Case: 1: A Dystopian Mystery (Annalise Storm Chronicles Book 2)

by May Freighter

  How could a pureblood block out flare’s power?

  8

  What Friends Are For

  For the rest of the day, Devlin was nowhere to be found to answer her accumulating questions. Calla’s words continued to plague her mind even as she was typing up her report on the interrogation in the afternoon. How much did she know about Devlin? He was an ex-member of Falcon, and her father eagerly wanted her to get hitched with him. She scowled at her terminal. That was all she knew. He remained a mystery that she was struggling to solve.

  She lifted her coat off the back of her seat and headed home. There was no reason for her to stay in the office, not when she couldn’t prove Sage and his security guard had been up to no good without solid evidence. And, if Devlin did come back with a warrant for them to search the Science labs for traces of Red Dust, they still had to get the principal to cooperate with them. She snorted. Like that would ever happen.

  In the car park, she got into her car and drove home. The Tower she lived in had become a place full of memories she would rather forget. Although it had only been three days, she had missed Mavel. Her worry for his well-being hadn’t subsided. What if he got caught by Falcon? Not like they would tell her about that. Yet, they could make him into an example by pointing out to the media that they had captured the killer of two politicians from the City Hall to soothe the hearts of gossiping housewives and their pureblooded husbands.

  Why can’t people in Divinity see the world for what it truly is—full of unfairness and manipulation? No one would listen to her if she went out into the streets and voiced her opinion. She would be jailed for improper conduct or eliminated the second she was in a dark alley.

  Her mind slowly returned to the case she was assigned. Gale suffered the same fate many modded faced on a daily basis in that city. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even after her death, she was framed to appear as a monster and judged harshly solely due to not being a pureblood human. Annalise’s fingers gripped her steering wheel as she turned off the main road and headed into the Tower’s car park. Is there no way to create a balance between the modded and purebloods?

  She parked her car and walked to the lifts. From behind her, she heard a familiar voice calling out to her. She turned around with a huge grin on her face when she was enveloped in a tight hug from her best friend, Monique Stratford.

  Monique was tall, charming, and full of life. She was exactly as Annalise had remembered her: unruly mahogany hair, deep grey eyes with silver flecks in them, and a smile to die for. People would often spare second glances her way, wondering if she was modded because she was so pale and managed to retain her good looks from her mother. That was part of the reason why they became friends at the Academy. The other purebloods looked down on her for being beautiful. Annalise couldn’t stand seeing Monique being treated like a second-class citizen and decided to have lunch with her on the first day after their introduction and morning training.

  “You’ve grown taller, right?” Monique asked, pulling away and assessing Annalise’s form. “Or is it my imagination?”

  “The latter,” Annalise replied with a chuckle. “I doubt I’ll ever hit your five-nine mark.”

  “By the way, don’t freak out, but I got a servant!” Monique draped her arm around Annalise’s shoulders and turned her towards the cars where a single man stood with his arms folded behind his back.

  He appeared to have Academy and military training judging by the stance he took with his muscular build. If Annalise had to guess, he had to be an alabaster. He was too gorgeous to be any other kind of modded in Divinity with his high cheekbones and a sharp jawline that could cut bread. His ethereal almond shaped sapphire eyes were framed by long black lashes that matched the colour of his styled ebony hair.

  “His name is David,” Monique bent down to whisper into Annalise’s ear, “and he looks like one, too. You know, from that period in time… What was it called again?”

  “Renaissance,” Annalise offered.

  “Right, that one!”

  “Yeah, but since when can you afford a servant?”

  Monique’s face lit brighter than a personal terminal’s screen could in the dark. “I’ll tell you about it over a drink at your place.” She ushered Annalise to the lift and waved for David to follow, which he did with an unchanging blank expression.

  Annalise noted him checking the perimeter, seeking out any threats to his mistress. It was odd to see an alabaster with military or Academy training. Usually, they went for more subtle careers like secretaries and office workers, sometimes even entered the entertainment industry as actors.

  On Annalise’s floor, she opened the door to her apartment and let her guests in. “Do you want anything to eat first? I could order something from the Tower’s restaurant.”

  “No need. David can whip something up for us,” Monique replied with lightness in her tone.

  Like a robot, he faced Annalise and lowered his eyes. “May I use your kitchen?”

  It broke her heart to see a human being treated in such a typical pureblooded way. If this was Mavel, he would have shot her a glare or two. David had been knocked down a few too many times to hold on to his self-worth.

  Annalise squared her shoulders. “I insist. We are going to order some food. I haven’t done that in a while,” she lied. It was the only source of sustenance she got after Mavel left her side. Without him being there, she felt weird using her kitchen, so she opted for the optional service of a breakfast and dinner from the Tower’s restaurant.

  She caught the servant lifting his gaze to meet hers for a brief instant. Annalise wasn’t sure if she saw relief there or something else. He was an odd man.

  Monique pursed her lips and sighed. “Fine, you’re the host. But David does make a mean lasagne.”

  With a nod, Annalise made her way to the Tower’s comms by the door and contacted the reception. She ordered a meal for three to be delivered to her apartment along with some champagne and desserts.

