A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new fanfiction in which Ruby and Christina meet on Valentine’s Day. If you want to read the whole thing, the link to the full story will be at the end! I hope you enjoy!
Ruby hated Valentine's Day. It wasn't always the case, but years of disappointing boyfriends and nights alone had run her enjoyment for lovers' day very thin. At this point, she wanted nothing more than to be left alone and spend the evening on her couch, eating ice cream and watching some dumb rom-com on TV. But of course, Leti had to meddle.
Come seven p. m., Ruby was standing in a large kitchen, getting ready for a singles-only cooking class. She cursed her sister again. All the participants were standing near the door, awkwardly waiting for the teacher. There were a few tall guys and a few nice girls, although Ruby didn't care much. So long as they weren't too talkative and let her be for the next two hours, it wouldn't be too bad. She could go home afterward and proceed with her night as planned.
The door opened and a woman wearing a navy blue apron with her name stitched in the corner walked in. Julia, it said. Julia smiled at the gathering crowd of students.
"Good evening everyone! My name is Julia and I'll be your teacher for tonight's class. I think we're only missing a few participants. I suggest we get started by finding you each a partner to work with."
She picked up what looked like a cocktail shaker on the table and shook it. When she opened it, the group saw small slips of papers inside.
"Who wants to start?"
One of the guys shrugged and stepped forward. He pulled out a name and read it out loud. The lucky winner, Kate, raised her hand as if she were embarrassed by her own name, and together the new pair walked up to the first work table. Another man stepped forward and he pulled out a guy's name. Together they took the table behind the first pair. Julia agitated the shaker as if it would mix up the papers even more and offered to let one of the girls pick. She pulled out a man's name, and they took the third table. Then, she turned to Ruby.
Ruby pursed her lips, holding in a complaint. She reached inside the shaker. She snatched the first paper she found. She unfolded it and read the name, first in her mind, as she let it sink in, then finally aloud.
"Christina?"
She looked up. No one had stepped forward or raised a hand.
"She must be late," Julia said. "You can take the fourth table, I'm sure she'll be here any minute."
Ruby did as she was instructed. Of course, she would pull the name of someone who wasn't there. She came to stand by the fourth table, at the back of the class. She found two aprons neatly folded on the table. She took off her coat and scarf and hung them on the hook on the wall behind her. It seemed someone else was alone at the front of the class. Ruby figured if their partners didn't arrive in time, Julia would pair them up.
The door opened just as the last pair was sent to their table, and a man walked inside. Ruby frowned. It couldn't be Christina, could it? But no, it was Sebastian, who worked with Debbie at the front of the class. Julia turned to Ruby and asked:
"Are you okay starting on your own? I'm sure your partner will be here shortly."
It wasn't like Ruby could say no. Instead, she shrugged and nodded.
"Yeah, it's no problem."
FULL STORY HERE
A/N: Hey guys! I just partook in another prompt challenge, this time with the prompt "Person A notices that Person B hasn’t been wearing gloves, even in the drastically cold temperatures they’ve been experiencing. So Person A takes on the task of knitting them a new pair." Here’s an extract with the link to the full story at the end! Hope you like it!
It would be cruel to go outside. The streets are packed with a foot of snow that won't melt away. The air is cold, so crisp it hurts any expose skin. When the wind picks up, it grazes past you like an arrow, scraping through clothes and leaving a permanent chill through your bones. As days go by and the weather keeps worsening, Christina is pushing for Ruby to quit her job, because it's too cold to go out, and they should just stay in bed until spring. Still, Ruby manages to drag her out, one Sunday, to go ice skating in the park with Leti and George.
Christina is bundled up in her coat and seven-year-old George is making fun of her for it, but she doesn't care. Her scarf is up to her nose, her hat down to her eyes, and her gloved hands stuffed in her pockets. George is wearing his father's old blades as he glides quickly over the pond amidst other children. Leti is standing by the snowy shores taking pictures. Ruby and Christina have found a wooden bench as cold as a block of ice, but it's better than remaining standing with snow up to their knees.
From the pond, George is waving at them wildly. He's trying to skate backward, which his mom is none too pleased about. He falls backward and slides on the thick ice for a bit.
"I'm okay!" he shouts before Leti can come to help him.
With a hop, he's back on his feet and off to try again. Christina looks back at Ruby who is rubbing her hands together and blowing on them. She frowns.
"Did you lose your gloves again?"
"I didn't lose them, I just forgot them. It's fine."
"Here, take mine," Christina says as she begins pulling her gloves off.
Icy air bites into her wrist and she shivers, but she ignores the pain and pulls them off further. Until Ruby stops her.
"Keep them, I'm fine."
Christina hesitates. She doesn't understand why Ruby always forgets her gloves at home. Christina keeps buying her gloves and they pile up around the house and never serve. At least she never forgets her scarf, even if it's not the one Christina gave her. It's the one Leti gave her for Christmas. It's not fancy, just a single strip of red yarn, but it serves its purpose.
"You're sure?" Christina asks, the glove still half-fitted on her hand.
"Yeah, it's fine. I never had gloves in winter when I was a kid and I still got all my fingers."
Christina secures the gloves back on her hand.
"Here."
She takes Ruby's hands in hers. They are so cold she can feel it through the leather of her gloves. She holds onto them a bit tighter and rubs the chilled skin, trying to bring some warmth back into them. Christina decides then that if Ruby doesn't want her gifted gloves, she would make her a pair, so she would be sure Ruby would wear them.
Full story here
A/N: Hey guys! I’m back with this short one-shot inspired by Jennifer’s Body! Here is an extract and if you want to read the whole thing the link is at the end! Hope you enjoy!
Christina hadn't been answering her phone all evening. Ruby was growing worried with each passing minute. There was a big fancy dinner at the Braithwhites that evening, which seemed to happen at least once a month. Christina hated them but Christina had to be there. And usually, during those evenings, Christina texted her well into the night. Ruby couldn't be there but she could keep her company that way. But tonight, nothing. Her last text had been at seven sharp when she'd had to step into the reception room – because of course, that huge mansion of hers had a reception room. Since then, nothing.
Ruby had been turning and turning in her bedroom. She'd called Christina ten times already. What more could she do? She had a bad, venomous feeling in her gut. It made her want to run. The cold dread in her chest made her think that Christina was in danger, and she was stuck in her small college dorm room, waiting for a text message that might never come.
Her phone vibrated suddenly and she jumped to it. Any wave of relief she'd felt dissipates when she saw it wasn't Christina calling, but Leti.
"What do you want?"
