Temptation

Streams of crimson light swim off the cold, hard surface. Elizabeth runs her fingers through the red beams, staring at the precious stone. Even from two stories above, enveloped in a thick glass case, the ruby has always made its presence known.

“You’re sure we won’t get caught?”

“Aaron, stop being so paranoid. We’ve gone over every detail of the plan. Dad’s not here, and neither are we. You’re in Fiji and I’m in Greece. He’s made all the arrangements, including ample evidence on our social media accounts.”

She moves the ladder to the bookcase. Aaron holds it in place while Elizabeth silently scales the rungs. She passes numerous volumes, each of great value, but she’s only interested in one thing. When she reaches the top shelf, the wood slab is barren, covered in cob webs. All that sits on this shelf is the ruby. She gasps as white sparks dance off its edges. This is the closest she’s ever been to the stone, and it starts to whisper all of her deepest longings. The shelf moans as she tries to slide the case, but it doesn’t budge. Feeling around every side, a latch is found. Elizabeth smirks as she discovers it’s not locked. The glass door opens and she reaches inside.

Two weeks earlier

               “Dad, I don’t understand. If the ruby isn’t in our inheritance, where is it going after you die?”

               “Why do you care so much? Why are you so obsessed with that stone? Do you not have enough? Is there not enough food on your plate or clothes in your closet? Do you not own a Berkin bag? Everything you’ve ever needed or wanted has been provided, countless times over. Why do you fixate on the one thing I’ve said no to?”

               “It’s not so much that I want it, I just want to understand why. Why is it not going to me or Aaron? Do you want to be buried with it? It must have significance. Why do you deprive the world of it?”

               “I’ve told you why.”

               “You and your stories. You filled our minds with fairy tales and curses as children. But I’m not a child anymore Dad. I want to know the real reason.”

               “I don’t know what to do to make you believe me. So, all I can say is what I’ve said every time we’ve had this conversation since you were a teenager. The ruby is off-limits. If you so much as touch it, you will lose everything.”

               “Ugh!” Elizabeth stomps off, arms swinging forcefully by her sides.

               Aaron hears the fast clicking of heels and emerges as Elizabeth storms out the front door. He looks at his dad, wishing he knew what to say, then he chases after his sister. “Elizabeth, wait up!”

               They stand side by side outside the estate. A winding, paved drive stretches out before them. Japanese holly bushes line the drive, giving the illusion that the path is part of a labyrinth. The siblings used to pretend the maze led to a secret world, and in a way it did. It led to their gothic style, four story mansion.

Elizabeth isn’t interested in games right now. She hops into her silver Tesla. Aaron scrambles into the passenger seat. She hits the gas and careens through the maze.

***

               “I don’t know why you keep pushing dad, he’s never going to budge.” Arron takes a long pull of his IPA. The bar is crowded, whispers of conversations around them bleed into their booth.

               Elizabeth plays with the cocktail stick in her glass, swirling the olive in her martini. “It just doesn’t make sense. That ruby has been a part of our family since before we can remember. Why wouldn’t we inherit it? It’s not like it’s going to disappear the moment he dies. Who’s going to get it?”

               A slender man, dressed in a silk black suit, approaches the booth. His large, emerald eyes bulge out of his long face. A miniature nose makes him appear more reptile than human. “Excuse me.” He hisses, a lisp producing his words in a snake-like fashion.

               Elizabeth bristles. “What do you want?”

               “I couldn’t help but overhear you mention a ruby. And looking at the two of you, I’m going to venture a guess. Are you Aaron and Elizabeth Godfrey?”

               Aaron easily replies, “Yes.”

               “Aaron!”

               “What? Ouch!” He rubs his throbbing shin.

               “Look mister, we’re just out for a drink. We have no interest in business deals right now. We don’t care what you’re selling.”

               “Oh, I’m not selling anything. I’m buying, or at least, I know those interested in buying.”

               Her curiosity piqued; Elizabeth softens her tone. “And just what would you be interested in buying?”

               “The ruby of course. I know your father has kept that gem a family secret for decades. I’m sure you’ve looked but you’ve never found any information on it, have you?”

               Elizabeth stares at her drink, pasting a neutral expression on her face.

               “I’ll take your silence as a sign that I’m right. Well, this could be your lucky night. I know all about that ruby. It’s pigeon blood you know. The truest red of all rubies. And Arthur, your father, owns the largest single cut stone in the world.” The man pauses to allow this information to sink in, then he throws his pale fingers against his chest. “Listen to me, where are my manners, my name is Sullivan Snyder. I’m a gemologist appraiser. I’ve spent a large part of my career hoping to lay eyes on the Dragon Egg. That’s the name of your father’s ruby.”

               “Why don’t you join us, Mr. Snyder? Scoot over, Aaron.” Elizabeth gestures towards the booth where Aaron sits. Aaron pierces Elizabeth with dagger eyes. But she gives the familiar tilt of her head and without words, their exchange eases Aaron to slide over with his beer.

