Chapter Eleven - Part Two

“And what about Ethan’s mother?” I asked, realizing how little I still knew about my Champion.

“Died when we were young. She was a victim of that magical plague. But Mathew’s remarried since –”

“Ethan never told me that.” I said pensively.

“Well, I knew.” she said, drawing herself together importantly.

I rolled my eyes.

“You were saying?”

“Back in the day – before the Elder created the Leadership, Ethan used to dream about becoming the Alpha of the Garou. But that was actually my idea. That particular aspiration of his started out a little seed that I planted in his fat head when we were in the eighth grade. But back then, all he cared about was being cool and measuring his dick. Meanwhile, I was planning for our future – college, our wedding… kids.”

I could see it coming a long way off – the collapse of her dignity. From the minute she had arrived, there was the steady, gradual loss of her composure as she fought to hold herself together. But as hard as she had tried to contest it, Eve was still coming undone at the seams. Losing Ethan had hit her profoundly. You could see it in every tear that refused to roll down her face. Her eyes were full of tears that simply couldn’t fall any longer.

“I feel it. In my chest.” She said this through gritted teeth, and with an honesty that almost succeeded in gaining my sympathies. Her words were raw, packed full of emotion that no one could have ignored. “Ever since he left, it’s like I can’t breathe anymore. I’m alone now, with nothing to show for the past twenty-four years of my life. And this is his fault!”

“So you want him to feel what you feel.” I said, already having put two and two together. “You want to hit him where he hurt you the most, right?”

“Yes,” she said fiercely, nodding. “Being the puffed-up dictator that he is, Charles hardly seems to notice what his Leadership monkeys – no offense – get up to. He’s too conceited to think any of you would ever betray him. But I know about some of the naughty deeds that get done in the dark around here. And right about now, I’m guessing Elder Noble is too busy kissing up to the Hunters to think of much else. So now is the time to strike while the iron’s hot.”

“Go on.” I said, not bothering to hide my curiosity.

“With pleasure.” Eve said, and with a deliciousness that suggested she was no longer in a moment of mourning. “Mathew’s in charge of keeping track of whatever money it is that the Leadership generates. And Charles uses these funds as a piggy bank to keep his operations afloat –”

“Where does Charles get this money that comes in?”

“Nobody knows, nobody asks. Charles claims it’s from wealthy Pack investors, but no one would ever dare ask the Elder for proof. And maybe that’s why Mathew Raines gets away with skimming profits. I’ll bet the two of them are even in on it together.”

“How the hell do you know all of this Eve?” I asked sharply.

“Oh sweetheart, I’m more than just this pretty face.” she said, smoothing imaginary hairs. “When you get really close to someone and their family, you end up privy to all their dark little secrets and inner motivations.”

“And I’m guessing that you have proof of all this?” I said dubiously.

“Well, not exactly. I mean, not yet anyway…”

With a sigh I made to stand and exit the table.

“This is a waste of my time.”

“Wait,” Eve said severely, wrapping her small, hot hand across my wrist. “It’s true. I swear it. And I don’t have the proof yet – but I will…” She finished eagerly.

Slowly, I sat down again, re-considering.

“Ok. When? When would you have it by?”

“Well, the Fall Gala is next Saturday. Mathew’s pretty little step-wife will be so caught up in making sure that everything goes according to plan that her husband will practically be begging to disappear for the night. And that’ll be my chance. You’ll have the proof in your hands by the end of the night.”

“So why do you need me? Why can’t you just give this to Charles yourself? Wouldn’t the results be the same?”

“It has to come from someone on the Leadership – not from me.” Eve replied. “I’m too close to this – I have a motive. But if it comes from you, you won’t be suspected. You’re a Noble, remember? You’re always the hero.”

A hero. But turning in one of my fellow Leaders? Was that really heroic? Because it felt much more like sabotage to me. True, what Mathew was doing was wrong, but Ethan was still my Champion and I would be ratting out his own father. This was… twisted.

But on the other hand, Tidus had put to me a mission that required such tactics as this. To get rid of Charles, I needed to weaken his system – out with the old and in with the new.

“Get me that proof and then we’ll talk.” I said. “And Eve, I shouldn’t have to tell you that discretion is of the essence. No one can know about this.”

“Mums the word.” she said with icy reassurance.

