Defiance (Significance #3)(40)

"No, I'm scared of meeting my doom on the top of a church steeple. Why would they put this here like this?"
"This place was built centuries ago," Caleb explained. "They needed secret routes in and out, and they didn't have elevators back then."
Rodney laughed, but I ignored them both as Caleb held the rope and opened the gate to the death machine. He stepped inside and then Rodney and they both looked at me expectantly. I rolled my eyes as I climbed inside. When Caleb started to lower us we jerked and I squeaked, clinging to Caleb like the scared pathetic girl I was.
He just smiled and Rodney took over the pulley. With Caleb's arm around me I looked out at the city as we got closer to the bottom. It really was spectacular. It was a shame we couldn't come here for a real vacation.
"We will one day," Caleb promised. "London is one of my favorite cities."
"I'd like that a lot," I said sincerely. He kissed the side of my neck as we watched the busyness beneath us.
"You're going to let me spoil you and not even gripe?" Caleb joked in my ear.
"It's not spoiling me when I'm your wife," I said and smiled as I turned to look at him. He looked at me for a moment before pressing his face to mine, cheek and forehead touching. It was a strange thing to do, I guess. He'd done that since almost the first day I met him. And I loved it so much, I was soaking up the cinnamon.
We finally reached the bottom and when we stepped off the lift, we were back into a little alcove of hills. It hid us from the city bustle just a little bit away. "Now what?" I asked.
"Now, we figure out where Ruth is and then get a cab."
"Ok," I said and focused. I felt it stronger now. We were closer. When it came, I felt all of her emotions as she wondered where she would live, where she would go, how she would get there with no money.
What does she mean? Ah…they denounced her from the clan.
Twenty Three
"Come on," Caleb said and tugged my hand to get me moving. Rodney ran ahead the couple of blocks to the street and stopped a cab. We climbed in and they smushed me into the middle. Caleb told the driver to just drive around until we gave him an address. He nodded and started down the narrow streets.I focused so that I could see something around her; any signs or landmarks to tell me where she was. I could see a church, but the name wasn’t in view. She was sitting on the steps there, holding her wrist to her chest, and she seemed to be waiting for something or someone.
Caleb must have recognized the church from my mind because he told the driver where to go and he went. Within a few minutes, we pulled up in front of a large church and got out quickly. Caleb pulled some money out of his wallet and paid the driver before jogging to catch up.
I approached Ruth gently. She should be furious with me. I was the reason she got denounced and now had nowhere to go. All she had with her was one suitcase. Her wrist was still clutched to her chest and she jerked when she saw someone approaching.
"Maggie?" she said with wide eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I asked Rodney to follow you around, because I was scared that Marla might do something to you. When he found out you were gone, he got me and we came to find you."
"How did you find me?"
"I can find anyone if I know who I'm looking for."
She gulped. "Perks of the Visionary, I guess," she muttered.
"Something like that." I squatted to be in front of her and continued softly. "What happened?"
"Can't you just drag it out of my brain?" she spouted and sniffed.
"Yes, but I'd rather you tell me."
She stayed silent and looked at the cobblestone walkway.
Why is she so hostile with you? Is she upset that she told you?
I looked up at Caleb to answer his question. They did something to her, Caleb. I should have made a point to keep a better eye on her.
We've been more than a little busy, baby.
Yeah. I sighed. And she paid the price for my being busy.
"Ruth," I prompted.
"They found out what I told you," she said and sniffed her annoyance once more. "They found out the loophole that I used and they denounced me for being a traitor."
"I'm sorry," I said sincerely. "That was my fault. I let something slip when I was talking to Marla. I'm so sorry."
"Now what am I supposed to do?" she almost yelled. "They may not have been good to me, or good for me, but they've been my family for so long that they are all I know!" She sniffed again and flicked her eyes to mine. "I haven't seen my real family since Sikes took me. It's not like I can just go home again. And I don't have money to get there anyway." 
"Ruth, I'm sorry. Tell me what I can do."
"There's nothing you can do," she replied and winced as she shifted her body. I saw the little flash in her mind as she remembered the dark haired man standing over her and slicing through her tattoo.
