Page 30
Seeing the damage of the blood center had been harder to taken in than I’d been expecting. While there wasn’t enough exterior damage for there to be holes in the walls or anything of that nature, the smoke damage seeped through the interior, coloring the outside walls in a dark grime that couldn’t be easily wiped away. This place meant so much to me. It’d been the most stable job I’d ever had, until the protestors had taken away that safety.
Kroven and I had arrived early, so that I could scope out the damage with Wallace, as he collected more visible evidence for his bosses to prove that they needed ORBIT to actively change the way Orbs were protected in the future. Exo observed from afar, as did Babs, who’d I’d texted about Wallace’s press conference, knowing that she’d want to be in attendance. I kept looking back at the oddly placed pair, seeing several exchanging glances between them. I recognized them from the ones I shared with Kroven.
But I could play matchmaker later. I wanted to focus on how close I’d come to not escaping death. If it hadn’t been for Babs’ adamance to see me safe, I might not have been here to be at this press conference. That cold, hard truth was hard to make amends with.
An hour later, the press conference was about to start. It was a little alarming how fast the little stage had been erected so that Wallace could overlook the crowd and address everyone from behind the provided podium. Quite the crowd had accumulated, stretching around the block in leagues of people of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and species. The pessimist in me wondered how many of them were the protestors braving their luck to see what was going to be said. The optimist in me had hope for the future unity of all beings on Earth.
I wanted the latter to win by a landslide.
Babs had the honor of being a part of the conference by way of introducing Wallace, and I clapped extra hard as she approached the podium and spoke into the microphone.
“Thank you for coming out today. My name is Babs Jillian and I’m the supervisor here at the Gossamer Avenue Blood Center.” Her eyes swept the crowd, her lips shifting into a smile when she found me and Kroven in the crowd. We were perfectly in the middle, and I felt Kroven’s hand worm its way into mine so that my smile mimicked hers.
“I’ve worked at this blood center since it opened back in 2010 with the passing of the Creature Protection Act. Since then, me and my fellow attendants have been dedicated to helping both humans and Orbs get the treatment they need, no matter what their background or sickness level might be. A horrific act was done to not just the two blood centers in Piper, but up and down the coast from people who think that Orbs shouldn’t be catered to by humans.
“This isn’t what it means to be kind. This isn’t what it means to be human. Once we realize we’re stronger together, humans and Orbs working together side by side, only then will all of us feel truly free.”
Babs’ words brought tears to my eyes. To address a crowd of this size with that message felt so powerful to be a part of. You could feel the energy crackling in the air. I hoped that if there were any of the protestors amongst the crowd that they were choking on it.
“Normally, this blood center, as I’m sure most of the blood centers that were attacked, doesn’t have a lot of funds at their disposable. What happened here would not only take an estimated two months to be fully functional again, but myself and my co-workers would be financially unsupported during this time.” Babs’ frown shapeshifted into an exuberant grin. “However, I am delighted to announce that an anonymous donor has given this blood center and all those affected by the riot brought forth by protestors enough funds to have all blood centers up and down the coast open and operational by as early as next week!”
Babs’ grin widened as the crowd applauded, my own hands instinctively joining suit. My hands slowed as Babs looked over directly at Kroven and I and gave us a wink as she applauded.
Jarred by the action, I spun my head to look at Kroven. He was clapping with a wild grin broadening his handsome face, but those gorgeous red eyes met mine in an instant.
“Did you donate the money for the blood centers?”
He didn’t answer me with words. Kroven gave a shrug, as if he had no idea, but the wicked curve of his lips didn’t leave as his eyes darted upwards in a show of feigning knowledge. My heart soared. How much money must that have cost him? To not just fund this blood center but to make sure all of them could open as soon as possible? Tears danced in the corners of my eyes.
“How much money do you actually have?”
Kroven laughed as the crowd began to die down the applause. “Enough that I won’t miss it.”