She stood and picked up her purse, sliding its strap across her bare shoulder, looking entirely too pleased with herself. And then it occurred to me that as she stood there feeling triumphant in her shining moment, that she assumed she was untouchable. She didn’t think she would fail. She thought she was in control.

She needed to be reminded.

“Eve,” I said, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes. “Just so you know, there really is nothing going on between me and Ethan. We’re only close because we have to be. But we’ve never slept together – not even once.”

“And you think I care about that?” She replied, flipping the long end of her ponytail from her shoulder. “Even if he isn’t sleeping with you, do you know how many times that idiot cheated on me in the past? Why would that bother me now?”

“Because Ethan hasn’t been intimate with another girl since he became my Champion.” I replied with a smirk. “I just thought you’d wanna know.”

And there it was. I wondered how it felt for her to realize that I hadn’t slept with Ethan, and yet I still held his sway as she never could. That must have been crushing, awfully.

Grasping the gist of it all, Eve looked down to the ground and away. But when she lifted her face again, I couldn’t hide my surprise at her newfound determination and strength. Even the traces of her ghost tears were gone. There was nothing now but grit, bone, and wrath.

“You know, I used to be a good girl once. At first, I even held out on Ethan. But he waited for me, and that made me feel like I was in charge. Truth is, I never was. He was just really good at making me feel that way. But let me guess, it’s different with you, right?”

I said nothing, but only glared, livid with myself for underestimating her.

“Ta-ta darling. I’ll be in touch.”

*  *  *

For as long as I had ever known, I had had no qualms when it came to defining my own character. I refused to hide from it. I was Naomi Elizabeth Noble – foster kid, system screw-up, sometimes defender of the weak, and always tough as nails. So when my powers kicked in after I hit puberty, and I realized that I was no longer fragile and vulnerable, I learned how to use that to my advantage.

I was clever, which kept me out of enough trouble to avoid the eyes of the law (for the most part). I was intuitive, which was why I never managed to hold on to many friends. And I was friendly, but unforgivable when I needed to be. How else was I to defend myself from not so honest foster-fathers, or the wandering eyes of their shady friends?

And up until this point, any transgressions I created were always committed for a purpose that was either honorable or necessary. In other words, the ends had always justified the means – I made sure of that. But the more I thought about it now, the more I realized that what I was thinking of doing to Mathew Raines was neither honorable, nor necessary. It would serve no higher purpose than to fit my own gain and possibly that of Tidus’. And could I do that? Could I force myself to find the resolve to ruin a man’s career and reputation?

“Naomi, are you ok?” Addy was saying. It was Saturday night and we were alone, sitting in the shadows of the deserted building of Proctor and Sool. There were no other people near, but Addy’s car was parked in the alley behind us for less exposure and a quick getaway should the need have arisen. But the street was empty as the night sky, and not a breath of wind stirred around us.

“Naomi?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah, sorry. I’m fine.”

“You’re still thinking about that conniving witch, aren’t you?”

“Well, if you mean Eve, then yes.” I said, scanning the street for signs of Claire’s car. It was only minutes to one.

“So how many more times should I tell you that I think this is a bad idea?”

“Oh, I think another ten times on top of the other fifty attempts and then your advice will probably stick.”

“I’m serious, Mimi –”

“Ugh. Addy, are you really gonna start calling me that now too?”

“Yes. Pay attention. You’ve got way too much on your plate right now without throwing psycho ex-girlfriends into the mix. Forget that crazy chick! Eve just needs to finally get over Ethan and either get a hobby or an orgasm, like, yesterday. Ethan’s your Champion. That’s a blood bond. You can’t go against blood.”

“Ethan is not blood. Ethan is a speed bump.” I corrected.

“Well, regardless, he isn’t a problem that you’re gonna solve anytime soon. And if he finds out you’re gunning for his dad, I guarantee you our little ‘speed bump’ will turn into a mountain – a really, really big one.”

“He won’t find out because none of us are going to tell him, Addy.” I replied calmly. “And I haven’t even decided whether or not I’m going to go through with it anyway. I’m simply… leaving my options open. That’s all.”

“And why do I get the feeling you wouldn’t even care about Eve if it wasn’t for Tidus?” Addy said, observing me through beady, suspicious eyes. “I mean, where the hell does he come off accusing you of potential murder, and then asking you to sabotage your own Leadership? Mimi, he’s using you.”

“I know that.” I said with a sigh. “I know he’s using me. But I’m trying to turn that to my advantage. Tidus has it in for Charles – he wants him out just as badly