FIVE (RUBY POV)

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" I raise my head, scared when hearing the cry echoing through the house, so loud that the massive glass dome above the entrance hall shakes a little. "Georgina, for fuck's sake! I told you a million times..."

"She's caught her walking out of the shower naked again," Terra chuckles next to me and points at the terrace door. Outside, Maeve and Raven are training, witches and necromancers enjoy their food watching the sunset and my dogs play with the fairies. I decide to sit down on a chair a bit far away from them all, watching the centaurs gathering at the edge of the forest entranced while they debate about their next destination. "Since the moment those ghosts found out that Iselen gets mad when they appear out of the blue in her bedroom, they do it nonstop every time she gets angry, goes up to the attic and scolds them."

"So the point is not to show the ghosts that you're upset at them and they won't pester you..." The werewolf nods, laughing amused. "Have you managed to get new information?"

"I've talked to some of the supernatural creatures that helped us to build up the invisible fence and they all answered the same thing: humans cannot walk through the perimeter of the property." I look at her puzzled and Terra shrugs. "I know, you're sure that you're human and not a descendant of witches or forest elves... Despite your eyes look a little like the ones of a nymph... Iselen believes you're human too judging by your smell and vampires have a very sensitive nose... If she could try your blood, only a few drops would do, she could confirm it definitely..." I lean back on my chair and look at her worried but the wolf shakes her head. "Calm down, that won't happen without your permission..."

"So you don't know why I'm here..." I answer trying to change the subject. The idea of Iselen savoring my blood, even if I let her do that, makes me feel awkward... and also makes the butterflies in my stomach fluttering like crazy, but it's because I feel sick... isn't it? I mean, I don't like the vampire, supposedly, although she was honest with me last night and I appreciate that.

"Well, try to think positive... We haven't found anything new but we ruled out some things and that brings us closer to the truth, somehow..." Terra raises her tattooed arm and waves her hand. Iselen answers waving from the roof before flopping down on the cornice, sitting with her legs dangling over the edge several floors above the swimming pool while sipping at a cup of coffee. "It's her favorite spot of the house, it allows her to isolate herself from the noise of our conversations and our perfumes, she can only listen to the wind and smells of pine trees up there. As I've told you, her nose is too sensitive and all those sensory stimuli become overwhelming."

"Has she ever...? Did you both...?" I whisper grimacing, I don't know how to ask the question without seeming a snooper and I shouldn't be interested in their private lives, actually, but the wolf stares at me raising an eyebrow and looks like she's having fun watching me fidgeting nervously, I think she knows what I want to ask... "Did she ever bite you?" Terra bursts into laughing and her blue eyes shine as much as the fairy wings.

"She bit me several times centuries ago, when we were archenemies and we fought nonstop... A vampire's bite is really painful when they don't keep the charm to hypnotize you, to be honest. That lesbian bitch has a strong jaw..." The werewolf looks up smiling, Iselen keeps swinging her legs and has changed the coffee for a glass of wine... or maybe it's blood, I don't know.

"And what happens when she keeps the charm on?" I whisper with curiosity but my new friend doesn't answer, she only smiles mischievously for a few seconds and her cheeks blush slightly.

"She blows your mind..." she answers stretching her legs and crossing her ankles casually. Maeve has found a book about karate movements and tries to teach Raven how to copy some of the positions but they both seem confused with the explanations and ask the necromancers for help. Centaurs have vanished and my dogs are yawning lying on the grass while fairies weave flower garlands that they hang from their collars.

"Why did you forgive her? She did so many horrible things... I wouldn't have done it..." I shake my head, confused, and feel the atmosphere changing around me, turning grey and sad... I look up and realize that the sky is covered with clouds that hide the stars and it'll start raining soon.

"It wasn't easy... War lasted for too long and we all did terrible things. God, I hated her so much, you can't imagine how satisfactory it was for me to fight against her and break all her bones with my teeth. I knew she'd heal soon if I didn't manage to cut her head off, but it was very painful and I felt... euphoria every time I heard her crying. I didn't listen to her ideas the first time she kidnaped me, I only wanted to rip her belly apart, bury my muzzle in her guts and scatter her bowels all over the room." Terra closes her eyes and shakes her head. "Finally, I realized I was tired of fighting and suffering... She had a good idea and I forced myself to weight in my mind if I should help her to build up the Wind Rose."

"Have you ever regretted your decision?"

"No, even if it was difficult to reach an agreement in the beginning, but it's been a success in the end. I found out that Iselen was more than a bloodsucker obsessed with revenge. She's a good girl deep inside, very loyal to her friends... and has suffered a lot too." The werewolf heaves a sigh before looking at me biting her lower lip. "My dad and uncles were involved in the attack on her family... They helped the pack to..." Terra rubs her forehead with her fingers and shakes her head sadly. "We both regret lot of things and we forgave each other many mistakes."

"I think you're both very brave," I answer admiringly and the wolf nods, grateful.

