Page 10 of Dark Revolution

“What,” she mumbles, eyes darting between the screen and me. “Not going to stick around and force it down my throat?”

“I don’t force food down your throat. You’re a growing girl. You have to eat.”

Karis picks up a small device and speaks into it. “Hold. Dealing with sis.” Setting her controls down, she stands and places two small fists on her hips. “Growing? What about me is growing? I’m the smallest girl in the academy!”

A blossom of tension blooms behind my eyes. I can’t deal with yet another tantrum. I just can’t. Besides, what can I even say to her? As an omega, she’s the perfect size, but since she thinks she’s a beta, of course she’d feel self-conscious around the larger classmates. “Karis, look.”

“No,” she interrupts, gray eyes blazing at me. “There’s nothing you can tell me that I don’t already know. You don’t think I see the professors shake their heads when I get weighed during excursions? You don’t think I see how every fucking person is laughing at me for being some scrawny, underfed waif when I should be so much bigger? For gods’ sake! I live in a higher-level district, and yet I look like I just crawled up from the bottom levels. I’m not a free breather, and yet I look like one.”

I wince at the slur she hurls at the lower-level betas, but ultimately, it’s my fault, and I know it. A small tinge of guilt and regret twists my stomach. It’s not her fault she’s not aware. I wish to the gods I could tell her, but at this age, there’s no way she could keep quiet.

“Please don’t speak like that about them. I’ve raised you to be kinder than this.”

Narrowing her eyes, she plops back down onto the couch and pulls the console in her lap, food unacknowledged. “I’m not a bleeding heart like you. I don’t care that you want to be friends with them and buy their poisonous food. I’m not going to give them any consideration. Besides, it’s not a slur to call them what they are.”

“Yes, it is. They can’t help it that they’re not provided respirators like you and me. That doesn't make them any less human than we are.”

“You’re going to be late to whatever it is you do all night. Shouldn’t you be going?” Without waiting for an answer, she speaks back into the box and proceeds to continue her game.

Tears prick my eyes as I stare at Karis, anger rolling off of her in waves. I never asked to be twenty-four and unmated, looking after my younger sister. As a child herself, months away from eighteen, she’ll never understand. Until she’s a woman, she won’t know the sacrifices I’ve made, the things I’ve given up to give the small freedoms she takes for granted.

If only our parents hadn’t died, maybe she’d respect them. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been both mother and father to her. In reality, I’m neither, and that will always get in the way. Responsibility weighs heavy on me as I make my preparations for work this evening. Oh, to be young and carefree, but those days ended when my parents met the gods.

I glance down at the small table in front of the door, spotting my respirators. I can’t forget them again. The small, pliant cones go into my nose, leaving just a small strip hugging the bottom of my septum. Agony tears through my heart as I maneuver them into place, wiggling them a bit so that they stay in as deep as possible, thus looking practically invisible.

In the higher levels, they’re not really necessary, especially since technically there are not supposed to be omegas in my district, but many, like Karis’ classmates, wear them as a status symbol, completely ignoring their original purpose. Karis can get away with hers being bright pink because she’s still in school. It would look weird for me to stand out this way.

Tonight, these are what’s going to keep me safe. They will aid the suppressants in keeping me from going into an unplanned heat. If I were going anywhere else, I wouldn’t bother, but after the close encounter from today and knowing that I’ll be in the presence of dozens of powerful Alphas, I’m feeling beyond paranoid. As an extra measure, I spray on a heavy dose of perfume to mask my natural smell. For what I’m paying, they shouldn’t be able to detect me, but I don’t want to take that chance.

Rubbing my finger under my eyes, I make sure my contacts are firmly in place before making my way to our central hub. All higher levels are connected by a singular elevator, allowing us to work without spending money on a transport. It’s the one small blessing of being here.

Scanning my wrist, I pull up a list of allowed destinations and plug in the coordinates for Hungry Desires. A good beta wouldn’t even know this place existed, but I am far from good. The most money I’ll ever make in a night is here, and I’m far too desperate to care whether or not I’m acting like a proper beta should.

I don’t have a husband and children that I have to come home to, to cook and clean for. Karis is old enough that she can fend for herself if needed. It’s the only reason I’m able to work at all. Those first several years were the hardest. I had to choose jobs that let me bring a child with me, and those are even rarer now than they were then.

The elevator zooms up, leaving me weightless for just a moment, enough to plant a tickle deep inside my stomach. Giggling, I wrap my arms around my waist and hunch forward, waiting for the sensation to stop. Soon, it deposits me on the brothel level, and I make my way down the darkened streets, following the glow of the red lights.

Betas bustle about, wearing barely concealing clothing with easy access. Many of them work the brothels as intended, to be a sexual distraction, but as a server, my uniform is no less scandalous. It shows less skin, but every part of me is accessible with hardly an effort. Walking over to the Alpha in charge, I tap on her shoulder, planting a large smile on my face.

“Annora. What are you doing here? I don’t have you down on the schedule?” Lady Alpha Marlana’s face scrunches up into a confused frown as she looks down at me.

“No, my Lady Alpha, you did not. I was hoping to throw myself at your mercy and see if you needed any help?” Her brows relax just a touch, a small show of relief flashing through her eyes.

“Gods be with me. Yes. Two servers have called out, and I was about to pull some of the flesh peddlers off the floor to help serve drinks. You know where your uniform is. Go put it on and start with the far, right quadrant.”

My stomach plummets as I make my way to the tiny room to change. The right quadrant is where all the high-powered Alphas like to place themselves. It gives them a vantage point to where they can see most of Hungry Desires and a good chunk of the outside district as well. Backroom deals and allegiances are made here, but I refuse to listen close enough to be held accountable for what is said.

Slipping into the skin-tight outfit, I slip my hands into the top and grab one breast and then the other, pulling up until they’re practically spilling out. I’m still covered enough to keep my pristine status, but I’m pushing it right to the edge, and honestly, that’s what Hungry Desires is all about.

Yes, it’s government-sanctioned, but everyone knows you don’t come here to keep the peace and maintain the law. Readjusting my respirators, I plaster on a smile and head to the bar. Most betas and Alphas alike come here with the hope of encountering a rare brothel omega, so they won’t notice me as much. I’m not the reason they’re here.

That fact gives me a small burst of courage as I sweep over to the bar and grab the tray of drinks sitting on the bright red square. The tray, made for a more substantial beta, dwarfs me, nearly blocking my vision as I worm my way through the crowd towards the massive dais. Bodies writhe around me to an intoxicating beat, and I long to join in.

Maybe after Karis is settled with her beta mate, I can stockpile my money until I, too, can come here and be free, dancing and drinking the night away. I would probably put on one of my costumes, that way, former patrons don’t remember me, but I’d still be free. As I near the gathering of Alphas, a large hand grabs my arm, nearly upending me.

The acrid taste of fear and bile fills my mouth as I try desperately to keep a firm grip on my tray. Alphas usually buy the most expensive, and I don’t want to be responsible for this many spilled drinks. Before they can tip, however, the stranger lifts the tray from my grasp as if it weighs nothing.

“This tray is even bigger than she is. Here, let me help you.”