"Jesus, someone's on edge. What's up? Is your girlfriend getting on your nerve again?"
Ruby rolls her eyes.
"She's not my girlfriend."
They were a deadly secret. If Christina's father ever found out, he would kill them both. And probably get away with it too, the rich bastard that he was.
"She hasn't been answering my texts and all my phone calls tonight. I'm getting worried."
"You're worried over nothing. What could happen to her at those fancy parties, seriously?"
Still, Ruby was playing all the worse scenarios in her mind. She'd rather not name them, though, or else they would become painfully real. She was about to ask Leti again why she called when she heard a knock outside. It sounded far away. Ruby wasn't sure whether it was at her door at all. Still, she went to it, just to check, just in case.
"Hold on, I think someone's at the door."
Ruby opened the door and leaned her head outside. The light in the corridor turned on. There was no one. She thought maybe she could see someone in the staircase. Maybe it was someone bringing something to a friend. The hallway was empty.
"It was nothing," Ruby said as she closed the door.
"You seriously need to calm down," Leti said, still on the other side of the phone. "Anyway, I was wondering if you had time to go shopping with me tomorrow?"
Ruby was barely listening to the question. She was looking out of the window. She felt observed. She approached the window and looked outside. There was nothing but dark grass under streetlights. The nearest tree was too far for its branches to reach her window. There was no one outside.
"Ruby?"
The phone, right.
"I don't know, Leti. I'll call you back tomorrow to let you know, alright?"
Ruby hung up. She checked her phone again. No answer from Christina. The seeds of worry were rooted in her heart, but there wasn't much she could do. Maybe she should get some sleep. If Christina still hadn't answered tomorrow morning then Ruby would have no other choice but to go to the Braithwhite manor herself and check on her girlfriend.
She put her phone on her desk and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She turned off the light. The room grew cold and the flicker of a lighter resounded like a firework explosion. Ruby bolted around. There was someone seating by the edge of her window. She could see her outline from the streetlight outside. A few more sparks flew from the lighter before a small orange flame illuminated her face. Ruby knew that frame, she knew that body and that face, but for a second, she didn't recognize her.
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28851165
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new Ruby/Christina story, where Christina receives a letter from Ruby that wasn’t meant for her. If you want to read more the link to the full story will be at the end!
It all started with a letter, Christina would tell her. The moving crew was still bringing her living room out of the truck when she opened her mailbox. It was a warm late October day, considering the Chicago weather. Although she hadn't put her name on the mailbox yet, she went to check in case any ads and fliers had been slipped in. However, when she opened the box, there was only one letter, seating neatly at the bottom of the mailbox. Christina pulled it out and inspected it.
The letter had gone through the proper channels if the stamp was anything to go by. Apparently, the letter had been waiting there for almost a month. And it wasn't even for her. The address was correct, but the house on Hyde Park no longer belonged to one William Davenport, who had moved with his wife and children to who knew where some month and a half ago. Christina had bought it just two weeks ago.
As she walked back inside, dodging big sweaty men in jumpsuits carrying boxes and armchairs and chunks of furniture up the driveway, she flipped the letter over. There was a return address, fortunately. To Ruby Baptiste, though Christina later had to check a map to know the exact location of the building. The South Side, a medium-sized apartment complex near the highway. Christina left the letter on her kitchen counter and promptly forgot about it, busy as she was ordering the moving crew around. She would return it eventually, she thought.
That evening, as she sat down in her partially built living room, eating pizza and channel surfing, she remembered the letter. Or rather, she spotted it again when she went to get a glass and a bottle of wine in the kitchen. She picked it up and brought it back to the living room with her. She poured herself a large glass and stared at the letter. It had been sitting in her mailbox for a month. Whoever had sent it didn't know the previous owner had moved out. She certainly hoped it wasn't too pressing. Her leg began to bounce as curiosity slowly ate away at her decency. Finally, after five long, agonizing minutes, she broke. She opened the letter.
There were two sheets of paper inside, folded together. The bottom one seemed to be the results of a blood test. Christina didn't remember hearing the previous owner had been a doctor. Then, she read the other piece of paper, hand-written.
I'm pregnant and you know it's yours. I don't care if you want it or not, but you better help or I'll talk to your wife.
Well, that explained the sudden move, Christina thought. Something told her the wife already knew he was having an affair. But they moved before they could learn about the child he had fathered behind her back. Christina sighed and folded the letter back in the envelope. It certainly wasn't addressed to her, or even her concern. She discarded the letter and turned back to the TV.
Still, she couldn't quite get the letter out of her mind. She couldn't help but think about this young woman who was still waiting for an answer. Would she eventually come knocking on Christina's door, only for Christina to have to break the truth to her? She really didn't want to have anyone crying on her front porch. The better thing would be to return the letter the next day. But would they even let her return an open letter? She sighed. She was supposed to meet with Tic anyway, she could take a small detour to bring the letter back. Break her the news, give her back the letter, and move on with her own problems.
Christina sipped some wine and leaned back on her leather couch. It sounded like a good plan.
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28403304/chapters/69596649
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my Christmas fic! It’s just a whole lot of family fluff, so I hope you’ll enjoy it! If you want to read the whole thing, the link is at the end! Happy end of years celebrations!
The toy store was packed with people, and Ruby almost lost Leti twice into the crowd. Leti was fighting with a pile of boxes. George wanted a train set for Christmas, but of course, they had to come into multiple boxes. Every time Ruby suggested she took a few boxes, Leti practically fought her off.
"I can carry a few boxes."
Still, the train station threatened to fall off the wagon, and Rub caught it just in time.
"What else do we need?" she asked, wanting nothing more than to leave and move on with their Christmas shopping.
"He wants a game of jacks to play with his friends and Tic thought he might like a jigsaw puzzle."
"And you sure you can afford all that with Mr. Fix-It's pay?"
Leti glared at her older sister.
"He got a Christmas bonus. Not everyone can live at the expense of a rich white girl."
Ruby rolled her eyes. She had a job and it paid well, she wasn't some kept woman who spent her days in the kitchen.
"I was gonna suggest I buy one for him."
"I don't need the help."
Still, Leti ground her teeth in front of the cash register and paid for her son's Christmas gifts. They left with heavy bags into the cold Chicago air. It was the last day of November, and already people were rushing from shop to shop in search of the perfect gift.
"I don't get why you don't want my money anymore," Ruby said as they walked down the street. "It was good enough for you before."
"Maybe because you kept complaining that I was leeching off of you."
