk to you."

"I'm busy."

I opened his door to see him with a female. She sat the couch. Anger shurgged inside me.

"What the fuck is this? You seriously went back to your old self?"

"What do you care?" He snapped.

"Rose sent you a letter. Ariel is at the cabin. If you don't come get her within a week she's dead."

"Ya right."

"You really think she isn't there? That I lied to you?"

"Wouldn't be the first time." He growled.

"If you don't believe me listen to her say it." I snapped pulling out my phone.

We stood in silence as he listened to the recording.

I could tell he was trying not to break.

"If you actually love her go get her. If not she's going to die at the end of the week." I turned and walked away.

Shaking my head. If she comes back.... Will she actually stay?

"Who was it?" My father asked.

"No one. Just a letter to Damien from Rose." I said popping down on the couch.

"What did it say?" Christine asked.

"Ariel is at the cabin. He has a week to go get her. If he doesn't, she's dead."

"Does he believe the note?" Mom asked.

"No. So I played the recording."

"Reaction?"

"GET OUT!" We all heard Damien yell as a door slammed shut.

A few minutes later he came into the living room.

He glared at everyone of us. I returned his glare and stood.

"Are you going to go to her? Or will you let her die? That's what she wants since she believes that you don't want her. So what are you going to do?" I said stepping closer to him.

His glare darkened.

"Wow. Pathetic." I felt anger for Ariel. For how selfish Damien was being right now.

He stayed silent, After a twenty minute glare down he turned and walked away.

"Is he going to go to her?" Abigail asked.

"I don't know. Its like he is already lost." Grayson said.

"What is their path?" Father asked me.

"Its unsure. There are two paths." I turned to them. "He can either go to her or he can let her die. The second path leads to her death of course."

"The first? What becomes of them with the first path?" Mother asked standing.

"I don't know. Its blurred. Unsure. Something is blocking Ariel." I answered. It wasn't the answer my mother wanted but it was the only one I could give.

Mother turned into father. Her soft cry was all you could here. Until the front door slammed shut.

____________________________________

I stood silently as I listened to Calebs words.

I was angry with myself. I thought saying that would make Rose change her mind. Would make her slip up. I've been trying to replace Ariel. Secretly. The woman Caleb saw was helping me with my plan.

Everyone had to believe I gave up. They needed to believe that I was done. That's why Jan was a perfect cover. It helped strengthen my plan. But I never thought she would hear my words. A part of me knew she might. But not from me. I thought they would have recording devices around. That she wouldn't believe it because of the phone call. But she heard me. Saw me say it.

I turned and left the house. Slamming the door behind me.

I didnt know where I was going. Whether I was going to get Ariel or just walking to get away from everyone.

After a while I came walking up to the cabin.

"Are you going to take her?" Rane asked as he leaned against the Cabin.

I glared at him.

"You don't have too." He pushed himself off the wall. "She can stay here. Let her wake up to me. Then her request will get carried out. Ariel will be no more. You'll be free to do whatever you want. You rejected her after all, didnt you? Or are you going to save her for her father? I mean in a few years he will be able to be with them. Her mother, brother, and her, will be waiting for him." He said, walking towards me.

I remained silent.

"Its all up to you." He said holding his hands up. "The letter Rose sent is true. If you decide to save Ariel, she will let you all live in peace. She will leave you alone as long as you leave her alone."

"I was going for a walk. Nothing more." I ground out.

"Well, I'll be here waiting. I'm not going anywhere. So when you decide to come back for her. I'll be here." He said, walking back over to the cabin.

I fought against ripping his throat out. If what Rose says is true then I can't kill him.

I turned from the cabin and walked away.

When I walked back into the house, Caleb was waiting by the door.

"So that's it. That's what you choose?" He snapped.

I glared at him and tried to pass.

"Wow. Ariel was right." He turned and walked away. "You are a selfish dick."

I ignored my brother and went down to the basement.

"Damien?" My mother said behind me. "Are you going to go get her?"

I turned and looked at her before silently heading down the passage.

I heard Rane speaking on the phone as I came walking up under him.

"He came. But he never took her with him."

Everything was quiet before he spoke again. "I really do think he gave up, Rose."

Silence.

"Okay. I'll be there soon."

He walked across the floor and left.

I took that opportunity to open the hatch and climb into the cabin.

She was lying a few feet away from me. "Ar."

Carefully, I picked her up and climbed back down the hatch. Shutting it behind me.

I carried her down the passage and into the basement where my family waited.

The room became silent as I stepped in with her in my arms. "As far as anyone outside of this house is concerned. I never took her. I want nothing to do with her."

"Where will you put her?" Father asked.

"In a cell. She will be blocked from danger and any powers the witches try to use to replace her." I said, then walked out.

I carried her down to the underground cell instead of the one she had been in. This way she was sure to be safe.

"How will you mask the lie you'll be telling if you are asked by Rane or Rose and they have a truth spell or something?" Britiney asked as I set Ariel on the bed.

"I'll have one too mask my lies." I said.

"Damien do you really-" I looked over at her, stopping her words.

"This wouldn't be happening if you wouldn't have left her in the Diner alone." I snapped.

She bowed her head and left.

I brushed the hair from her face. She looked so pale.

Her clothes were dirty and torn. There was dirt in her hair.

"How is she?" Mom asked.

"I don't know."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"I need a way to wash her hair. And her body. She smells and her hair is dirty. I don't need her waking up again to being this way. I'm gonna go get her a new pair of clothes."

"Yes. I'll get the boys to bring down the tub your father bought. Turns out it is pretty useful after all." She said leaving the cell.

I took one last look at Ariel, before leaving.

My phone rang as I was grabbing her clothing.

Number unknown. Rose.

"What the hell do you want? How did you get my number?" I snapped.

"Ariels phone. You left it at the cabin when you took her." Rose laughed.

"I never took her." I lied.

Silence was all I heard before she said "What?"

"I didn't take her. Why the fuck would I go get her when I gave up on her. You do remember what rejection is?"

"Rane said you took her."

"Did Rane physically see me? Me, go into the cabin and take her?"

"No."

"Then why the fuck would he say I took her?"

"Because shes gone."

"She's what?" I said, continuing to play the part.