#kingdomofblys

[reinruby1-blog]

"Were you talking to me?"

Ruby looked down at the short girl in front of her, painted lips stretching into a smirk. “Well, I do think that depends on if you are in fact the person who just cut me in line.” Stepping back out of Texas was always a bit of a culture shock, especially with manners. Good God almighty. “Since you’re fixin’ to be real rude and all, tell me your name.”

[steviesdemon]

Pack Mentality

Stevie didn’t drink. That went without saying, really, but here she was, sat in a corner table at the Pack. She’d only come along to thank Dacina for helping her find Salem for the umpteenth time, but she’d been persuaded to stay for an orange juice. Thanks to Eden and her dubious teas, she’d once again found a temporary loophole to buy a few late nights out before the demon got wind of it, and she was actually enjoying herself.

Excusing herself from the conversation - there really were more people on this island than first met the eye, and she had spent the evening talking to people she’d never seen in her life before - Stevie slipped away to the bathroom. Coming out of the stall and washing her hands, she did a quick mirror check (the demon sometimes liked to talk to her through her own reflection, but it looked like the tea was working, as her reflection did nothing but stare back at her) before heading back out into the main area. And... Oh. The lights were out. And everyone was gone.

Fear starting to uncoil in her stomach, she tried the doors and found them locked. Shit! Had she really been gone that long? Was she really that forgettable? The latter question made her ears burn with shame, and she sat down at a table to work through her options. She’d just have to hope someone was awake to answer her calls, right? Nothing could go wrong, as long as it was just her in the locked up pub.

[steviesdemon]

ϡ

ϡ for a kiss that lets you know I love you.

To say it was the least romantic encounter of Stevie’s life could actually be an understatement. There was almost half a foot of height between the two girls and the angle at which Stevie had to lean, pulled down by Imogen’s hands curled in the front of her shirt, added an element of pain to the already-surreal kiss. They’d just been having a polite conversation about Stevie’s day - yoga in the park with Sio, an hour looking for Salem, chai tea on her balcony - when Imogen had just… lunged for her. And Stevie was quickly realising that this kiss meant something to the other girl.

Eyes wide open, tasting the tobacco-mint of Imogen’s mouth, she could see the fervour in her scrunched up nose and the way heat spread across her cheeks. Oh. Oh God. This was… enlightening, to say the least. 

Gently stepping back, eyes fixed on her feet, she said softly, “I-I’m… I’m sorry, Imogen. I, uh, I d-didn’t know.” Her cheeks were flaming, but inside she felt only pity.

[steviesdemon]

"I've tried to figure out how to say this for a long time."

Stevie hated bumping into Imogen. It happened infrequently, and always ended up with an awkward disjointed conversation that left her with a pang in her chest, old guilt stirred up. This time was no different - the other girl had seemed agitated when she tugged Stevie aside, gabbling about having wanted to do something for a while while scowling even more than usual.

Exasperated, Stevie finally asked, "F-figure out what, Imogen..? I, uh, I d-don't understand..."

[steviesdemon]

☆

11 - Jar of live angry bees

When she picked up the jar, Stevie had expected something more… normal. Jam, maybe, or honey - both would be odd gifts from Imogen, who didn’t strike Stevie as a fan of spreadable preserves, but still… more normal than bees. Stunned, she stared down at the softly vibrating jar, watching the bees bump angrily against the lid. Finally, she looked up at Imogen. “D-did you, uh, c-catch these all y-yourself?”

[steviesdemon]

"You are my sunshine"

At first, Stevie thought it had to be a bad dream. She’d had nightmares like this before - the thick taste of copper in the back of her throat, and dark hair splayed out on her bedroom floor - and she hoped it was just another trick, just Salem’s tail against the floorboards. Breathless with fear, she leaned over and flicked on the light.

Her first thought was that Imogen was dead. There was… a lot of blood, and Stevie couldn’t see breathing. Scrambling off her bed and onto the floor, the moonlight reflecting off of her blood-slick hands, she crouched beside Imogen. For a long second, there was nothing, and her heart stuttered - Imogen was dead. There was a dead body beside her bed. She’d killed one of her only friends. Then she felt something stirring, a weak pulse in Imogen’s throat, and she let out a strangled cry. “I-Imogen! Oh, god…” 

When Imogen smiled up at her, teeth bloody and broken, Stevie only wept harder. This was all her fault - how had she forgotten to lock the door?! Mute with grief, she felt Imogen’s hand slip into hers and give a gentle squeeze.

“Stevie… I’m sorry…” She had to lean closer to hear what Imogen was saying, her voice barely more than a croak. “I c-came to talk and-” She cut off, coughing violently. Blood ran over her bottom lip and spattered Stevie, but she barely noticed.

“It’s g-going to be okay… Imogen, p-please… I-it’ll all b-be fine… Imogen..? I-Imogen, c-can you hear me? God, no…”

[steviesdemon]

¡

¡ Pet Peeves

“Oh, I, uh, I d-don’t really… uh, I don’t really get ‘p-peeved’ about things. I th-think, uh, the only thing I d-don’t like is, uh, w-when people are rude to waitresses… A-and, uh, when n-new clothes get snagged quickly… That’s just, uh, just a-annoying.”

[steviesdemon]

v (?? I do not hav)

I know you're in but I think if I run fast enough, you won't see me leaving this. I had a knitted throw and a few cushions left over from home, and I found a few romance novels I didn't see on your shelf. They're in the box under this note :)

Stevie