Blinded Sight

Blinded Sight
"I call forth the other board members, and wish for all of us to be moved from this building to the town square,” Lilith said. Everyone in the room gave a gasp as Hectate used his magic to move them while Calchas and Samantha stayed in the shadows. Raising his hand again, he produced the board members, who remained seated. Lilith faced the men. "Bruxo is not the only one who has a say at this table, and this is the reason Sheye is struggling. After I tell my idea, I implore that you all make a collective decision instead of just one person being the ruling force.” The men around the table stone faces slowly fell. Bruxo's lips parted, and Noah gave him a cold look that immediately silenced him. Lilith turned again to Hectate. "I call forth the residents of Sheye.”

One by one, the people appeared, their faces lined with confusion. Their eyes widened, and someone murmured,

“It’s the four royal incubus, and the succubus queen.”

Their clothes tattered and ragged, Lilith watched as some pulled at them, embarrassed at their presentation, and she fought to contain her anger. "Please, you have nothing to be ashamed about. I just want to help if I can.” She inhaled sharply, her thoughts drifting to a conversation Noah never knew she’d heard.

"No, we won’t be moving forward with the project….mhm….my answer is still no Tom. I have no interest in being a part of a project that's demolishing a perfectly good halfway house that benefits the community.”

She pointed to the library behind her, "Is it true that this is the oldest building in Sheye? The first building ever built here? One that provided a place for learning and where the creator of your most profitable product created the idea?”

Multiple people nodded their heads. "That’s why it means so much to us,” one said. "I get that it’s old, but that’s what makes it worth keeping. So much history, and it was the place that many of our ancestors learned and taught themselves.”

She smiled. "It’s a wonderful thing to see how much this means to you. I wonder-” She paused and glanced at Noah, “If there’s an insignia on it. I learned that a lot of architects and builders put a little something that shows that it was their work, although some are egotistical enough to flat out just write their name.”

Laughs flowed. "Oh yeah! I guess the architect for the library had a big ego as well! His signature is engraved right in the front. Now that I think about it, it’s written kinda big too.”

Lilith smirked. "Thought so. Architects and their huge…egos. What’s a person to do with them?” She heard Noah chuckle behind her.

"Be nice to me, Lilith. I may be egotistical, but you knew that when you met me. Besides, I told you that you wouldn’t forget it my..ego…and you didn’t, did you?” He and Mason laughed and slapped hands.

"ANYWAY,” Lilith said, slightly embarrassed. She turned to the board members. "It looks as though you won’t be tearing down this building after all.” She placed her fingers up to her lips. "How about you tell the good people here that this place is a historical landmark? Sheye holds the same laws as the mortal realm, does it not? Destroying historical landmarks is as illegal here as it is there.”

She heard the murmurs from the men at the table, and one finally spoke. "We never wanted to tear down the building in the first place. It was Bruxo’s idea to save money.”

"YOU LITTLE WEASEL!” Bruxo screamed, and immediately Noah grabbed him by the throat. Raising him from his seat, his white eye bore into his.

"When did I give you permission to speak? Interrupt again and you’ll see firsthand how pissed off this entire thing has made me.” Satisfied with the fear on the man’s face, he dropped Bruxo back into his chair. He smiled at Lilith. “I think you still technically have the floor, Sweetheart.”

She shook her head, before locking eyes with Samantha's shadowed body, and her face hardened. She turned to a gapping Morrigan and gave her a look that caused her to cower.

"Focus Lil,” Noah said, pulling her from her thoughts. "Samantha needs you. Put that rage into saving her.”

Her breathing labored. She nodded. "Okay." Facing the board members, she pointed to the one that spoke. "Why didn’t you all tell Bruxo that you didn’t want to destroy the library?”

He sighed. "We did, but Bruxo has the majority control over the board’s decisions. Without being able to present a solution to him, our pleas fell on death ears. As much as we wanted to keep the library, he is right that it drains the little money that Sheye has, and with everyone quitting, the plan presented seemed like the best option…at first. ”

Lilith felt her lip tremble as, once again, Noah’s words immediately rang in her ears.

"After tonight? Absolutely nothing.”

"BECAUSE YOU TREATED ME LIKE I DID SOMETHING WRONG!”

"I don’t expect you to automatically trust me, but I do expect to be given the same respect that I’ve given you, and for you to get to know me for me.”

“You weren’t listening,” she murmured sadly, more to herself than the others. “He said it over and over, and you weren’t listening.” She lifted her head. “It doesn’t feel good to not be listened to, does it? To basically have to beg someone to treat you decently…and fair.” She turned to the people of Sheye. "What Bruxo has done to your reigning board members is exactly what they have done to you. They did not listen to your pleas until you had no option but to stop speaking. Make them listen now, make us all listen now because you love Sheye, and no matter what you may think deep down-” she turned to Noah, "You ARE and will always be on the same playing field as them.”

Noah fought the urge to pull her into his arms. Finally hearing the words he desperately wanted to hear spoke so genuinely, he let go of the breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding in. A small voice broke free,

"Our work conditions were terrible. There was so much work to be done with wages that made it almost impossible to provide for our families. The bathrooms are disgusting. We’re on our feet all day.” Nods flowed around the crowd.

A woman raised her hand. "We have no healthcare! The fire exits are blocked, and I’m terrified that if something happens, I won’t be able to escape. My children need me. If I have to choose between working and potentially not surviving, or struggling, but being with them, I’ll choose them every time. We tried to speak to the board, but we kept getting blocked by Bruxo.”

Lilith folded her arms to her chest and turned to the board members. "Looks like you don’t have people who weren’t willing to work, it looks moreso like you have a strike on your hands.” She shook her head. "I was once on the opposite side of one of those.” The brothers looked at one another and rubbed the back of their necks. "Listen, this isn’t just about Bruxo, it’s about you giving one person more power than they should ever have. The people here have demands that are not impractical. These are the basic NEEDS and you have the ability to provide them, don’t you? You want to save Sheye? Save your people first.”

The board members looked at one another and slowly nodded their heads. "Things will change, starting first with Bruxo,” one said. "We knew nothing of these requests, but we should have. It is our job to, and with that in mind, we will fix what we’ve broken. Healthcare, raises, better work conditions, and time to be with your families. It will take some time, but you will see these changes effective immediately. If your demands are met and exceeded, will you consider returning to work?

"HELL YEAH!” someone yelled, and Lilith extended her hand to each of the board members.

"I want this in writing signed by each of you, and I promise I will return FREQUENTLY to ensure you’re keeping your word to your people. As you can see, you can’t do this without them. They make up an essential part of what makes Sheye strong. Remember this the next time you opt to not-” Her eyes widened, finally seeing what it was about Noah she’d truly missed. She placed her hand over her mouth and she turned and looked from him to Mason, Jayden and Liam, realizing that he wasn’t the only one. "I can’t believe I missed what was right in my face.” Her hands shook, and she turned to Hecate. "This was never about what I knew, was it? It was about what I refused to see.”