Page 116 of The Divide that Binds Us

I step out and trudge into the outdated waiting area with bad, faded brown carpet and rusted metal chairs waiting for the perfect butt to sit before they break.Master Azul promised countless times we’d renovate this area because it’s so awful that members’ families don’t come to visit anymore.I don’t see that happening any time soon since we’re losing money to pay for the island’s repairs.

The old TV hooked to the corner of the waiting room barely hangs on with its jumpy, static screen, trying its best to display the news.A few monarchs come on display, expressing their condolences to Garnetizens, and offering to create a disaster relief fund.This helps Elite so we don’t go completely broke and lose our jobs, but it’s still annoying because I didn’t have malicious intent, nor knew what I was even doing.

Billie saunters into the waiting room as I continue craning my neck to stare at the screen, anxiety creeping up my spine.

“Still nervous about going outside?”she asks, scratching her cheek before crossing her arms.Her Elite jacket has a yellow stain from the mustard she must’ve spilled when eating.

“Yeah.People are taking legal action against me.I don’t blame them.”

“Yikes.What’ll happen if it gets to that point?”she mumbles.

I grab the remote to mute the TV.

“I dunno, but I think the lawsuits would normally go to the courts.King Remington would appoint jurors and lawyers for all parties involved, but he couldn’t be the judge for my case because the incident took place on his island.He must appoint a different monarch to be part of the trial.This applies to all of them.”

A member in pajamas with crutches swings past us toward the infirmary as another one comes out with a box of bandage wraps, humming to himself.Billie sinks into one of the rickety metal chairs, propping her elbows on her knees and slouching.

I sigh.“I heard King Evan hates those meetings because everyone tries to offer suggestions for improving Sapphire Island.It’s a crap show over there thanks to his poor leadership.”

A third nasally voice comes into the hallway from the lobby.

“How cute.”Robert waltzes over to us.He’s wearing sandals with his socks still on and that’s probably the foulest crime I’ve ever seen someone commit.Not to mention he’s wearing a white dress shirt under his Elite jacket that’s unbuttoned halfway to expose his grizzly chest hair.He locks eyes with us and frowns with his permanent resting disgusted face.“Hello, kiddies.”

Billie rolls her eyes.“Sup, Bob?”

I nudge her with my elbow.

He surveys us dubiously.I want to yank his man-bun, but I don’t need any more trouble.

“You look rather well, Alice.How’s the public feeling about you?”he asks, smirking.

This time Billie nudges me when I inhale sharply.“They hate me, as expected.”

“Gosh, I wish I could help; I have sooo much money that I could just buy your reputation back,” Robert offers with a quick stroke on his dry goatee.“Of course, you’d need to pay me back, and there is an interest rate.Billie, I can pay for you to get a makeover if you’d like.Ya know, to look as appealing as your beautiful sister.Maybe then you could find a nice guy.”

Billie’s lips twitch into a goofy smile.“Who said I wanted to find aguy?”

“Oh!”Robert crosses his arms, still stroking his goatee.“I can give you tips on how to pick up all types of lovely ladies!But still, you could do with a slight upgrade.”

Patches of Billie’s skin alter into that familiar scaly, snake pattern, her smile spreading eerily wider by the second.We do not need an unhinged Billie right now.

“Hmm, how ‘bout you use that money to evict your disgusting demon?”she suggests.

“Excuse me?”Robert sneers.“Why are you so barbaric when all I was trying to do was be nice?Is this what happens when you’re neglected because your family hates you?”

Billie hisses, her tongue now yellow and split into two.“Take your money, shove up your ass, or pay to grow an actual mustache and not that crappy peach fuzz of yours!”

Blond hair strands form into braids, but I touch Billie’s shoulder before they take full shape.Her cold, scaly skin rolls underneath as she’s caught between her transformation and wrath.Robert’s scowl carves deeper into his face as he softly touches under his nose quickly before rolling his eyes.

“Hmph, freaks!”he mutters, trotting away, but Rachel is already waiting in his path with her arms crossed and a heavy glare that weighs on her full lips into a pout.“Oh, baby!H-Hi, I thought we were meeting at the—”

“Shut it.I came to see Evangeline, and of course, I have to witness your awful alter ego again.”Rachel grabs his shoulder, digging her long nails into his jacket.Robert jumps and nods quickly, turning to face us.

“S-Sorry, ladies,” he utters before shying behind Rachel.She whips her head back to continue her glare until he shrinks into the dark, narrow hall, almost out of eyesight.

Billie’s shoulders drop as her anger deflates, her skin back to normal now.A quiet hiss dies down, but the source of the sound is unknown unless it’s coming from her hair where the snakes were ready to take shape.

Rachel sticks her hip out and places her hand on it.“I’m sorry.I’m just...so exhausted.This demon surfaces more and more these days.”

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