Ruby shivered. They'd taken her to a security office in the hotel. Despite Ruby's obvious fear, Cinza had finally reluctantly allowed them to speak with her alone—on the condition Ruby remain in the hotel, and Cinza less than a single room away. Every few moments, Ruby shifted her vision and found the relationship tether between them.

If she needed Cinza, she would strum their string, and Cinza would feel their connection. She wasn't truly alone. She'd never be truly alone again.

One of the officers had stayed outside with Cinza, leaving only the female officer—who looked like a nice lady, all things considered—and the plainclothes man. They sat down opposite her, in two chairs while Ruby sat on a soft, wide couch across a coffee table.

"Thank you for agreeing to speak with us," said the plainclothes guy. "My name is Jeff, and this is Officer Daniels."

Daniels nodded. "We wanted to speak with you about your life. Is that all right?"

"What about it?" asked Ruby, a little nervously.

"Well, it's not…" Daniels glanced at Jeff.

"Ruby," he started, and paused. "Do you prefer Ruby?"

"That's my name," said Ruby firmly. "I didn't get to choose the other one."

"Ruby," Jeff went on, and he had a very pleasant, comforting voice. Ruby could see why they'd chosen him to speak with her. "We're concerned for your wellbeing."

She couldn't help it—she laughed. "Is this about running away from home?"

"Well, yes," said Officer Daniels.

Figures… it's the first time I showed myself since Cinza's diaries came out. Of course they were gonna come find me. "I'm happier and safer than I've ever been living with the Greycloaks."

"Ruby, you never finished your education," said Daniels.

"Like high school's worth anything," Ruby shot back. She was getting heated, and she knew it wasn't helping her case, but she couldn't stop herself. "I'm happy now. Isn't that enough?"

"We're hoping you'll give the world a chance again," said Jeff. "We know it wasn't an easy life, and the Greycloaks offered you an escape. But things are different now."

"Uh huh," said Ruby. "You guys know where I live. Why didn't anybody ever come looking, if you're so concerned?"

"Well, to be honest, we didn't feel it was safe to do so," said Jeff. "Not because of the awakened, of course," he added. "But at the time, your region was being… well, terrorized."

"Yeah. I lived through it." Ruby shook her head. "This feels a little too late, you know. I'm the damsel in distress now, except my hero already rescued me years ago, and she's right out there." She pointed at the door, where she knew Cinza must only be a few dozen feet away. "You weren't there."

"We weren't, and neither was your father," said Jeff, and there it was.

Bile seemed to jump into her throat, simply at the mention of her father. "...Yeah," said Ruby. "...He wasn't."

"You left to get away from him, right?"

"Yeah." Memories were surfacing in her mind, one by one—but unlike the other times she fell into that place, she wasn't afraid. It wasn't like she was braving the depths, as with Cinza, but more… examining them. Analyzing them.

Jeff nodded. "It must have been terrible. If I may, and you don't need to answer, but is the reason you never reported anything because you were afraid of him?"

"...Yes," said Ruby in a very small voice.

"It's good you removed yourself from the danger," said Daniels, nodding slightly. "We wouldn't ever want you to be in that situation."

"So if it's a good thing," said Ruby, feeling confused, "why am I still in trouble?"

"Because it's still the law," said Daniels. "You're still underage and in the state of Washington. We need to make sure you're being cared for and educated."

"I got that already," said Ruby firmly.

"With a group that regularly puts you in extremely dangerous situations," said Daniels.

"And saved my life," she shot back.

Jeff shook his head. "We're not saying they haven't done great things for you, Ruby, but you have to admit—even with your father, it's not likely you would have been shot at, fighting battles with magic, surviving the destruction of Rallsburg, or any of the other incredible things which have happened."

"So?" Ruby frowned. "What am I supposed to do, then?"

"...Your father's changed," said Jeff finally. "It took a long time, but after you left, he started going to counseling. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous, did you know that?"

"...No," said Ruby quietly.

"Since then, he's been a model citizen. Ashley's been volunteering for schools and orphanages. Not only that," said Jeff, smiling slightly, "he's been volunteering at awakened-supporting charities. First it was the Rallsburg Families Fund, and now the Magical Law Association, which is a charity to provide assistance for awakened people who can't afford legal services."

Ruby took it in without a word. It all sounded great, as they continued to describe other ways in which her father had changed. She didn't believe a word of it, but then… they brought out the pictures, and there he was. Smiling, in a way she'd never seen, working a charity line, helping out in the community, being a human being.

