Ruby (Supernatural)

Infobox character
colour = Black
colour text = Yellow
name = Ruby
series = Supernatural


caption =Screenshot from Sin City
first = The Magnificent Seven
last =
cause =
creator = Eric Kripke
portrayer = Katie Cassidy
Genevieve Cortese
episode = 10
nickname =
alias =
species = Demon
gender = Female
age = Hosts appears to be in their early 20's; Ruby herself was alive during the Plague and is thus considerably older
born =
death =
specialty =
occupation = Demon,
Witch (formerly)
title =
family =
spouse =
significantother=
children =
relatives =
residence =
religion =
nationality =
imdb_id = 0029488

Ruby is a fictional character on The CW Television Network's "Supernatural" portrayed by Katie Cassidy (Season 3) and Genevieve Cortese (Season 4).

Biography

In the beginning, not much is known about Ruby, a feisty blonde first seen in "The Magnificent Seven". We are introduced to Ruby as a woman who trails Sam Winchester. She seemingly focuses on Sam throughout the episode, coming close to approaching him once but disappearing by the time he turns around. At the end of the episode, when Sam is in danger of being killed by Pride and two other Sins, Ruby appears once again, this time wielding a knife with which she kills the demons, their death throes similar to that of those killed by the Colt.

Ruby then appears in the next episode, "The Kids Are Alright", with a seemingly less than significant role. She remains cryptic with her motives and does not reveal much, except that she wants to help Sam. She informs Sam that there is work to be done, referring to the changelings present in the episode. She does not return until the end of the episode, whereupon Sam demands she tell him who she is. She finally relents, and closes her eyes, reopening them with the typical demonic black irises. Sam threatens to shoot her, but then lowers the gun, allowing Ruby to live and continue to "help him".

In "Malleus Maleficarum", it is revealed that she used to be a witch who sold her soul to the demon that was about to kill Sam, before her death during the Plague. Later at the motel, Dean steps outside and notices a crackling of electricity all around the motel and the surrounding area. He then turns around and faces a much more pacified Ruby, who tells him that she can't save his soul. She adds that she still remembers what it's like to be human and says that she isn't the same as the other demons, though she wishes she were. Before Dean can actually respond to Ruby, he becomes distracted, and when he turns to talk to her, she has vanished.

The next time Ruby makes an appearance is in "Jus in Bello". She appears halfway through the episode, breaking through a window which had a broken salt barrier. She offers to perform a spell that will destroy every demon within the area, including herself. However, because the spell requires a human heart, Sam and Dean don't allow her to perform it, after Dean heatedly argues with Sam, who is actually considering it.

In the season finale, Ruby shows up at Bobby's house when summoned by Sam. Ruby is then asked to give the brothers her dagger so that they may hunt down Lilith. This plan, however, turns into more of a trap as Dean captures Ruby, steals the dagger, and Sam and Dean leave to face Lilith in New Harmony, Indiana. During the brothers' campaign, Ruby somehow escapes and tracks them down, helping them find Lilith. The demon, however, escapes, and the trio run away from the Hell Hound tracking Dean down. Lilith, however, isn't far; she had secretly taken possession of Ruby's host.

When questioned about where Ruby is, Lilith responds, "She's been a bad girl, so I sent her far, far away." After answering Dean's question of whether her plan is just to kill Sam and "become Queen Bitch," she lets in the Hell Hound, which attacks Dean. Lilith then proceeds to use her power on Sam, yet the white light stops. Just before Sam can strike her with Ruby's dagger, the demon exits Ruby's host, leaving the body limp, presumably dead.

Ruby is next seen in the season four premiere "Lazarus Rising" appearing to Sam at the end of the episode in the body of a young woman shown earlier in Sam's hotel when Bobby and a newly resurrected Dean arrive. It is not clear whether this woman was always Ruby and just putting on an act or if the possession came later. Sam and Ruby speak to one another of some of their actions since the death of Dean which includes Ruby teaching Sam how to make use of his powers which he has newly embraced. She also urges him to tell Dean the truth before he finds out about it on his own. When, in "Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester", she learns that Dean was resurrected by an angel, she becomes terrified and stops associating with Sam out of fear of being killed. This is apparently short lived, as in the next episodes "In The Beginning" and "Metamorphosis", she and Sam sneak off in the middle of the night to interrogate a demon to learn the location of Lilith.

Powers and abilities

As a demon Ruby can possess human hosts, granting the body of the host demonic abilities, which can only be seen in a possessed person. Similar to other demons, she exhibits enhanced strength and inhuman durability. During her time as a witch she has gained extraordinary knowledge of certain spells that can vanquish demons, as well as methods of protecting against demons and undoing harmful magic. In the episode "Jus In Bello", she claims to know a spell capable of wiping out all demons - including herself - within a mile radius.

Ruby is also a skilled fighter; however, being demonic, she is vulnerable to most weaknesses of demons. It is interesting to note that Ruby does not fight like other demons. Instead, she tends to rely on conventional martial arts (punches, kicks, and using her dagger), as opposed to using "demonic" abilities such as telekinesis.

Weaponry

Ruby possesses a mysterious and presumably magical "demon-killing" dagger. It has been seen and utilized many times throughout the season, mainly as an instrument to kill demons. Upon being stabbed by the dagger, both the demon and human host suffer immediate death. The demon possessing the human is shown to convulse violently, as if shot with the Colt. It then flickers with light before expelling a small cloud of smoke from the human body, leaving whoever it was possessing dead. The demon possessing the body then also disperses, as the dagger's effects mirror that of the Colt. However, both its creation and how exactly it can kill demons has not yet been revealed. Unlike the Colt, which is rumored to be able to kill anything, it has been revealed that the dagger cannot kill angels.

Appearances

;Season 3 -:"The Magnificent Seven", "The Kids Are Alright", "Sin City", "Malleus Maleficarum", "Jus in Bello", "No Rest For the Wicked"

;Season 4 - :"Lazarus Rising", "Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester", "In The Beginning", "Metamorphosis"

References