Not one man should have all that power.

*Warren moved quieter than most people - he was always very aware in public to not let his guard down and move with the velvety, Indian step of which came natural to him. His manor was the place where he could let his guard down and move and be the near superhuman entity of Warren Travers, but not now. Because Ruby was here and he could smell the salt of her tears, nearly feel the irregularity of her heartbeat. He watched her with a frown between his brows, stepping into the kitchen and gently taking care to push down with his large feet to alert her to his presence as he did.*

*Warren trailed behind Ruby and rested his hands very tentatively on her bare shoulders as she sat down on the chair. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, inhaling the sweetness of her hair. His fingertips danced on either side of her neck and met in the middle where he cupped her throat with his large hands, almost cradling her head.* “I missed you too. I do not very much appreciate when you’re out and about on your own.”

“Ruby come here” At his voice, the slight demand and urgency of it she knew it had to be her brother. She had turned to face him slowly, and let out an angry sob as she stared at him. He finally looked like the man he had pretended to be through his teenage years, at 24 she wasn’t sure what she had expected of his appearance because she hadn’t expected him to return. So much had changed, she had learned to live with her own free will, she decided things for herself now. He had left behind a meek 14 year old girl, and had come back to a woman who had been through so much more than he could have imagined. Ruby come here, echoed through her mind now as she stood at the gate to Warren’s house. Her hands were shaking as she fumbled with the latch, tear stains smeared all across her cheeks. The various force-fields that encased his manor had been altered by Warren to allow her in and stepping within these boundaries caused fresh tears to fall, the comfort and safety she felt from being merely near Warren was unparalleled. She stumbled to the front door and pushed it open, not remembering to close it Ruby wandered to the kitchen. She pulled open the fridge door and stared into it, the light causing her eyes to sting and run even more so than before.

*Warren moved quieter than most people - he was always very aware in public to not let his guard down and move with the velvety, Indian step of which came natural to him. His manor was the place where he could let his guard down and move and be the near superhuman entity of Warren Travers, but not now. Because Ruby was here and he could smell the salt of her tears, nearly feel the irregularity of her heartbeat. He watched her with a frown between his brows, stepping into the kitchen and gently taking care to push down with his large feet to alert her to his presence as he did.*

warren-alexander-travers:

*Something stirred deep inside Warren’s black heart. Ruby was spilling her guts out to him; finally telling him the things he’d of course known all along, but longed to hear. It was delicious, absolutely delicious, to see her defenseless before him, laying there like a broken porcelain doll. It also made him feel a tinge of remorse that he’d hurt her like this... Nevertheless, it was a means to an end and Warren never felt remorse for more than a fleeting moment here and there. Still, he could count the times he’d felt it on one hand.*

*Warren raised his hand and struck Ruby full force straight on her cheekbone near her eye in a lightening fast movement. It made a cracking sound that filled the entire room. He pushed her off his lap so she fell to the floor. He rose from his seat. It took a good amount of his willpower not to kick her repeatedly in the stomach.* God, I am so sick of you, Ruby. *His voice was a growl and he pointed his finger at her.* Is there nothing genuine within you? Must you scoff at every wound as if you cannot feel the pain that is actually killing you? Do you really think I am that fucking blind to your nature? *He leaned down and closed his right hand around her neck, squeezing tightly before slamming her head into the oak floor and letting go. The next words came spilling out of him from a place he didn’t know of.* “You wound me when you speak like that. You wound me.”

*Warren stood as frozen for a long moment, before he began to roar with laughter. Soon, his entire body shook with it. He wiped away tears of mirth from his eyes. He spoke in a silky tone.* “Oh, this is rich, this is truly rich! Ruby Louise Everett, the little girl lost! You delude yourself into thinking you can handle whatever I throw at you and that you know my true nature, yet you cannot handle even a mere beating. Do you know the things I’ve done to girls younger than you? Do you know the things I love to do? You are such a child. *He grabbed her shoulders and shook her roughly.* “This is me, dearheart, and these are the things I do.” *He raised his hand and slapped her in the exact same spot as before, bending down and pushing his knee between her legs.* “Do you want more or have you tasted enough? Monsters seem so romantic from afar, don’t they...” *He pinned her arms over her head and brushed his lips over her hers amorously, tasting blood.* “How does a monster look up close? Tell me, Ruby Louise.”