"I complained when I didn't know what it was for. Now I know it's for my nephew, mostly. If you need some, I can lend it to you, it's not a problem."
"I don't need your money. I've got the money from the house, and Tic's got his job. Plus, I don't want to owe anything to Christina."
Ruby shook her head. She hadn't volunteered any of the blonde's money, although she knew Christina wouldn't care if she asked her.
"Are you gonna get Tic anything?" Ruby asked, deciding it was better to change the subject.
"Besides my love and time, you mean? He needs a new belt. And you? Got any idea?"
Ruby sighed. She always struggled to find the right gift for Christina. What could she gift to someone who could get absolutely anything she wanted at any moment? She'd given her records and sweaters the previous years. Christina listened to the records and she wore the sweaters, but it didn't feel special enough, Ruby thought. Not that the blonde minded. It wasn't that Christina hated Christmas, it was that she didn't care about it. Before Ruby, she hadn't celebrated since her mother's passing.
"My love and time?" Ruby replied.
Leti chuckled and the two sisters continued down the street to a man's clothing store. While Leti looked for a belt for her husband, Ruby looked at the shirts on display. Would it be weird if she bought a male's shirt for Christina? One she could wear as William? The blonde had a drawer full of clothes she wore as William, but none Ruby had ever bought for her. With a sigh, Ruby thought she would just buy another woolen sweater for the blonde.
Leti paid the belt and they walked on.
"I'm glad you're taking care of dinner this year," Leti said. "Don't forget to make gingerbread for Georgie."
As if she could forget, Ruby thought.
"Don't worry, he'll have a whole army of gingerbread people to eat."
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28313082
A/N: Hey guys! I was so busy this morning I almost forgot to post an extract from my new story! It’s a Ruby/Christina Titanic AU. The link to the full story will be at the end!
They called it the ship of dreams, and Christina certainly hoped it would be. She had packed carefully for this trip. She'd taken all of her favorite dresses, her favorite books, all of her most expensive jewels. This was a one-way trip, she knew. The family company needed her father back in Boston, and Christina had a feeling this hurried return home was prompted by something else, something she wouldn't like.
They drove silently to the harbor, another car containing their many trunks following closely behind. Christina kept her eyes on the streets outside. They'd left London for Southampton in the early hours of the morning. Despite the car's plushy seats, it had been a very uncomfortable trip. Her father sat opposite her, reading the newspaper the whole time. Christina was glad she hadn't had to stare at her father's severe expression, but rather to a picture of the Titanic, so long it took half of the front page.
The silver car slowed down when they reached the harbor. They were not the only ones boarding the ship with a car or two or five. A massive crowd had amassed on the wharf, either to see the passengers off or simply to see the boat for itself.
Samuel Braithwhite folded his newspaper and placed it with unnecessary violence on the seat beside him.
"Why have we stopped?" he asked loudly.
The driver took a second to reply.
"I'm sorry, sir, but a few people are embarking ahead of us."
The blond man checked his pocket watch, although he seemed to be glaring at the hands, daring them to move forward.
"If we miss our boat I will sue," he said as he pocketed the watch back.
Christina wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn't. It would do her no good if her father noticed it. Instead, she remained perfectly still, her back straight against the cushioned backrest. She had her back to the sea, and could only see the crowd through the window. They certainly seemed excited, she thought.
"You would think they would have better planned their ship's departure, especially a big eventful departure such as this one," her father continued to complain. "I suppose that's to be expected from a company like White Star."
Christina wanted to ask why her father had chosen to travel on this ship if he didn't like the company, but she held her tongue. Soon enough, the vehicle moved forward, until it stopped again. The driver spoke with someone outside, giving the name of his passengers, then cleared his throat and said:
"Sir, you must step out."
"If I must..."
Samuel opened the car door and walked out. Christina could hear him speaking with an employee from the company.
"Good morning, sir. If you wouldn't mind following mister Johnson, he will lead you aboard. All of your belongings will be brought along."
Christina decided this was as good a time as any to make an appearance. She suspected her father was capable of forgetting her in the car. Not capable, willing. She stepped out. She was wearing a light blue dress, with white lace sleeves. Her blond hair was pinned into an intricate bun. She'd forgone a hat. An expensive pearl and silver necklace was around her neck. She shut the carriage door behind her and turned around. The boat loomed over the whole wharf. Christina couldn't see the end of it. Black paint gave way to gold then white. The hull seemed punctured by hundreds of windows. She could barely see the funnels on top of it, though she could see the smoke rising from them, joining the clouds in the sky.
"This way, sir, miss," the young crew member said.
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28086117/chapters/68812152
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new story! It’s a childhood best friend AU where Christina’s parents die and she goes to live with Dora and Atticus. The link to the full story is at the end!
Christina sat in the hallway, in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs. She'd sat in so many of those in the past few days that she'd grown accustomed to the discomfort. She was trying to focus on the book in her hands while ignoring that in the room across the hall, her future was being decided. Her next of kin was deciding whether they wanted to take her in or leave her to the system. She wasn't stupid, she knew that neither solution was ideal. But the ideal solution lay in the family vault on the other side of town.
She read the same sentence again for the fifth time. She looked up to stare at the door. There was a blurry window through which she could see her next of kin seated in a chair. She thought a blurry window was the most useless kind of windows. She wanted to see inside, she wanted to hear what was being said. She wanted to know all the reasons why her next of kin was going to reject her.
There was movement behind the window and Christina's attention snapped back to the book. When the door opened, she recognized the social worker smiling at her on the other side.
"Christina? Can you come in, please?"
Christina politely nodded and closed her book. She stood up, brushed her skirt, and walked into the office. The door was closed behind her. Another woman was seating in a chair, her next of kin. They looked nothing alike, Christina thought with surprise. The woman had dark skin, and dark, kind eyes. Her black hair fell to her shoulders. When she smiled at Christina, with such comfort and gentleness, Christina had to look away.
"Hello, Christina," the woman said.
Christina said nothing and simply sat in the other chair. The social worker explained:
"Christina, this is Dora. She's your only living relative. She's agreed to take you in. She has a son who is just about your age."
Christina nodded along at all the right places. She felt no relief or comfort at the idea. She simply accepted that this was how things would be now.
"Don't hesitate to call me if anything comes up," the woman said to Dora as they left the office.
"Thank you, have a nice day."
Christina followed silently her new legal guardian out of the building and to the parking lot. The car she led her to was not what Christina was used to. It was an old rectangular vehicle, the paint a sun-bleached orange. Christina sat at the back, her bag containing most of her belongings in the seat beside her. It wasn't all of her belongings, that would have been impossible to fit into a single bag, but it was the most important. Dora sat behind the wheel and drove off.
