Betrayal

A retelling of a classic fairy tale that takes a completely different path over the river and through the Wood...

An EXCERPT from

Ruby Hood, A Twistedly True Tale

By Aspen Hite

Ruby paced the plain gray room two stories under the mayoral mansion. Small. Quiet. Still. But enough room to walk in a circle and think. The mayor had taken a team to check out the damage to the Wood. Ruby had stayed back with Kassandra to keep an eye on Dylan. That had been two hours ago. At this point, the only thing shuffling through Ruby’s mind was horror after horror.

Then she had him right across from her, on the other side of the one-way mirror, like something out of a cop drama. She balled her fists and stilled as a glare etched itself upon her lips. Folding her arms across her chest, she stared. Him. Not at all like the Dylan Ruby had come to trust and rely on.

Sitting at the rectangular metal table, he looked relaxed and comfortable, as if he was waiting on a friend to grab a bite.  There was another little difference about him, an air of confidence. Something he usually lacked. 

“Aren’t you going to come in here and talk to me, Ruby Hood? I know you can see me,” He called. "Come on, in."

Catching his own reflection in the mirror, he ran a hand through his longish hair. Then his easy-going grin went rogue, and spite sneered across his face. “Or are you going to cow-tow to the Beasts, just like your traitor granny.”

Fury singed through Ruby and she took a step toward the door, only to be stopped by a tight grip on her shoulder.

“He’s taunting you. Stay calm,” Kassandra Wolf said, eyeing Ruby “But it would be better for you to talk to him, instead of waiting for Jed to return.”

“I know and I’ll deal with him,” Ruby said, forcing herself to take a deep breath, “He is my responsibility.”

She walked into the interrogation room and sat down on a steel chair across from him. With her hands folded in her lap, she sat still and tried to reach him telepathically. Dylan? Are you there?

Nothing. She narrowed her eyes and smiled, “How are they treating you here, Dylan?”

“That’s rich, Ruby Hood. How do you think these Beasts are treating me? They beat me. They starve me.”

She raised a suspicious eyebrow, “Well you hide it well. There’s not a single scratch or mark on you.”

“What can I say? I’m resilient?”

“From bruising and broken bones? That’s magical, right there, Dylan. So tell me, how did you become so well versed in magic?  Is your witch friend helping you?”

His lips thinned into a terse line, and his words came out in a hiss, “I guess we’ll just have to see, won’t we Ruby Hood?”

A deluge of thoughts raced through Ruby's mind. More than anything, she wanted to lunge across the table and strangle him, encircling her slim fingers around his arrogant neck. However, several deep breaths curtailed her feelings, and she forced a smile, willing the right words to come to her.

A knock on the door interrupted them. Kassandra poked her head through, “Miss Hood. We need you.”

“And they do, Ruby, they need you to try and save them, but you can’t. You won’t be able to. You’re weak and inexperienced,” Dylan jeered, as Ruby pushed her chair back and walked to the door, “the Unnaturalness is coming for you, Ruby Hood, and it’s going to destroy you, your Grams and all those you love. The Wood was just the first step. I’m so glad me and my dad chose the right side. THEY’RE COMING FOR YOU, RUBY HOOD.”

His horrid words and cackle of laughter tore at her, clawing at her mind, like a feral animal as she ascended from the dungeons to the main level of the mansion. When the elevator doors opened, Ruby took a breath and braced for whatever awaited her on this floor.

Feel like you're missing something? 

Check out the beginning(ish): New Twist on an Iconic Tale