Page 25
Story: Pyre
AFTER KAVYA CHECKED they had enough hospital footage, it was decided the humans were too tired to make the drive back to Denver.
Ruby offered to drive. She was quickly shot down.
And all because she had once joked that driving over overpasses reminded her of Mario Kart.
Her knowledge of modern video games was not as appreciated as it should’ve been.
They pulled into a hotel entrance and sat in silence for a few moments.
“Okay, I’m just going to say it.” Kavya broke the quiet. “What the hell are we doing here?”
Ruby’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “The hotel? I thought we discussed this already—showers and sleep before leaving tomorrow morning?”
“We did, but… this isn’t just a hotel.”
A parking attendant knocked on the glass, and Ruby slid across the seat to step out of the truck.
The hotel loomed before her, its exterior an elegant blend of dark stone and gleaming glass that reflected the city skyline.
Bronze lights flanked the grand wooden double doors, casting a warm glow against the cool morning air.
“The TCA covers it,” Ruby explained as Kavya tugged a bag that probably weighed more than she did out of the backseat.
Kavya frowned. “You don’t even sleep.”
Ruby shrugged, took the bag from Kavya with one hand, and slung it over her shoulder. “True. I mainly use the hotels for showers and watching TV or reading while I wait for Lucas to give me a new assignment. But, I have a rewards program with this one.”
Jonah remained quiet, observing the exchange as he retrieved his jacket and bag from the back of the truck.
“They made us stay at motels until Jonah’s YouTube channel blew up,” Kavya grumbled as she passed the keys to the valet. “Now we get to stay at nicer places, but nothing like this.”
The setting sun cast a golden hue across the building's surface, the evening air brisk against Ruby’s exposed arms. She was still in her torn tank top and looked forward to glaring back at the judgmental looks she’d receive in the lobby.
Just as she was about to head inside, Jonah draped an old, russet leather jacket over her shoulders.
She turned to him, puzzled. “You know I don’t get cold, right? Part of the whole thermy, undead thing.”
Jonah shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Thought you might want to avoid the stares.”
She tightened the jacket around her shoulders, feeling the soft, worn leather warm against her skin.
“Thanks,” she grumbled, choosing to believe it was out of the kindness of his heart and not to avoid being seen with a woman who looked like she’d wrestled a bear.
He wouldn’t be the first man to ask her to cover up.
The three of them walked through the hotel lobby, the click of their shoes echoing against the polished marble floors.
The space was grand and opulent—dark wood-paneled walls accented with gold accents, chandeliers that dripped crystal from the high ceiling, and plush velvet seating in deep burgundy arranged near a roaring fireplace.
Soft music drifted from hidden speakers, blending with the faint hum of conversation from a few guests lounging in the lobby.
Fresh flowers, perfectly arranged in oversized vases, added a sweet fragrance to the air.
Ruby winked as they passed by a well-dressed couple at the reception desk, their curious eyes following her. They took the stairs up to the fifth floor. Surprisingly, neither Jonah or Kavya questioned this. They trailed behind her in silence.
A few minutes later, they entered Ruby’s hotel room. Two pristine, white-sheeted queen-sized beds faced a large flat-screen TV. On the bedside table sat complimentary snacks from the hotel: an expensive box of chocolates and an even pricier bottle of champagne.
Jonah set his bag on one of the beds and sat on the edge. “Wanna shower first?”
Ruby nodded in relief, grateful for the chance to wash off the remnants of the hospital. The scent of antiseptic clung to her skin and hair and the hospital bracelet she forgot to remove rubbed against the inside of her wrist.
Kavya threw herself onto the empty bed with a groan, burrowing under the covers as if she hadn’t slept in days. She pulled out her phone, snapping a quick picture of herself grinning widely.
At Ruby’s confused expression, Kavya wiggled her left hand in the air. “For the wife.”
“How long have y’all been together?” Ruby rifled through her bag for clean clothes.
“Four years,” Kavya replied with a fond smile. “Married two months.”
Ruby smiled back, even as a pang of something bittersweet settled in her chest. Her own ring was tucked away in a storage container in a small town in Texas—abandoned, but never far from her mind.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Kavya’s voice was warm, filled with the kind of joy that only someone deeply in love could express.
A disgusting jealousy swarmed her chest. While she was as happy for Kavya, there would always be a part of her that yearned for that same kind of connection.
The idea of growing old with someone, of sharing a life, was an impossible dream for someone like her.
She would outlive anyone she came to care about, forced to bury them while she remained unchanged.
It wasn’t worth the pain, but that didn’t stop her from longing for it. For someone to care about her the way Kavya obviously cared for her wife.
Ruby nodded, with clothes in hand, headed for the shower.
She took her time, watching as the water swirled down the drain.
She scrubbed hard, her skin turning pink for a second before the irritation healed itself.
The rhythmic sound of the water against the tile filled the small bathroom, but it didn’t ease the tension coiled in her muscles.
When she was convinced all traces of dried blood and hospital stench was gone, she stepped out, wrapping her hair in a towel.
Although she didn’t age, her hair still grew, albeit slowly, like an afterthought of the bacteria inside her.
At least she didn’t have to worry about it all falling out and being left bald.
Some women looked great bald; she, however, had a lumpy head.
And two moles. And a really pale scalp. She pulled on an athletic skirt and a t-shirt before tossing her damp hair into a claw clip.
By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, the room was filled with the quiet hum of sleep.
Kavya sprawled across one of the beds, snoring softly, her body twitching every so often, her mouth wide open.
Jonah sat on the other bed, focused on his phone, a pile of clothes next to him.
When he looked up, his eyes widened in surprise at her appearance.