They stopped at a red light, and Christina could feel Dora's eyes on her in the rearview mirror. She glanced at her, and Dora offered her a smile.
"Miss Blake said you were a year ahead in school."
Christina nodded.
"Father asked that I skip kindergarten."
The light turned green and Dora drove off, joining the mid-afternoon traffic.
"If you want to visit your parents, you just have to ask me, alright?"
Christina frowned in confusion.
"Visit? But they're dead."
"I mean if you want to go to the cemetery to see them."
Christina's eyes fell on the streets outside.
"I don't want to."
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27932920/chapters/68405296
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new one-shot, the sequel to Listen to the Fireplace Roar so many of you have asked for! I hope you’ll enjoy it! If you want to read the full story the link is at the end!
When Christina left her office that evening, she wasn't surprised to hear the TV playing in the living room. It had been a while since her house had been silent. Ever since Ruby and Letitia had moved in about a year ago, it'd been difficult to find silence. Not that Christina would complain. She'd grown to like the constant presence of sounds. She imagined this was what a family home was supposed to be like.
Leti was seating on the couch watching some reality TV show Christina wanted to know nothing about. It was almost seven-thirty, which meant Ruby would probably come home soon. Still, just in case, Christina asked:
"Ruby's home yet?"
Leti shrugged, her eyes never leaving the TV.
"I think she had something to pick up on her way back."
Christina nodded. A sudden surge of nervousness filled her. Now was as good a time as any, she thought. She leaned against the armrest of the armchair and crossed her arms.
"Can I talk to you for a second?"
Leti frowned and turned off the sound of the TV before looking over at the blonde.
"Why so serious?" she asked. "You sound like you're about to tell me you're dying or something."
Christina sighed, trying to chase away her anxiety.
"It's not that."
She decided to just throw it out before she changed her mind.
"I'm going to ask Ruby to marry me."
Leti froze for a second, and Christina waited for a reaction with apprehension. Then, Leti gave another vague shrug.
"Why are you telling me?"
"Because you're her sister. And with all the bad blood there was between us, I wanted to make sure you'd be okay with it."
"Yeah, it's fine. As long as I can be a bridesmaid."
Christina didn't expect this reaction. At the very least, she expected Leti to show just a bit more emotions about it. But since she wasn't opposed to it, Christina considered it a victory.
"When are you gonna propose?" Leti asked.
"I don't know yet. I've been thinking about it for months but every time I keep delaying it."
"What are you scared of? There's seriously no way she's gonna say no."
"I just want it to be perfect."
Leti rolled her eyes.
"At this rate, you'll both be old ladies before you propose."
"What do you mean, old?" Christina asked with a frown.
"You know, forty."
The front door opened and Christina stood up, brushing off Leti's last comment. She walked to the entrance, where Ruby was closing the door and taking her coat off.
"Hey," Christina said before approaching.
They kissed and Ruby smiled.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. The subway was packed like Hell."
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27873533
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new Ruby/Christina one-shot, set in 1954 in Hollywood! If you’re interested, the link to the full story is at the end!
Ruby wouldn't say that she hated her job. It was a job, after all, it paid the bills, and she'd fought very hard to get it. But doing the hair and make-up of actresses all day long wasn't why she'd moved to LA for. She didn't complain, on the principle that they could fire her without a second thought if they heard her, but it didn't make her any happier, and every passing day brought more regrets than the day before, to the point of nausea.
That day, they were auditioning actresses for a big shot director's next big movie. Ruby was waiting for the next when she overheard a conversation between the director and his producer. Apparently, he already had his pick for the role, but Mr. Warner had insisted they hold auditions anyway because the actress was too old for the role. Ruby pretended she hadn't heard anything, and suppressed an eye roll. This entire audition process and the day was a waste of everyone's time and money.
The next actress stepped into the studio wearing a simple old-fashioned dress which looked like it didn't belong on the young woman at all. She had beautiful blonde hair, long, and piercing blue eyes. She sat in the chair in front of the mirror beside Ruby. Her eyes were transfixed on Ruby, paying close attention to what she was doing. Ruby brushed her hair per the instructions she'd been given. It was the role of a young woman in a small town before the First World War. She tried to get rid of the bounce at the end of the woman's locks, but they refused to relent as if the woman's natural glamour just wouldn't dissipate.
As she worked, she felt the woman's eyes still on her. She stared with something in her eyes Ruby couldn't quite understand. Once Ruby had done her hair, she picked up the makeup pencil. Before she got to work, however, the woman asked quietly:
"Could you say light on the makeup? I'm already on a disadvantage enough as it is..."
Ruby looked at the woman's reflection. She was the most gorgeous woman who'd come to audition this afternoon, that was for sure. Ruby almost wanted to tell her not to waste her time with it, that it was already decided, but instead, she nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
She passed foundation over her face quickly. The girl's sky blue eyes finally shut, and Ruby felt she could breathe better. Once she was done, she shut the makeup palette. The girl's eyes opened and she inspected herself in the mirror but a second, before her eyes settled on Ruby's reflection.
"This is probably as good as it's going to get," the blonde said. "Thank you."
She stood up, the heavy wooden chair grinding against the concrete ground. She walked away with a sway in her step, even though she wasn't wearing high heels. She went to introduce herself to the director and the producers. It was only when she saw her from afar that Ruby thought she recognized the woman. She'd debuted the year before in a vampire movie, where she'd played the titular vampire. Leti had recommended it to her, but then again Leti had strange tastes in horror movies. It wasn't that Ruby hadn't liked the movie. But it had been quite uncomfortable to watch the whole room cheering for the death of the vampire at the hand of the hero.
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27780799
A/N: Hey guys! I just posted the prologue and first chapter of my new spooky story, in which Christina goes to her old family home with Ruby so they can empty it before selling it. Here’s an extract and if you’re interested, the link to the full story is at the end!
They'd spent the night in Buffalo before making their way to Ardham. The road was as clear as the sky. They left the highway, snaked through small towns and back roads. The sun disappeared through the trees as they passed an old roofed bridge. The radio began cutting out, and when Ruby grew tired of the static, she turned it off.
"Let's hope the cell reception is better at the Lodge."
"I can't confirm that," Christina said.
It wasn't often that the blonde looked dwarfed by something, but the wheel of the truck was wider than the one of her usual car, and she looked like she would struggle to turn it when she needed to.
"I'm certain there's a phone, though, so at least you can call Leti once we arrive."