That's not my dad. I don't know that guy. He looks like dad, but… there's no way. That can't be him.

"He wants to see you," said Jeff finally, leaving the last picture on the table. "If you want, you can be accompanied or alone, whichever you prefer. You'll have a sit-down, and we'll see if your home is somewhere you can return to."

"Never," said Ruby instantly. She'd been starting to see a possibility of a reunion, a faint glimmer amidst all the past pain, but those words brought her back again. "The Greywood's my home."

The two of them glanced at each other. Jeff looked more concerned than before as he spoke again. "Ruby, that's a cabin in a national park, far away from hospitals, schools, everything. We can't clear that as an acceptable living space for you, legally speaking."

"That's her place though," said Ruby, drawing on something else deep within her to give her strength. It wasn't Cinza this time—instead, the attitude of her friend Yusuf back home, who had such confidence and conviction.

"Cinza's?"

"The goddess," said Ruby firmly. "Grey-eyes. It's hers. That's where I belong."

"The…" Daniels shook her head, obviously confused by the sudden shift in the conversation.

Ruby simply smiled at them. Obviously, they couldn't understand what she meant, or the sudden calm which had come over her. "It's okay," she said. "You can't really know what that's like, until she saves you. That's how it works."

"Ruby…" started Jeff, but she talked over him.

"If he's getting better, great. That's one less awful person, and the world becomes a little brighter," said Ruby. As she continued, her voice came back, stronger than in a very long time. "I've no desire to return to that life, and may he forever remain removed from my new home. We'll both be far better off if our ships pass quietly in the night."

"That's not—"

"I am of the Greywood, a follower of Grey-eyes and servant of magic, and I will never be anything else," said Ruby finally, flourishing her hand slightly.

Daniels frowned. "That's all fine, but that doesn't excuse you from the state. Not yet, anyway. You haven't been emancipated, and right now by all official records, you don't even have grounds to run away from home. We believe you, but we don't have any proof that can hold up with a judge."

"All we want," said Jeff, shooting an annoyed look at the officer, "is for you to speak with your father. Come see Ash with us. Is that all right?"

"No," said Ruby, channeling her love's favorite short, simple answers.

"We can arrest you," said Daniels, looking a bit annoyed herself now. "Like I said before, there's a warrant for you."

Ruby smiled, a hard-edged smile learned in the midst of battle, against foes far more fearsome and powerful than a simple police officer and a hapless social worker. She knew their threat, even if completely intended, was useless. They could never force her to do anything against her will. She had magic on her side.

"I dare you to try."

The door crashed open. Ruby had shoved it out, after they refused to let her go again. It was a security door, hard metal and deadbolted—but what were such simple materials against magic? With that in mind, Ruby bent the metal back behind her, fusing it in place. It'd give her a good head start to escape the hotel, which had shifted from a wonder of riches into a gilded cage waiting to entrap her.

She fled the room, as shouts followed her away. Cinza reappeared from wherever she'd been waiting, at Ruby's side in an instant.

"What happened?" asked Cinza as they ran.

"They wanted to take me away," said Ruby. "I didn't go."

Halfway to the lobby, Ruby suddenly stopped. The other officer would be waiting. Ruby didn't know what would happen when they got there, and suddenly, fear mixed in with the excitement of their flight. She needed strength… and next to her was the love of her life, the other half of her soul.

She turned, took Cinza's hands in her own, and pressed her up against the nearest wall. Before Cinza could say a word, Ruby kissed her—hard, passionately, and without restraint. Cinza stiffened with shock, but only for a moment… and soon she was kissing Ruby back.

They kissed, again and again, holding each other tight as if in the midst of a storm. To Ruby, it surely felt like one, as the thump of heavy feet sounded behind them. They had no idea what might happen next, how many people they were up against, or if they could possibly get out without losing each other.

We'll never lose each other. No matter what.

"Until the end of eternity," whispered Ruby, breaking away.

Cinza's eyes were wide. She was panting heavily, though of course, they hadn't run very far. Their blood was pumping from the adrenaline and the rush of abrupt passion. "Forever," Cinza whispered back.

Hand in hand, they fled down the corridor, just as Officer Daniels and members of the hotel security staff appeared. They shouted, but Ruby couldn't hear it over the rush of emotions pounding through her skull. All she wanted was to escape.

They rounded the last corner. As expected, the other officer was there, along with more hotel security. They raised their hands, as if they could stop the duo.

Cinza's voice grew to deafening volumes, though she directed it in such a way that Ruby's ears were not so impacted. "Stand aside or be forced aside," she called.

