Page 50 of Iris
“That she’s keeping it from us to focus on the other gossip.”
“Or maybe she doesn’t know? Nothing’s been announced.” And I’m sort of hoping the delay will go on.
Rue’s right, though, it is weird. The announcement for the Luxe comes a few days after the face-to-face with the Monarch. But it’s been six days. And three of those are silence from Killian.
Then there’s Xavier. I keep hoping I’ll see him. What I haven’t done is go back to the bar, because I don’t think it’s smart.
Sure, the announcement from the Councilwoman might say I’m out of the Season, especially since she told me to get out.
If that happens, there’s going to be hell in this house. But maybe because I’m Violet’s sister she won’t take that step.
Or maybe she will.
“Give me your phone.” I read over the post and it’s like Rue says, lots of dire words that don’t say much.
Except… If there is a meeting, it’s got to do with this change the QB talks about. But there’s no real substance. If I hadn’t met Killian and Xavier, I’d think she’d heard a grumble or even made it up, just to poke at the Monarch and make her mad.
Because the rest is whipping up the fever and need for gossip.
I glance at Rue, who’s pacing and muttering to herself.
She’s got my little sister all tied in knots and panting for information and gossip, more than she usually does this early in the Season, so I put it down to building up her base.
“Rue, she doesn’t have the list yet, so she’s stringing us…you…along. Unless you’re the Queen Bee?—”
“I wish I was.” Her phone in my hand suddenly lets out a fanfare on a trumpet to some kind of dance beat, and Rue swoops in and takes her phone. “Oooh, a new Stitch. Laters!”
She races off and I sigh, picking up the book on the political history of the Council.
It’s all propaganda, and as Rue said, boring, but it’s easy to see the lobotomized future they want for the people of Sabine and beyond.
Lots of Omegas. An attempt to rid the world of Deltas and Gammas. Okay, it doesn’t say that, but the meaning is clear. Deltas are quirks and they don’t produce Omegas. Ever. And Gammas? I’m not sure if I know any, but they seem to be lumped in with Deltas.
Betas are caused by weak genes, so they want to have strong genes mating.
It sounds horrible. Nightmarish and unfair.
Another reason to hate these damn seasons.
Of course, the fact the Council allows leeway in a lot of the world outside of Sabine is meant to show they’re nice and modern now, but they aren’t. Not if you really look.
From the back garden I can hear the slam of the front door, and I know it’s Heath storming in.
Dahlia stops playing abruptly for a long time, then it starts again, something dramatic.
Ooh, boy.
He’s got a bee in his pretty little bonnet. Though because it’s my brother, who knows the cause. Could be anything. And if Itake a moment to be fair, he’s got a lot on his plate in trying to fix the scandal and keep us above water.
I close my eyes.
Why he wants me mated off.
I hate that’s the only option.
I hate that this place looks at us like we’re now tainted with scandal because of my father.
“…No,” Mari says to someone that isn’t me. “I just don’t think you should let him get to you.”