I grabbed her arm gently, and she didn't stop me. I pulled her wrist away from her chest to see a towel wrapped around it. I unwrapped the towel, swallowing when I saw blood, and then stifled my scream when I found what I'd seen in her mind.
They had taken a knife and slashed two lines across her wrist tattoo in the shape of an awkward 'X'.
"Marcus did this to you?" I said in unbelief as I remembered the dark haired person over her.
"No. Marcus didn't do this, Donald did."
The actual memory as she remembered it came to me and I saw it now; the broader shoulders, the tall and stout man coming out of the shadows, growling that she had disgraced them and was no longer welcome in their family. Ruth had thought they'd kill her, but Donald said for them to send her down the lift at the back of the palace and let her fend for herself was a more fitting punishment for a traitor.
That she deserved to live in the human world where she came from and die in it, too. And now, she was waiting at the church on the steps, hoping that someone there could tell send her to a shelter or something.
When I came back to myself I couldn't remember a time I'd ever felt so guilty.
"Ruth," I tried, but the words wouldn't come. I shook my head. I felt Caleb squat behind me and rest a hand on my back.
"Ruth, where's your family?" he asked.
"I don't know. I looked them up once, but they moved away. There's no telling where they are now."
"Ok, listen." He leaned forward and touched her arm.
I watched my Caleb take over and put the massive Band-Aid on things that he was so good at. He was amazing in a way that still seemed to shine new light on him every day.
He told her he'd send her wherever she wanted to go. She argued that she couldn't take his family's money, he argued back that it was his own money and she absolutely would take it. I kind of felt like Caleb might be trying to pay off my mistakes, but he shot me a look for that thought. Rodney sat quietly off to the side as Caleb and Ruth worked out the final details. He'd put her up in a motel here, since she wasn't interested in going back to Tennessee. She would try to get a job and make a new life for herself. There really was nothing else to do.
I still felt terrible and found myself staying pretty quiet. When we all stood as Ruth prepared to get into her cab to a new life. "None of this will really matter, you know," she said and crossed her arms as if cold.
"Why?" I said, but heard her thought. "Oh, I hadn't thought about Marla's blood being in you."
"Yes, she can find me or pretty much use me anytime she wants as long as I'm bound to their bloodline."
I thought. I plundered my brain for a solution, but it was Rodney who had the idea. I turned to him. "That's brilliant."
He looked puzzled, but then lit with the revelation. "No, I was just throwing ideas around in my head."
"It's the only way," I answered and looked at Ruth. "Do you remember how she gave those people my blood? Do you know how to that?""Yes," she sang in hesitance.
"Here. Does one of you have a pocketknife?" I asked, dread clogging my throat.
"No," Caleb answered tightly. "No, we do not and even if we did, no."
"I do," Rodney answered, pulled a little back knife from his pocket and flipped it open as he smiled wryly. "All cowboys carry a knife."
"Awesome." I took a breath and held my hand out. "Cut me."
"Wait, what?" he said, his tune changing completely.
"No," Caleb told him and looked back at me. "Come on, Maggie. You're not going to make him cut you."
"Caleb, come on, I have to." I licked my lips. "Will you do it?"
"Absolutely not," he barked and then sighed. "Look, Maggie. My body won't let me do it. It'll be hard enough to stand here while someone else does it to you."
"Oh," I replied and then looked at Ruth.
She pursed her lips. "So, let me make sure I'm understanding you. You want me to take some of your blood, because your blood will be the last blood I took so it'll be one I'm bound to, right?"
"Yes."
"But can't you just control me then? It'll be you instead of her?"
"Yes, but I won't."
She came to me slowly. She held her hand out to Rodney for the knife without taking her eyes from mine. "There's extra blood vials in my bag, Caleb."
He huffed, but got one for her after rummaging through her bag and grumbling in his mind. He handed it to her and gave her a silent message with his stare.
She took my hand in hers and turned it over. She sliced my palm without waiting for me have to think about it. I winced and watched as she let my blood drip into the vial. As soon as she released my hand, Caleb took it instead and immediately began to heal me.