Ruby sighed. It was just the matter of a week, two at most anyway. Still, the last time they'd been without signal, they'd been trapped underground in a ruined pyramid no one but them had seen.
She looked out of the window. When the rows of trees on either side of the road disappeared, they were replaced by large expanses of grass. It didn't last long, however, and soon they were back under the shadow of the trees.
"Please tell me we're almost there."
"At the end of the road," Christina promised.
She took Ruby's hands in hers, squeezed it affectionately, then put both hands back on the wheel. When they emerged out of the trees again, Ruby thought she saw chimneys and part of a roof peaking from over the trees.
"Is that it?" she said, pointing to the bricks above the forest.
"No, I don't think so. From the pictures I saw, the Lodge has a glass dome on top."
Ruby rolled her eyes.
"Of course it does. What else does it have?"
"Let's see... fifteen bedrooms, an indoor garden, a reception hall, a library, a game room, an observatory, an elevator, and stables."
Ruby couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Who needed such a large house with so many rooms in their summer home? The amount of money thrown out of the window, not just by Christina's ancestors, but by the person who would for some reason buy this isolated mansion nowadays was absurd. And it wasn't like Christina needed the money away. She was just tired of paying the cleaning duty every month to keep the house in order. Though Ruby was grateful that the crew had cleaned the mansion the day before their arrival. If there was one thing worse than being stuck in an isolated mansion with no internet for a week, it was being stuck in an isolated mansion in disrepair.
"I see it," Christina said, pulling Ruby out of her thoughts.
Ruby leaned to the front of the car to see ahead of them. A massive building of red bricks rose high above the trees. Ruby saw thin towers and chimneys, straight as poles. Atop the slanted roofs was a large glass dome on which the summer sun reflected.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Ruby muttered at the sight.
Christina chuckled.
"I told you it as big."
"That's not big, that's a royal palace."
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27737389/chapters/67889737
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from the first part of my new two-shot, in which Christina inherits a strange book. If you’re interested, the link to the full story is at the end!
"What are we looking at?" Ruby asked.
"A book," Christina replied.
Ruby rolled her eyes.
"I couldn't have guessed it myself. And something tells me this isn't the kind of book we want to open."
Christina touched one of the cogs on the cover, making it turn one notch to the right. They held their breaths, but nothing happened.
"We need the combination," Christina said.
She looked more closely at the mirror in the middle of it all, in case something was hidden inside. All she saw was her eye staring back at her.
"Again, should we open it?" Ruby asked. "It could be trapped. If those Butchers didn't really like your father but wanted him to have it, it probably wasn't out of the kindness of their hearts."
"I've thought of that."
Christina pulled on the straps lightly, but they wouldn't budge. She looked at the back of the book, but there was nothing. She was pulled out of her thoughts when she felt Ruby's hand on her shoulder.
"I know that you're excited about a possible new magic book, but it's locked for a reason. And I don't need to remind you that you're not as equipped to deal with magic as you used to be. The mark is one thing, but whatever's inside, it might be stronger than the mark."
Christina pursed her lips.
"What do you suggest?"
"I'm not going to stop you from trying, because I know then you'll go behind my back. Just promise me that you won't try to open it if I'm not there. I'll place a circle around the book, make sure whatever's inside is contained in case it tries to come out."
Christina looked at Ruby. Under her tutelage, Ruby had made immense progress in the past year, and she was now a very competent practitioner. Christina never tired of hearing her lover speaking so confidently about magic.
"What?" Ruby asked.
Christina pulled her into a kiss.
"Nothing. You get started on the circle, I'll go get some things that might be useful."
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27709844/chapters/67818128
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new one-shot, the sequel to “The Ice Witch Stole the Ruby” and as you might have guessed, it’s winter themed! The link to the full story is below!
Christina shivered awake. January had not been kind so far, but this Saturday morning was meaner than most. Light struggled through the frosted windows of her bedroom. She brought her knees to her chest, bundling tighter under the sheets. Now that she was awake, she wanted to get out of bed and be productive. But the thought of stepping out of the warm blankets was enough to send more shivers down her spine. There had to have been heavy snowfall the night before.
She was pulled out of her debate when her phone vibrated on the vanity. She'd half a mind to let it ring but there was only one person who would call her these days, and it wouldn't do to let her girlfriend's call go to voicemail. She pulled herself out of bed, the cold morning air sending goosebumps over her arms. She reached for the phone first and for a sweater second.
"Hey, I thought you'd be up," Ruby said.
Christina checked the time and saw that it was a bit too early to be Ruby's usual rising time.
"What's going on?"
Ruby sighed. Christina placed the phone on speaker on the vanity then put on the sweater while she listened.
"I hate to ask you but..."
"She's super rich, it's not like it's going to be a problem!" Leti's voice shouted from behind Ruby.
"There was a power surge. The whole block is out, apparently, some snow toppled an electric pole. So the fridge is out, the heater is out too, and there's only so much safe heat you can get from the oven."
Christina had pulled her hair out of her sweater and picked up her phone. She checked the heater in her bedroom but it was still functioning. She turned the nob one setting higher.
"Anyway," Ruby continued, "could we stay at your place until they fix the electricity? It might take the weekend and I'd rather not die of hypothermia if I can avoid it."
"Yeah, of course," Christina said as she walked out of her bedroom and went downstairs to check the radiators in the living room. The ground floor was even colder. "Give me half an hour and I'll come and pick you up."
"The roads are still snowed in, it's too dangerous," Ruby replied.
Christina checked through her window. It seemed the snow had stopped falling and the street in front of her house had already been cleared.
"Where are you now?" Christina asked.
"We took refuge in a Starbucks with a few neighbors. I'll call you when the road's clear, all right?"
"You're sure?"
"Yeah. They know what's up, they won't kick us out for a few hours."
"Okay. I'll warm you up when you get here."
There was a pause then a slight chuckle.
"Leti heard you and she's disgusted."
For a moment, Christina had forgotten that if the apartment was inhospitable, then Leti would have to stay with her too. Her relationship with the teenager had improved in the past few months, but that didn't mean Christina wanted to spend the entire weekend around her, or vice-versa.
"Tell her I'm gonna prepare the room furthest from my bedroom and that the walls here are not paper thin."
"I don't care, you two are disgusting," Leti shouted.
"I'll see you soon," Ruby sighed.
"Stay safe."
Ruby hung up and Christina shivered. She decided she had the time for a very warm shower and went back upstairs.
