An alert chimed on her tablet, and the monitor on the wall flashed. It was odd to receive two messages in one day. Something had to have happened. A sick feeling came over her, and her hands trembled slightly as she opened the message.
Freya 117,
It is now required of you to report into the State house at your earliest convenience.
Regards,
The State
Her body reacted before her mind had time to understand. She heaved, her body turning off to the side. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, trying to stop the impulse fighting to take over her. Someone was dead, or she was being arrested; there could be no other possible explanation.
With her commute, she would hardly have a few hours to work; it made much more sense to leave her be. This had to be an emergency, and as per usual, the State was vague, leaving her in the dark.
It took a moment for her to gain control of herself, to get both her stomach and emotions in check. Hopefully, Security was not watching her and didn’t see her reaction to the message. She walked into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face, trying to reduce the flushed color from her emotions.
It would be best if she left immediately. Not just to get answers, but also simply because it would look suspicious if she waited too long. She changed quickly and left her apartment.
It was a long walk, and she was regretting her intensive cardio. Her legs felt fatigued, or perhaps the feeling was coming from the wear and tear on her soul, and her body was just showing signs of it. She placed her hand on the same scanner with apprehension. Would it work this time?
The light flashed almost instantly, and the door opened like it always did. Whatever the crisis, it had been cleaned up. She headed down the matrix of doors and hallways until she reached the final door and waited for Security to grant her access. The door opened and she walked inside.
There was an eerie stillness—no one to be found in the kitchen or dining area. She couldn’t see anyone in any of their normal areas they would be occupying. She walked to Victor’s office, and he was sitting there behind his desk as he often did, and it appeared as though nothing was wrong. He simply looked up and smiled.
“Freya, thank you for coming,” he said to her. “Please take a seat.”
She could feel her heart pounding in her ears and throat. What was all of this about? Dutifully, she took her seat and waited for Victor to give her the terrible news.
“Did you enjoy your morning?”
Freya’s shoulders and mouth tensed up. He wasn’t going to come right out with it; this was going to be painful. She doubted her nerves could take it.
“I would have rather been here, but I used the time well, I suppose,” she replied in a cold tone.
He smiled at her statement, and rubbed his lips together while contemplating his choice of words. “I can see that as per usual, small talk evades you.”
“You locked me out of the State house this morning, and then sent for me after informing me that I had the day off,” she replied. “I am sure there was a purpose to this all. I would prefer if you revealed that purpose.”
“Freya, were you terribly unhappy living in this house?” he asked after a moment’s hesitation.
She could not hide her frustration. Everything was a game to him, something to be drawn out. If only he could just get to the point.
“I don’t understand the relevance of such a question.”
“I’m afraid, it is terribly relevant at the moment.” He leaned back in his chair, and looked at the ceiling above her head.
“Perhaps you could share that relevance with me, and then I could understand the context of the question.”
“Is context that terribly important?” he asked.
“Yes. Context is everything, I find.”
She stared at him intensely, refusing to back down. This was not their first power struggle.
“Very well then. I need to supply the Council with a list of names. I am trying to decide if you are going to be on that list,” he answered.
“Well, that would depend on the nature of that list. If they are requesting a list of really fantastic gardeners, then yes, I would think you should put my name on that list.”
Instead of getting angry, Victor smiled. He had always been amused by her hot temper and sarcastic replies.
“You never cease to amuse me, Freya.” He paused. “I could use a little amusement now.”
Part of her wanted to make another sarcastic or clever retort, but she just wasn’t in the mood to play into it. Something was wrong, and after all these years, he still treated her like a child.
“I need to submit a list of names, people who I recommend to the Council as my replacement. I am contemplating if you belong on that list.”
Freya’s mouth went dry. She nearly gagged on the sensation. Was he being serious? Me? He is considering me? This was crazy, and the best thing that could ever happen, for everyone. There would be no war; there would be no more rebellion, and no division between the State and the new colony world. If she was chosen, it would be a complete turnaround, countless lives would be changed, and even spared.
“You’re serious?” she blurted out. It was the least intelligent thing she possibly could have said, but the shock had gotten the best of her.
“There was an incident this morning.” He looked at her somberly. “The Council has been asking for my recommendations for a while. I am not as young as I once was.” He leaned back again and looked off into the gardens. “I think the Council would be more than happy to retire me at this point. Perhaps that could have been my motivation to withhold on submitting my list for as long as I have. There was an attempted attack on the State house this morning, on our house. Luckily, no one was injured, and no major damage was done. It has, however, left the Council in a bit of a tiff about me not yet having my recommendations compiled.”