  “Why three?” Monique asked.

  “I’m sure David must be hungry, as well,” Annalise replied, taking a seat on the sofa.

  Monique eyed her as if she was an alien. “You care too much for the modded. Are the rumours true then? Did you end up falling for your beast, so your father sent him away? Or did Mavel go on a murder spree in Divinity?”

  Annalise’s mouth unhinged. “Is that what they’re saying about Mavel and me behind our backs?”

  “Well, there is also a rumour that you might be getting married to some Falcon hotshot, but I doubt there is any truth to that. You’re as stubborn as a mule and there is no way someone could force marriage on you.”

  “You got that right,” Annalise replied, reclining in her seat. She motioned for David to join them on the sofa. “It weirds me out to have you standing there like a statue. Please make yourself comfortable.”

  He inclined his head and smiled. “Thank you.”

  Monique studied their interaction with wide eyes. “That’s the first time I’ve seen him do that…”

  “Do what?” Annalise asked.

  “Smile. I thought he was a robot through and through.” She let out a soft giggle. “I guess I was wrong.”

  Annalise raised a brow at her friend. Monique never used to be this awful to anyone, modded or not, when they were at the Academy. How could she change so much in a month?

  “Do you seriously order him around all day? He is a person like you and me, you know.”

  Monique raised her hands in defence. “I know, Anna. I know that well. David is probably a better person than me. I am from a middle-class family in Silver, with some money to throw away. He, on the other hand, has to feed a brother and a sister.”

  He stiffened in his seat. “You’ve read my file?”

  “Of course, I did.” Monique’s mirth left her face as she became serious. “I’m a cop, remember? It’s my job to look into people.” She gave Annalise a weak smile. “I’m so sorry if I came across a
s a complete bitch. I know you and Mavel were good friends. But, I may as well spill the beans to not appear any worse in front of my best friend.” She faced David. “I was testing your limits this past week to see how far you were willing to go for me. You were originally someone my fiancé hired, and I had no idea where your loyalties lay.”

  Annalise’s eyes widened. “You’re engaged?”

  “Damn, I was about to break it to you,” Monique grumbled and, after a few seconds, squealed like a little girl. “I met this real estate tycoon, Aaron Somerfield, on my vacation. After a month together, he got on one knee and proposed, the crazy fool.”

  Annalise jumped out of her seat and hugged her friend. “Are you happy? Have you set a date yet?”

  “No date. We are taking some time to figure each other out and leaving that until I’m ready.”

  Annalise drew away and playfully punched Monique’s shoulder. “You should have told me this morning!”

  “You sounded a bit upset, and I wanted to tell you in person.” She indicated to David. “He used to work for Aaron and now he is my personal bodyguard and servant. For days I kept declining to take him, but my fiancé can be quite persuasive when he wants to be.”

  “Ah, so he’s a spy to keep an eye on you,” Annalise joked.

  Monique nodded—no humour showing on her oval face. “Pretty much.”

  David shook his head. “I am your servant now, mistress. I wouldn’t betray your trust.”

  Monique raised a brow at him. “Who pays your salary?”

  He hesitated before answering. “Mr Somerfield.”

  “What’s your favourite colour?” Monique continued, bringing out a confused look from the guy.

  “Black, ma’am.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “With you or in the Green District,” he replied, instantly.

  Monique fired away her final question. “And who do you report to?”

  “Mr Som—”

  Annalise chuckled. “You were right. He is a spy. Is your fiancé afraid you’ll run off with someone else when he’s not looking?”

  “Mistress, I didn’t—” David seemed flustered and stuck for words.

  Monique waved his comment away. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Aaron you told me.” She motioned to the door. “Could you go and make sure the food is on its way, please? I have some matters I want to discuss with Annalise in private.”

  “As you wish.” He rose and bowed his head before leaving the apartment.

  Running her hand through her hair, Annalise collapsed back into her seat. “You’ve been busy, Monique. A fiancé, a new servant who’s keeping an eye on you, and you’re starting work at DPD tomorrow…wow.”

  “Yeah, my life is full of adventure, that’s for sure. I think my father must have brokered a deal with Aaron behind my back to get him to pick me as his future wife. It doesn’t make sense otherwise.”

  “Couldn’t it be for love?” Annalise inquired.

  Monique shook her head. “Every woman at that resort was falling at his feet the second he showed up. Why would he pick me out of the rabble?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “And now I have to act happy and excited to keep this engagement intact. If I don’t, my father’s company may go bankrupt, and we’ll be forced to move to Bronze, or worse, the Green District.” Genuine fear flashed behind her eyes. “I won’t survive in Green.”

  “But you’re a DPD detective. You’ll have a salary—”

  “Whatever I’ll be making, I’ll have to pay to sustain my parents and myself. It won’t be enough. Trust me, I did the math.”

  “I could help you. I am looking for a place in Silver at the moment. We could share.”

  Monique leant forwards, studying Annalise with interest. “Why would you want to live outside of the Towers, and in Silver? You’re a good friend, Annalise, but you don’t have to go to extremes to help me out.”

