attend here. So they are of the opinion that Ms. Vale should be commended for taking this stance when no one else did, or would, and risk your wrath. I suggest you reevaluate whether or not you are making a mistake on who you are siding with, Councilman.”
He seemed speechless at the turn of events, giving a quick and shallow acknowledging dip of his head to the royals and nothing more, before turning on his heel and leaving. The others hurried to scurry after him, not sure what else to do it seemed.
“Damn,” I whispered to Mrs. Von Thann. “Just dayumn. I need to buy you a mic to drop for that because that was beautiful, and that’s the second time I like your council best.”
She glanced at me. “Second?” Understanding filled her eyes when I winced. “Ahh, yes, that time. That was more Mason’s parents, but they didn’t disagree and supported their community, which they do tend to do. They listen better than most councils, which is about as good as we can ask for at times.”
“Much better than the vampires,” I grumbled. “I was ready for them to come, but I can’t believe they actually did after they didn’t even let me testify, and it was all done as an attack on me. They don’t even try to hide their corruption.” I might have said more, but I was cuffed upside the head. I rubbed it and glanced up at Mrs. Diaz. “Ouch.”
“Oh, I did not hurt you, but I should,” she threatened. “How could you do this and not warn us? Have we not said we will stand with you?”
“Yes, but just because I decide to make a move doesn’t mean I need to drag everyone down with me.”
“Yes, but we still have free will and are old enough to make those choices for ourselves,” Mrs. Vogel reminded me. “Tell us, and as we have before, we can also guide you. Your plans are normally very well thought-out, but we all can do better and need help, Tamsin. You’re too used to flying solo, and you don’t have to anymore.”
I sighed, staring at all of them in turn. “I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt or pick sides because I pick a fight.”
“That’s big of you, but we’re big girls too and want to fight the fights we believe in,” Mrs. Von Thann said.
“I really like you,” I blurted. I smiled when she gave me a shocked look. “Lucca and I had a talk, and he explained some things. Hopefully, he’ll explain what I said to you as well, as I was… I had no idea this world was so vastly different when I was dropped into it.”
“Yes, well, sometimes I have a hard time believing it as well.” She gave me a kind look that shocked me again. “Some of us have been dying to take this stand, Tamsin. You simply gave us the way and scorched the ground so we would all be able to find true allies that would help. You’ve seen enough of this world to know there are many who would offer help and leave us as roadkill.”
“Now let the adults do what the adults should and fight the bigger fights, as we can take the hits,” Mrs. Gui added.
I smiled at them and handed over the rest of the flyers and rape alarms to their aides. I was completely fine with getting help.
It was simply sad there was so much damn help needed.
We managed to catch well over half the females heading into the meeting, but hung around to wait until after for the rest came out. It was then I got the full scoop on this exchange thing. It was called the Culture Exchange, and after two minutes of listening, I wanted to roll my eyes at it.
Mostly because it wasn’t about culture, but a caste exchange. The course work was comparable between the colleges in the supe world, so it wasn’t about one being so much more challenging or getting the culture of a higher level. Sure, it was framed as going to a college in a different area or country, but really it was about money. It always came back to money.
And power. It was to show how the elites and rich lived, and that those from the lower schools couldn’t compare, and to learn early to stay in their lanes. Every student was to switch one class a semester with a student in the same