71 You Are Repulsive (1/2)
Dorian let out a horrible laugh. ”So this is what you were hiding. I would be impressed if I was not so furious with you. You are going t—what on earth is wrong with your skin?!”
Ruby's vision had gone a bit hazy from the pain but she looked down and saw that her glamour had come off. Great. Just what she needed right now on top of everything else. This evil vampire had to go and see her true form.
”Nothing is wrong with it,” she said weakly. ”And it doesn't always look exactly like this…my appearance changes at random.”
The vampire's nose wrinkled and he made the same sort of disgusted face Flint and Ruby had when they discovered her secret. ”You are repulsive. I did wonder why you would prefer looking like a filthy human but now I understand.”
Such a comment didn't even sting since it was coming from someone she held not one ounce of respect for. Ruby was used to this sort of thing by now. She didn't bother to dignify that with a response.
She already knew she was repulsive. It was the primary reasons she kept her glamour on even after Ash figured out how her powers worked. At that point hiding it was more about vanity than protection. Because she knew that no one would ever accept her the way she was.
Ruby was a chameleon of the worst sort. The size and shape of her features and her wings remained the same no matter what but as for everything else…she was a patchwork of ever-changing colors and patterns related to gems and other rocks.
Her mother told her once that she got her name because she was primarily red when she came out. Not reddish like a human newborn but RED and shiny like her namesake.
That was the only instance she knew of where everything matched. She tried to avoid mirrors if she could help it and never took pictures of herself once cameras became popular. She hated this ugly, changeable nature of hers because of the way other people looked at her.
”I will make you regret lying to me, you disgusting fairy,” Dorian said making the same repulsed face as before. ”I cannot alter the terms of the deal that allow you to raise the baby fairy 'normally' but your nights shall be terrible indeed.”
Ruby wasn't sure how to feel about that. Relief that Flora wouldn't be affected? Horror that she had been exposed? Dread for what else he might do to her for daring to defy him? Some mixture of all three?
The sun was starting to come up now so she was allowed to return to her room but she was terrified of what she would face after Flora went to sleep later tonight. Despite her raging thoughts, she fell asleep the moment she hit the pillow back in her room only to be awoken forty minutes later because her cousin wanted to play.
He had caused her serious pain and summoned millions of dollars' worth of jewels but didn't seem to have made the connection about minerals yet. That particular secret was safe for now.