"Hello, lovebirds..." The vampire gets closer walking slowly and smiling amused while I fidget awkwardly on my chair, I feel like she's caught me doing something wrong apart from snooping a little. "What are you talking about with your heads so close?"

"I was telling Ruby that you're a pain in the ass..."

"You used to like that..." The pretty brunette answers leaning her hand on the back of my seat and staring at the wolf with a sultry smile playing on her lips. "Don't let the furry plush toy fool you with her Queen of Decorum attitude, she loves when... very deep..."

"Iselen!" Terra hisses angrily and the vampire shrugs before turning towards the druid and the demon.

"Guys, you better collect all your stuff and carry it inside the house..." she points at the dirty dishes and glasses the necromancers left on the table. "It's going to start raining in three minutes..."

"How do you know that?" Lea asks perplexed but the rest obey immediately, carrying the dinner leftovers to the kitchen.

"Because the weather lady on Channel 2 is hot and I can't stop staring at her boobs through the screen with lust..." The vampire answers bitterly. "How do you think?" she asks pointing at her nose and at the grey clouds swirling above our heads.

"Why are you so grumpy this evening? Didn't you let off enough steam arguing with Georgina?" Terra gets up slowly looking at her friend and I copy her movements so she can take the chairs and carry them to the covered terrace in a corner of the building.

"Because I can't wait to sink my fangs into this delicious human's neck... but she doesn't let me do it," Iselen whispers in my ear and I step back with my eyes wide open, moving closer to the wolf seeking her protection.

"Please, excuse her, she gets unbearable when she's hungry..." Terra growls holding the chairs with one hand and putting her tattooed arm over my shoulders to drag me to the house, first rain drops are falling on the lawn and my dogs run towards the living room door guided by the fairies. "And when she's sex deprived too."

"Look who's talking, the one who howls at the moon... Do not trust her, Ruby Rose, she's as pervy as I am deep inside."

"Oh no, I wouldn't dare to steal the throne of the Queen of Lust... it's a shame you haven't got some for a very long time," Terra winks at Iselen mischievously before dragging me inside, a thunderbolt flashes across the sky and I can see the woman standing in the middle of the garden, with her arms crossed over her chest, staring at us with squinty eyes while rain soaks her brown hair.

*****

"Do not force me to call an exorcist, this time I mean it..." The vampire slams the attic door and climbs down the stairs. "What is this black cat doing here? Is it yours?" she asks when she notices I'm standing in the middle of the corridor holding clean towels that Zara gave me. I shake my head, confused, and the animal escapes downstairs chased by my dogs barking excitedly. "I don't even know if it's a real cat, it could be a shapeshifter or a disguised wizard... Don't worry, your dogs will be okay, no one will hurt them in the Wind Rose..."

"When are you going to tell Terra that you're in love with her?" Iselen stops abruptly in the middle of the corridor and turns around slowly to look at me with her eyes wide open before grimacing, the light of a lamp on a side table shines on one of her fangs and, suddenly, I regret I was so direct. This creature can be dangerous... Damn it, I should think twice before saying whatever crosses my mind.

"Ouch! A punch aimed at my stomach... You hit hard, Ruby Rose."

"That's not an answer," I reply firmly trying to keep my poise. The vampire watches me quietly, her shameless grin has vanished and she leans on a wall crossing her arms over her chest, lost in her thought.

"Terra is a free spirit," she answers reluctantly. "It's in her wild wolf nature. Actually, the members of her race are only loyal to their comrades, the clans living in their packs, and not to vampires, of course. Terra has given up a lot to build the Wind Rose, you have no idea how much she's sacrificed for this cause... Her pack travels through the north of the country and comes closer to this area sometimes, I now she can still feel them and listen to them through their mental connection... and it hurts her. She misses them... My wolf is happy when she's running wild through the forest and I don't want to... tie her to me in case she wants to go back with her family one day. To be honest, I don't know what she's doing here, why she's still living with me. The war is over, after all, there're only a few fights occasionally, and this refuge isn't as necessary as it was before although we still get visitors often."

"What about you? Your feelings don't matter, really? You also gave up lot of things and even killed the vampire who gave you the gift to save her..." I whisper watching her closely, confused by her attitude. I don't know this woman well but I do know she's not a coward and this is not like her. "You're punishing yourself... You believe you deserve this suffering because of your past actions, giving up Terra's love is your penance."

"God, no..." Iselen chuckles shaking her head. "I'm not as noble-minded as you seem to believe, Ruby, it's just that... Terra has sacrificed many things for this refuge to be a success and I don't want her to suffer more than necessary..."

"Masochist vampire..." I snort. "You're punishing yourself, wallowing in the depths of suffering instead of being brave and confessing your feelings for her... You're denying her the chance to do something. Terra is a grown woman, you should let her decide if it's worth giving up those things to stay by your side..." Suddenly, I stop speaking and look at her in shock when I finally understand. "You think she won't do it, don't you? You think she doesn't reciprocate your feelings, you're sure she'll turn you down gently breaking your heart and will run back to her pack leaving you behind, alone... This is why you prefer to leave things as they are and enjoy your arguments with her... and the casual sex when you both feel so lonely that you can't pretend you don't need each other anymore."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Iselen moves away from the wall and strolls towards the staircase with firm steps, trying to ignore me but I won't let her.

