Casting Shadows

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 (Declan's POV)

"Do you think Gerard's speech will be as boring as Dad's was last year?" Saint asks Bronx and I as we wait for the event to commence.

"I don't think that's even possible," Bronx replies with a laugh.

We sit on the stage that has been set up in the city square, dangling our legs off of the edge. Nobody has gathered yet because we are so early. Our parents are off meeting somewhere with important people. There is no possible way for me to keep track of where my father is at all times. He just leaves without telling me.

"Declan!" someone shouts as they run up to the stage. Ruby approaches us, her perfectly straight hair blowing in the breeze. She jumps onto the stage and sits beside me. I had invited her to join me for this occasion so she wouldn't have to watch the speech from her home television.

After we all greet each other, we begin to discuss possible topics that the speech could be on. This event is basically a holiday for the dimension because everyone interrupts their daily schedules to either hear it on the radio, or see it on the television or in person. When I become a leader and have to give this kind of speech, I will piss myself before I can even walk up to the podium. I cannot public speak.

"What did he talk about four years ago, last time he gave the speech?" Ruby asks.

We all ponder back to the last time Gerard gave it. All I can remember of that day is him rambling on and on about political issues for and hour. Usually the speeches are boring, but sometimes they have interesting parts that I can actually understand.

"He will most likely discuss the Angel Exclusion Act," Bronx states.

The conversation continues quite normally. We reminisce back to when we were in school together. Saint still has one more year before he graduates, but the rest of us were all in the same graduation class. Sometimes I wish I was still in school, just so that I can see my friends more often without having to worry about the judgment of adults.

A car pulls up near the stage, letting Gabe out before it speeds off again. He waves to everyone, but motions for me to go up to him. My father probably sent him to give me a message. Gabe basically follows my dad around everywhere incase a task needs to be done that my father doesn't feel like doing himself.

I hop off the stage and make my way towards Gabe. When I get to him he seems a bit uneasy.

"Are you okay?" I ask out of concern.

"Yeah, I'm good. I just need to finish speaking with you about that thing I was talking about before. You know, the whole Xibalba conversation that we had."

I roll my eyes in annoyance. "Gabe, listen. He is fiction, meaning not real. If an angel and demon mated, the creature that would be born would be despicable. Not to mention that the likelihood of a demon-angel is less than one in one hundred. Angels and demons do not mate and they never will."

He narrows his eyes into slits and crosses his arms. "Are you being elitist? All of the segregation and discrimination has to end at some point."

"I never said that I was against angels. I had an angel friend in school," I defend myself.

He sarcastically laughs. "How ignorant can you be? Everyone who goes to that rich school you attended is in a high position in society. What about the angels in the rest of the dimension? They're treated unfairly and you know it, which is why you push the thought of them out of your mind. You're so selfish, all you think about is your own problems when the greater ones lie beyond your father's property line."

"I am not ignorant! Why are you all of a sudden so intent upon the equality of species?"

"I have always wanted the equality to be present. I'm now showing this side of me because I can feel our time coming. With everything that's going on such as the angel law and everything that is about to happen, people will realize how inhumane the majority of the elite truly are."