Ruby

After about two hours of driving, we finally make it to our destination. The outskirts. We park the car and get out as we look around. The buildings look as if they are about to crumble and I have never seen streets so dirty. The people look no better. They look as if they have not seen a shower in weeks let alone a nice change of clothes. They wear shirts and pants with holes in them and, the lucky ones, have worn down shoes.

"Why do people live here?" I ask CJ.

"Most lost their jobs and couldn't find new ones," he tells me, "some of the children are orphans who didn't have anywhere else to go. And very few are Gem-Silver families."

"So there are some?"

"More like two."

"How do you know this?"

"I used to come here with my father. He would bring food to two of the families that lived here. I never understood why until now. He was probably repaying them for what they did for him."

"Where are their houses?" I question.

"This way," he answers as he puts his arm around my shoulders and guides me down the road.

After reaching the end of the street, we end up at a small shack. It looks as if it is big enough to house two children. CJ walks up to his and knocks so lightly it is as if he believes it will fall at any second. Not even a minute passes when the door opens and a small girl with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes answers the door.

"Hi, Charity," CJ greets, "is your mother home?"

She smiles and nods at CJ then runs into the shack and comes back with a woman with beautiful teal hair and gray eyes holding a baby with matching gray eyes.

"CJ!" the woman exclaims as she gives him a side hug, "it's nice to see you again."

"You too, Hope," he responds.

They end their hug then Hope looks to me.

"Who's this?" she asks.

"This is Ruby," CJ tells her.

"It is nice to meet you," I say with a smile.

"You too, dear," Hope responds.

"Sorry to barge in on you, Hope," CJ tells her, "but we're in the same dilemma my parents once were."

"So, Citrine finally told you."

"Citrine?"

"That was your father's name before he turned. How is he?"

"He passed about a year ago when the sickness was going around, along with my mother."

"I'm sorry to hear that," she tells CJ, "my mother saw a lot of spirit in him."

"How is Nysa?" CJ asks.

"She faced the same fate as your parents."

"I am sorry," I tell Hope, "and, I know this is a bad question, but did you say Nysa?"

"I did," Hope answers, "she was named after my grandmother from a very long time ago. Around the time of knights and dragons. Why do you ask dear?"

"Because that is the name from the legend the Gems hold onto."

"Oh, I've heard of the legend, Ruby."

"Is it true?"

"Partially."

"Can I hear what really happened?" I ask.

She looks at me a bit skeptical. Then a smile makes its way to her face. We follow her inside and sit on a small couch as she sits in a matching chair. Charity sits to the side as she places with her "toys," a small can and stones. She tosses the stones and tries to get them into the can. When this is over, I need to do something for this family.

"It happened a very long time ago," Hope begins, "Nysa's mother was a Gem, whose family was very well off, and her father was a Silver, who was a royal guard. They met and instantly fell in love with each other very much. Due to this, they moved to the outer region of their village and began a life they could live together but it was still close enough for TJ to work as a knight so suspicion wouldn't rise. A few years past and they had a beautiful baby girl. She had orange hair, like her mother, and gray eyes, like her father. They named her Nysa, meaning new beginnings. Unknown to them, their child had the power to control lighting. Also unknown to them, unknown to everyone, the child of a Gem and a Silver was a Sorceress. One afternoon, Topaz and Nysa were playing in the yard when Nysa fell and scraped her knee. She began to cry and a small storm formed in the sky above Nysa. Small bursts of lightning formed in the cloud. Topaz panicked and ran over to her child. She calmed her and the storm vanished. That was when it was known that the offspring of a Gem and a Silver had a certain magic."

"So the village was not burned to the ground?" I question.

"No," Hope answers, "word spread of the child with powers and many would exaggerate the story to keep Gems and Silvers apart."

CJ and I exchanged a glance then turned our attention back to Hope.

"So how would a Gem turn into a Silver?" I ask.

"It's painful and exhausting; however, quite easy for a Sorcerer or Sorceress," Hope tells me, "you just need to find a Silver who truly wants to become a Gem."

"That should be easy," CJ sighs.

Just then, my phones goes off and I see a message from Sapphire.

Sapphire: I met a Silver a few weeks ago and we have been dating. We do not know what to do. It is forbidden.

Me: I may have an idea.

"I think I found our Silver," I announce.