Page 136 of Remnants: Disruption
Familiar voices reverberate down the hall as I near the door that the councilors had gone through.
“I get that, but I do not understand—” Azazel’s voice sounds monotone, but I can hear the spike of anxiety.
“I would not expect you to,” Cass sounds downright hysterical. “That is the issue.”
“We have never had this problem before,” Azazel says, and I feel that sickly feeling in my chest again.
We.
“Because you do not feel a need for connection like I do,” Cass says, voice giving way to sadness that tears at my heart.
And I almost open the door.
There’s a spat of silence before Cass huffs out a sigh.
“We have been together for a long time, Aaron.”
Or maybe Erin. Or something else.
“And this has never been an issue before. None of the others—”
“Because they were not—” she huffs out again.
And I realize I’m not the one she cheated on.
I’m the one she’s cheated with.
The night of the dinner with Percy flashes unbidden through my mind. Of overhearing the truths that were kept from me.
“I do not understand it, but I get that you need it.”
Azazel approves of her cheating? Aaron? Or whatever their name is.
“Notneed, Aaron. No, if Ineededit, I could get it elsewhere. Outside of the Citadel. I want—”
I back away from where I stood beside the door. Fuck it.
I don’t want to hear this anymore.
“She is—” I hear Azazel’s voice and the door swings open.
But I’m already a few feet away.
Cassandra sees me and, instead of looking ashamed or embarrassed, her face splits into a wide, genuine grin.
And then it falls at the look on my face. Which probably has to be abject horror and disgust.
Because that’s the feeling trying to worm its way up my throat.
“I’m sorry,” I say, bowing my head and unsure of how to treat this woman who’s played with my heart one too many times. “I didn’t mean to invade on a—”
I wonder if this might be the turning point, but I want to see her reaction.
“On a lover’s conversation. I overheard more than enough.”
Cass freezes and I see Azazel peek their white mask around the corner as well.
“Lover’s…” Cass says before she turns to look at Azazel. And then back at me. “Oh my fucking God. Who the fuck started that rumor again?”
