Insurrection
Page 4
A full head taller than Frayne and even more ripped and better looking, there were a number of Matens who speculated that Xared was the more accomplished athlete, but because of Frayne’s social status, Xared pulled back in matches and let Frayne take the best shots to win. Some claimed he did the same on tests, too, making sure he always took second place to Frayne, in all things.
She wasn’t so sure about that, but right now there was something strange going on. She could feel on a cellular level. And since she’d known Xared since birth, they were more akin to family than friends—as were their mothers. In fact, he was the closest thing to a sibling she’d ever known.
“Hadn’t heard about your promotion. Savan!”
Yet the chilly undertone of his voice didn’t match his congratulations.
At all.
Something was bothering him, and she didn’t like to be the cause of his strife.
“Zhaza. I think.” Perhaps she shouldn’t be thanking him. “Although, I’m feeling a little frostbite.”
He blinked and offered up a half-hearted smile. “Sorry. I was hoping I’d get it. Last I heard it was mine, so I was a little shocked to see you with the badge.”
Oh, that explained it. And it made her feel even worse that she’d deprived him of anything. Unlike Frayne, she didn’t take joy in beating others out of their dreams. “I had no idea, Xed! I’m so sorry. If you want, I’ll decline it for you and you can take my place.”
He held his hand up. “It’s fine. Really. They obviously wanted you for it, and I am happy for you to have it. It just shocked me, but I’m over it now.” The warmth returned to his dark eyes. “Couldn’t imagine it going to a better, Maten. Peace to my sister.” He clutched his fist to his heart in a symbol of eternal kinship.
She duplicated the gesture. “Peace to my brother. Always. You know I love you.”
“Love you, too.” He clapped Frayne on his arm. “I’m headed on to class. Roundabout!”
“Roundabout!” they said in parting.
As they headed the opposite way, Frayne handed her a small silver charm. The unexpected gift delighted her. However, there was one tiny problem.
“Zhaza! But... what is it?”
“I found it in the bathroom. It’s a human symbol.”
Her stomach shrank as her happiness died instantly under an onslaught of horror. “What?!” Why in the name of the divine goddess would he give her such a thing?
Frayne jerked his chin in the direction Xed had gone. “Xed dropped it from his bag. I had to look it up to find out what it was.”
“And what is it?”
“An ankie or something like that. The humans use it to identify each other and sympathizers to their cause. Just like they do those weird phrases from their books that we destroyed. You know, quoth the raven nevermore and hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.”
Suddenly, she felt sick with fear and dread. “What are saying?”
“That either Xed is a human being in disguise or he’s in league with their cause. It’s the only reason he’d have that. And whichever it is, you have to report him for having it. It’s your job now.”
She shook her head as true horror filled her. This couldn’t be happening. Not with Xed. There was no way he could be in league with the humans.
Frayne was wrong ... he had to be. “He’s like brother to me!”
“And you swore an oath for your office. Loyalty above everything. Even above blood.”
Daria wanted to weep at his dire tone and the cruel light in his dark eyes that said he was enjoying the thought of the authorities torturing and interrogating their friend.
One that was mirrored by Tamira’s.
How could they?
Worse was the unspoken threat that hovered in the air between them.
If she didn’t report Xed and see him arrested, the two of them would report them both.
And she would suffer the same fate.
Or worse.
So will my parents. More than that, she would shame the name Stazen forevermore. It might even become stricken from all their records. I can’t bring disgrace to our name. Her parents would never forgive her.
But how could she live with herself if she betrayed her best friend? Her brother?
Chapter 3
Daria? Are you all right?”
No. She was still in a fog as she staggered into her mother’s private sanctum and sat down, grateful that her mother was working at home today and not in her office downtown.
Over and over, she saw the way they’d burst into her final period at school and had taken down Xed.
Like some criminal.
No, worse than that.
Like a human.
The Dawners had come through the door en masse, weapons raised, and thrown her entire class into chaos as they forced them against the wall at blaster point. All of them had been treated like rabid animals the Dawners had feared would attack at any moment. They’d been forced to their knees, with their hands on their heads while everything they owned had been searched for human contraband.
Even her pockets had been searched.
One-by-one they’d been questioned.
Daria had just stood there while it happened. Traumatized. Guilt-ridden.
Horrified.
But the absolute worst had come when they’d thrown Xed down on the ground at her feet, checked his retinals against their records, and then asked her to verify that he was the one she’d reported.
His dark eyes had burned into hers with a hatred so profound that it seared her to her very Maten soul. He’d said nothing.
He didn’t have to. That look had said it all. How could you? We were family.
I will hate you forever.
More than that, his look had shriveled her like some kind of science fiction bio-ray to the size of a nanobot.
What was the term she’d once heard that humans use?
You suck, Daria?
She finally understood what that sentiment had meant. Never had she felt lower than when she’d nodded and handed over the charm that Frayne had given her. “It fell from his bag.”
They’d taken it and Xed, and in an instant the Dawners were gone. Gone as if Xed had never been a vital part of her existence.
Then her classmates had applauded.
