The Cat Feels Like A Punching Bag
DELILAH
Lily takes the stick from Talia, trying to set an expectation without scolding anyone. “I don’t feel comfortable analyzing every rumor that’s been half-mentioned to me. It’s irresponsible, and it involves people in things they shouldn’t be part of. People are allowed to keep concerns private, even if it’s about the community.”
“I agree, Lily. We should bring our own issues to the table and not someone else’s,” Sari interjects. She glares at Talia aggressively, leaning back in her chair to scowl at the group.
Even Sari can’t control that smarmy bitch, and I’m kind of living for it.
I pinch the bridge of my nose as I consider what Lily said. This is the actual problem we’re having—none of them truly have concerns. They are simply parroting trumped-up bullshit Sari fed them. Most of the ladies here have no desire to discuss anything. This is a charade to allow Sari to say she tried to work with the council, but we shouldn’t be trusted because we’re despots.
Fuck them. I’m not helping them rebel by responding to unspoken rumors.
“What does the phrase ‘misrepresentation of council decisions’ mean?” Michaela asks.
Of course she’d ask that as if she doesn’t have a clue.
Talia gives her a sharp glance because she also knows people like Michaela are part of the problem Lily is referring to. “People are recklessly spreading a rumor with incorrect information about a decision the council made. It’s not a hard statement to dissect.”
“We can discuss the Safe Haven despite Belle’s absence,” Sari says, giving me a smug expression. “Don’t dance around it, Talia.”
“Since it’s my integrity that people are trashing, I agree,” Lily says, her voice full of reproach. “They’re attacking Deli as well, obviously, and we have the right to defend ourselves whether Belle chose to attend or not.”
“The lack of transparency is maligning the Council and residents of the Safe Haven as well. They’re aware you are both lying about things. Don’t act so superior.” Sari stands as if she’s going to hop onto a pedestal, and Talia glares at her like she’s going to throw knives.
I might not stop her, either.
“Hearing that a Council and a full resident list has formed lets us identify how long this bullshit move was planned,” Talia shoots back. “Belle left three days ago. Any sane person would assume that’s a short amount of time to set up a government unless you’ve had this in mind since well before your zombie mate rose from the dirt.”
Pleading with my mate via mind speak, I shake my head. She can’t antagonize Sari yet. Talia growls under her breath and stalks outside of the circle to light a smoke. I turn back to the women, sighing before I ask, “Can we discuss whatever the hell caused this exodus? We’re getting off track.”
“Belle would be the first to say she had no ill intent when she formed our community,” Sari interjects.
I give her a pasted-on smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. “She’d say if she wasn’t too chickenshit to show up here, but alas, that’s not the fucking case.”
Lily saves me from snapping further by pulling out her tablet and the ridiculous amount of files on community communication it holds. “I don’t have records of any emails stating that she was forming a new community in The Rift, nor any information on her state of mind. However, based on the emails she actually sent, I can confirm we did not revise the community codes as she requested.”
“Were you guys opposed to changing the rules for people like us?” Michaela asks.
As usual, she’s only concerned with what affects her directly.
I don’t give a shit about revising the community code, honestly. Lily didn’t want to change it, and I’m protecting her from their wrath by not revealing that. They’ve been mad at me, so why not keep her out of it? Doing so means that one of us won’t get accused of bias. Talia shoots me a glance, not pleased with my decision to fall on my sword.
I ignore her to stare at the crowd on my patio. “Contrary to the rumors, we didn’t tell Belle she was forbidden to create her own space. She came to us saying that she was going off on her ownwhether or not we liked it—as is her usual modus operandi. I opposed the idea of splitting the community because it didn’t address our underlying issues. We’re too small to split up every time we disagree.”
“Belle only came to you as a sign of respect, Deli!” Sari growls petulantly. “She didn’t even have to do it!”
Talia turns her head, her eyes narrowing on the coyote. “We agreed to keep this civil. You are entitled to your opinion, Sari, but I see it differently. As someone with no history in this community—and therefore, no bias—I have not seen that woman do anything respectful since I arrived. Belle flaunts the rules and dares anyone to stop her. I’m happy to see her fucking off to her own playground.”
I stand up before their fight deteriorates into a brawl. “Lily, did you receive an email on this topic from a resident? Did it intimate that we made an executive decision—as a council—that we forbid her from creating her own space?”
“Yes. It was vague and critical of our decision without naming the decision.” Lily pauses, frowning as she shakes her head. “That’s a common issue with emails to the Council, by the way. People want us to know there’s a problem, but they don’t want to ‘rat anyone out’, so they offer no evidence. We’re not detectives, and this isn’t an Agatha Christie novel. We don’t have time to ferret out the truth.”
“Belle should be able to make her own place if she wants to!” Michaela stomps her foot. “You can’t control people any more than the Cabal could.”
I blink, gaping at one of my oldest friends in the Resistance. My feelings of betrayal, which I worked to quash before the meeting,seep into me again. Michaela and Dona brought me to The Rift. Our boys have been friends since we created them. She’s only siding with them because they’re giving her something she wants—that I can guarantee.
Right now, I truly want these bitches to die, but for Talia.
