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

Chapter Seven - Part Four

“I never said that.” Tidus replied, cracking the smallest of smiles. “I just haven’t given you my answer until now.”

“Right. Well, I guess I’d better go home and pack then…” I said.

“Naomi, wait.” he said, pausing. “I’ve had a lot of time to re-think things over the past month, and maybe I was too hard on you before. You aren’t like other girls, and it shows. But I let myself get too caught up in that, and maybe I gave you some false hope –”

“No, actually. I heard you loud and clear.” I said, studying his serious face.

“Well, either way, I’m sorry if I did that.”

“I don’t need your apology. Besides, I didn’t let you do anything that I didn’t want you to.

 “Good to know.” he replied, looking amused.  

“Naomi? Are you ok?”

The distant, but approaching sound of Ethan’s voice fractured the moment into a thousand dismal pieces. Disappointment caused me to sigh as Tidus glanced at the door.

“He wants you.” Tidus said quietly.

“But I don’t want him.” I said, wishing I could find a reason for him to stay.

“See you tonight, Naomi.” he replied dispassionately. And then he was gone, with only a breeze left behind to remind me that he had been there at all.

I walked to the open doorway, peering out to see Ethan already coming up the hall with an angry, enlightened look upon his face.

“That was him, wasn’t it?” he demanded. “What the hell did he want?”

“Tidus asked me to do him and Claudia a favor.” I replied carefully, studying Ethan the Reactor for signs of a meltdown.

“Yeah? And what’s that?”

“He asked me to go with him to this museum that’s in New York. There’s an amulet there that they need, and I told him I would help him go get it.”

“And you’re taking this unnecessary risk, why?” he asked.

“Because I think that if I show them enough trust, then maybe they’ll start to trust me too. Ethan, you don’t have a problem with this, do you?

“Nope.” he lied. “Course’ not.”  

“That’s good, because I’ll probably be gone for couple of days, so I’ll need you to handle Leadership business in my place. You up for that?”

Ethan nodded stonily, folding his arms across his chest as he looked pointedly away.

“Ethan, I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry.” I said, laying a hand on his arm, but he quickly shrugged it off.

“Sorry, but I think it’s a little late for that.”

*  *  *

Responsibility and just overall good judgment drove me to visit my grandparents, after returning home first to shower and change. The growing animosity that I had for Charles, coupled with the mixed feelings of hope and distrust that I had for Diane, were enough to remind me that it wouldn’t do to skip town before speaking with them. Because if I planned on swaying the Leadership to my favor, I knew that I needed to appeal to those who were most powerful within it – including Diane. She may not have been a member of the Leadership, but as the Elder’s wife she still remained a powerful figurehead to the Garou.

“Naomi, it’s so good to see you, dear.” Diane greeted me with her familiar hug and smile, after the maid had shown me into the living room.

“Diane,” I replied warmly. “I noticed you weren’t at the last gathering. Were you sick?”

She led me to a seat beside her on the couch, taking a deep breath before flashing me a furtive smile.

“Actually, I don’t think I’ll be attending the meetings anymore. It’s the politics of it – it’s no longer my taste. But your grandfather happens to be very understanding.”

“Oh, that he is. No wonder the Garou are so loyal to him.”

Ok. So I was really laying it on thick. But that’s what Diane wanted, and frankly, it was easy to give. She wanted me to play the loving, sensitive role as her granddaughter. Maybe it made up for her guilt at never reaching out over the years, or maybe she was just flat out lonely – I couldn’t tell.

But what I did know, was that as timid as she may have appeared, Diane was still a wolf and we are all cunning beasts. We could have been playing one another at the same time, for all I knew. So for now, I would continue to have tea with her in the Maison, look through all of those dusty photo albums, and appeal to each and every one of her weaknesses. It was the only way I felt in control.

“So you wouldn’t happen to have any more of your special tea, would you?” I asked, with a smile. “I’m actually kind of starting to warm up to it.”

And surprisingly, that was really the truth. Vervain wasn’t so terrible in tea, as long as it was served hot or extremely cold. Lukewarm and I would feel sick for hours.

“Yes, it is an acquired taste isn’t it?” Diane replied with a chuckle. “I make it with a special herb, but unfortunately I’m out at the moment. Your grandfather is rather fond of it as well.” 

 “Where is he, by the way? I was hoping to catch him before I had to leave.”

“I’m sorry dear, Charles went to Hasting this morning on business. He won’t be home until Friday.”

“Oh. Well, his trip wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the Witches would it? The ones performing the sacrifices?”

I watched as Diane blanched, revealing that her countenance was obviously far too fair and delicate for such a word as “sacrifice”.