Chapter 34: Chapter 34
Ru stared at the other woman for a few moments in disbelief, her eyes wide. “Sorry?” she repeated. This was such a far cry from the Cinder she’d encountered in the desert not that long ago. “You’re sorry?”
“I am,” Cinder nodded resolutely. “I wasn’t being fair to you, and I should’ve given you a chance before I decided that you weren’t going to be able to handle the tasks assigned to you. I guess, I just thought there was no way someone new to all of this such as yourself could be so powerful when I’ve worked so hard my whole life to accomplish less than you’ve done in only a few months.”
Hearing Cinder’s confession pulled at Ru’s heartstrings. “Cinder, that’s not true. You’ve done so much more.”
“But nothing so grand as closing a portal. And you’ve already closed two.”
Ru took a few more steps until she was standing right in front of Cutter’s sister. Even though she wasn’t truly in the room, Ru could see both remorse and a bit of jealousy in the older woman’s eyes. “But that’s not what you were made for, Cinder. I was created to close those portals. Raphael told me as much just now. He chose me to do this. Your task is different. That doesn’t make it less important. You have brought down, what dozens, of Reapers?”
Cinder nodded, her expression still solemn, though there was a tinge of happiness around the edges.
“And I’ve never even destroyed one.” Ru didn’t mention she had killed a few demons. It didn’t seem pertinent to the conversation. Cinder had likely taken out her fair share of those beasts as well. “We’re all called upon for different things. It doesn’t matter what they are. All that matters is how well we do them. And you’re a rock star at what you do. Up until a few weeks ago, I was a teacher. Some people might say that was fairly unimportant in the grand scheme of things compared to world leaders or astronauts, people trying to find the cure for cancer. But I went to work every day knowing that I was touching the future, changing the lives of children, two dozen at a time, and hopefully for the better. Nothing we do in life is small as long as it fulfills a purpose that makes this world a better place.”
By the time she’d finished speaking, Cinder had a smile on her face. “Ru, you sound like a philosopher. I wish I’d have been able to see all that when I was your age.” Ru thought it was a little odd to hear her phrase it that way when Cinder wasn’t that much older, but she supposed it had something to do with worldly experience as well. “I’m glad you are able to see how you fit into all of this.”
“I see my purpose right now,” Ru said with a shrug. “It might change after we close the last portal. I’m hoping I can go back to life before Reapers, but I think that might be difficult.”
Cinder raised an eyebrow. “You want to go back to being a teacher?”
Ru nodded. “I loved being a teacher. This seems like… work. Like something I have to do. I have made a lot of great friends. And I found out where I come from. Meeting my parents has made it completely worth it.” Ru paused for a moment, choosing her next words carefully. “Meeting your brother has made it completely worth it.” Cinder’s smile grew, and Ru thought she must’ve heard she and Cutter were an item now. “But if I could take all of those things and go back to teaching fourth grade at Thomas Elementary in Reaper’s Hollow, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
Shaking her head, Cinder said, “Well, my friend, I doubt that will happen. You’re too powerful for them to just let you go. But who knows. Lately, the people in charge have been making some pretty strange decisions.”
Ru assumed she was talking about letting her mom go and not punishing Ru for standing up to Sky or turning her father into a human. “That’s okay,” Ru shrugged. “Maybe they just needed to see things from a fresh perspective.” She was certain her point of view was completely different than some of the angels and Keepers who had been doing this forever.
“Maybe.” Cinder still looked dumbfounded, as if she couldn’t believe what Ru had gotten away with. “Well, I just wanted to stop by and apologize.”
“Thank you,” Ru said. “I accept your apology, and I’m sorry I was so rude the last time we spoke.”
Laughing, Cinder said, “That conversation wasn’t one sided. I may be assigned to help out in Japan. If so, I’ll see you there. If not, I’m sure I’ll bump into you again at some point. Maybe over the holidays.”
Thoughts of sitting around a Christmas tree with Cutter and his family filled Ru’s mind for a moment. Would her own parents be there as well? She shook the thought free. Clearly, Cinder was ready to go. “Okay. Thank you for taking the time to come speak to me. I feel a lot better about things now.”
“Me, too,” Cinder agreed. She reached out a see-through hand and rested it on Ru’s shoulder. “Take care.” As Ru nodded, Cinder slowly faded away.
Ru’s hand immediately covered the place on her shoulder where Cinder had touched her. It seemed so strange that someone with no body could actually leave a warmth on her skin. She shook her head yet again in disbelief thinking she’d never understand all of this.
Leaf’s bed looked welcoming, especially after that conversation. She kicked her shoes off and sprawled out on top of the comforter thinking she didn’t want to mess the room up too much. Laying there with her eyes closed, she tried to push all of the events of the day away, but they just kept springing back. Images of demons she hoped she’d never face, her father’s smile, Cinder’s apology. It really was all too much.
Even though she was chilly with no blanket over her, eventually she started to doze off, though she was having a hard time getting comfortable and wished she would’ve crawled between the sheets. Just when she was about to get up and pull the comforter down, a sensation of warmth covered her and she felt strong arms surround her. The scent of him was enough to let her know she was more than safe; she was where she belonged, and Ru snuggled into Cutter’s embrace and flittered off to sleep.