*Warren narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer to Ruby, smiling in a cold manner that didn’t reach his eyes. Once again, he was dangerous.* “Oh, do stop the vulgarities, they do not become you. Yes, I was asking if you’ve fucked anyone else. Now, however, as you’ve insinuated you’ve met someone, I am enquiring regarding that as well, my pet.”

*Warren raised his hand and struck Ruby full force straight on her cheekbone near her eye in a lightening fast movement. It made a cracking sound that filled the entire room. He pushed her off his lap so she fell to the floor. He rose from his seat. It took a good amount of his willpower not to kick her repeatedly in the stomach.* God, I am so sick of you, Ruby. *His voice was a growl and he pointed his finger at her.* Is there nothing genuine within you? Must you scoff at every wound as if you cannot feel the pain that is actually killing you? Do you really think I am that fucking blind to your nature? *He leaned down and closed his right hand around her neck, squeezing tightly before slamming her head into the oak floor and letting go. The next words came spilling out of him from a place he didn’t know of.* “You wound me when you speak like that. You wound me.”

*Warren studied Ruby as she brushed her fingers through his raven hair, all her insecurities so appallingly apparent to him, subtle as he was sure Ruby thought she were. There were so much pain behind her doe eyes.* “I am glad to hear that.” *He stroked his fingertips in a featherlight touch up her breakable spine.* “How did you occupy yourself while I was away?” *Something dark entered his eyes.* “Have you had anyone?”

*Warren narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer to Ruby, smiling in a cold manner that didn’t reach his eyes. Once again, he was dangerous.* “Oh, do stop the vulgarities, they do not become you. Yes, I was asking if you’ve fucked anyone else. Now, however, as you’ve insinuated you’ve met someone, I am enquiring regarding that as well, my pet.”

*Warren looked down at her fondly and gave a slight shake of his head, pulling her close to his body. He gave a lock of her blonde hair an admonishing tug with his left hand.* “Hush, now. I am not in the mood to paint watercolours on that ivory skin of yours today.”

*Warren studied Ruby as she brushed her fingers through his raven hair, all her insecurities so appallingly apparent to him, subtle as he was sure Ruby thought she were. There were so much pain behind her doe eyes.* “I am glad to hear that.” *He stroked his fingertips in a featherlight touch up her breakable spine.* “How did you occupy yourself while I was away?” *Something dark entered his eyes.* “Have you had anyone?”

*Warren studied Ruby gazing out the window of his mansion, looking at his beautifully kept garden cloaked by shadows. He walked up behind her, his footsteps ever unsettlingly silent for a man of his stature, and ran his large hands in a caress up her bare arms. His lips quirked appreciatively.* “Your skin feels as smooth as silk. I suppose that is one of the perks of bedding an eighteen-year-old, hmm?”

Ruby’s short gasp broke the silence before Warren’s words did. Although she had become somewhat accustomed to his stealth, Ruby constantly found herself being caught off guard. “Hm” she replied softly, leaning back into him. “Then again there are so many perks that you must get confused in your old age” Ruby teased turning to face Warren. 

*Warren looked down at her fondly and gave a slight shake of his head, pulling her close to his body. He gave a lock of her blonde hair an admonishing tug with his left hand.* “Hush, now. I am not in the mood to paint watercolours on that ivory skin of yours today.”

*Warren turned his head and shot a quick look at his two business partners. It was a clear and definite “not now” though he was smiling while he did it. They were right after all; she was his plaything. Out of choice and not force, however, but his pet nonetheless. He rested his eyes on the man she’d come with. Warren had never seen him before which meant he wasn’t important. He knew everyone of importance. He searched the man’s eyes and saw that they were a perfect carbon copy of his Ruby’s. Ah. How he enjoyed the easy way dominant genes sometimes cleared things up. This was the infamous Mr. Everett whom Ruby loathed so much and plotted to murder. Her father. This would be interesting.*

*Warren turned slowly towards Emmett with his nose slightly turned up as if he’d just smelled something unpleasant. Emmett’s passive aggression spoke of a truly weak individual. Of course Warren had deduced that already - no one powerful slapped their daughter around. There was nothing Warren despised more than weak men. Weak men couldn’t handle power nor temptation and they would turn on you in a dime. He liked to crush them and watch the dust scatter between his fingers. That was what he currently wanted to do with Emmett Everett. Still, as usual, he didn’t show his true feelings for more than the mere flash of a second before the ever charming and calm look was back on his handsome features. Had it interested him, Warren Travers would have made one hell of a poker player.