“I thought the Council agreed on the head of State collaboratively,” Freya replied.
“They do, or at least certain members of it anyway. It is really just a political token gesture that I be a part of that collaboration.”
“Are you saying it doesn’t really matter?” she asked. “That if you put my name on the list they could just disregard it anyway?”
“I am not sure. They will take my list into consideration if it is convenient, I suppose.”
“You mean if you name off the people they were already considering,” she replied. “What is the point of putting my name there at all? Do you really think they would consider me seriously?”
“I wonder if they have considered you already,” he answered.
She nearly jumped in surprise. Could that even be possible? Would anyone really want me to become the head of State?
“You seem surprised, my dear. You shouldn’t be. You certainly fit the profile, after all.”
“I do?”
“Of course. You are not attached; you would rather work than do anything else. I don’t think I need to point out your outstanding track record and your service to the military. Yes, you are by all means, what the Council looks for when appointing a new head of State.”
Freya sat in stunned silence. Her mind could not believe it was real. For twenty years, she had expected to be caught for her involvement in the rebellion, but instead they were offering her the throne. He watched her reaction in silence. There were too many things swarming her mind to keep her facial expressions neutral.
“I do, however, have one reservation. I am concerned you will not be happy living here at the State house. And so you see, Freya, that is a question of great importance to me right now.”
She sat and stared off into the gardens. It felt impossible for words to form in her mind, but she knew she had to pull herself together.
“I wanted to live in independent living so I could be a spy,” she finally was able to say.
“Are you saying you would in fact be happy living here permanently?” Victor asked. “Of cours
e, you would have to give up your days as a spy also if you were to become head of State.”
Freya nodded. It was not the proper way to acknowledge or agree to what he said, but it was what felt natural at the moment. Her words would surely betray her. Victor continued to stare at her wordlessly, and she knew a firm statement would be required.
“Yes, I think I could be happy here, and willing to give up my life as a spy to better serve the Council,” she finally managed to say. If she were younger, or still innocent, she would have said she wanted to serve the people, but she knew better—age had brought much clarity to that matter. The State didn’t serve the people; it served itself.
Victor didn’t seem to notice her choice of words. A smile simply spread across his face.
“It is settled then.” He typed into his tablet for a moment. “I have completed my list of recommendations and sent it off to them. You will expect a series of interviews for your candidacy. It is not a short process. Due to the rather vast distance between this place and your living quarters, you will be expected to take up residency immediately in one of the spare apartments in the State house.”
It took every morsel of control that Freya possessed to not let her face show any reaction to the news. Being in the running for head of State was fantastic; being cut off from her contact in the rebellion was terrifying.
“Certainly,” she said, rapidly trying to come up with an excuse to leave. “Shall I expect to move in here tomorrow after my day of civil duty?” It was a long shot that Lita would show up in the common room that night, but she had to at least try to pass along the information. What would Lita think if I just disappeared?
“Why not start tonight?” Victor asked.
She wondered whether he was playing a game of chicken with her, to see if she would reveal she didn’t really want to be there. If he was, she couldn’t afford to play his little game, and leave things to chance. “Do you not need time to make arrangements? Have the apartment prepared or take care of my former apartment?”
“Not at all. The apartment is ready for you now, and your apartment in independent living is already being taken care of as we speak.”
He watched her, waiting for her reply. She wondered whether he was waiting for any more protests.
“Wonderful. I do hope I get the apartment with the view of the gardens,” she said, trying to look excited about the prospect of moving back into the State house. “I have missed it greatly.”
The corners of his mouth turned up into a half smile. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of putting you anywhere else,” he said. “I think that wraps everything up. You are free to go to your apartment, but I am sure you will choose to work in the gardens instead.”
“You know me so well.” She smiled sheepishly, playing into the fabrication of the close nature of their relationship.
He laughed a little at her remark, but didn’t start any banter. “Congratulations. I am very proud of you, and the woman you have grown into.”
Freya nodded and thanked him, and could hardly wait to find her center, her solace, on the grounds where she belonged.