"Not so bad when I’m not covered in blood, ash, or old lady smell, huh?" Ruby teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Jonah shook his head and smiled. “You’re beautiful either way.”
The unexpected compliment caught her off guard. She let out a disbelieving laugh, feeling both flattered and confused. “I’m heading down to the bar. Let me know if Lucas reaches out.”
Jonah nodded and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Ruby alone with the soft, rhythmic sounds of Kavya’s breathing.
Grabbing her room key and purse, she headed toward the stairwell.
Elevators made her feel trapped, even for the few seconds it took to descend the floors.
Although she didn’t really want to take the stairs, she forced herself down every step, the echo of her footsteps bouncing off the walls.
She could’ve jumped straight to the bottom floor from the ninth if she wanted, but being caught on camera—and the ensuing paperwork the TCA would make her fill out—stopped her.
Technology had come a long way since her time and she could never tell where cameras were.
The energy in the lobby hummed, travelers checking in, women in dresses heading for nights out, men checking watches and pretending to be important. The bar was packed. Ruby’s shoulders released as she made her way to the only empty booth.
Being alone was harder than it used to be.
Grounding herself was easier when she was surrounded by others, their presence keeping the weightlessness at bay.
In the quiet, when it was just her and the emptiness, everything felt distant.
Unreal. Especially at night, when the world fell silent and left her alone with her thoughts.
She missed the peacefulness that had once come with nighttime. Back when she was human, younger, the stillness had been a refuge. Now, it only served as a reminder of how much had changed.
“Bit early for a drink,” Jonah commented behind her.
She turned to find him leaning against the booth, his hair wet and dripping onto his shoulders, a pair of glasses perched on his nose. His black sweatpants matched a black t-shirt that read “The Gardenfather”.
“Nice shirt.”
“Thanks, it was a Christmas present from my mom.”
Ruby tugged her bag closer and pulled out an old e-reader. The familiar weight in her hands brought her some comfort, a small distraction from the unease gnawing at her.
“Still a big reader?” Jonah asked, watching her intently.
"Not sleeping leaves me with a lot of time on my hands. Books help fill the space." She scrolled through her options on the same device he had once left on her bed—not that she would embarrass herself by admitting it. "You knew this, once upon a time. Are you not heading to bed?"
Jonah shook his head. “Slept during the day yesterday. Besides, I’m still pretty hopped-up on adrenaline.”
He engrossed himself in something on his phone before suddenly popping up from his seat. Ruby flinched at the abrupt movement, her muscles tensing instinctively.
“I’ll be right back. Stay there.” He sprinted out of the bar, not in the direction of the elevators or stairs, but the front entrance.
Ruby shrugged off his odd actions, clicking open a fantasy novel that had been lingering on the edge of her reading list. As she delved into the story, the world around her faded away, the words pulling her into a different realm.
She only looked up when a body slid back into the booth across from her. Jonah was back, breathless, sweat trickling down his neck.
“You alright?” Ruby asked, eyeing him curiously.
He adjusted his glasses, still catching his breath, and grinned at her. “Never been better. Had to catch them before they closed for the night.”
He pulled out a bag from a bookstore chain she recognized and placed a shiny new science fiction novel on the table.
Then, with a playful smile, he slid a small white paper across the table toward her.
Ruby picked it up and flipped it over. Inside was a sticker that read, "Sleep is good, reading is better. "
She let out a laugh, a real one, the sound surprising even herself. Jonah’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise, but then his lips curved into a slow smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
They settled into an easy silence, each lost in their respective books. Jonah occasionally snorted or shook his head at whatever he was reading. It reminded Ruby of the months they had spent together—how comfortable it had been, how natural.
Eventually, he fell asleep, his head drooping forward as his breathing evened out.
Ruby watched him for a moment, the peacefulness of his expression stirring something soft and unfamiliar in her chest. She didn’t wake him.
Instead, she slid out of the booth as quietly as possible and made her way to the bar.
The bartender, a younger man with a friendly smile, looked up as she approached. “Hey there. Can I help you with something?”
“Are y’all still serving food?” she asked, scanning the bar. The place had emptied, save for a couple of patrons at the far end.
He nodded and pulled a plastic menu from under the counter. “For like the next five minutes. You’d have to take it to go. That alright with you?”
“Yup.” Ruby scanned the menu, her eyes landing on the burger section. “Can I get a bacon cheeseburger?”
But doubt immediately crept in. What if Jonah didn’t like burgers? What if he was a vegetarian? It seemed to be a pretty popular trend.
“And a side of fries,” she added, trying to sound confident.
The bartender nodded, jotting down her order. “Anything else?”
Fries. How were they made again? Potatoes, sure, but were they fried in animal fat? What if he was vegan? Had it been so long since she’d ordered food that she’d forgotten how?
“Uh, and a side salad,” she said quickly, then hesitated. “Dressing on the side. No egg or cheese?”
The bartender looked up, one eyebrow raised in amusement. “Is that a question?”
Ruby winced. “Yes? No. Yes. Can you please put the dressing, egg, and cheese on the side?”
He snorted but nodded. “Mmk. Need a drink or anything?”
She shook her head, handed him a hundred-dollar bill, told him to keep the change, and headed back to the booth. Jonah was still sound asleep, his head resting on his arm, glasses slightly askew.
When the food finally arrived in a Styrofoam container a few minutes later, Ruby gently nudged Jonah awake. He blinked groggily, sitting up and rubbing his eyes as the bartender placed the box on the table.
“Is this for me?” he asked, a sleepy smile spreading across his face.
She nodded and stood. “Bar’s closing. I’ll meet you upstairs.”
She spun on her heel and made her way to the stairwell, expecting him to take the elevator. A few moments after her first step, the door opened and a second set of footsteps followed behind her.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25 (Reading here)
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46