Suns and Shadows

Bow To Them

Joshua gives a well-pleased smile as he bangs the gavel down. "Order, please. Secretary Whitlow, please sit down." But he doesn't sound angry and as I sit and I don't feel angry either.

I should be vexed at myself, but instead, I feel satisfied. I've wanted to shout at these snobby Suns all my life and now...I have. Both Zachariah and Amenis are glaring at me. I decide to glare back. 

"Now to resume the meeting, any other arguments in favor?" Joshua asks. No one moves a muscle. "Any arguments against?"

Then, an old man raises his hand. Joshua nods, acknowledging him and the old man stands. "Councillor Arch of the Bronzeflame seat." He looks at me while he speaks. "The Whitlow girl is right. If we want the Shadows to stop rebelling, we ought to give them what we want. The Suns fought against a tyrannical monarchy because we weren't happy. The Shadows are just doing the same thing." He sits.

"Any other arguments against?" Joshua asks.  Amenis raises her hand. I bite the inside of my cheek. What is she up to?

"We should move this to a vote." She says. Her brother seconds the motion and everyone stands. 

I lean over to Joshua. "What are we doing?" I hiss.

"Voting. Behind that door is a mirror, you just say either 'for' or 'against' and the mirror adds all of the votes together." He replies. Then his eyes go to the floor. "All we can do now is beg it doesn't pass."

I nod sullenly. "And if it does?"

"Random attacks on the street. Identification cards all the time. No leaving the city you were born in. If you thought how you grew up was bad, this will be worse. By the end of the week, half of your block will be arrested." He shook his head. "And everyone here knows it.  But they don't care. The Pero family is dangerous, no one goes against the Peros."

My throat feels dry. "I just went against them."

A smile plays on Joshua's lips. "I know and I was very happy to see it."

" Weren't you the one who said 'I won't let anything happen to you, not for all the stars in the sky?'" I counter.

"I tried to stop you. You didn't exactly listen to me, princess." He replies, grinning now. Because he knows he called me princess and I can't hit him because we're in public.

"If you call me that nickname again, I swear when we get back to the Dark House, you're going to get it," I growl.

He laughs. "Just try."

***

The room where we vote is dark. Heavy black curtains hang over each wall and the floor is made of inky wood. The only bright object in the room is a mirror that shines brightly. I wander towards it carefully. "Hello, Rose Whitlow." It says in the same voice as a Lawkeeper. I shudder slightly.

"I vote against," I say.

The mirror turns red. "Affirmative, you may leave." One of the curtains is yanked to the left side by an invisible hand. It reveals a silver door. I reach out to open it, but it swings out on its own. I walk through cautiously, afraid that it will try to close while I'm still inside.

When I walk out, Joshua is nowhere to be seen. I realize with a jolt that he's inside voting right now, for the next few minutes, I'm on my own. and maybe that's better. He's a Lightwood. His family is the reason I'm here.

"Rose, isn't it?" Amenis is at my shoulder. Her blue eyes piercing my own. "That was an impressive speech you gave. Councillor Bronzeflame definitely enjoyed it. He never votes for these laws, but" She giggles. "You have to rule with iron."

"Or you could rule like how you all are now, with chains," I respond before I can help myself.

Amenis's eyes roll over me and I'm reminded of a blade. Pretty, yes. But deadly in the wrong hands. "You're new to this aren't you?"

"This is my first time."

"Well, here, the Pero family is in charge." Her eyes move to view something behind me. I know it is Joshua, coming out right after he's voted. "And you need to learn to bow to your rulers."

Wowowowow. This is my third chapter in a single day. Dang. That's my record XD. Hey, I would really appreciate it if we could get to 100 votes!! We are soooooo close at 85!! Please vote and comment!! I would really appreciate it.