Page 6 of Dark Revolution

Thank the Goddess we were spared. The High Echelon deemed my sister and me untainted, functioning drones of society. My parents’ death insured our survival. Until Karis is of breeding age, all necessities are provided - all but the peace of mind of never being force-bonded with a Guardian Alpha, hell, any Alpha for that matter.

His arm tightens, and I choke back a sob. If I’m going to die, it’s best to do so with grace and dignity. Silencing my tears, however, does nothing to quiet the tremors of my body.

“Be still, girl,” the man hisses, recognition seeping into my brain. “Don’t make me toss you back out there. If it’s between you and me, it will be me every time.”

It’s The Purveyor. Sagging against the man I’ve known for the last several years, I force my heart to stop pounding. Breathe. I need to breathe. I screw my eyes shut, shutting out the visuals in front of me, but it does nothing to squelch the lurid sounds of their bodies colliding as they defile the poor omega.

Cracking one eye open, I chance a glance, nearly hurling as the carnage continues to unfold before me. Blood drips from their mouths and cocks, yet still, they drive on, humping the lifeless corpse.

They must realize she’s dead. One violent thrust jostles the omega, turning her head until her pale, lifeless eyes stare up at me. It’s a shade so like my own, so like Karis. I clench my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palm to keep from screaming and vomiting all at once.

As much as I want to blink and have it disappear, it doesn’t. I watch, helpless, as crimson sinks into the dusty sand and weathered brick. The Purveyor and I stand there, still as statues until they’re done. Even after they leave, we still don’t move. I’m barely breathing by the time the first of the suns starts its descent.

It’s getting far too late. Though the True Night doesn’t happen for several more hours, Karis will start to worry. The last thing I need is for her to alert the Guardians of my activity. She can’t know where I’m at, nor would she ever understand. My actions are a betrayal, but they keep us safe.

Minutes go by like hours until The Purveyor eases his hands away from me and pulls back. If the old man thinks we’re safe, who am I to argue? Following him into the dilapidated shack, I scuff my toes in the accumulated dust covering the floor in a thick blanket.

This is the only patch left; most of the dust is gone, kicked about by the many visitors traveling through. As usual, I duck my head down and study the worn floor, ensuring my gaze never catches even a glimpse of how he unlocks the hidden panel.

As a child, stories of the High Echelon and their torture methods permeated the schoolyard. It’s not certain what is fact or merely the deranged retellings of an older sibling or parent out to set us straight, but none of us ever wanted to find out.

The stories were horrific, each one worse than the last. They kept me up at night, troubling my dreams with graphic images, but the worst one told of a device that was shoved up your nose and into your brain, illuminating your memories for all to see.

A tiny, rational part doesn’t believe a word of it; however, I cannot deny the fact that the High Echelon is barbaric in their treatment of the lower classes - betas in particular. They would have no qualms about breaking me to get what they wanted. Then where would that leave Karis? Shuddering, I wait for the okay before lifting my head back up.

The Purveyor motions me forward, a frown drawing his brows down to meet the bridge of his nose. “You’re early. I wasn’t expecting you for a few more days.”

“Reports say The Aberration is set to occur, and I couldn’t chance being caught in the Dead Lands during The Extended Dark.” The lie rolls smoothly off my lips. Thankfully, The Aberration is something that’s been announced for the past week, and even out here, The Purveyor should have at least heard mention of it. Truth is, I’ve become complacent, lazy. If someone wanted to find out what I was doing, all they’d have to do is watch for a week or two and know my routine.

I need to shake things up, to keep things fresh. The last thing I need is The High Echelon on my trail, and with how I’ve been behaving, it’s been like waving a flag at them. Hopefully, I’ll have another excuse the next time I break a habit. If he gets even a whiff that I might be followed, he’ll never serve me, and I’ll have no idea where else to go. Finding The Purveyor was like finding salvation - it only happens once.

“You’re lucky I restocked.” He turns to grab the bottle while I dig about for the credits he needs. “That will be five hundred.”

I pause, blood draining from my face. “You only charge me two hundred and fifty! That’s all I budgeted for!”

“Sorry, but your actions are causing me to give you someone else’s order. I’ll have to go back and grab some more. But if you don’t want to do business….”

He trails off, and my gut plummets. No way I made it all the way out here only to go home empty-handed. What else can I do? “I only have three hundred credits on me. That's all I have. I brought enough to pay you, get food, and get home.” My traitorous stomach takes that moment to punctuate the words with a loud rumble. It’s no one’s fault but my own that I hadn’t eaten since last night.

These suppressants cost money - money I can’t really afford. Karis will never know of my deception, and to do that, I have to work extra, go hungry, anything to keep us safe. It’s a small price to pay for the safety that masking as a beta brings. Betas - well, non-Ferals at least - don’t tear their women apart as they mate with them. Betas are safe. Betas are secure.

“Please. Is there anything you can do?” Pausing, I lay my hand on my chest, my brain whirling a mile-a-minute. What else do I have of value? Since he’s a man, I know I can offer my body, but will he even take it? Is my virginity worth it?

“I know what you’re thinking,” he cuts in, a smile twisting up his lips, revealing jagged, stained teeth. “I’m a married man. I don’t want your body.”

Fuck.

Then there’s nothing I can do. Defeat beats at my chest as I twist my fingers into my clothes, plucking at the threadbare fabrics. It’s going to be too late for me, but I can still save Karis. Anything to buy us time until I can afford dynamic reassignment for her.

There are whispers of permanent blockers that let you live your life as a beta, free from the pain and expectations of an omega. The beta uprisings don’t understand. We don’t choose this life. We don’t wake up one day and decide to be a celestial broodmare for our Alpha overlords.

“Can I get half now and half on my normal day?”

The Purveyor crosses his arms and stares at me, eyes narrowed in thought. It’s stupid of me to offer to come back so soon, but what other choice do I have? Inhaling through his nose, he pulls in a loud draw of phlegm before spitting it onto the ground.

I gag internally as I stare at the blob, reminding myself of why I stay in the higher sectors most of the time. No one, male or female, would dare defile the floor like that. Then again, they also wouldn’t rut a woman to death and keep going either.

“How are you planning on getting home?” His eyes narrow as he stares at me. I squirm under the intensity of his gaze. Does he plan to follow me? Sighing, I look back down at the floor, looking everywhere but his spit.