  “It’s not that. I told my parents this morning that I am moving to Silver. Honestly, it will save me time on driving home every day, and I won’t feel like a bird in a cage. It’s become suffocating here without Mavel.” Her eyes watered, and she blinked the stinging tears away. “Without him, I don’t think I can keep on pretending that I am perfectly content with being thrown at every high society function, dinner, or event like a dress-up doll for my parents to prove they’re a perfect couple with a perfect family. They even arranged an engagement to a guy behind my back.” She spat out her next words, “When I was five! Who signs over their daughter at the age of five?”

  Her friend wrinkled her nose. “That’s sick. Did they pick some ugly dude or someone in their fifties?”

  “Well no…”

  “Has he got a temper then?”

  Annalise sighed. “No. Devlin is a bit of a flirt, but he seems like a smart, good-looking, and attentive guy. He is too perfect, if you know what I mean.”

  “Let me get this straight,” Monique began, massaging her temples. “You’re rich, got a possibility to marry a guy you don’t hate—who also happens to be a hottie—and you want to put all of that behind you because you despise seeing politicians every holiday season?”

  “Don’t patronise me, Monique. You know how much I hate pretending to act civil around people who talk nonsense about the modded and their supposed downsides.”

  “I think I know what your problem is, Anna,” Monique said with a smile. “You must have been modded in your past life. Why else would you be willing to give up a dream of every woman in this city to live amongst the working class?”

  Annalise laughed. “Maybe you’re right, though I don’t believe much in reincarnation.” Her smile faltered. “I am serious about finding a place in Silver. It will give me more freedom to be away from my parents and their watchful eye.”

  “Alright.” Monique reached over and patted Annalise’s knee. “I’ll check with Aaron to see if he can recommend any properties. He’s been bugging me to ask him for something for weeks, and I guess he’s getting his wish.”

  “It does sound like he’s attracted to you…”

  “Yeah, right.” She snorted as David returned with food. “Looks like it’s time to start the real party!”

  9

  Memories Of The Past

  Annalise sat on her grandmother’s lap in the library, grinning at Dolores Storm like a fool. Today was the day she would finally select her servant from the digital catalogue. Her father was against the idea of having his ten-year-old daughter around a modded child, but Dolores convinced him to give in and let Annalise make her own decisions. She chose to have a servant, after all. Who wouldn’t want to have a friend?

  From the adults, she heard stories that modded children had superpowers. Some were stronger than others, smarter, could sense emotions, or heal people with their blood. How come she wasn’t able to do any of that? In her own skin, she never found much solace. She was weaker, smaller, yet others praised her for it. Why?

  “We have talked about this, little one. You must choose wisely,” Dolores began with a soothing voice and patted Annalise on the head. “If you choose well the first time, you will have a good servant and a friend for life, like I did with Theron. To this day, he helps me around the company and never leaves my side, even after your grandfather passed away.”

  Annalise’s brows crinkled. “But father said not to trust the modded. He told me they are looking for a weakness—a way to trick us and take back the control they lost centuries ago.”

  Dolores heaved a sigh. “Remember my words, Annalise. We are all human—modded or not. There are those like your father who will make you question every move, every action done by others to protect themselves from the world’s cruelty, and then there are people like you and me.”

  “What kind of people are we?”

  “We’re open-minded and talk a lot less rubbish.”

  From the armchair by the window, Theron—an alabaster in his late fifties who was reading the news on his digital tablet—chuckled.

>   Dolores did, too, and Annalise joined in to not feel left out by the adults, even though she couldn’t understand the joke.

  Her grandmother pointed at her personal terminal’s screen. On the display, Annalise saw dozens of pictures of children and teens. In the filter option, she noted they were between ten to sixteen years of age.

  “Take your pick and read the dossier with care. See if that person is someone you would like to meet and talk to,” Dolores said softly.

  Annalise skimmed the faces, noticing that most wore either sour expressions or false smiles. After a while, the people on the display became a blur. She was ready to give up when she came upon a handsome boy named Mavel Green. She selected his profile and read the contents aloud, “Beast. Age fifteen. IQ of 260. Excelled in strength training, logical thinking, and problem-solving…” She scrolled to the bottom of the page where it included his hobbies. “Gardening and reading?” Annalise turned her head to see her grandmother. “Do modded children enjoy gardening?”

  “A lot of beasts do. It is an odd trait that stuck around with them for the past two hundred years. In the Green District, they used to have nothing other than dirt and concrete, so they chose to beautify the area a little.”

  “But we have a lot of gardens and parks in the Golden District,” Annalise replied.

  Dolores nodded. “We do. Purebloods kept the best for themselves, right, Theron?”

  His brilliant blue eyes met with Annalise’s, and he inclined his head. Then, he lifted his gaze to lock with his mistress’. “Are you sure you want to teach this child to treat the modded as you do? You’ve received endless criticism from the pureblooded community, and your son is on the verge of breaking into the head position at the Anti-Modded Party. He will want to keep you away from her if you continue.”

  “I know,” Dolores’ voice was laced with sorrow. “William never listens to a word I say. The opinion of others was always more important to him when he was growing up. It was a mistake to allow my father to contribute to his upbringing with his poisonous teachings.”