Full story: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27697190
A/N: Hey guys! I’m back for more, this time with a Modern AU in which Ruby starts seeing Christina and Leti hates Christina. Tension arise. Here’s an extract and bellow you’ll find the link to the full first chapter!
Letitia was seating at the kitchen table, procrastinating her homework by complaining.
"All I did was whisper a single word that there's no way she could have heard, and she threatened to give me detention for disturbing the class!"
Ruby was fixing herself a quick snack before going to Sammy's bar for the evening, where she was scheduled to perform.
"I'm assuming that if she threatened with detention it's because she heard what you said."
"It wasn't even bad."
Ruby leaned against the kitchen counter, sandwich in hand as she listened to her younger sister's rant.
"What did you say?"
"I just whispered to Atticus that I thought more Confederate soldiers should have died. I mean, they defended slavery!"
Ruby rolled her eyes. Being opinionated was a family trait to be sure, but where Ruby had had the wisdom to hold her tongue during History classes, Leti had a tendency toward recklessness and impulsiveness that could only lead to trouble.
"Be that as it may, you can keep your comments for after the class."
This time, it was Leti who rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. I bet the ice bitch had Confederate ancestors."
"Leti," Ruby warned.
"You should see her! She's probably super rich cause there's no way she's buying suits like that with a teacher's salary, and there's only so many ways an unmarried white woman has so much money."
At this point, Ruby had completely tuned out her sister's ranting. She washed her plate quickly, letting it dry in the rack, then glanced at the time on the microwave.
"Time to go."
She went into the living room to get her jacket and her guitar, already secured in its traveling bag. As she got ready and checked her appearance one last time in the mirror, Ruby said:
"Finish your homework. I seriously hope you'll be in bed when I come back."
Leti vaguely hummed and looked down at her open textbook.
"And Leti, please, I don't want to be called away from work because you called your History teacher a Confederate, or whatever. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yeah, yeah..."
Ruby sighed. This was at best as it would get.
"Good night," she said as she went to unlock the front door.
"Break a leg," Leti shouted before she left as she began focusing on her homework again.
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27640927/chapters/67630861
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s a little Sunday surprise! I don’t want to spoil too much but it’s just a cute fluffy story. If you’re interested, the link to the full story is at the end!
Christina, in William's body, returned home in the mid-afternoon. She found the house empty and lifeless, all the lights having been turned off. Ruby had left after her and gone to see her sister and Atticus. She'd left a note which Christina found on the kitchen counter, asking for Christina to take out the trash once she got home. It was Christina's job to take out the trash, after all, since it contained so much of William's shed skin.
With ease, Christina picked up the trash bag and brought it to the metal can in front of the house. Across the street, a mother called for her sons to run back home. The sky was turning dark gray, the threat of rain becoming a certainty. The kids pouted but obeyed. The woman waved at William with a smile as he dropped the bag into the can. William put on his facade smile and waved back. Thunder rolled in the distance.
Christina turned around, both hands in her pockets when she heard the can lightly shaking. She turned around and frowned. Something had darted back under the nearest car and away from the trashcan. Christina approached the car and kneeled to look under it. Her eyes met huge aquamarine eyes, with black slits.
"Hello," Christina said. "Are you alone out here?"
The small creature slowly approached. It was as dark as the shadows under the car, but as it came closer to the light, Christina saw the outline of a tiny furry body, giant ears, and a long thin tail.
"It's gonna rain, I don't think you should stay outside."
The curious kitten came closer to Christina carefully. It recoiled back with fear when Christina's hand move toward it. Christina waited, as the kitten sniffed the air. It stopped by her hand, sniffing it softly. Then, it rubbed its head against her fingers. Christina took the opportunity to pick it up and pull it out from under the car. The kitten weighed as much as a feather. Christina kept it in one hand as she walked back inside.
"You'll be better inside until the rain subsides."
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27573530
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new Ruby/Christina story, in which Leti has mysteriously disappeared and it’s up to Ruby with the help of her ex Christina to find her. If you’re interested, the link to the first chapter is at the bottom!
"They couldn't find her."
Ruby clicked her tongue. This was the opposite of what she'd wanted to hear. Marvin continued:
"They found her car, but apparently there was nothing inside that could help them locate her. And Ruby... They're calling off the search."
"Like Hell they are! It's their job!"
"It's been over a week, Ruby. They have nothing, and it's a heavily inhabited area. If she'd come out of the forest someone would have seen her. They've searched every inch of it."
Ruby listened to what her brother had to say, but it didn't mean she liked any of it.
"They didn't search every inch of the place, because if they had, they would have found her! What if she's trapped under rubble or something?"
"She didn't have any supplies with her. If she got trapped under something... after a week..."
"Don't say it."
"Ruby..."
"Fine! If they won't find her then I will."
She hung up on her brother before she could get any angrier. She wanted to throw her phone away but she refrained, instead she sighed, willing the fury out of her lungs.
Leti had disappeared a week ago. She was in Massachusetts, taking pictures of the nature around Mount Everett for a magazine. There was nothing out of the ordinary about that. She'd been there for a few days, walking up and down the many open trails, taking pictures. And then, she'd stopped replying to Ruby's messages, hadn't answered any calls. Her phone was found in her car, the car parked in the bushes at the foot of the mountain. Her camera was missing. She was missing. And the police were calling off the search.
Ruby began pacing around her apartment. She would not give up on her sister like that. The mere thought of Leti struggling under a falling rock, fighting to get out, calling for help but being unheard... Ruby couldn't stand it. She could not and would not stand here and wait until her little sister's body was recovered. She would find her before it was too late.
She went to her bedroom and began packing a bag. She was already thinking about what would be the faster way to get to Massachusetts. The bus would be longer but cheaper. She would take the bus then, and walk to the top of Mount Everett and back a hundred times if she had to. Until she found Leti, alive. Once she'd packed the clothes she thought she would need, she went looking for the shoebox under her bed, where she kept her emergency money. It was an old habit she'd gotten from her mom. The box contained some four hundred dollars, and she packed it all. She paused when she noticed the picture hidden underneath. She hadn't seen this photo in a long time. It had been taken a few years old, by Leti, during a music festival. In the photo, Ruby was smiling, looking at the band playing on stage, while her ex kissed her cheek.
Ruby felt her heart clench. It felt as though this picture had been taken in another life. She closed off the box and shoved it back under her bed. As she stood up and stuffed the wad of bills in her suitcase, a little insidious voice whispered in her mind 'Christina could help'. Ruby shushed the little voice. Christina could not help because Christina was too busy. She was always too busy. Too busy for Ruby anyway. Why else would they have broken up? But Christina grew up in Massachusetts, she had an influence there, people that might help find Leti. Ruby wanted to scream. How was it that the only person who could help her was the only person whom she didn't want to see?
