Page 20 of Sins of the Stone

Ramuz

R amuz watched as Ursulette tromped through the wood with twigs and leaves crunching beneath her trembling feet. He knew a cloud of anxiety settled in her brain, feeding on her noxious thoughts. He could tell just by the way she nibbled her lip. Surely, she was still conflicted about leaving the group. They were the only humans left in the area, and he was not one to deny her anything. He did not want her to feel like she was the last of her kind, like he experienced.

Through snooping when the village was still standing, he heard that some hunters traveled to other places, but they were often gone for many nights. Ramuz had yet to learn where those other civilizations were. Maybe in the future, the two of them could explore, but wherever they went, the citizens would probably be suspicious. It would be best if she stuck with who she knew. But staying with them also posed a problem—mainly their ingrained disdain for monsters. Ursulette spoke about it many times, and it was something that concerned him as well.

However, something more plagued him. He was uncomfortable with his human—his treasure—being left alone with a fiend like Omar. He had proven himself distrustful in the past. The annihilation of their civilization would not pluck those traits from him.

He knew Ursulette was clever enough to see the ruse, too. He was hiding something behind his sickeningly sweet words. There was no way he was remorseful for anything he did to her, and it made his fists curl so aggressively that he thought his claws would rip his palms to shreds. But Ursulette would appreciate his compliance, so he held back.

All he could think about was curling up in bed with her and falling asleep while a fire roared in the other room. The chill was probably creeping through her coat, indicated by her chattering teeth. He would love nothing more than to bring her that comfort, and he stepped forward from the shadows to greet her until a noise a few feet away turned both their heads and made him retreat.

“Ursulette?” a voice called.

Oh no, he thought.

He knew fully well who it was. Worse than any pack of wolves or hoard of demons. Ramuz remained out of sight as Ursulette spun around with a hue on her cheeks.

“Hi, Omar,” she said. Through the glow of the moon, Ramuz noticed her white knuckles beneath the sleeves of her coat. It was a shame that Omar was a predator and could easily sniff out vulnerability.

“What are you doing out here?” His tone was hinted with concern, but he knew it hid malicious intentions.

“I, um, I’m going back to my shelter,” she said. “I sleep better there.” Omar’s eyebrow rose curiously as a smirk crept across his face. Ramuz had to fight all of his urges not to leap from his place of hiding and render him to a pile of flesh, and the pounding of his heart confirmed it.

“Do you need someone to accompany you?” the fiend said, stepping forward. “I would hate for something to happen to you on your way there.” Ursulette retreated slightly.

“No,” she said, faster than she probably intended. “I’ll be alright.” Omar’s eyes lowered in suspicion, causing Ramuz’s stomach to turn.

“Are you sure you don’t need some company? It gets cold without someone to keep you warm…” Her lips pressed together as Ursulette shook her head.

“I’m fine.” It sounded like she was suppressing the urge to scream at him. Omar’s lips pursed like he was holding something back.

Probably another threat of violence, he thought.

“You know, I think it’s fortunate that you, a woman with no experience defending herself, could make it such distances and survive in the wilderness for as long as you have.” Omar’s glare was accusatory, as if staring straight through her.

“I know a lot more than you think,” she declared. “Like I said, I read a lot of books.” Ramuz could feel his heart drumming in his chest, and Omar snorted as if to mock her, causing him to almost growl.

“Your knowledge would be helpful to the rest of us,” he said smugly. He could feel the tension boiling. It wouldn’t take long before it popped, and something terrible would happen. It would be better to diffuse the situation than to make enemies, at least for now, and it appeared she had the same thought process.

“You’re right,” she said, feigning a smile. “I would love nothing more than to share. And I will, once I return.” Omar’s shadow almost attempted to swallow her up like the darkness was trying to pluck out her lies. He could easily do something bold. His leer never waned, and Ramuz noted the straining of the tendons in her jaw.

“Alright. As long as you’ll come back,” he said, breaking the tension and allowing her to finally breathe. “If you don’t, I’ll come find you.” Even though it very well could’ve been a benign statement, Ramuz knew better.

“I appreciate that,” she said. “We have to help each other out, especially when not many of us are left.” The words ached his heart. Thinking about her being as lonely as him was more crushing than anything else he had experienced.

“I couldn’t agree more,” he said, a hint of malice in his tone. “Goodnight, Ursulette. I hope you make it home.”

“Goodnight, Omar.” She choked on the words. His mischievous smirk was branded into Ramuz’s memory, making him uneasy. Something terrible was going to happen eventually. He could feel it.

With that, the fiend turned away, shuffling back into the woods towards the encampment. Once she was sure he was gone, she headed in the opposite direction. After a moment of wandering and making sure there was no one else who would interrupt, he stepped out of the shadows.

“Thank the gods you’re here,” she exhaled. Now that the tension was gone, her entire body drooped. “I hope you didn’t hear that.” Their eyes met, and he noticed her face heat, giving her the answer she dreaded. Ramuz frowned.

Why is she trying to shield me from this?

“Watching you is in my nature, Ursulette. I cannot help it.” The color on her cheeks deepened. “I do not like how that one speaks to you—or touches you,” he grumbled. “I do not trust him, and if you would let me, I would rip him limb from limb for distressing you.” Her shoulders fell as she eyed his hands, which were balled at his sides. She sighed.

“I don’t trust him either, but I must tolerate it if I’d like to maintain my relationship with Giles.” His face shifted with a slight sympathy, but it was hard to focus when thinking of all the ways he would like to torment Omar for hurting his treasure.

“Don’t give me that look,” she said. “I would love nothing more than to bust his nose again or watch you do it. Whatever would make you feel better.” A smirk crept across his face, but faded as soon as it bloomed. What would make him feel better? She shouldn’t concern herself with such things.

“I am not worried about myself, Ursulette. He threatened you.”

“Not directly—”

“Before.”

Ursulette’s mouth clamped shut. Even though she hadn’t admitted it, he knew the event had shaken her more than she let on, like how she shoved down her emotions about the siege. He had a feeling that even in the past, she never let on how bad it truly was to anyone. She probably thought she could handle it alone, but if only she knew that it would be much easier if she had someone to help her.

“Right,” she said, her voice barely a whisper as her eyes avoided his. Ramuz sighed and, for the first time, rolled his eyes. He had seen the humans do it many times but only understood it once he met Ursulette.

“It disturbs me when you’re quiet,” he griped, reaching out and pulling her close. She stumbled into him, her face blossoming with a blush as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Let’s go home,” he said, burying his face in her hair. She was quiet once more, still feeling the effects of the confrontation and her lingering anxiety. If he could, he would take those worries away from her.

“I have to go back, eventually,” she muttered against him. His grip grew tighter.

“I know. I do not want you to end up like me,” he said. “Alone.” And that was the truth. They both had to endure because of that reality.