Chapter Three - Part Two

But even with all that power that the Elder of the Garou was afforded, I knew that he would most likely remain intent on hoarding it. But even so, the more I thought about it, the more I suspected that deep down, maybe, the Eldership was really mine. And an even smaller part of me had reason to believe that Charles owed me answers anyway, and it was no longer his right to refuse them.

However, I knew that it wouldn’t be wise to just go in with guns blazing to secure my demands. I needed to think wisely when it came to this. After all, the Elder was clearly very powerful, and I knew that it would be imprudent to underestimate him.

“I don’t know.” I said, failing as I tried to squint through the patchwork of gray skies to spot the sun. “As cliché as it sounds, I still feel like it would be so much more practical if we all just lived in a diplomatic coexistence. After all, we get along with Humans, don’t we?”

“That’s only because the majority of Humans choose to pretend like we don’t exist.” Adelle replied, in manner that was admonishing but somehow kindly too. “Otherwise, the Humans would just go psychotic and end up slaughtering Supernaturals – they do it to each other all the time. Hello – the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor? Humans are stupid, Naomi, but they still outnumber us.”

Briefly, I reflected on Adelle’s severe outlook on Humans. Yes, it was true that at times I had come across many who had been… unnecessarily cruel and selfish. But then again, I had also met others who had been completely virtuous, and seemed purer than the snow. And those were the ones whose faces I chose to remember. They were the ones that reminded me of who I was and where I came from.

And besides my father, the Humans had been the only ones I had ever considered family.

“You can’t trust any of the others.” Adelle warned. “I mean, we all get along for now, but some heavy shit has gone down between all the Supernaturals in the past hundred years. And a lot of people are scared that we’re just teetering on the brink of some epic war that could destroy us – even the Humans. And that’s not something that we should ignore.”

“I get what you’re saying, but I just don’t like the idea of taking sides.” I said firmly, casting Adelle a sideways look. “I don’t see the point in claiming the Pack, just to denounce everyone else. How is that right?”

“It’s not about what’s right, that’s just the way it is – and has been – for a while. Look, babe, the Garou already have to share Harbor with a vampire clan, and a witch coven. You add Charles to that list, and then mix em’ all together, and you’ve brewed yourself a pretty nice shit storm. So my suggestion, is that we focus on the Elder for now, and don’t go digging in other sandboxes until we figure this out first. We can do the whole ‘world piece’ bit later, when we figure out what to do about the Elder.”

From the frustrated, defensive look on Adelle’s face I could tell that I was striking a nerve with my unwillingness to conform. I was the spoon in this bowl, stirring things up, and I was sorry for that. But at this point, I couldn’t lie and say that I wouldn’t continue to do it. However, I could at least be a friend, and offer her consolation in return.

“Hey, if you’re feeling a little pressured right now, that’s understandable. And you’re right, this is a serious situation, and I shouldn’t take it lightly.” I said, giving Adelle a smile of reassurance. “You’ll be under a lot of heat soon to show Charles that I’m not a threat, and I need to help with that. So, what if I go visit Charles and Diane? I can make an appearance and wave the white flag – which would definitely throw them off guard. Besides, I know that if I want to fit in around here, I’m going to have to at least pretend to adapt, right?”

“Great. Well, thanks for effectively making me feel like the asshole.” Adelle replied, but grateful smile nonetheless. “Lunch now? At the Maison? I need food to overshadow the guilt.”

I agreed, and we proceeded to hail a taxi to the restaurant, where I recognized the same server again – the one who had just weeks earlier accepted my reservation with coldness and distaste. But this time, she greeted my arrival with a benign smile and a respectful demeanor. She led us to a small, discreet table in a far corner of the restaurant, where champagne was immediately poured for us and our orders taken.

“And in comes the couple of the year.” Adelle murmured through pursed lips, from behind her wineglass.

In a painfully blatant manner, I turned in my seat to observe Ethan walking through the golden doors of the restaurant. And on his arm was a tall, beautiful blonde, with blue eyes and a chilly demeanor. Casually, the girl surveyed the posh surroundings of the restaurant, with a bored sort of familiarity.

“Eve Arling and Ethan Raines – high school sweethearts, and the Prom King and Queen of Harbor Village High.” Adelle said, in a significantly lower voice. “To outsiders there’s, like, this big bubble of perfection that surrounds them. But anyone who’s seen the real them knows that Ethan is really just a womanizing pig, and Eve’s got the personality of an aging cheerleader that’s constantly on the rag – times two. But if you ask me… they’re meant for each other.”

Frowning slightly, I turned back around in my seat.