Ruby could feel her agitation building, the receptionist had been back and forth for the past fifteen minutes carrying polite hushed messages between her and her father, a far cry for their interactions at home. She huffed once more as she glared at the woman infront of her who was now settling back into her chair. “Mr.Everett is in fact in a meeting, he told me to tell you that you knew this already and you should wait here until he’s finished up in there. Alright pet?” She bit her tongue and spun around, marching over the the wooden seats that waited in his less than impressive corridor. Ruby knew for a fact that Emmett wasn’t in a meeting, and was taking his time talking to one of the women he seemed to entertain regularly. After a further 20 minutes of sitting in silence and stewing on her annoyance, his office door finally opened and the smell of cheap cigar smoke came with him into the hall. Reading her father was too easy, quickly her bratishness changed to regret as she stood up to greet him. He walked straight past her, knocking her arm as he went. “How many times Ruby” he hissed under his breath. She followed behind him quickly, her head down as they descended the stairs. “How many fucking times do I have to tell you to stop sending Louise in whilst I’m in a meeting” Emmett took a sharp right turn. “You weren’t in a meeting” she breathed quietly, her gaze on his shoes. The distinct flinch of his fingers that Ruby saw out of the corner of her eye confirmed what she had feared, he had heard her. He stopped and turned to her, in the middle of the many people crossing around them. “Now you listen to me. Look at me” He demanded, his jaw square as his survayed his daughter. Ruby shook her head, “I didn-” but her father cut her off. Her palms grew hot as she looked up at him. “10 minutes I ask you to wait. 10 minutes and you can’t manage that.” Emmett watched her mouth open again and shook his head, “I don’t want excuses Ruby. We’ll discuss this when we’re home” She nodded, murmuring an apology as he turned on his heel.

“Ah, now I understand,” *said Warren with a smile quirking his lips and a gleam of humor twinkling in his eyes. Two important men clad in expensive robes stood next to him with shrewd expressions. He grabbed their shoulders and squeezed in playful camaraderie. He towered above both of them just like he always did with all men. At first he had seen his height as a burden since it was so clearly out of the norm, but later in life he had grown to deeply appreciate that one always knew when Warren Travers entered the room.* “She’s certainly a pretty plaything. Do make sure the Imperius doesn’t wear off however, gentlemen. Allow some circulation to leave your neither regions for other more important places every now and then.” *They all roared with laughter and took one final look at the pretty, young receptionist that gave them a blank look before beaming like an obedient dog. The smile didn’t quite meet her eyes. Warren noticed subtle bruises after fingermarks on her neck hidden discretely behind an expensive string of pearls. He had long since stopped thinking to himself that this was the type of thing he would oppose to if he had any kind of functional moral compass.*

Of course. Ruby heard Warren before she saw him and she felt her stomach knot at the thought of him speaking with her father. Her demeanor changed completely when around Warren, and now she was confused. Should she humiliate herself, remain silent and reserved? Or should she be her usual self and risk the consequences once she got home, simply to feel the satisfaction, no matter how brief. A woman in a canary yellow coat bumped into her arm and Ruby sighed, preparing herself. Her eyes moved from her fathers feet to Warren’s face and she smiled, almost apologetically, waiting for her father to speak.

*Warren turned his head and shot a quick look at his two business partners. It was a clear and definite “not now” though he was smiling while he did it. They were right after all; she was his plaything. Out of choice and not force, however, but his pet nonetheless. He rested his eyes on the man she’d come with. Warren had never seen him before which meant he wasn't important. He knew everyone of importance. He searched the man’s eyes and saw that they were a perfect carbon copy of his Ruby’s. Ah. How he enjoyed the easy way dominant genes sometimes cleared things up. This was the infamous Mr. Everett whom Ruby loathed so much and plotted to murder. Her father. This would be interesting.*