               “I need to freshen up. Order me another martini while I’m gone, will you brother? Extra dirty this time. Mr. Snyder, I look forward to hearing more about this Dragon Egg when I return.”

               Aaron presses against the wall as if it were his lover. He keeps his eyes focused on Mr. Synder. Right when he builds up the courage to speak, his phone buzzes. The screen shows it’s from Elizabeth. His face contorts as he quickly unlocks the screen. The text reads: I just googled the ruby. If this guy is right and dad owns the Dragon Egg, it’s worth over $800 million! People have been searching for this thing for years! Buy him a drink, we need to hear him out.

               Aaron gestures to the waitress, “I’ll have a martini, extra dirty, another IPA; and what will you have Mr. Snyder?”

               “Please, call me Sullivan. I know it’s a little fruity, but I think I’ll have an appletini.” The last word slithers out as a mischievous grin lifts his small lips.

               Elizabeth approaches, tossing her curled locks behind her. She’s now sporting a dazzling smile, all traces of annoyance gone. “Sorry about that, boys. Where were we?” Sullivan watches her slide into the space across from him. A spark of electricity zaps from him to her as their eyes meet. Her heart stirs with a devilish desire. “Mr. Synder, you were sharing information about this ruby.”

               “I’m not naive, Elizabeth. Can I call you Elizabeth?”

               “Of course,” she says, a little uneasy.

               “You left to check up on what I’d said about the ruby. To check up on me as well.”

               Her cheeks redden and she pulls back from the table.

               “It’s alright. That’s good. It means you’re truly interested in what I have to offer.”

               “What do you mean, what you have to offer? What are we doing?” Aaron interjects with a huff. “Elizabeth, you know Dad is never going to sell the ruby. I’m sorry Sullivan but this is a waste of everyone’s time. The ruby is not ours, it’s our fathers and as you’re already well aware, he’s made it so people don’t even know he owns it. We never even knew the ruby had its own name. We will never convince him to sell it.”

               “Oh, how very different you two are. Hard to imagine you’re twins. Elizabeth already knows what we’re doing here, but I’ll provide you with a bit of clarity. I know more than anyone that Arthur Godfrey will not sell the Dragon Egg. But that doesn’t mean it has to remain in his possession.”

               Aaron furrows his brow. His face scrunches together, then his eyes open wide as the treacherous idea awakens in his mind. “You can’t be serious!” He turns to face his sister. “Elizabeth! You wouldn’t dream of entertaining this thought. I don’t care how much the ruby is worth. We are not stealing from dad!”

               “Lower your voice.” Elizabeth growls. Then she whispers. “Aaron, listen to me. It’s not just about the money. Look at dad. Is he happy with that thing in the house? You remember the stories he’s told us. He is afraid of it and wants us afraid of it too. What if it was no longer in the house? What if we free him of this burden he carries? He can think someone finally discovered what he had and took it. And it’ll never be a temptation for his children again. How thrilled do you think he would be? Maybe he’ll stop acting crazy.”

               Sullivan darts his eyes back and forth between the siblings. “We should move somewhere more private to continue this discussion.”

Present moment

               Elizabeth wraps her hand around the ruby, and something shifts in her body. When she pulls it out, the ladder rung snaps under her feet. The wood splinters as she tries to grasp a rail with one hand. The ruby stays firmly clutched in the other. Elizabeth lands on her back, a shockwave of pain surging from her core to extremities. The ruby rolls away.

               A moan escapes her body. She blinks several times, unsure of what she sees. The eggshell cathedral ceiling now looks like rotting boards just a few feet up. The ladder is short and in complete disrepair. The pristine, leather-bound tomes are gone. In their place are worn copies of books; some are missing pieces of their covers; some are barely held together at all. “What is going on…” Elizabeth whispers, her head and body reeling.

               “Elizabeth, are you all right?”

               “I’m not sure, something’s wrong.” She tries to sit up while continuing to look around. All the furniture in the study is gone. The study itself is gone. The dilapidated bookcase now sits in a kitchen, if it could be called a kitchen. Three feet of dingy counter space with a single lower cabinet sit beside a tarnished sink. The faucet is held together with tape; the knob for the hot water is missing. And Elizabeth can see every detail of the kitchen because it sits less than four feet in front of her. The entire room appears no larger than eight feet by eight feet. As she looks around, an odd comment her dad once made surfaces in her mind. The kitchen is only eight feet for me. I’m sure your closet is bigger. Shock hits her lungs with a second blow. She runs her hands across the floor, grasping for the forbidden treasure as she gasps for air, “Where’s the ruby?”

               “It’s right here.”

               “No, don’t touch it!” Elizabeth snaps, but it’s too late.

