Betrayed: Book Five of the State Series

by M. J. Kaestli

  Although he knew the Head of State was more of a figurehead than a position of true power, it still ground on his nerves that this young girl, fresh out of school, was his superior in all ways imaginable. He appreciated their need to keep the bloodlines pure, but he also felt it should count for something that he had given his life to this cause. It was out of his control; he was simply born to be less than her.

  “I am sure your work as a psychologist will greatly aid in your position. Your depth of understanding of the human mind will make you a great advisor.”

  She smiled coyly. “Let’s begin, shall we?”

  Victor nodded and folded his hands on top of the table.

  “First on my agenda, how are you adapting to the staff at the State House? Or perhaps I should ask, how are they adjusting to you?”

  He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I have a few concerns. I question if a clean slate wouldn’t be a better course of action. I wonder if Wesley has enough stamina left in him or if he has grown complacent.” Victor looked down. “I also question if he has accepted me as his new leader.”

  Her lips pulled into a sneer. “You mention Wesley, yet you have investigated Chastity. Is this how I should assume the rest of our relationship is to continue?”

  Victor froze. He forced himself to breathe again.

  Direct. Fierce. She will keep me on my toes—force me to be at my best at all times with her… and in my calling.

  He swallowed hard. “I would define Wesley as a concern, and Chastity as a curiosity.”

  “I surely hope your list of curiosities are short. With the amount of time and resources you have sunk into your little investigation, I don’t know how you are keeping up with the rest of your workload.”

  Victor’s coloring flushed. He had no idea he was walking into a verbal lashing from a child when he agreed to this meeting. “My curiosities reside inside the State House; I want to ensure the people around me are exactly who I think they are. Chastity is the only one whose background led me to question her lineage.”

  She watched him intensely with every word he spoke, never once looking away. “Victor, that is my job.” Her dagger eyes cut into him. “You need not concern yourself with such matters. You must always remember, everyone is placed where they are for a reason.”

  She blinked, dissolving the sharp nature of her gaze. “Your workload is far too great to concern yourself with such trivial matters. You are correct. Chastity’s lineage is questionable.” She leaned forward. “As I said, it is my job to monitor her. Everyone around you has been strategically placed there for a reason.”

  He nodded even though it didn’t feel right. “My apologies. I just thought perhaps she may end up a bit of a wild card, is all.”

  Her intense stare never flinched. Her eyes continued to bore into him. “Victor, as the culling is coming, we need a few wild cards strategically placed in order to win the game.”

  Victor took a deep breath and shook his head. The intelligence of the High Council never ceased to amaze him. Nothing got past them, and he was a fool to think he needed to question the people inside his house. Even if Chastity were to strike, the High Council would have a contingency.

  “My apologies. I have forgotten myself. I will stop meddling and leave the situation in the capable hands of the High Council.”

  Her piercing gaze softened further, in what he assumed was the closest she came to a smile. “There is no need to apologize. I didn’t summon you here to reprimand you. You are intelligent and cunning; traits we will most certainly need to neutralize the rebellion. I came here to speak to you about a plan for Chastity, to let you know that you need not waste your time on this investigation, as we have all the information needed. We have a plan for Chastity. I want you to call her into your office, flatter her beyond belief, and invite her onto the Council.”

  Victor nodded softly and couldn’t help but smile. “I see. What’s the old proverb? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

  She nodded. “As you are already aware, in order for this to be successful, we need the rebellion to believe they have pulled the wool over our eyes. They need a leader who they believe thwarted us.”

  Victor raised an eyebrow. “You think Chastity will become the rebellion’s leader?”

  “That has yet to be determined. She has potential and the connections, should she choose to take that path—although she does not know it yet. I have a plan to test her, to determine her true character.”

  Victor hesitated. “Am I allowed to ask? I feel her paternity is questionable… and it was intentionally covered up by the military personnel in the mountain.”

  “We agree with your conclusion—both in her paternity and the alleged coverup.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t doubt the wisdom of the High Council, but why did they allow our high-ranking military personnel to get away with this? I understand you want the rebellion to believe they won, but those involved in the cover-up should be punished.”

  She gave a slight shrug. “Because they are not important. We initially believed her mother had an affair inside the mountain, but later we received evidence her father lived outside of the dome.”

  “What!”

  She didn’t react to his outburst. “The woman who home schooled Chastity reported her mother for telling inappropriate bedtime stories—a story about a princess living on the surface where she met her true love. Had she not reported this story, we wouldn’t have investigated Chastity’s genetics.”

  His jaw hung agape. “Hope went missing on the surface, and came back, and got away with it?” He shook his head. “Then they doctored her file to cover it up.”

