Chapter Fourteen - Part Two

“You and I are gonna go home for now,” I replied, with a neat composure that was unwavering. “It would be dangerous to rush into a decision. I just need a little time to think.”

I left the elevator and Ethan paused before catching up with me. I knew he was worried, but I didn’t care. Because already, the workings of a plan were beginning to take shape…

*  *  *

Mrs. Trentley was there, waiting at the front door, to greet me upon my arrival home. Ethan had dropped me off, along with the sworn promise of his silence that no one else would know what had happened at the morgue – not by his tongue at least. And for now, I believed him, taking small comfort in the reassurance that I could now make use of the renewed autopsy report in my own way. And if I discovered that my theory were true – if Paris truly had murdered my father in cold blood – she was going to pay.

I would make sure of it.

“Mrs. T,” I hailed, as she took my jacket.

“Yes, Naomi?” was her carefree, even reply.

“I need you to make a copy of a document, and then have it sent to my mother tomorrow – but you don’t have to overnight it. In fact, why don’t you send it to Hasting first, and have it mailed from there?”

I needed time to think and prepare, and doing things this way would ensure that I had plenty of it.

“I’ll have it done tomorrow,” my butler replied, with a disinterested shrug.

“You say that,” I said, placing a light, unaccustomed hand on her arm. “But, you’ll get curious while you’re copying it, and then you’ll decide to read it. And you’ll come across some very damning evidence that may change your mind on whether you should even send it at all.”

“And why would I do that? It’s not any of my business.” she asked, looking, apprehensive.

“Because this is a game-changer, Mrs. Trentley. It has the potential to change everything.” I said, as she followed me to the edge of the staircase.

“Here,” I reached into my bag and removed the folded sheaf of papers, handing them to her. “Just make the copy and send it to my mother, but don’t tell anyone. We can talk after that.”

And I began to climb my way up the winding staircase, while Mrs. Trentley remained motionless, with the papers clutched in her hand.

“Looks like you’ve finally found that bone you were digging for.” she remarked. “Well tell me, child, was it worth it?”

“I don’t know yet,” I called back, over my shoulder. “But I’ll let you know when I figure that out.”

*  *  *

For the next few days until the Gala, Ethan and Addy kept a close watch on me. They were worried their friend was so fragile that she would fall apart at any second. They were waiting for me to start laughing hysterically, to yell at them for no reason and act like a jerk, or at the very least to cry a little and let my makeup run. But I chose to do none of those things, turning up my nose to Addy’s offerings of weed and chocolate, and dismissing Ethan’s propositions of long walks alone and dinner for two.

But I had no proof to give that could show my friends that I wasn’t on the edge of permanently throwing in the towel. So I simply continued to hold myself together, because that was one of the things I knew how to do best.

Friday dawned, and finally I had a little time for myself. I enjoyed a solitary breakfast (which was rare and few between, these days) and then had a long, leisurely bubble bath. And afterwards, there was plenty of time to skim through the pages of old fashion mags. I contemplated what felt like millions of different up-do’s, and then there was the strong and sudden urge to blare Katy Perry on the stereo. Professional air guitar was administered to several of her songs in between applying my makeup, and working on my hair.

And then, for the glorious finish, there was still the surprise that I had almost forgotten. The dress was waiting to cheer my spirits from the back of my closet, hanging quietly as if it had been there forever. I removed it from its old home with the other dresses, to display it on the bed, still wrapped in its protective plastic. With a wide grin, I picked up the little white card and yanked, pulling it free from the hanger that it had formerly been attached to.

“For you, you sexy bitch!” I said, reading the card aloud and laughing. Red lipstick in the form of a kiss was Addy’s signature at the bottom.

“Good eye, Newport. Good eye.” I said, observing the dress with a shrewd look of approval. It was a black, floor-length gown, with an extra plunging neckline and open back. The lower fabric of the dress was made of a smooth silk material, and above that was a thin layer of lace mesh. The dress was gorgeous, and for a moment I stood and simply marveled at Addy’s excellent taste in fashion.

The dress was slipped into, along with a pair of matching Jimi Choos. I selected a pair of ruby drops for earrings and as I admired them in the mirror, I realized with a small sadness that it was the best I had looked in quite some time. There hadn’t been many parties or school dances in my busy past. Well, none that had been very memorable anyway. But some small part of me hoped that tonight might be different.

All of a sudden, my phone went off in a loud, harassing tone that let me know I was receiving a call. Quickly, I left the bathroom and walked back into my bedroom where it lay charging on the dresser.

“Hello, Tidus. Calling to check up on your favorite coconspirator?”

“No,” Tidus said, irritable with impatience.

“Fine,” I said, unable to hide some of the disappointment that had crept into my voice. “Then why are you calling?”

“I’m being followed,” he replied with a sigh. “Well, stalked is probably a better term for it. An old friend of mine has shown up in town recently, and I can’t seem to shake her. We haven’t spoken yet, but I have a feeling she’s just biding her time. She always wants something.”

“And yet, you call her friend.” I pointed out. “So what part of this puzzle am I missing?”

“Your intrusiveness is endearing, but why don’t we try focusing on the ring?” Tidus replied, speaking bad-temperedly to mask his sudden discomfort. “I think it would be safer in your hands, just until we’re ready to break the curse.”

“Right, the curse.” I said, switching the phone to the other hand so I could fix a stray hair in the mirror. “So I take it Claudia’s managed to find a way to remove it?”

