Summary

The narrative shifts focus to Letitia’s sister, Ruby. She is working as a maid. During a party hosted by her employer, a guest steals a piece of jewelry. Ruby is blamed for the theft, fired, and nearly charged by the police for the crime. She then struggles to find a new job. One evening, while in a bar, a handsome white man—Caleb Braithwhite—begins flirting with Ruby. He introduces himself; Ruby has never heard of him. They drink together and converse for a long time. Ruby talks about her mother, who believed that magic was real but that it was only wielded by powerful white men. On the sidewalk, Ruby and Caleb are attacked by muggers; Caleb uses supernatural powers to fight them off. Caleb offers Ruby a job with pay and other benefits that he does not mention. Ruby drunkenly accepts...