  “It appears so. The High Council acknowledges your loyalty to the State; it was the reason we chose you. Your devotion isn’t commonplace—there wouldn’t be a need to regularly cleanse our population if it was. Even high-ranking members of our military are more concerned with self-preservation than they are with the greater good.”

  He looked away, his mind spinning in circles. “Do you not fear what her mother may have done with that information?”

  Her eyes lit up. “No, Victor, she is as cowardly as the rest, if not more so. We suspect self-preservation is what brought her back to us. Besides, she is currently the most monitored civilian under the dome. We track all her movements.”

  “And you feel Security can be trusted with this task?”

  “Of course not. As a psychologist, I have access to all surveillance. I use a facial recognition system to track all her movements and monitor her footage personally. Security officers are not aware of her surveillance—as per usual with a person of interest.”

  He blinked. “I stand corrected. Today you have proven to me that I need not concern myself with anything.”

  “Yes, her mother is playing right into our hand. She will lead us to every single member of the rebellion—it has already begun. Now that her life is drawing near its end, she is less concerned with self-preservation and is meeting with people in the common rooms at the center table. We identify each person she speaks to and follow those contacts. This is how we are compiling our list of who we will send to the new colony. If we can collect a child from each rebellion member’s family, we can ensure they will plan a coup to overtake the new colony.”

  He laughed. “Brilliant.” He shook his head, chuckling to himself. “ Hope has the connections alright.”

  “The way I see it, recruiting Chastity onto the Council will either ensure her compliance, or guide her to become the rebellion’s leader. Both outcomes are favorable.”

  Chapter 26

  Chastity

  Her fingers flew ferociously over the keyboard. She completed her notes on the meeting and looked to Victor for his dismissal.

  He held her gaze and smiled softly. “Chastity, would you mind getting the door, please? I need to have a word with you.”

  She gave a curt nod and sprang to her feet. The jitters growing in her core only aided in
the speed of her task. In a flash, she had closed the door and was once again seated across the desk from Victor. She kept her tablet accessible and her hands ready. Although she feared she was being reprimanded somehow, she prepared herself for work until otherwise notified.

  “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Chastity. I am aware you would be well within your rights to be heading home shortly.”

  Chastity forced a soft smile and gave a slight bow. “I don’t see you sticking to a strict work schedule.”

  He laughed, which came out something more like a bark. “I don’t feel as though even my sleep could be counted as free time. I dream about all the work I have left undone and the repercussions of the decisions I’ve made.”

  “I have a program which shows me how much time you clock on your computer.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how you do it.”

  He smiled. “I never miss a workout. I hardly sleep, I have no social interactions, but I never miss a workout. There’s a reason the State mandates exercise, it’s not just about your physical health—but your mental health as well.”

  Chastity shifted in her seat. “I must admit, I only do the minimum.” She looked down.

  “Well then, I will give you a lecture about prioritizing exercise while I keep you late and add more tasks to your overflowing schedule.” He laughed at his own joke.

  “You want to add more to my duty?” She raised a hand to her mouth as though she could take back the sharp question.

  Victor smiled and held her gaze once again. “If you allow me to.” He leaned back in his chair. “Chastity, you grow more and more valuable to me every day. You are naturally gifted in your civil duty and an absolute joy to work with—especially compared to Lenora. I would be remiss if I didn’t take notice of what a true gem you are to the State.”

  Her cheeks flushed. She had never in her life received such flattery. She looked down, barely able to repress her smile. “Thank you, Victor.”

  “I’m afraid there is an old proverb ‘good work creates more work.’ I have an opportunity I wish to speak to you about. This is a private conversation between us, as this information must be kept secret.”

  He hesitated, his eyes burrowing into her. “You have most certainly proven both your loyalty and your worth, but the nature of this assignment is rather delicate and requires a higher level of understanding.” He glanced over at the closed door and back at her. “If I give you a special assignment, do you think you could keep it just between us?”

  Chastity shook her head, raising her hands into the air. “I cannot fathom what type of assignment you have for me, but I can’t see how this would be any different from my normal duty. I perform tasks for you at your discretion, and I don’t share any information about my duty.”

  He smiled knowingly at her. “I am aware of your outstanding performance and credibility—I don’t mean to come across in any sort of accusatory way. We wouldn’t be having this conversation had you not already earned my trust, and the trust of the Council.”

  “Of course, Victor. I understand this is delicate,” she said, in an attempt to recover from her previous babbling. “It is an honor to serve the State in any way I can. What kind of duty would you like me to assist you with?”