"How can you be so blind? Terra is crazy for you." The vampire stops to look at me in disbelief. "None of you can see it, it's fascinating..."

"I repeat that you don't know what you're talking about... It seems to me that the plush toy is more interested in you..."

"And you too," I snicker. "You both use me as a weapon to throw puns at each other... I feel a bit disappointed, to be honest, women fall at my feet usually... but this time I'm the third wheel."

"I'm only interested in your sweet neck, baby, but if you want to try how good my fangs can feel while we enjoy a threesome... I'm ready to play."

"You're doing it again, hiding behind dirty jokes to avoid admitting the reality..."

"You don't know shit..." Suddenly, Iselen is standing in front of me, showing me her fully extended fangs while frowning angrily. She's moved so fast I didn't see her getting closer and I can't escape from her rage because the wall behind me is blocking the way. I hold the towels in front of my chest as a useless protective barrier while feeling my legs shaking. "You don't know us, you've been living here for two days..."

"And yet, I can see the truth you refuse to admit..." I can't help answering despite I'm very scared right now.

"What are you doing?" Terra's voice coming from the staircase interrupt us, the werewolf is staring at us bewildered even if she can't see the expression on our faces because of Iselen's back blocking her line of sight.

"Iselen was apologizing for scaring me to death the other day, making me faint..." I answer looking at the vampire right into her reddish eyes. The pretty brunette takes a deep breath, pulling away from me and nods reluctantly... Luckily, the wolf can't see her grimacing from the staircase while her eyes change to brown.

"Seriously? Life can still surprise me despite I'm too old..."

"I'm sorry, Ruby Rose," the vampire cuts off Terra's speech. "I shouldn't have scared you like that, it was disrespectful and a lack of consideration... It won't happen again, I promise."

"Thank you," I answer with dignity feeling more confident now that the wolf is around. I even dare to lean forward and kiss her cheek while Iselen stares at me totally floored. Her skin is soft under my lips and smells heavenly, of soap and cinnamon from the bun she ate for breakfast. "I think I'm starting to like you a little..."

"Humans are nuts..." The vampire whispers shrugging while I pull away to carry the towels to my bedroom and Terra looks at us confused.

"Fuck, don't do that again!" The cry comes from the TV room downstairs scaring the death out of us, my dogs start barking and something made of glass shatters against the marble floor.

"Here we go again," both women sigh in exasperation before rushing down the stairs. I drop the towels on the side table carelessly and decide to follow them instead of seeking refuge in my bedroom, I think I'm becoming addicted to the Wind Rose dramas.

"Are you sure you are all right?" Terra asks me quietly, worried, while Iselen runs in the living room where someone is arguing heatedly and I nod, smiling.

"Yes, of course, I had a civilized conversation with the vampire," the blue-eyed woman raises an eyebrow, surprised. "She told me how much she admires you and how grateful she is for all the things you've done here... and things you've done for her..." Terra frowns, puzzled, and takes a quick look at Iselen's back like she can't believe what I'm telling her. Oh my god, these two girls are so clueless about what they feel for each other that's almost funny. "Who are you?" I ask perplexed when I notice the short guy wearing a dark blue suit and pointy red hat, with white hair and beard, who's standing in the middle of the room.

"Who do you think he is? The damned black cat!" Iselen shakes her head, desperately, flopping down on the couch while Raven holds my dogs and the witches clean the mess the crystal vase made on the floor. "I can't believe no one has ever died of a heart attack in this house given that everybody is determined to appear out of the blue suddenly, or to change from cat to gnome without previous warning, scaring the unsuspecting audience."

"I came to invite you to a party... It's autumn equinox," the guy ignores the vampire's grumbling and smiles like nothing weird is happening. The necromancers get closer, very interested in his words, and the fairies flutter excitedly around the room dropping golden glitter over us. "Elves, goblins, gnomes, nymphs, fairies and all magic creatures will gather in the clearing that's closer to the lake to eat and dance tomorrow night. We thought we could invite you because the more, the merrier..."

"And because you love Maeve's apple pie..." Raven replies holding Chance in her arms and the short guy nods, smiling shamelessly.

"We'll wait for you tomorrow... and for all the pies you can bake..." He turns into a black cat suddenly and runs away towards the garden through the French doors before my dogs can chase him.

"Your first magical party in a fairy tale forest, aren't you excited about it?" Zara asks me while jumping and clapping her hands like a child and Lea nods next to her, smiling. "You'll love it, we'll dance all night long... It'll be great fun."

"If you say so," I answer doubtfully watching Iselen tilting her head back on the couch, closing her eyes and sighing like she feels really tired, while Terra puts her tattooed hand on her shoulder to comfort her.