Chapter 15 Elsie
Elsie
Islipped into the very back of the courtroom, sitting behind a very tall spectator that would be a perfect hiding spot, should my father look this way. I couldn’t resist coming today to listen and watch what would happen, but I knew I would never be allowed out of the house again if I got caught.
Sunday night, when I was more than thirty minutes late returning home, Father was furious. He threatened to change my curfew to nine if I ever stayed out too late again, and said a bunch of other nonsense about me being irresponsible and out of line.
Personally, I wanted to move out again. I was twenty-two and had no need for a curfew or an overbearing father who controlled how often I went out, and who I went out with.
Before I moved back into his house, I didn’t have to worry about Father overreaching.
If only he paid attention to me in any way that actually mattered.
Yet still, I couldn’t bear the thought of living on campus alone again.
I could only imagine what he would think if he found out I wasn’t out with girlfriends but was instead on a date with Lukas Bristol.
Lukas, who was also in the courtroom, sat behind the prosecution team. I didn’t imagine that he played an active role in the proceedings, but since he was Ed Hildonbrand’s intern, he was always here.
I hoped he didn’t notice me either. I didn’t want to face him today. After the way I left and reacted Sunday night, I was too embarrassed and fearful that he wouldn’t be interested in seeing me anymore.
Someone slid onto the bench seat right next to me, not leaving a courteous amount of space between us. I peeked out of the corner of my eye to see that it was Henri Baker, and I relaxed a little.
“Hey,” she whispered among the other hushed tones of everyone waiting for this session to begin.
“Hi.”
“I’m Henri. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My eyebrows raised. “You have?”
“Oh, yes. Lukas doesn’t stop talking about you,” she answered with a soft laugh. I looked across the room at Lukas, who was talking with a colleague.
“I’ve heard a lot about you as well.” I gave her a genuine smile this time, and she returned it.
“Your taste in books is excellent, by the way. Of course, Lukas wasn’t going to let Noah take the credit for picking out the books. Made sure I knew it was you.”
“You liked them then? Lukas was worried because he said it wasn’t your normal.”
“They weren’t my normal, but I’m so glad. I didn’t realize what I was missing out on. Oh, and Lukas just gave me another one he said you were reading? He said he finished it already, so he wanted me to read it, too.” She gave me a knowing look. One that suggested what was inside that book.
My jaw slackened. “He already finished it? We just got it Saturday!” My voice started a little loud from my surprise, so I looked around to make sure I hadn't caught any attention.
“I guess he’s a quick study,” she said, laughing under her breath. I just shook my head and laughed too, because I didn’t know what else to say. Henri—and therefore Noah—knew that Lukas and I were buddy reading a smutty novel, and that somehow had my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
It wasn’t long until court began, and everyone quieted to listen and pay attention. After some opening statements, they called a medical potion master to the witness stand to question him.
Alicia Vane asked many basic questions to provide the jury with general information about love potions.
“Mister Faulkner, what would the effect of a love potion being cast on an entire campus of Academy students be?”
The brown-haired man on the witness stand cleared his throat.
“A disaster. For so many people to be affected by a love potion would result in chaos. First, the law of consent for that potion was put into place because it truly inhibits the brain’s ability to make grounded decisions.
This could lead a couple to do things they didn’t intend to do.
It could cause injury, for example, if they were driving a car while overcome with the potion.
Since the potion muddles the brain, it impairs them for driving and other activities that could be high risk if not done correctly.
I’d say the most likely result would be many cases of sexual assault.
If Person A was affected by the love potion, it would cause them to pursue Person B, whom they couldn’t get off their mind.
Person A’s judgement would be impaired, and they could overtake Person B, despite Person B not being willing or consenting.
“Truthfully, I believe any act performed under the influence of the love potion given without consent is sexual assault. Neither person is truly consenting to the acts they are performing, since the potion has temporarily rewired their brains.”
“Thank you, Mister Faulkner. Can you tell us more about what specifically happens to the brain under the influence of a love potion?”
I stopped listening, my eyes welling up with tears.
I was picking at the hem of my dress with one hand, trying to force my mind to think of anything other than that night.
Other than the love potion. Which was hard since I came to this courtroom today.
My breathing was rapid, and though I tried to slow it down, it felt as though my throat was closing entirely.
“Hey,” came a whisper. Then, gently, Henri’s hand rested over mine, halting the picking. I turned my head to look at her, finding understanding in her eyes. There were even tiny pools of tears in her eyes, just like mine.
She said nothing else, just slowly wrapped her hand around mine. I gripped her hand back as if it was the only thing keeping me rooted in this room.