I pulled him into a hug, my heart doubling over as his arms wrapped around me. By the time I reverted my attention back to the podium, Exo was there next to Babs. It was then that I definitely saw a spark of something pass between them as she stepped aside to let him speak.
“On behalf of the entire sangamar community, we would like to let the anonymous donor know that we are forever humbled by your dedication to treating sangamar as you would humans. Thank you so much.”
More applause sang through the crowd, and I couldn’t take my eyes off my incredible boyfriend. I understood why Kroven wanted to remain anonymous, given his background with his former sangamar community and his animosity towards his parents, but if they knew just how generous and kind and sweet this man was, they’d learn that there was virtually nothing different between humans and Orbs. The one thing that united us universally was love. That was all that mattered.
In that moment, feeling nothing but my heart pounding in my ears and the crowd hollering at the turn of good luck that was enveloping them all at the blood centers reopening sooner than expected, there was only one thing that I wanted do.
Unfortunately, timing wasn’t on my side, because it was then that Babs’ voice tore through the crowd and I saw Wallace approaching the stage.
“People of Piper, put your hands together for the man who’s dedication toward the blood center and relations between humans and Orbs knows no end. Wallace Watson.”
The handsome ginger shook Babs’ hand with a great smile, and the people reacted to him in a way I hadn’t been expecting. If there was any indication that people felt wary about the uniting of everyone, they surely put aside their differences when it came to Wallace. He garnered enough uproar to rival what a musical artist in their prime would get.
Being a fan of Taylor Swift, that was saying something.
“Thank you so much Ms. Jillian for that wonderful introduction. I would also like to extend my thanks to the anonymous donor for helping the blood centers to continue their important work for bridging the gap between human and Orb needs and just focusing on helping people no matter what species they are.”
More applause, and more chanting in a positive manner. This was like the anti-reaction of what we’d experienced with the protestors. Wallace also gazed over in our direction, applauding as he gave Kroven a nod. I nudged my boyfriend with my elbow as I clapped, hearing his chuckling as Wallace silenced the crowd with a raised hand, an instant hush forming.
“I have the honor of announcing this here in Piper, Virginia, something that will not only impact this state directly, but hopefully the entire country in an effort to eliminated bias among our Orb brothers, sisters, and anyone and everyone in-between the gender binary.” The crowd seemed to harden at the mention of gender inclusivity, but Wallace trudged on. “It’s my pleasure to announce that a special board dedicated to the better treatment of all Orbs through working together with local law enforcement on all levels is in the works. I have been elected the Director of Orb Affairs within the House and will be conducting a nationwide hunt for the best candidates of each and every creature species to make their voice heard. We will be attacking issues directly at the source, coming together to create better ways of solving issues without the need for the type of violence that occurred at the blood centers. For those Orbs watching or listening to this, if you believe you are the best being to help your respective community eliminate prejudice, violence, and any other predicament plaguing your community, please come to the ORBIT office in Washington D.C. to sign up to be a part of the board. I’ll be providing links to the office address and any other additional information on my socials to apply online as well. Let’s fight to unite!”
Cheers crescendoed throughout the street that everyone filled, a skyrocketing amount of applause and positivity that I once again got swept up in again. People were chanting Wallace’s name and hollering as I turned to look at the smiling face of my Orb boyfriend.
The earlier feelings of gratitude and overwhelming affection swarmed through me like a hive of emotion I hadn’t quite ever experienced. I stared at Kroven with a smile until he caught me looking, a smirk lazily laying on his face.
Before he could talk, I reached up and smoothed his jaw with my thumb.
“I love you.”
My declaration caught him off guard, even though I’d said it before. Once he softened, he smiled back at me, pulling me toward him as his hands found my hips.
“I love you too, Sebastian.”
And then we were kissing, the hum of the crowd making it feel like they were applauding for our love, for our lives, for the betterment of all of us as Kroven and I displayed exactly why humans and Orbs weren’t so different.
With my hands around Kroven’s neck, I braided my hands together and fell into a deeper kiss with my favorite sangamar, breathless at the potential the future held for us.