The Sapphire Ring Of Destiny

Chapter 9: Refuge of ring

Sophie was done with her class-work when the bell rung. Neither Edward nor Constance had– interacted in her company. They both hadn’t said a word to their best friend.

Frederick only smiled and managed to say ‘hi’ while they were in the classroom. Inside the school cafeteria, she requested her usual meal from the school cook, and headed to her usual table with the tray of food.

When she arrived there and placed her meal on the table, she was strangely reluctant to have a bite of this meal which she had once told both Constance and Edward that she could never lose appetite for nor grow tired of.

She recalled memories when Edward and Constance had tried different strategies to see her refuse the meal. One time they made her eat the meal each day of a whole week; another seldom times, they brought it to her while she was ill and had little appetite for food— this was how they, and even Sophie, realised that she could refuse to eat any food while sick except potato pudding.

There was even a time when a distant relative of hers died, and Sophie together with her family had to visit their neighbouring town of Ndindidi to give their condolences. Since Sophie was bereaved and grieving, it isn’t that crazy to guess that her best friends would accompany her to the funeral-bound trip but the same can’t be said for the fact that her best friends brought along some potato pudding as their plus one to challenge her perpetual craving for the meal by seeing whether she would, holding unto grief, reject the potato pudding or if she would, hoping not for this, succumb to its savoury appeal. Indeed, their scheme came as a shock; it was shameless, inconsiderate and very low for her so-called ‘best friends’.

Funny enough, the shock wasn’t enough to prevent her from consuming the pudding. She left no room for excuses as she overcame their challenge.

Yet, of all the tests, strategies and challenges presented against her worship of potato pudding, the one which scored a point was loneliness. It took her until now to realise this but Sophie never ate her beloved potato pudding in the absence of her family and friends.

If only Constance and Edward were her to see her without appetite for her beloved Potato pudding but then again if they were here she would be preying on their divine altar (the plate) and receiving their blessings— she would be pouncing on and munching her food, not staring at it like it was mushroom soup.
Sophie was about forcing herself to taste the pudding when, she discovered that Edward and Constance were sitting with Gwendolyn. She had expected them not wanting to dine with her and to shy away from her company but never did she foresee Edward and Constance sitting at the table of Gwendolyn.

She thought of confronting Gwendolyn but then she recalled Robin trying that and failing to succeed. It was obvious to her that Gwendolyn wanted to lure her out by using friends but she didn’t care anymore. She wasn’t leaving her friends to the mercy of a mind-controlling witch without a fight.

As she rose majestically from her seat, poised with this purpose, she suddenly felt a hand grip firmly the back of her right shoulder like it wanted her to sit back. She believed it to be Bobby, the bully, but the firm grip transformed to a mere pat on the back. She turned around with alerted alacrity to see the person’s face, now remembering that she had earlier seen Bobby at Gwen’s table and he was still there.

Cute and harmless-looking as ever, it was the face of Frederick.
‘Frederick! Oh, thank goodness. She’s gotten Constance and Edward.’ Sophie said very troubled but relieved she had someone to share with.

‘I know but don’t bother.’ Frederick replied like he was her mentor.
‘What do you mean? We have to save them.’
‘We will when you defeat her but until then you have to avoid her. You’re our only hope in rescuing this school.’
‘Why would you say that?’

‘I’ve learnt something about your ring and Gwendolyn’s. It can’t be proven but it’s worth a shot.’ Frederick replied.
‘Okay, tell me your theory.’ Sophie acquiesced
‘The ring on Gwendolyn’s finger, which I can’t see, can control people minds right?’

‘I already know that.’ Sophie said hoping that wasn’t all Frederick had to say.
‘Okay, so get this...’ Frederick continued with a sagacious demeanour which heightened Sophie’s curiosity. ‘

Why can’t she just control your mind and end this once and for all.’
‘Hmm... That’s true. I guess I hadn’t given it much thought— I mean it’s crazy that I haven’t even considered it.’ Sophie confessed.

‘Well that’s not all to reflect on. Why can’t she control the mind of those close to you? Constance, Edward, the majority of the classmates in class 1B that sticks to you and even my very self couldn’t be hypnotized by Gwendolyn.’

‘But she just made Constance and Edward her puppets.’ Sophie immediately argued although hoping that somehow they weren’t her puppets.

‘Constance had a disagreement with you.’ Frederick noted and reminded her. ‘She was caught because she no longer believed in you. Edward might have felt the same and so weakened your protection.’

‘Are you saying that my ring grants immunity to those that I care about and consider my friend but doesn’t protect those that aren’t my friends?’ Sophie inquired.
‘Close but that’s not it. I’m saying that it protects those that care about you and consider you as a friend. Anyone that looks up to you, like Class Four Beta does, could as  well be protected.’ Frederick answered. What he related to Sophie sounded much more than a theory. There was a great deal of assertion in his tone.

‘Does this mean that Edward and Constance no longer see me as their friend?’ Sophie asked whilst looking in the direction of her two greatest friends who were sitting with the mysterious Gwendolyn— who were sitting with the enemy!

‘I don’t think they completely don’t see you as a friend. I believe it was just a temporary feeling that left them vulnerable’
‘Well, if that’s the case then maybe if I make them believe in me again then they would be free from Gwendolyn’s mind control.’
‘No Sophie! You can’t go. She is luring you out. If she gets you it’s over. I can’t believe you are willing to risk yourself for two ‘ifs’ and a ‘maybe’ just like that.’ Frederick protested but realising that his words were having no effect, regretted giving her such observation which she now took as a suggestion.

‘Don’t worry I’ll be fine. I’m just surprised that you still easily talk to me after what Constance said about me wanting you and Edward to myself.’

‘Well, I will never leave you. I need you more than ever.’ Frederick strongly replied. Sophie’s heart flushed with his statement which she gave a different but expected interpretation.
‘Why is that, is it because you consider me more than a friend that you don’t want to lose?’ Sophie intently asked to draw more flatters from Frederick.

‘Actually, it’s because I don’t want to become one of Gwendolyn’s puppets.’ Frederick answered with a chuckle.
Sophie approached Gwendolyn to win back her best friends. She begged Edward and Constance to come back to her then she saw her ring sparkle and beam upon Edward’s head as he broke free.
‘Leave her alone, Sophie. Your loyal friend is now my loyal sheep.’ Gwen said laughing eeringly.

‘Constance is no longer your friend. She is now your Trojan horse. I am now your friend who will help you in time of need.’ Robin then said like she was being controlled.
‘Sophie, let’s leave before she does something.’ Edward said cautiously withdrawing from the team of Gwendolyn and Robin with frightened feet.