Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Ru inhaled deeply. It was easy to forget all of this when she was at school or at her own home. When she’d been with Kyle, she didn’t even think about being a Keeper or fighting to save souls. Talking to Thanatos had confused her, and Cutter’s explanations weren’t helping any. She ran a hand through her hair, wondering if any of it would ever make sense.

“I know it’s a lot to take in,” Cutter said, quietly. “Maybe that’s enough for now. But Ru… Nat still has his eyes on you. He’s not done, and he won’t be until he gets what he wants. I know you’re hoping this will all go away, but I’m sad to say that it won’t. And not only have they been hunting you this whole time, they’re hunting her, too. Sera’s been in hiding for many years. Who knows how much longer she can stay hidden.”

“How have I stayed hidden for so long?” Ru asked, turning to meet his eyes.

The answer came from the doorway. “She cast a spell on you,” Ivy said, coming in slowly and taking a seat in one of the two chairs on Ru’s left. Lyric took the other and Rider sat on the smaller couch on Cutter’s right. “We thought all along that was the case, but we finally had confirmation from your grandmother. It was a cloaking spell.”

“How did… what did my grandma say?” Ru was so confused.

“Only that Sera had a lot of books on magic and how to cast spells in her room. Your grandmother hadn’t gone in there for years, afraid to touch anything, hoping her daughter would come back. We’d been insisting for a long time that she do so, in case there were clues. But she wouldn’t until we told her that we’d found you.”

“When… when did all of this take place?”

“I contacted her last week, and she called me a few days ago,” Ivy replied, her voice calm and serene, an attempt to pass those traits on to Ru, she was sure.

Ru’s eyes flickered to the others, as if she expected them to chime in. Lyric took the cue. “Did Cutter explain to you where we’re from?” Ru shook her head. “There’s an entire community made up of only Keepers and humans who are married to Keepers. All children are raised there, trained there, brought up in the ways of the Keepers there. Without exception. Until you.”

“Well, aren’t I lucky?” Ru forced a laugh.

“That’s where your grandma lives. Luckily, we can contact her by phone,” Lyric said.

“Although I don’t mind reaching out to people with my mind to get information.” Ivy smiled at her, a twinkle in her eye.

“Where is it?” Ru asked, wondering if she’d have to visit another realm to visit her grandma.

“Los Angeles,” Lyric began.

“Wyoming,” Rider finished.

“Los Angeles, Wyoming?” Ru repeated. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“That’s the idea,” Cutter replied.

Ru shook her head, information overload setting in. Clapping her hands down on her legs, Ru said, “Well, I think I’ve had about all I can handle for one night.”

“Did you tell her about Zu?” Rider asked, looking at Cutter.

“No, we didn’t get to that.”

“Who?” Ru asked, wondering if she’d be sorry she asked.

“A few nights ago, these lovely ladies captured one of Nat’s right hand Reapers. Fella by the name of Zu. We’re squeezing him for info right now. He might know more about Nat’s plan to get to you.” Cutter’s voice sounded hopeful, but his eyes revealed his uncertainty.

“I am sorry I asked,” Ru muttered. “Is he here?”

“No, he’s been banished,” Lyric assured her.

“Of course he has.”

“I know you’re overwhelmed, Ru. I guess you don’t want us to try to teach you how to use your powers right now?”

“I don’t think so. Not tonight.” While making the blue lights come back did seem appealing, she was quickly becoming exhausted, and she had plans the next day.

“Okay. Well, anytime you want one of us to show you, let us know,” Ivy said, a gentle smile on her face. “Even though I’m a Keeper of the Earth and Lyric’s a Keeper of the Wind, it all generates from the same place inside.”

Ru nodded, not exactly sure what all that meant.

“There’s just one more thing,” Cutter said as Ru started to stand. “Your back.”

“My back?” Ru asked. Suddenly, she remembered the scars.

“We need to see, please,” Ivy said. “Lyric and I will check them out, if that’s okay with you.”

It really wasn’t, but Ru knew she’d end up having to show them eventually, and if her scars really were the key to finding her mother, or the portals, then she needed to cooperate. “Okay,” she said, standing.