“I’ve met him. He’s… interesting. But Ethan never mentioned anything about having a girlfriend.”

“Of course he didn’t, he was hitting on you.” Adelle replied, looking back at me with knowing eyes. “He and Eve graduated, like, six years ago, and they’re still considered legends over at HVH. Back in the day, either you wanted to be them, or you wanted to fuck them – and in many cases it was both. But unfortunately for Eve, Ethan never outgrew the high school days. And from what I gather, he’s still got a thing for fresh meat. And apparently, he likes it dark…”

Unable to help myself, I did grin at this last part, but coughed loudly on my wine though, when the waiters suddenly appeared with our food.

“Thank you.” I said to them, before they retreated and left me to my soup. “Adelle, are you still looking at them?”

“Ha! They’ve just noticed us.” Adelle said quietly, ducking her head a little as she took a large bite of her chicken. “Eve looks pissed.”

Failing to resist the urge to turn around and look again, I did so anyway at the same time that Adelle decided to wave hello. Ethan was sitting at another private table several rows behind us, but his eyes fixed squarely on my own. He passed me a quick, guilty smile, but looked away hastily when Eve set her menu down, wordlessly, on the table. Her expression soured as she looked at me, but I was left un-phased. With a smirk at Ethan, I resumed my original position, taking a serene bite of my food.

“I don’t think Eve likes me.” I said.

“Yep.” Adelle replied, with a swift glance at the space above my shoulder. “I’d say you were correct on that assumption, but don’t let it bother you. She doesn’t like other girls because she only seems them as competition. And trust me, if you start hanging around Ethan, you’ll wanna keep an eye on that one…”

Adelle sighed when I raised an eyebrow, silently asking for clarification.

“I’ve got firsthand experience with The Ball Crusher. A few years ago, back when we were all seniors, there was this stupid rumor going around school that Ethan and I slept together under the bleachers in the gym. And, since I didn’t exactly deny it… she’s hated me ever since.”

“Well did you?” I asked.

“What, sleep with Ethan? No.” Adelle said with a sigh of regret. “But I wish I had. I’ve heard he’s a really good screw…”

“Oh, wow.” I said, feeling sorry for my friend. “High school can be so vicious. Did you ever find out who started the rumor?”

“Of course I knew who did it.” Adelle replied airily, flapping a hand at my apparently whimsical assumptions. “It was me.”

I looked at my friend with wide-eyed incredulity, until we both burst into snorts of laughter that were poorly hushed. Around us other lunch-goers cleared their throats at us and looked around themselves with irritancy, but neither of us cared. The laugh was worth the disapproval that came along with it.

*  *  *

We finished our lunch and of course the restaurant graciously comped’ the meal. And so we made our way from the table, feeling satisfied from the meal, and immature from the wine. Giggling quietly as we passed Ethan’s table, I shot him another quick glance, but this time when he returned the look it was filled with pure exasperation. And across from him his girlfriend was furious too, with hands that were white from clenching a fork and knife, as they lay stiff upon the table.

But as soon as I had faced front again, I didn’t have time to regroup my thoughts before my attention was again caught and snared in the intensity of a stranger’s stare. Captivating blue eyes held mine, belonging to a face that was thin and handsome. The stranger was tall, and just as tall as Ethan, I noticed. He had blonde hair that was a few inches longer than a buzz cut, with the top left slightly longer than the sides. I scowled and then I noticed the dull undertone to his fair skin – as if he didn’t spend much time in the sun. He stood across from me at the restaurant’s check-in counter, dressed in a simple grey t-shirt and black jeans with rips at the knees.

“I really dig those shoes.” I said casually as we passed, after noticing his red and black slip-on Vans, and admiring them for their classic checker pattern.

“Naomi, do you know who that was?” Adelle said in a low, fretful voice, and looking frantic after we were finally outside the Maison. We paused at the edge of the sidewalk, and she gave an anxious glance behind us and to the hotel again, as if half expecting that he’d followed us.

“That was Tidus Romaine, and he’s one of the oldest members of the First Family. They’re the first vampires that were created from the original vampire, Samael Noble, which happens to make them super strong and super scary. And he’s also super attractive, by the way, but still not a vampire I’d fuck. In any sense of the word, and from me, that’s saying something.”

“Wait a minute.” I said, catching some of her panic. “But I thought that Dracula was supposed to be the head honcho. Where does he fall into all this?”

“Dracula is probably a myth, you asshole.” Adelle snapped in irritation. “Tidus Romaine, however, is not a myth, and also not part of a subject we should be joking about when he’s around. Ugh, can we go now? I really don’t wanna be here when he walks out…”