Page 12 of Venice

I turn it on, and tap the phone icon, then my favorites list.

“Speaker phone, please,” Luca places his hand softly on my arm, and I nod my agreement.

I tap my parents’ number and tap the speaker. It’s midday back in the Edge, and my dad answers on the first ring.

“Diva, is everything okay?” He sounds tired.

“Yes, Dad, I’m fine. How are you? Mom?”

“Busy with work but good. It’s wonderful to hear your voice, I’ll put you on speaker phone so your mom can hear too.”

“Good. Hi Mom.”

“Hello Diva,” says Mom.

I clear my throat, and my hand shakes a little, but I steady myself, “You both know I’ve been performing with CAD for almost a year now.”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Mom’s tone is sharp.

“Well, lately something’s really been bothering me.”

“I’m not surprised to hear that,” says Dad. “It’s them, right? The evil unnaturals?”

“It is them.” My voice shakes. “But not in the way you’re thinking.” May as well launch into it. “They’re all so nice and caring, it’s making me question the new family business.”

There’s silence for a few moments, and I know they’re either exchanging looks or have muted the phone to discuss this between them.

Then my mother speaks, harsh as usual, “Diva, are you being brainwashed?”

This comment angers me, as if my friends in the circus are doing something dishonest when I know they’re not. “Of course not. I’ve grown to know and love them. They’re not bad people.”

“They’re not people at all,” screams Mom. “And you love them more than you love your family?” She slams her fists on the table, the sound punctuated over the phone. I keep my eyes on the phone in Luca’s hand because I don’t want to look at him, or any of them. I’m ashamed of my parent’s behavior.

“Please, Mom, that’s not what I’m saying.” I grab my hands to stop them from shaking.

“Then what are you saying?” Dad asks calmly.

“I want you to drop the registry and chip idea. It’s discriminatory.”

“So, you care more about these new friends than your own brother who was torn apart by these monsters? What’s happened to our Diva?” says Mom.

“Time for you to come home,” says Dad. “We don’t want you around these demons.”

I sigh. “I’m thirty-one years old, so no, I won’t come home because you two are scared of change. And just because one bad wolf killed Ian, it doesn’t mean that an entire species should suffer for it. Humans murder each other daily, and there’s no chip or registry for them.”

“Well, there is a registry,” snaps Dad. “You can search a police database if you know someone on the force. If not, you can do a background check and find out if you’re living next to a murderer who’s out on parole.”

“Yes, and the werewolf that killed Ian would be on that list too. I mean, how would you feel if you were an innocent Signum that was forced to be chipped?”

“An innocent Signum?” Mom screams. “None of them are innocent. We are not having this conversation, Diva. You will come home now.”

I finally look up at my men. Their brows are drawn. I have one bargaining chip but only one. “Fine,” I pause. “I’ll quit the circus and come home if you stop the registry and chips.”

Emilio and Marcello leap up, their eyes wide, but I shake my head at them.

“Oh Diva,” Mom’s voice softens. “You’re asking too much of us, but we’ll agree to stop until you return home and then we can discuss this further.”

I set my jaw but can see my men shaking their heads in my peripheral. “Good. I’ll finish my performances here and see you next week.”

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