Page 71 of Kings of Desire
‘For the day. I’ll see you tomorrow at school,’ he spoke in total relaxation, drawing his head back to rest on the tub border and enjoying that lingering satisfaction still residing in his veins.
And in a way, I envied him as I was trying to get my shaking legs to abandon the room, even though remaining there with him was not even an option. His mind was as devious as it got, and it was only a matter of minutes before he could come up with the nextgame.
Chapter 16
Iloathed him. I hated every single cell of his arrogant nature. And still, that shaking sensation lived inside my body, reminding me of the devastating power he held over me. Not by contract, but by human nature.
Rushing down the stairs, I could only glance straight at the entry door, wishing to leave his house even before I needed to catch my next breath. Yet, something stopped me. The walls were echoing from an argument, while screaming and shouting could be heard coming from the living room.
I should have left. Lived in total ignorance for as long it was possible, though the instant decision to stop on my way was the one element about to put all wheels in motion.
‘You bastard. I’m getting a divorce!’ A woman yelled, forcing my curious nature to venture towards the place the arguing came from.
Yes, I have many qualities yet eavesdropping seems to be my greatest flaw lately.
‘Where have you been!? Have you been at the roulette again? You’ve already driven this family to ruin.’
‘Shut up before Cole hears you! I wasn’t at the fucking roulette!’ A man’s voice answered in an angered tone. ‘Our son asked me to take care of a custody problem for his girlfriend and I was handling it with the mayor all morning.’
A weight had just been lifted off my chest as the certainty of Cole’s promise was coming through, washing away just a little of that horrible guilt feeling I was having over what I just did.
‘Girlfriend!? Why is it the first time I hear of this?’
That must have been Cole’s mother asking.
‘Because you tend to overreact and ask all sorts of dumb questions. That’s why neither of us told you.’
‘Then, if you’re having a breakthrough of honesty, why are you so afraid to confess to him that the money isn’t coming back? There is no governor or senator or whatever lie you told our son. You didn’t invest our money in the next election. You invested it on a goddamn white ball hitting 13 black. And you lost!’
‘Shut up, Debrah. He will hear you! I still have connections. I will make the money back in no time, especially with the riots only one step away from breaking.’
‘You’re the same gullible fool, Frank. The riots will break us, not build us.’
‘No. We have Elite blood running through our veins.’
‘What use is there for it if it’s not supported by money? We’re most likely to be thrown in the Pit with the rest of them. To become slaves of the Elite!
We must prevent this, not stand by it. Just think about all the people that will die in the wars.
It’s inhuman to turn the already poor Annelids into slaves. Haven’t they suffered enough as it is?’
‘That’s the problem. The Annelids want more when there is getting less and less to give.’
‘This won’t be a solution. There will be too few of them left. And then who will work for the Elite? Us!?’
‘Not us, Debrah... But the word is they want to enslave everyone who can’t claim royal origins. Even the ones on the Hills. The governor is talking about hiring mercenaries to see his plan come through.’
‘You have to talk him out of this. He listens to your advice. You’ve been friends from kindergarten.’
‘Money is the only thing that drives him on. And that’s the one thing I lack at this moment. Besides, if the riots ignite, there’s nothing stopping this.’
‘We have to do something while you still have power over them. Before they find out about our financial situation.’
‘Like what, Debrah? Enlighten me,’ the sarcasm in his voice matched the one of his son’s.
‘I don’t care. You didn’t ask me when you bet away all our fortune. Go back to the casinos and ask for a refund. Just get us out of this!’
