The Ruby and the Fool

The cavernous chamber was dark, and filled with magic, the glow of enchanted candles flickering against the stone walls. A dozen witches stood in a loose circle, their robes shimmering with the faintest traces of magic. At the center of them all stood Fixina, her emerald eyes burning with authority as she addressed the coven.

“The attack on the human was reckless,” she stated, her voice cold. “You all know how Killian feels about this sort of thing. If he finds out who was responsible, there will be consequences.”

Murmurs spread through the group, but none dared to meet her gaze.

“I suggest you all get your affairs in order before he decides to take matters into his own hands.”

A young witch, barely a century old, hesitantly stepped forward. “Mother Fixina, there is… something else.”

Fixina arched an eyebrow. “Spit it out.”

“The Blood Moon approaches,” the young witch said. “And with it, our magic will grow stronger, but only if we channel it properly. We need Toaxhillia.”

A hush fell over the room.

Fixina sighed. “Of course, we do.”

The Toaxhillia Ruby. A relic of immense power, used to keep the gates of Hell sealed. The Blood Moon would amplify its energy, making it the key to reinforcing the barrier that held back the most monstrous of demons. Without it, the balance between realms would be disrupted.

“The ruby is in the human realm,” another witch spoke up. “We must retrieve it before the moon reaches its peak.”

Fixina rubbed her temples. “I suppose I’ll have to do it myself.”

She wasn’t particularly thrilled about venturing into the human world for an errand, but there were few among them who could navigate that realm as effortlessly as she could. And if there was one thing she didn’t trust, it was letting an underling handle something this crucial.

Without another word, Fixina raised her hands, the air around her shimmering as she prepared to cross the veil into the human world.

The journey was instantaneous—a ripple in space, a shift in magic. One moment, she was in the depths of the coven’s sanctuary; the next, she was standing in the middle of a busy city street, surrounded by flashing lights, roaring engines, and the overwhelming scent of human life.

Fixina scowled. “I hate this place.”

———

Andrew was having a terrible day.

First, the police had brushed him off when he tried to file a report for Ramona’s disappearance. Then, Antonia had all but shoved him out the door when he tried to get more information from her. And now? Now he was standing outside a bar, contemplating whether to drown his frustration in alcohol or punch a wall.

Before he could decide, something unusual caught his eye.

A woman—tall, striking, and very out of place—was standing at the edge of the sidewalk, frowning at a glowing traffic light as if it had personally offended her.

Andrew tilted his head. “What the hell…?”

The woman took a step forward—right into the street.

Andrew barely had time to react before a speeding car came barreling toward her.

“Shit!” He lunged, grabbing her arm and yanking her back just as the car honked and swerved past.

Fixina staggered, her eyes widening. “What—”

“You almost got yourself killed!” Andrew snapped.

Fixina narrowed her eyes at him, then turned back to the traffic light. “That… thing lied to me.”

Andrew blinked. “Excuse me?”

“It was green, and then it changed. It didn’t even give me time to walk.” She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “Unreliable human inventions.”

Andrew ran a hand down his face. “Lady, it’s a traffic light. You have to wait for the little walking person to show up.”

Fixina frowned. “Walking person?”

Andrew pointed. “There.”

Fixina studied the tiny illuminated figure on the pedestrian signal before giving a short nod. “Ah. I see.”

Andrew squinted at her. Something was… off. Her clothing was just a little too out of place, her speech too precise, her presence almost unnaturally commanding.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” he asked.

Fixina smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You could say that.”

Andrew exhaled. “Great. Just what I needed today—some rich tourist with no common sense.”

Fixina tilted her head. “And what do you need today?”

“A damn miracle,” Andrew muttered.

Fixina hummed in amusement. “Well, you are quite lucky, then. Miracles happen to be my specialty.”

Andrew gave her a skeptical look. “Right. And I’m the king of England.”

Fixina smirked. “No, you’re not. But you are interesting.”

Andrew arched an eyebrow. “Should I be concerned?”

Fixina took a step closer, studying him as if he were a puzzle she was trying to solve. “You have the look of a man who has lost something valuable.”

Andrew stiffened. “That’s none of your business.”

“Perhaps,” Fixina said, her voice light. “Or perhaps fate has brought us together for a reason.”

Andrew scoffed. “Lady, I don’t believe in fate.”

Fixina chuckled. “That’s the wonderful thing about it—you don’t have to.”

Andrew sighed. “Look, I appreciate the weird conversation, but I’ve got more important things to do.”

Fixina watched as he turned to leave, her lips twitching in amusement. Then, just as he took a step forward, she spoke again.

“You seek someone, don’t you?”

Andrew froze.

Fixina smiled. “A woman. A loved one, perhaps? A friend?”

Andrew slowly turned back to her, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “How do you know that?”

Fixina merely shrugged. “Call it intuition.”

Andrew hesitated. He didn’t know why, but something about this woman made him feel like she knew far more than she was letting on. And if she could help—

“You said miracles were your specialty,” he said cautiously. “What does that mean, exactly?”

Fixina’s smile widened. “It means, Andrew, that you may have just stumbled upon the best chance you’ve got.”

Andrew frowned. “Wait—how do you know my name?”

Fixina winked. “I told you. Fate.”

Andrew groaned. “This is gonna be a long night.”

Fixina laughed. “Oh, you have no idea.”

———

And just like that, the pieces of fate began to shift once more.