The security hesitated, but the officer stood firm. "Stop!" he shouted back.

Cinza shook her head. Ruby's hand tight in her own, they barrelled down the hallway. The officer braced for some kind of impact—but of course, neither Ruby nor Cinza had any intention of hurting the man.

Halfway to him, Cinza threw out the spell she'd been preparing, drawing energy to support it from Ruby's pool of magic. In an instant, they'd disappeared from view.

The officer blinked furiously, utterly confused. Cinza led Ruby past him, slipping between the gaps in the men trying to keep them from leaving. Except we have magic. Nothing can ever hold us, or keep us apart.

A huge thump of wind slammed into them. As they passed the officer, it ran headlong into Ruby. She lost her grip on Cinza's hand and tumbled, head over heels, onto the carpet. Cinza stumbled, but didn't quite lose her footing.

Unfortunately for them both, the fall broke her concentration. The pair reappeared, in the middle of a hotel lobby full of confused guests, Secret Service agents, hotel security, and police officers. The room erupted into chaos, as guests fled fearing some kind of attack, while the uniforms everywhere sprang into action.

More importantly, they'd been torn apart.

"Cin!" cried Ruby, as the officer closed on her.

She balled her fists, gathering magic to fight off the officer closing on her. She didn't think she could create more invisibility in the time they needed—Cinza was always much better at that spell than her, and cast it whenever they went out together.

No matter what, Ruby wasn't going to let them take her.

"What the hell is going on down here?"

From another direction, President Stafford had just emerged, the entire retinue in tow. Secret Service agents scrambled to surround him against the possible threat, but he strode up to the pair of them, heedless of caution.

Everyone froze. Ruby was still watching the officer in front of her, ready to throw down if need be. Cinza had been facing off against the hotel security, and her hand stayed near her belt—right where her black-taped knife was always sheathed. They were all ready to fight in a moment, but with the President there, none dared to set off the powder-keg waiting to blow.

One of the agents leaned in and began whispering in his ear. The President's eyes widened.

He rounded on Courtney. "Your officers just tried to arrest this girl?"

The governor shook her head. "I had no idea this was taking place."

"Mr. President, sir," said Jeff, returning the room almost completely out of breath. "I can explain."

"Do so quickly. My trigger finger's getting itchy," said the President impatiently.

"Ruby Dahl, otherwise known as Ha—"

"Her name is Ruby until she decides otherwise," snapped the President, "and I'll hear no more of that, thanks."

"Yes sir," said Jeff quickly, while Ruby felt an incongruous burst of appreciation and pride toward the President whom she'd wanted to vote for. "The fact is, she's underage, and her father's a model citizen. By law, we have to make an effort to reunite them, or find some other acceptable guardian for the girl."

"For Heaven's sake," said the President, glancing at Courtney. "Madam Governor, I thought we'd buried this."

"Mr. President," said Courtney, with an uneasy glance toward the many press near the hotel doors, "I had directed the law enforcement agencies to focus their efforts on other fronts, but I can't just completely ignore the law."

"Wide-ranging executive powers," growled the President. "Figure it out, Courtney."

"Yes, sir."

Stafford looked around at the hotel security and the police officers. "Are you all going to stand down, or do we need to demonstrate the competence of my own security detail?"

Reluctantly, their opponents relaxed and stepped away. In an instant, Cinza had returned to Ruby's side. She clutched Cinza's arm like she were trapped in a storm once more, but instead of a moment of furious passion, now they were truly facing the terrifying forces arrayed against them. No matter what the President said, everyone in the room still felt like their enemy, in one way or another.

Cinza seemed to feel the same. "This doesn't change anything," she said firmly, looking to Stafford. "I appreciate this gesture and accept the kindness, but trust cannot be repaired so easily."

Stafford nodded, and didn't speak another word. Cinza led Ruby by the hand through the still-frozen hotel lobby, past the eyes of Rachel and the others in the President's retinue, past the officers and security personnel, past the dumbstruck hotel staff and guests.

They walked out into the bright sunlight, through an ocean of reporters and onlookers. A straight and narrow pathway existed from the doors to their carriage, lined by more agents of the President. Cinza did not give any of them a single glance as she led Ruby through the parted seas. Makoto extended the small staircase, they climbed inside, and within moments, they'd returned to the road.

Ruby didn't speak another word until they were out of Seattle. She curled up on the wide seat in the back, her head in Cinza's lap, trembling as her love brushed her fingers through her hair, keeping her from falling apart in a world that seemed determined to hate them at every turn.