  Victor’s lip twitched upward into a crooked smile. “Let’s just say, Lenora was never given such an assignment. It is top secret, a secret you need to be prepared to protect with your life. You can’t tell Lance, or your mother, or anyone else who works in this house. This will be your duty alone to fulfill, and when the time comes, you will learn of other people who have a similar duty. You must also conceal the knowledge of others involvement, not just your own.”

  Chastity thought for a moment and nodded. “Victor, I will do anything you ask. So how may I be of assistance?”

  He held her gaze and his grin slowly widened. “Chastity, you never cease to amaze me. I had a good feeling about you the first time we met, and you have done nothing but confirm you are the person I need.” He paused and reached for his glass of water, taking a slow methodical sip before he continued. “You understand more than most, I am a figurehead. I am not truly leading this nation. I am simply a puzzle piece that makes up the bigger picture.”

  Chastity nodded and looked at him cautiously. “Yes, you have a council of advisers.”

  “Yes, the High Council. What you do not realize is it’s much larger than the group who help me govern the people. Council members have to start somewhere and prove themselves before they are elevated to be my top advisers. We invite those citizens who we find remarkable to be a part of the Council and elevate them over time, once they have proven their loyalty and capability.”

  Chastity flinched as it all clicked in her mind. “Are you inviting me to take part in this Council?” She held her breath.

  He smirked. “Yes, but don’t get too excited. In the beginning, the Council is not terribly interesting or nearly as exciting as it sounds. It is simply a series of trainings a person takes and then waits for a task to be assigned to them. It will take up your time, but it won’t be half as interesting as it sounds.”

  “What would the Council have me do?”

  He shrugged. “To begin with, your duty is to study and conceal the existence of the Council from others. Once the time is right and the High Council finds a need for you, you will be contacted. You will be given contacts when they are necessary and it is then, and only then, that you may openly discuss the very existence of the Council.” He paused, looking up at her.

  “I think I understand.” She nodded, rolling the information around in her mind. “If my mother is a Council member and there was no purpose to us exposing ourselves to each other, then we never would. But if it were required of us to perform a task together, then at that time we may discuss being Council members.”

  Victor teetered his head back and forth. “You understand the concept, yes, but I need to ensure that you are clear on what you are agreeing to. Although I cannot tell you who is currently a Council member, I do feel the need to tell you who isn’t. It is possible that someday your partner, Lance will be, but until then, you would need to keep this information from him. I can also confirm that your mother is not a Council member and at her age, I doubt she will become one.”

  Chastity flinched. Her eyes grew wide and a warm, burning sensation filled her chest as her lips upturned. “Are you telling me the truth? My mother isn’t a Council member?” She beamed and shook her head. “I’m sorry for speaking inappropriately,” she laughed. “I just assumed she would be on the top of your list.”

  “Chastity, your mother is brilliant. She is a remarkable woman and a great asset to the State. That alone does not get a person invited onto the Council. Your mother isn’t much of a team player. She prefers to work in isolation and always has. She is also highly competitive. Can you imagine assigning her a task where she was meant to play a role of lesser importance? I think she would try to run the show. To be a Council member, you need to collaborate with others without ego or question.”

  Chastity burst into laughter. He was correct about her mother. She seemed to think she was better than everyone, even her daughter. Chastity’s important civil duty didn’t seem to sit too well with her mother’s ego. The Council was another way Chastity had risen higher than her.

  She wanted to rub this invitation in her mother’s face. It would be difficult to conceal this information from both her mother and partner—for opposing reasons—but it would clearly be worth it.

  “Victor, as I have said, I will do anything you require of me. My silence always has, and always will be a normal part of my duty.”

  He beamed and shook his head. “I never doubted you, not for a second. I knew you were special the first time I met you. I am deeply looking forward to seeing what type of person you become. I expect you to someday be a part of the High Council, or to replace me when I go.”

  Her heart skipped a beat.

  Me, the Head of State? He
thinks that much of me? Her eyes misted over. She blinked rapidly and forced herself to breathe again. No one has ever thought so much of me, not even Cora.

  She scrambled to think of an appropriate response, yet her mind was blank. “You said I will need to take further training?” It was the best she could do.

  He smiled and picked up his tablet, quickly entering a command. “You will now have a new section on your tablet where you can go through the formal education process. It will seem a lot like being in school again.”

  “And I assume, I must keep this training secret from Lance?” She winced. I sound like an idiot. Of course, I do. She cleared her throat. “Would it be advantageous for me to perform my education training inside the State House? Then I need not risk discovery. I could come in early or stay late every night. What would you recommend?”