“We’re confident. I think it would be safe to assume that the original sorcerer who cast the spell is dead, which means that we’d have a hard time tracking him down and asking him how to remove the curse. It is possible, but since we don’t know who he was, that option’s out. Which leaves us with the option of using a vessel – an empty host.”

“Wait a minute. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Yes. Claudia says that we can restore the ring by transferring the curse into a cadaver.”

I sighed with frustration.

“Do you know how difficult it’ll be to steal a dead body?” I asked. “It’s not like the movies. It’s actually very difficult to go grave digging ya know.”

“Actually, I was thinking of something… simpler.”

“Like what?”

“Me,”

I nearly dropped the phone in my astonishment.

“I was human once, remember? But I’m dead now, and that means I fit the requirements. So, I’m going to be the vessel.”

“Ok, why do I have the feeling that that this a very bad, bad idea?”

“Because it’s dangerous,” Tidus replied, with a calm that was infuriating.

“Look, I can admit that I don’t know much about magic, but I can’t imagine that absorbing a curse could ever turn out to be a good thing. Why not use a squirrel, or a frog, or… I don’t know – something not you?”

“I appreciate your concern, Naomi, but it has to be a large vessel. An animal’s body probably wouldn’t be able to withstand or withhold the kind of energy that needs to be removed from the ring. And besides, stealing a body is far too risky and noticeable for what we have planned. No – no, this is the best way.”

“Why are you doing this?” I asked. “Forgive me for sounding rude, but this just seems out of character. I mean, this is… noble. Honorable, even. I mean, this is self-sacrifice that we’re talking about, and Tidus, you aren’t exactly Gandhi.”

Tidus gave a sigh of his own.

“I know that you heard what Claudia said before we left her home that night, Naomi. And what happened to Angel – Claudia’s sister – was partly my fault. Their family was destroyed, and for that I’m responsible. So this is something that I need to do. I don’t expect you to understand.”

Morally, I just couldn’t seem to find the fiber that it would take to admonish or chastise him for making such a self-less sacrifice. I admit, I was surprised to see this side to Tidus. There was more compassion and scrupulousness in this one decision than I had ever thought him capable of. And it was all due to Claudia.

And there I stood, jealous to the bone. I had no explanation for it, not even a single, veritable excuse, and yet the enviousness was still there. I wasn’t proud of it, but neither could I seem to ignore it. This was the vicious, green-eyed monster, and she wished for nothing else but to be fed.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do understand actually.” I said. “I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

There was a short, awkward silence, in which we both struggled for the right words to say.

“So,” I said finally, clearing my throat. “When is this happening? When are you gonna be the vessel?”

“Next week, sometime. And since the primrose is ready, once you’ve got the ingredients from the list, Claudia says we can take the serum. So I’d get going on that if I were you.”

At the mentioning of Claudia’s serum, the usual hardness had returned to Tidus’ voice, reminding me that we were not in the business of making friendships here. He still wanted the truth, and I knew I had to give it to him.

“Don’t worry,” I reassured. I’ll get Claudia what she needs. All I need is a few more days.”

“Back to the ring,” Tidus said. “You’ll take it, yes?”

“Of course I will.” I replied, taking a deep breath. “I’ll keep it safe for you.”

“Good. Because I’m already downstairs.”

And with timing that was better than perfect, I heard the distant tone of the doorbell sounding.

“Be right down,” I said, smiling to myself as I hung up.

*  *  *

I felt his gaze travel across my body as I descended the winding stairs to greet Tidus, who waited for me just outside the foyer. Mrs. Trentley had opened the door for him, and then left right away. There had been no further service she could extend to him beyond that, because a Vampire couldn’t enter someone else’s home without a direct invitation from the homeowner. So for the moment, all Tidus could do was stand and watch.

He was caught off guard for the moment, a byproduct of the dress, I knew. And in his eyes was a carnal desire that blazed hot enough to make me shiver. Goosebumps rippled across my skin, and I tore myself from his concentrated gaze.

“Hey,” He said, standing as far into the doorway as he could manage, toeing some invisible line.

“Hey yourself,” came my reply, heavy on the awkwardness.

“Uh, yeah.” Tidus said, snapping to his senses and giving me a frown, as if his slip in control somehow been all my fault. “Here,” he said, reaching into the pocket of his jeans to pull out the ring box.

I observed as he tried to extend his hand to me, and failed, unable to bring the ring past the door.

“You can come in if you want.” I said this with enough quickness that it left me little chance to second-guess my sudden decision.

But for some reason he wouldn’t, and didn’t put as much as a foot across the threshold. He merely extended his hand the rest of the necessary distance, and handed me the ring’s box, deliberately avoiding contact with my hand. And feeling oddly let down, I did my best to try not to show it.

“No thanks, I shouldn’t. I had planned on discussing something important with you,” he said with a forced blankness to his face. I had never seen him this distant and impassive. “But I see that you have plans…”

“Um, yeah. The Fall Gala’s tonight. People are kind of expecting me to show up.”

“Of course,” was his off-handed reply. “Waste of a good dress if you didn’t.”

“Yeah, right.” I said hesitantly, not knowing if this was a compliment or his version of a joke. “But, will you be ok? I know you said you were being followed –”

“It’s nothing I won’t be able to handle. I’m more worried about the ring than anything else.” he assured, looking away as he built up another wall to put more distance in between us.

“Alright. But you also said you wanted to talk about something important. Well, maybe we can talk about it when I see you Wednesday?”