Aaron scoops up the ruby. For a moment, he turns to stone. Then the ruby vanishes and Aaron is back. His head jerks in every direction. “What just happened? Where are we?” He walks to the bookcase and runs his hand across the tattered specimens, his eyes swimming in an ocean of despair. “Dad was telling the truth. The stories were true. The stories were true!” He howls as he collapses on the broken linoleum.

Elizabeth scooches to the wall and props herself up. It’s rough and weathered, and she pulls her hand away as it crosses something slimy. She wipes it on her slacks to discover she’s no longer wearing slacks. The Gucci ensemble has been replaced by rags. What once was maybe a respectable pair of pants is now threadbare strips of fabric with frayed edges and a large hole over the right knee. Bile creeps into the back of her throat as she feels the pants have a grimy texture of their own.

The siblings sit side by side in the tiny room. Elizabeth stares vacantly at the rust-covered refrigerator, watching a cockroach scurry across its side. Aaron’s face is buried in his hands. His legs are tucked up against him and he rocks, as though he is a young child. Solitary moans escape him between the continuous sobs. While the present overwhelms, echoes from the past bitterly taunt their minds.

A story from Arthur Godfrey on countless nights in childhood

Long ago, a large red stone was discovered in a cave of Myanmar. This wasn’t a surprise, many red stones came from this place, but something about this one was different. Shortly after anyone touched this stone, everyone around them thought they’d lost their minds. But they weren’t insane and with time, everyone believed in the curse.

The stone was thrown into the darkest depths of the earth. There’s rumors one person traveled all the way to Antarctica in an attempt to rid the world of its evil. But the stone always resurfaced; no one could make it disappear. So, a glass case was built for it. Tucked safely inside, the barrier allowed the stone to exist without destroying everyone around it. And for a long time, no one suffered from its terrible curse.

But time can play tricks with our minds. Generations are born that learn of the past but never believe, because no one of their age has endured it. Truth turns to fairy tale. And all that’s left is the siren call. So, when I purchased a large, red stone behind a glass case, I didn’t heed the warnings. I peered into its crimson heart and felt a longing I’d never had before. It whispered wealth and power to me. All I had to do was hold it in my bare hands. And when I gave in, my life was never the same.

You see children, this comfy mansion that surrounds you; I can’t see it. I see a worn-out shack; the roof has holes, and rain and snow fall on me. My clothes appear clean and new to you. But to me, they are rags that smell and barely cover my body. No matter how much food is on my plate, I see a tiny portion that never fills my belly. Whatever drink I sip, the taste is bitter on my lips. You experience air conditioning where I feel stifling heat. Where the warm glow of a fire caresses your face, I suffer in the numbing cold. And though I appear perfectly healthy, sickness and pain are tied to my sides.

Because the curse, my dear children, is complete poverty. And this poverty has a specific cruelty. It is invisible to the outside world. So, when you see me angry that something is never enough, it’s because for me, it really isn’t. Anything I have will never be enough, because I don’t get to experience what I actually have. I always experience much less. And I share this with you not to scare you, or make you feel bad for your father. But to plead with you, with every breath I take, to never, ever touch the ruby.

A little time passes, then a shrill creak resonates from another room, followed by a gentle whoosh. Heavy footsteps hit squeaky boards and a shadow falls across them. The pair look up and see their dad. Pain covers his face as he sees the state of his children. He drops to his knees and wails.

Beating a fist into the cracked floor, he groans. “Why couldn’t you just listen to me?”

Elizabeth snaps to reality, “That serpent, if he hadn’t spoken to us, this wouldn’t have happened. I never would have tried to take it on my own. But that man, he convinced us it was best for everyone.”

“You hardly needed convincing!” Aaron drops his hands from his face and scowls at his sister. “He never convinced me. But I just had to listen to you. I let you control me, again!”

“Children!” Their dad roars. Then his anger fades and he looks at them with melancholy. “I never wanted this for you. I tried to give you all the wealth in the world, so it’s call wouldn’t affect you. It was the only thing I ever said no to for either of you. But I was a fool. I didn’t lay hands on it until you two were born. I’d been given multiple warnings of keeping it in its case, but the call was so strong. I was weak, and I was a grown man. How could I have ever believed that what I offered was enough? What chance did you have?”

Aaron looks around, shaking with fear. “Is this how you’ve always experienced the world?”

“Once I touched the ruby, yes.”

Elizabeth mutters bitterly, “Where did it go?”

Her dad replies, “The ruby? Now that its curse has fallen on every member of the house, it no longer needs to be here. Every time I disposed of it, whether buried in the ground or thrown into the ocean, it always returned to that top shelf.”   

Reality presses its weight on the trio. They all sit dejected on the floor. Elizabeth rubs her arms, shivering. Aaron curls into a ball, hoping to disappear. And Arthur Godfrey stares at his two children, heart-broken they now have to experience the world he’s endured for over 20 years.