Chapter 5
It was early in the morning, and Freya didn’t quite know what to do with herself. Her body was so accustomed to waking up early for the commute to the State house she no longer had. With her new arrangements, her hours were not set either. She was free to work or not to work whenever she liked.
There was no common room to go to, no chores to be done. The responsibility of cleaning her apartment had been left to someone else. She really had nothing more to do but exercise, work, or sleep. She could be called in at any time for an interview, but she didn’t know when that would likely happen, or how much of her time it would consume.
Freya decided it was best to exercise first thing in the morning because she didn’t know when her schedule would be disturbed. She changed her clothing and headed down to the small room and started to ride the bike. Nothing would feel better than a nice long run, but she had pushed a little too hard physically the previous day. As she found the bike so unfulfilling, it did nothing to silence her mind, and her thoughts couldn’t help but to sift information.
There had been very little time since she joined the rebellion in which she had been without a contact. She didn’t know what to do with herself or how to make contact from inside such protected walls. Strategizing was not her strength; she always relied on other people to plot for her. Will I still need a contact? If she were to become the head of State, she could just make the changes she wanted to make. Maybe she didn’t need anyone anymore.
Then it struck her…Devina was her new contact! A feeling of dread came over her. It all just seemed a little too convenient. Did the rebellion already know this was going to happen? How could they have provided her with a new contact just before she was about to lose her former one if they didn’t know what was coming? Could it all just be a coincidence?
Freya didn’t know what to do next, but she did feel a little pressure lift off her shoulders knowing that it was not up to her to let Lita know why she had disappeared abruptly. She had no way to send a message as she was being monitored too closely, but Devina could. She had no idea how to approach her, or what to say to her if she did find a way. If Devina knew about her, she just hoped that despite her age, she was cunning and could come up with the right opportunity.
Freya finished her workout and headed back to her in-house apartment for a shower. When she was finished preparing herself for the day, she stepped outside the house and was startled to see Victor and Devina on the balcony, talking.
“Oh, good morning, Freya.” Victor smiled. “Devina here is just plotting world domination with me.”
He winked at Devina, who for a moment pretended to be annoyed by his remark, and then giggled. She had a flirtatious way about her—it looked as if she had already charmed Victor. Freya had a knee-jerk reaction to dislike Devina; she was one of those spiny girls who had annoyed her so much in her youth. But then she looked at Victor doting on her and realized this girl had mastered the art of charm, which was a skill she herself didn’t have. Devina could be a powerful ally to have at her fingertips.
“Well, okay, maybe not world domination, but, she has been here a mere two days and she is already trying to change everything,” Victor added.
She giggled again, looking down, and then looked back up at Victor through her eyelashes. “Perhaps a fresh set of eyes is exactly what is needed around here,” she said, in an attempted stern voice.
“Are you calling us all old?” Victor asked.
Devina burst out laughing and put her hand on Victor’s arm. “I didn’t say that! Victor, you are terrible. He’s terrible—right, Freya?”
“Yep, always has been,” Freya replied. Having to play into this was enough to turn her stomach, but she knew it had to be done.
“Well, your ideas are good, regardless of how blatantly rude you are,” Victor said, and of course Devina laughed again, and looked at him coyly.
“I just can’t believe that we have all of this space, and there is no herb or vegetable garden here. I could come out and pick everything fresh before I cook.” Devina turned right toward Freya. “It won’t be extra work to you at all. I can care for the garden myself and gather everything I need. I also will have it put out near the forest as to not disrupt the view of the grounds.”
“I’m not afraid of a little extra work.” Freya understood the ruse, and she needed to show Victor she was one hundred percent on board. “And I am not concerned about a vegetable garden disrupting the view, either. I think it is a great idea, actually.”
“Oh my goodness, really?” Devina gushed and looked expectantly at Victor.
He laughed and shrugged. “I guess we are all in agreement then. I will leave the planning up to the both of you to work out together.” He nodded his head to the both of them and took his leave.
“Do you want to go look for the best plot of land?” Devina asked.
&nb
sp; Freya was afraid her voice would betray her if she spoke, and so she simply nodded. A sudden fear had gripped her. How do I know if I can really trust this girl? She was barely even a child. How could she have truly gotten mixed up with the rebellion at such a young age? Just as Freya was a double agent for the rebellion, how did she know that Devina wasn’t the same for the State? Trusting new people was always difficult, especially when she was so close to what she had worked for.
The State Series Box Set Page 55