The Rules of the Red - 2014 Watty Award Winner |✓|

Chapter Nineteen - Part Three

One question down, and I didn't feel anything from the drink besides a slightly troubled stomach. I didn't know what sort of effects I was supposed to be experiencing, but I had honestly expected it to feel at least a bit more mystic than this.

"Good. Are you planning on torturing Tidus?" 

"No."

"Are you planning on killing Tidus?"

And there it was, the million dollar question that they had both been waiting for. I made sure to lock eyes with Tidus, as Claudia watched my face intently for any sign of attempted deception.

"No."

"Are you in love?"

Dead silence as I felt two very intense pairs of eyes looking my way. But it was Tidus who concerned me. He was staring at me with a peculiar expression, as if something within him was hanging on the revelation of this answer. And whether or good or bad, he needed to hear it.

"No."

It came out firm, and with no hesitations, but something about my answer still didn't seem to sit well with Tidus.

"You know, your heart rate just skyrocketed, Naomi." Tidus said evenly. "And that tends to happen when people are lying."

"Well, I wasn't lying," I replied. "I'm just nervous, and plus your friend here kind of threw me a little off guard with that last question, ok?"

And just like that, all of the wind seemed to have gone from Claudia's sails. She had been so sure of herself until now, and I could tell that this moment was incredibly bewildering for her.

"But, I don't understand," Claudia said, looking to Tidus now as if he somehow held all of the answers. "I am never wrong about my visions. They've always come true."

"Look," I said. "We both took the serum, which means that neither of us could lie – you said it yourself."

"But this doesn't mean Claudia's wrong." Tidus said. "Maybe you and I are ok right now, Naomi, but either of us could easily change our minds in the future. And who knows, maybe something happens later to cause the visions she's seen."

"Maybe. But for right now, this officially clears my name." I said and turned to Claudia. "And that means no more hoop-jumping from me. I let you inject me with silver – which burned coming out by the way. I bought your stupid ingredients, and my friend even paid off your debt to the triplets. But this..." I tapped my empty mug. "This was it. I'm not gonna keep bending over backwards for you and putting up with your insults just to satisfy your adolescent need to prove to Tidus that he shouldn't like the new girl. I'm done."

The air was thick with tension as Claudia and I squared off again. But I had meant what I said, and this time I wasn't going to be the one to back down. Claudia could come up with as many more excuses as she wanted, but nothing would keep me hanging out to dry on her line any longer. This was it.

"Fine," Claudia said, and most of the tension dissipated. "Again, you're right. You've done everything that I asked, and now you've also proven that you aren't lying... so I guess I really ought to cut you some slack. And I should probably also thank you for doing what you could to help my sister – even if you did screw up and lose the ring..."

"Claudia," Tidus cut in sharply. "Naomi is throwing a man's reputation in the toilet to do Angel a favor." Tidus said. "And if others were to find out what she's doing for her, it could have serious consequences on us all, but Naomi especially. That shouldn't go unnoticed."

 "Yeah, well, I'm gonna need about twenty more minutes to get the stuff for the other spell together," Claudia said, and cleared her throat. She grabbed both of the bags of ingredients, adjusting them without help, and then walked away quickly to the kitchen.

"Try not to hold this against her," Tidus said, still looking at the empty doorway. "Claudia doesn't do apologies well."

"I'm tired of being angry." I replied with. "Besides, I'm no good with apologies either."

"Well, if anything, I still think you've managed to earn some of her trust – and mine too for that matter." Tidus said, taking this opportunity to get close to me again. "We've both been hard on you... "

"No, I get it," I insisted. "Really, I do. I would have been suspicious of me too, so I understand that part. But the problem that you and I have to worry about now, is how we're going to handle Lillian and the Hunters."

"Right," Tidus said, with a nod in agreement. "Look, if you need something to give the Hunters, just tell them that you found an anonymous connection to Lillian. I'll take some time to work out a way to introduce you two and you can get close to her from there. She won't talk to the Hunters – which is why they're going to you for answers. But with me on your side, you might get somewhere – just as long as you can promise that we'll handle this thing my way for now."

I looked into Tidus' eyes and once again found myself being forced to relinquish all control to him. And as usual, I was perfectly willing to give him the answer that he wanted.

"That's good," he replied, looking relieved. "Then for now, we'll turn our focus back to the ring. And we'll meet here again, Wednesday night, after my brother's party. It's time we finished this."

I would have jumped for joy that we were so close to ending our business with the ring, but at the moment my thoughts remained askew and asunder. My mouth was still riddled by the after taste of the serum, but I was also troubled with a disquiet that warned me the serum had been completely ineffective on me. Which in turn suggested that either I was resistant to Claudia's magic or maybe all magic in general. And whether this was good or bad, I still had yet to uncover.

*  *  *

Claudia eventually finished the potion, and ladled some of it into a small, glass phial with a round cork for a stopper. Her instructions were for me to place a single hair from Ethan's head into the phial, and then give it to Eve to drink.

So now Eve could forget about Ethan, I could get the ring back, and that problem would be solved. And while I didn't leave as Claudia's friend, neither did I leave with her as my enemy. Instead, we entered into some weird, awkward phase that would most likely determine whether or not we would even speak again after Johl's party (which she as well would be attending).

"You're glowing." Adelle gushed fifteen minutes later. She walked towards me, crossing the lawn at my house to meet at my car, which idled quietly on the