She swallowed and felt her throat was constricted tighter than she'd thought. Too many conflicting emotions were going on in her mind. For Leti, she decided, she could swallow her pride. She could ask Christina for help. However, she didn't promise that she wouldn't break something if the blonde refused to help.
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27522433/chapters/67304971
A/N: Hey guys! This is an extract from my new Ruby/Christina story, it’s a high school AU in which Leti sees Ruby disappear in a mysterious silver car and decides to investigate who the car belongs to. It’s just a lot of fun. If you’re interested, the link to the full story is at the end!
Leti left school at four, and her desire for ice cream still hadn't subsided. She decided to make a stop by the ice cream parlor on her own. It was a sunny and warm day, probably one of the last few before fall settled over Chicago. It was now or never. She took a turn to the left instead of the right, forgoing the bus, and made her way toward the ice cream parlor.
She was halfway there when she noticed someone walking ahead of her. She had absolutely no doubt that it was Ruby. She recognized her outfit, the strap of her bag passing over her shoulder, and her walk. She had headphones on, so even if Leti tried to call her, she wouldn't respond. Leti wondered where her older sister was going. The study groups usually met at the school's library. Maybe she was going to the public library, but that wasn't the way to the library either. Leti thought it would be funny if they ended up one behind the other at the ice cream parlor. Maybe she could ask her then.
However, Ruby took a turn to the right, away from the ice cream parlor. Leti frowned again. She stopped at the red light where Ruby had crossed and watched her sister walk toward the nearby park. Leti couldn't help but wonder what her sister was up to. It wasn't like Ruby to lie to her or have secrets. When the light turned green again, Leti hurried after her sister.
She kept her distance, making sure that Ruby wouldn't notice her. Ruby was indeed going to the park, but she didn't walk in, instead, she made her way around it. There was a car parked beside the sidewalk. It was an old-looking silver car, with dark windows. It was impossible to tell who or if someone was inside. Ruby stopped by the car and knocked on the window. The door opened. Ruby slid inside, and Leti was very confused. Ruby was seating in the driver's seat, but shortly after she'd stepped in, the car drove away. Ruby didn't know how to drive. Marvin had tried to teach her but after she'd accidentally crashed his old pickup, they'd both given up. So Ruby couldn't be driving.
Leti watched the silver car disappear at a corner and drive away. She remained on the sidewalk for a moment, her brain full of questions. Ruby had lied, at least she was certain of that. But why? Who did this car belong to? Certainly, someone rich, to own such a luxurious looking vehicle. Leti pulled her phone out and called Ruby. She wanted to know the truth, and know why her sister had lied to her.
"What?" Ruby said as she picked up.
Leti couldn't find her words. What was she supposed to say? That she'd accidentally followed Ruby and seen her setting into a stranger's car? An expensive car at that?
"Leti? What's going on?"
Leti swallowed, and with the only voice she could find, she asked:
"Are you at your study group yet?"
"Yeah, we're kind of busy."
A cold bolt of betrayal struck Leti then.
"It's... it's not important. It can wait. See you later."
"Later."
Ruby hung up, and Leti lowered her phone. She couldn't believe Ruby had lied to her again. She didn't even want to get ice cream anymore. Instead, she made her way back home, deep in thoughts. Why would Ruby lie to her? Who was the man – it had to be a man, only men had nice expensive cars like this one – who'd picked her up? Could he be her boyfriend? She thought Ruby knew she could tell her if she had a secret boyfriend. They were sisters, it had to mean something.
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27488170
A/N: Hey guys! Don’t be fooled by the title this story is in English! This is my new fanfiction about Ruby and Christina going on a French Holiday together. You’ll find an extract here, and the link to the full story it bellow!
They'd rented a bright, expensive Italian car. It was blue like the Mediterranean. The roof had been taken off. It was a warm day for September, much warmer than Ruby would have imagined. But then again, the French Riviera was known for its nice temperatures.
It was the hotel clerk who'd told them about this small restaurant up in the hills. Apparently, it was a favorite of American tourists in the region. Ruby was somewhat nervous at the idea of meeting other American tourists because when they traveled, they brought their racism with them. But Christina had convinced her that it was at least worth checking out. Plus, racists or not, there was nothing they could do to kick her out of the restaurant.
As the car climbed up the dirt road snaking around the hills, Ruby looked down at the valley below. The sea was a perfect blue color. Where the sun hit the water, it turned it into sparkling diamonds. Even with her sunglasses, it was hard to look at for too long. The city below expended at the edge of the water, so many small, red-roofed houses. Many of those houses were older than anything Ruby had ever seen before. Christina had informed her so the day before, while they were visiting, but she still had trouble wrapping her head around the fact.
They reached the top of the hill, and there, at the edge of a village, was a stone building. A sign indicated the name of the restaurant they'd been given. A few cars were parked near it, in the gravel. Christina easily parked there. They climbed out. Christina was quick to take the scarf tied over her head to keep her hair somewhat in place. She was wearing red and yellow checkered shorts and a white sleeveless shirt, and sunglasses. Ruby was wearing a blue summer dress. She exchanged her scarf for a white wide-brimmed hat she'd bought the day before.
The restaurant was entirely made of stone, except for the roof, made of clay tiles, so covered in moss that it looked more green than brown. The red door with a bell above seemed as old as the building itself. There was no one else around, to their great surprise. They glanced at each other then Christina shrugged, and with her usual confidence, she made her way to the door.
The bell rang. The inside was just as picturesque as the outside, with apparent beams on the ceiling from which many artifacts hung. Old lavender bouquets spreading the flowers' fragrance even to this day. A horseshoe was attached to the beam nearest to the entrance, like a good luck charm. On the walls were many framed pictures. To the left of the entrance was a stone bar with a wooden countertop. An old man was working behind, counting the bills in his ancient-looking cash register. When he saw them walking in, he smiled and said:
"Bonjour mesdemoiselles."
That much Ruby could understand. But the conversation Christina proceeded to have with the man, in almost perfect French, Ruby didn't even try. Because of course, Christina had learned French at her super expensive boarding school. Ruby had been trying to learn a few words, but her tongue had trouble wrapping around some of the words.
The man motioned for them to move to the left, to a large terrace overlooking the bay. It truly was a sight to behold. The man led them to a table for two by the edge of the terrace, against a metal railing on which some sort of red, thorn-less flowers had been growing. Once they'd sat down, he gave them the menu and said something before disappearing back inside.
