Page 61 of Blood Pearl
“I was just calling to say congratulations to you both and to see when you’d like me to perform the ceremonies.”
“Your congratulations are gratefully received. As for the Alpha and Luna ceremonies, we haven’t discussed who we’d like to perform them as yet.”
“Who? I don’t remember any of the other Council members ever performing the ceremonies in many years. Why would you need to discuss such a thing?” I’m completely blind-sided by this turn-up. I’ve done all the formal ceremonies almost since I became a council member.
“In case you haven’t noticed lately, Flint, you are not your usual self. You are curt to the point of being rude. You have no patience whatsoever and your mind wanders from the task at hand. Furthermore, and to broach an old topic, the Flint I knew and respected would not have allowed the Council to bulldoze him into accepting a decision that he knew was so far off the moral high ground as to be at sea level!”
Without attempting to answer, I shut the call off and sit here, seething. I will preside over their ceremonies. That is my duty and I will not be told otherwise!
Now, let’s see if Xavier has made his damn mind up yet. Once again the call is picked up after only two rings.
“Xavier! Have you made your decision on the Council position yet? I’m getting tired of asking.”
“Then let’s save us both a lot of time, Flint. I’m not interested in taking a position that turns me into an impatient ass who has lost his manners. Have a nice day!”
Listening to the dial tone, I wonder what just happened. My day has gotten stranger the longer it has gone on. Everyone is acting so weird and short-tempered. They want to bite my head off every time I open my mouth.
The phone rings and I pick it up without thinking.
“Flint here,” I state.
“Well, that’s a bit more like it. Keep that tone of voice and we might get somewhere,” Xavier
“And what’s that supposed to mean, may I ask?”
“Flint, you’re like a bear with a sore head and have been for a while now. I don’t know what’s got under your skin, but you need to find it and have it removed.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Let me put it in as simple terms as I know, then. You are downright rude. You are obnoxious and downright rude. You have absolutely no patience, and you are downright rude. Your head is up your ass, and you are downright rude. Your moral compass couldn’t guide you across a floodlit roadway at noon on a scorching summer's day, and you are downright rude. I can go on if none of this is hitting home?”
“So, you’re saying I’m rude?” I don’t know how else to respond to this shredding of my character.
“Just the tip of the iceberg, my friend. You are an insufferable, pompous ass. I don’t know what’s got your head so messed up, but you need to think on it before you lose the respect of every friend you have.”
“Bruno has been trying to tell me something for a while now, but I couldn’t understand what he was trying to say. Couldn’t or wouldn’t! How long have I been acting like this, Xavier?”
“I’m not sure, but definitely since you said something to Gerry that made him quit the Council Warrior's. Whatever caused that rift certainly sent you spiraling out of control. I’ve known you some years now and never known you to be…”
“Rude! I get it. I’ve been rude.”
“That is so out of character for you, Flint. I’ve seen you in a raging temper and still have your manners about you. Lately, I don’t know where you left them, but they are certainly absent.”
“ I can only apologize, Xavier. I will take some time out and evaluate my recent behaviors. Try to get a handle on what has caused this.”
“I’m sorry to have been so blunt, Flint. I knew of no other way of making you see what you had become.”
“Yes, rude, eh? I imagine that was hard to bring yourself to say to a friend?”
“Nah, not so much. That’s what friends are for, after all!” Hearing the laughter in his voice does not fool me one bit.
“I’m going to hang up on you now. You’re enjoying this a little too much. I’ll talk soon.” As soon as the call ends, Bruno awakens.
I told you. Not all of those shifters could be wrong.
‘I didn’t realize there were so many angry with me.’
Now you need to find out what it was that triggered your self-destructive mood. That is definitely where you were heading.