Both of the other women smiled at her sympathetically and also climbed to their feet. “There’s a bathroom down this hall,” Ivy said as she headed out of the room. Ru followed, Lyric behind them.

Everything in the bathroom appeared to be brand new, but Ru was too nervous to even check out the marble floor or perfectly tiled shower for more than a second. Once they were all in the rather small room, Lyric shut the door.

“Okay, if you’ll just pull up your shirt in the back, we should be able to see them,” Ivy said.

With a deep breath, Ru lifted the red blouse she was wearing, knowing her bra strap would likely be in the way.

“Do you mind if I scoot this up?” Lyric asked.

“No, go ahead.” Yes, she minded.

“Oh, wow,” Ivy said quietly, and Ru inhaled sharply. “Oh, no, honey. That wasn’t a bad wow. It was an ‘I’m stunned’ wow.”

“I’m not sure that makes it any better, Ivy,” Lyric said. “Ru, we’ve never seen asymmetrical scars before.”

“No, usually, they’re mirror images,” Ivy agreed.

“Yours are completely different from each other.”

“So what does that mean?” Ru asked, a bit frightened at this revelation.

“It means you’re amazing,” Ivy replied, patting her on the shoulder.

“Look, I know what you’re going to say, but Ru, I really need to take a picture of this so that I can see if we can decipher it. I do really think it says something,” Lyric explained. “But it’s intricate and complex. I could try to draw it, but I’m afraid I’d mess it up and get it all wrong.”

“You want me to let you take a picture of my bare back, the one I’ve been trying to hide for twenty-two years?” Ru could hardly believe her ears.

“I know. I’m sure it was hard growing up with these scars and not knowing what they were. Please, Ru? I promise no one will see it who doesn’t need to. I’ll replicate it and destroy the picture as quickly as I can. And you won’t be able to see anything but your back in the picture.”

With a loud sigh, Ru finally said, “Fine.” She knew they weren’t going to stop until she said yes, and at least Lyric had asked instead of just taking it.

“Thank you,” she said. Ru heard her take out her cell phone. “Got it. This is quite helpful, Ru.”

Dropping her shirt, Ru straightened up as Lyric showed her the picture. She’d never actually seen the full view before with no obstructions or twisting. They looked different than she had imagined; they were hardly noticeable.

“I’m gonna go get on this right now,” Lyric said rubbing Ru’s arm for a moment before taking off out of the bathroom.

Ivy draped her arm around Ru’s shoulders as they went back to the other room. Lyric headed up the stairs, her footsteps echoing above them.

Cutter was standing in the doorway when they reached the parlor, Rider still seated on the sofa. “We good?” Cutter asked, looking from Ivy’s face to Ru’s and then back again.

“Yep. Lyric took a pic and she’s going to start trying to decipher. It does look like a message.”

Cutter nodded at his friend, and Ru wondered if he would also be seeing that picture. Likely, he would be. “Well, Ru if you’re ready, it looks like I’ll be driving you back home.”

Ru tried not to stare at him. Obviously, Lyric was too busy to take her home, and she didn’t really know the other two despite the intimate exchange with Ivy a moment ago. “Okay,” she said, quietly.

She realized she’d set her purse down on the couch in the other room and went to get it. When she’d retrieved it, Cutter was standing by the door, the envelope in his hand. “Thought you might want to hold on to this.”

“Thank you,” Ru said quietly. He smiled and gave her a slight nod.

“Bye, Ru,” Ivy said, stepping over and giving her another tight hug. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“Thanks again for dinner, Ivy. It was delicious,” Ru replied, not yet sure how to respond to her request.

“Take care, kid,” Rider said once Ivy had released her. He, too, gave her a hug, and Ru felt as if she now knew what it was like to tangle with a grizzly.

“See you,” Ru replied. Smiling up at him once he let her go.

Cutter opened the door, and they stepped out into the night. The air was chilly but not yet cold. Still, Ru was happy when they were inside Cutter’s truck and the heat was on.