"I thought you'd like a table with a nice view," Christina said, pushing her sunglasses up on her head.
"You can admit that you wanted a table with a view," Ruby said as she took off her sunglasses.
"I did," Christina said, her eyes never leaving Ruby.
When the old man returned, he was carrying another, smaller menu, which Ruby assumed had the list of alcohol they served. The man must have been in his sixties, with blue-greenish eyes and a gray mustache. The few graying hairs he had left were hidden under a cap. He placed the menu on the table between them and said, with a heavy French accent:
"Americans, right? On a holiday?"
He seemed genuinely curious, and so Ruby replied:
"We are."
"Where are you from?"
"Chicago."
The man nodded.
"Not often I get people from Chicago. Many from Los Angeles, usually. Welcome to my restaurant. If you need anything, just let me know."
He smiled then returned inside. Ruby looked around. There weren't many people on the terrace, and most of the people seemed French, the restaurant's usual crowd. Perhaps it was because summer was over, and all the American tourists had gone back to work.
"The menu's in French," Christina warned as if Ruby couldn't have figured it out from a simple glance. "Let me know if you need a translation."
"Of course. It's the only reason I brought you here with me. To translate my menu."
Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27449944/chapters/67105747
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new story, about Christina’s father thinking William is Chris’ boyfriend and wanting to meet him, so now Ruby has to take the potion and pretend to be William for an evening. If you’re interested, the link to the full story will be at the end.
Christina was about to leave her house when the phone rang. Seeing as there was only one person who ever called her, she clicked her tongue with annoyance, then picked up.
"If you could make it quick, father, I have things to get to."
"It will only be a minute of your time," Samuel Braithwhite replied on the other side. "I only wanted to make sure that you hadn't forgotten about the fundraiser on Friday evening."
Christina rolled her eyes. It wasn't much of a fundraiser, and far more of a meeting of all the richest members of the Order, most of which, in her opinion, were absolutely untalented in the art.
"How could I forget," she answered coldly.
"Good. I shall see you then."
Christina was relieved that the conversation was over, and just about to put the phone back on the hook when her father added:
"I trust you'll bring that blond suitor of yours."
Christina frowned in confusion.
"Who?"
"Don't play dumb with me, you've always been too smart for your own good. Do you really think I would never find out about that blond man who keeps coming in and out of your house at all hours of the day?"
Christina was stunned. Her father had found out about William, except that he believed William was her boyfriend. She waited nervously for him to mention Ruby, but her father continued with William.
"If some of my business partners learned that my daughter was living with a man... So you will bring him, and he'll be introduced as your fiancé, and that is an order."
Christina pursed her lips, preferring to remain silent.
"Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. I will see you on Friday."
Her father hung up, and Christina let out a long, drawn-out breath. She leaned against the armrest of the sofa. Her mind was racing. How was she supposed to explain to her father that William didn't exist anymore? She couldn't tell him. If he knew she had fully developed the metamorphosis potion, he would have no qualm stealing her research and presenting them as his. But if William didn't make an appearance on Friday...
She sighed again. There was only one thing left to do, but she was certain Ruby wouldn't appreciate it.
Full story: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27398596
A/N: Hey guys! Here’s an extract from my new Ruby/Christina story, about Christina being the Queen of the Underworld and Ruby going to make a deal with her to get Leti’s soul back. If you’re interested the link to the full story is at the end!
The Underworld was forever silent. You got used to it rather quickly, mostly because you only visited it once you were dead, and nothing bothered you anymore then. All the souls transiting through the Underworld made as much noise as an ant. They floated through, from one part of the realm to another. They had no thoughts, no mouths or vocal cords, and therefore didn't speak. Hundreds of thousands of souls came and went all of the time, never making so much as a sound.
Christina had grown to appreciate the silence beyond anything else. Ruling over the Underworld was quiet, like ruling over Hell was violent. It was as all things were. Who was she to go against the rules? She spent most of her days reading, surveying her kingdom, with little to no sense of time. Time didn't exist for the dead, after all, they were already dead. And when the pull of boredom became too strong, Christina shut her book and took a walk around her kingdom. It was small and gray, but it was home, and wasn't that enough? A worse fate could have awaited her, she was certain of it.
Peace and quiet. Very suddenly disturbed, in Christina's opinion. It began with familiar growls coming from inside the castle. Christina was seated on a bench in the large garden reading when the sound pulled her out of her thoughts. She knew the sound quite well. It was the Shoggoth keeping watch at the entrance of the Underworld. How had it arrived at the castle, she wondered as she snapped her book close. It wasn't supposed to leave its post.
She made her way through the castle in search of the creature. It was not supposed to leave the edge of her realm. She couldn't even imagine the kind of damage one inside of her castle would cause.
She rounded the corner and found with great surprise the multi-eyed creature standing in her throne room. She arrived from behind the throne, but as she began walking down the steps to the creature, she found it wasn't alone. A woman was standing beside it. A real, human woman. She was wearing a red dress, and her hair had somewhat fallen out of place, as a few curls stuck to her neck. Her skin was dark, and a few beads of sweat were running down her temple. Christina knew the path down into the Underworld was hot, but she couldn't feel that heat. There was a guitar slung on the woman's back. When her eyes fell on Christina, her brows furrowed.
"Are you in charge here?" she asked with extreme annoyance.
Christina hadn't had to slip into the position of Queen in a long, long time. But it came to her naturally. The coldness, the detachment of it all. She sat in her throne, crossing her legs, and looked down at the woman.
"I am in charge, as you put it, yes. Who are you? How did you get past my guard dog?"
"He likes music, did you know that?"
Christina looked at the Shoggoth still standing by the woman's side. Its many eyes were transfixed on the woman's instrument. Christina waved her hand, and a whistle could be heard in the distance. The guard dog bounded down the staircase leading back out hurriedly and disappeared. She assumed it could dig its way home on its own.
"I have to command you bravery and ingenuity. No one alive has ever made it this far into my kingdom."
"You call this a kingdom? It's a piece of rock with a castle in the middle."
Christina pursed her lips. She didn't take too kindly to insults.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm here for my sister. She died yesterday."
"Time doesn't mean anything to me. She could have died a hundred years ago that it wouldn't change a thing. People die every day, it is how it is. Nothing I can do about it."
The woman crossed her arms. She seemed furious at Christina's detachment.
"But what if she wasn't supposed to die?"
Link to the full story: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27346807/chapters/66818014