Applauded and cheered. What sickened her most was the knowledge that just a few hours before that, she’d have done the same. Had it been anyone other than Xed, she’d have jeered at the capture, too.
She wasn’t so sure about that, but right now there was something strange going on. She could feel on a cellular level. And since she’d known Xared since birth, they were more akin to family than friends—as were their mothers. In fact, he was the closest thing to a sibling she’d ever known.
“Hadn’t heard about your promotion. Savan!”
Yet the chilly undertone of his voice didn’t match his congratulations.
At all.
Something was bothering him, and she didn’t like to be the cause of his strife.
“Zhaza. I think.” Perhaps she shouldn’t be thanking him. “Although, I’m feeling a little frostbite.”
He blinked and offered up a half-hearted smile. “Sorry. I was hoping I’d get it. Last I heard it was mine, so I was a little shocked to see you with the badge.”
Oh, that explained it. And it made her feel even worse that she’d deprived him of anything. Unlike Frayne, she didn’t take joy in beating others out of their dreams. “I had no idea, Xed! I’m so sorry. If you want, I’ll decline it for you and you can take my place.”
He held his hand up. “It’s fine. Really. They obviously wanted you for it, and I am happy for you to have it. It just shocked me, but I’m over it now.” The warmth returned to his dark eyes. “Couldn’t imagine it going to a better, Maten. Peace to my sister.” He clutched his fist to his heart in a symbol of eternal kinship.
She duplicated the gesture. “Peace to my brother. Always. You know I love you.”
“Love you, too.” He clapped Frayne on his arm. “I’m headed on to class. Roundabout!”
“Roundabout!” they said in parting.
As they headed the opposite way, Frayne handed her a small silver charm. The unexpected gift delighted her. However, there was one tiny problem.
“Zhaza! But... what is it?”
“I found it in the bathroom. It’s a human symbol.”
Her stomach shrank as her happiness died instantly under an onslaught of horror. “What?!” Why in the name of the divine goddess would he give her such a thing?
Frayne jerked his chin in the direction Xed had gone. “Xed dropped it from his bag. I had to look it up to find out what it was.”
“And what is it?”
“An ankie or something like that. The humans use it to identify each other and sympathizers to their cause. Just like they do those weird phrases from their books that we destroyed. You know, quoth the raven nevermore and hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.”
Suddenly, she felt sick with fear and dread. “What are saying?”
“That either Xed is a human being in disguise or he’s in league with their cause. It’s the only reason he’d have that. And whichever it is, you have to report him for having it. It’s your job now.”
She shook her head as true horror filled her. This couldn’t be happening. Not with Xed. There was no way he could be in league with the humans.
Frayne was wrong ... he had to be. “He’s like brother to me!”
“And you swore an oath for your office. Loyalty above everything. Even above blood.”
Daria wanted to weep at his dire tone and the cruel light in his dark eyes that said he was enjoying the thought of the authorities torturing and interrogating their friend.
One that was mirrored by Tamira’s.
How could they?
Worse was the unspoken threat that hovered in the air between them.
If she didn’t report Xed and see him arrested, the two of them would report them both.
And she would suffer the same fate.
Or worse.
So will my parents. More than that, she would shame the name Stazen forevermore. It might even become stricken from all their records. I can’t bring disgrace to our name. Her parents would never forgive her.
But how could she live with herself if she betrayed her best friend? Her brother?
Chapter 3
Daria? Are you all right?”
No. She was still in a fog as she staggered into her mother’s private sanctum and sat down, grateful that her mother was working at home today and not in her office downtown.
Over and over, she saw the way they’d burst into her final period at school and had taken down Xed.
Like some criminal.
No, worse than that.
Like a human.
The Dawners had come through the door en masse, weapons raised, and thrown her entire class into chaos as they forced them against the wall at blaster point. All of them had been treated like rabid animals the Dawners had feared would attack at any moment. They’d been forced to their knees, with their hands on their heads while everything they owned had been searched for human contraband.
Even her pockets had been searched.
One-by-one they’d been questioned.
Daria had just stood there while it happened. Traumatized. Guilt-ridden.
Horrified.
But the absolute worst had come when they’d thrown Xed down on the ground at her feet, checked his retinals against their records, and then asked her to verify that he was the one she’d reported.
His dark eyes had burned into hers with a hatred so profound that it seared her to her very Maten soul. He’d said nothing.
He didn’t have to. That look had said it all. How could you? We were family.
I will hate you forever.
More than that, his look had shriveled her like some kind of science fiction bio-ray to the size of a nanobot.
What was the term she’d once heard that humans use?
You suck, Daria?
She finally understood what that sentiment had meant. Never had she felt lower than when she’d nodded and handed over the charm that Frayne had given her. “It fell from his bag.”
They’d taken it and Xed, and in an instant the Dawners were gone. Gone as if Xed had never been a vital part of her existence.
Then her classmates had applauded.
Applauded and cheered. What sickened her most was the knowledge that just a few hours before that, she’d have done the same. Had it been anyone other than Xed, she’d have jeered at the capture, too.
