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

Chapter Nineteen - Part Four

side of the road. Harbor’s usual, cloudy-blue night had fallen, and the stars were beginning to twinkle in effort from between thick clouds.

“Am I?” I said, touching a hand to my cheek. Werewolves ran naturally hot, like furnaces, but I was on fire it seemed.

“Yup,” she said. “Just like you were when I picked you up from the airport the other day. “What happened? What have you done?”

“Just everything that needed to be done,” I said, feeling amazing. “I cleared my name with Tidus, and I even got what I needed to get Claudia’s ring back.

“Correction, you’ve almost gotten what you needed to get the ring back,” Addy corrected, holding out her hand.

“So, how’s everything going inside?” I asked, as Addy dropped a single strand of his short hair into my palm. Quickly, I pulled out the stopper on the phial, and deposited the hair inside of the dark liquid.

“Still out like a light. He’s drooling a lot, though. And it’s kind of gross, actually…”

“Well, thanks again for babysitting him. You and Collin saved my life today.”

“Yeah, Collin is kind of amazing,” Addy agreed, eyeing me with a suddenly thoughtful expression.

“Mimi, Collin reads the papers too, you know. And he showed me an article today that some reporter had written about a cult that’s murdering people and removing their hearts. I read it, Naomi, and I think those deaths are related to the ones the Hunters are talking about. In fact, I think they’re the exactly the same, and I’m just starting to get really worried that this crap is spinning out of control –”

“Addy,” I said softly. “I’m gonna help stop this from happening, and Tidus is helping me too. So nothing bad will happen to Collin – I promise.”

A grave and morose expression crossed Adelle’s face. And for a moment it was as if she were already deeply in mourning for him.

“But he’s Human, Mimi. And they’re all so… easily broken.”

“But that’s also what makes them so strong.” I assured, reaching through the car’s window to squeeze my friend’s hand. “You’ll see.”

*  *  *

I left Addy there to meet with Eve, feeling as stretched as the promise I had just given. I had come into Harbor with money and a powerful last name that deceitfully allowed me to believe that I was in control. But more and more I was beginning to realize, that I was not.

I pulled up to the quiet street by the empty bridge, still scanning the area as I exited the car. But there was no sign of either Eve or the Hunters. So relaxing only the slightest, I made my way to the old, wooden bridge. I leaned over its edge to peer into the dark, still waters of the stream. No fish jumped tonight, and no frogs were on their lilies. Come to think of it, I couldn’t hear any sounds from the forest either.

I looked up to the trees at my left, but their branches were still. The dark green leaves were already beginning to shrivel and lighten in color. It was a beautiful scene to look onto, and odd to imagine that all this forest was mine, or that my home lay just on the other side of it. But it was also unnerving to notice the silence of it all. The roaring hush of Harbor Village could be deafening when you finally noticed it.

“Hello gorgeous. I come bearing gifts.” a sinfully sweet voice rang out, clear like a bell. I glanced into the water to see Eve’s reflection coming towards me from the far side of the bridge.

“Well, a gift, more like,” she clarified.

Yes – the ring was still on her finger and she held up a hand as if to prove it, and stopped just a few paces short of me, admiring the Countess’ ring.

“And I have what you need too,” I said, bringing the phial out of my jacket pocket and holding it up. “The solution to your problem – although I doubt you’re gonna like it…”

“And?” Eve said, looking expectant. “What is it?”