Page 56 of Dream in Darkness
Raph and Luc take a simultaneous breath. “As would we.”
“I would also be inclined to make this change,” Uri says.
Josina, Cavan, and Micha all scowl at the rest of us, clearly not appreciative of where this is going. Gabe doesn’t look nervous, but contemplative.
“Alright, doll,” he says to the felion by his side. “What would you have me do?”
She looks up at me, her face barely recognizable from all the cosmetic surgeries, but there’s a familiar air about her. Maybe she was once a friend of my family, or someone who lived in my neighborhood. “I think you should sign. Let the felion be free.”
“You do understand that by doing this, a lot of felion and lupion will choose to flee to your continents?” Josina says, her pink-flesh turning a hot red.
“We understand and are already making plans to deal with it,” Raph says, his voice calm and polite.
“It’s like, the whole point of our job as leaders,” Zada sassily cuts in.
“Then it is settled. Luc, have your secretary codify it into intercontinental law,” Uri says, his tone final.
I cannot believe this was even a question. I don’t know why, perhaps it’s my experiences with Luc and Raph and Zada, but I can’t comprehend how individuals like Cavan and Josina could be so evil. They don’t even target any one group, but instead work to torture everyone in different ways. They spend their time constantly creating legislation against the felion and lupion, while then making other decisions that hurt the half-demons. It drives wedges in different communities, creating poverty and famine andchaos.I know there are some leaders that will always be wicked, and I know that I should just be grateful I live on Haeresis now, but I can’t help but feel for those still stuck on Ira. It haunts me.
Maybe I’m wrong or delusional, but I think leaders should not be those born into wealthy or royal bloodlines, but instead individuals elected and willing to do the hard work to improve everyone’s lives.
Not just those of their species or class.Everyone.
Uri looks over at Raph. “Haeresis.”
“Economically, Hel’s Carnival is doing quite well, thanks to Draven and Gemma.” He pauses to look over at the couple. “Socially, we’re having some difficulties between two of ourless populous species. Haeresis remains mostly half-demons, demons, and hybrids, but there has been a large uptick in felion and lupion. We’ve been dealing with a bit of conflict, but Yasmeena, her fiancé Tempest, and the entirety of The Devil’s Masquerade have been working tirelessly to improve the situation.”
“Have you any results?” Uri asks.
“We have a performance coming up at The Sinner’s Circus between them both. This is our first test run to see how things are improving between the warring groups.”
Micha scrunches his face. “So like… do they hate each other because one group is cats and the other dogs? Like, is that what this is?”
My eyes and the felion across from me go wide, and it is actually Reina and Absinthe who speak next.
“How incredibly ignorant of you. Lupion are partwolf, not dog,” Reina says.
“And they’re all demon hybrids,” Absinthe echoes. “It’s completely different.”
“Okay, semantics, but my point stands. Why do they hate each other?” Micha asks.
I sigh. “We don’t all hate each other. We’re simply fighting for territory. The hunting grounds on Haeresis were never divided with this many felion or lupion in mind. We’re simply working on an agreement between the two species.”
I wonder if Micha really is this obtuse, or if he does this to get under people’s skin. My guess is a bit of both, and it’s sure working, though I refuse to let it show on my face.
“Got it. But everything’s good with The Legion?” he asks.
Draven nods. “For the most part, they’ve been dormant, yes.”
Uri proceeds to ask about Violenta, and I zone out as Josina talks about fight rings and gladiator battles and how the new law will affect her.
“Ooh!” Micha slams his hands on the table. “I’ve got it! Those charged with tyranny against me I’ll have sent to Ira or Violenta as punishment.”
“That could work.” Josina smiles at Micha, her pink skin pale against the deep red of his.
“Can you discuss your deplorable scheming another time? We have work to do,” Uri says, forever the logical one. “Fraus is last.”
Gabe talks to us about his new wing prototype, even offering to to perform a surgery on Draven, which Luc quickly shuts down.
