Page 6 of Dissent (The Dissenter Saga #1)

I hated dinner.

One would think that if you ate nothing, you would stop with stupid stuff like dinner or lunch .

But Raúl always felt that maintaining these routines was important for Telvian families.

“Dinner time is family time,” he always said.

So, there we were, just sitting and staring at each other while we swallowed our nourishment pills.

The long dinner table offered me some comfort, though, since it separated me from my parents.

Jacob and I sat at one end while Raúl and Belinda sat at the other.

Once Jacob completed his Initiation, Raúl insisted he sit at one end of the table, across from him, as equals.

Of course, they weren’t equal, but it was as close as anyone would ever get.

“Have you completed your Initiation Application, Mara?” I looked up from my hands to my dad.

Raúl was an elegant man, with mocha colored skin, deep brown eyes like mine, and dark brown hair that had become salted over time.

In his younger years, he was clean shaven, but with age, he started sporting a short, well-groomed beard.

He believed it made him look more trustworthy and wiser.

He was the epitome of the phrase ‘tall, dark, and handsome.’ Everyone in this family was regal looking.

It fit that Raúl was President of Telvia, Belinda the wife, and Jacob the heir to the presidency.

I was the only one that didn’t fit, and I never would either.

I blinked quickly to snap myself out of my thoughts.

“Uh, no, not yet. But I still have time before it’s due—”

“Of course not,” Belinda interrupted. That sickly, syrupy tone was back, nauseating me already. “Come now, my dear, how do you expect to amount to anything in this life if you aren’t proactive?”

“I’m sorry?” How did having several weeks to turn in my application mean that I was going to be some sort of failure? I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised though. I could do nothing right by them.

Raúl took his handkerchief and dabbed his lips before speaking. “Belinda is absolutely correct, Mara. The Council takes everything into consideration when they review your application. Everything . Your academic record might be in good standing, but you’ll need to do better than that.”

Great… Here we go again.

“Turning in your application early shows motivation, determination, energy! When Jacob filed his application, he turned it in five days before the first of the month. Now that’s the way to do it.

” Raúl’s passion was clear in how he emphasized his words, but his composure never faltered.

Every salt and pepper hair stayed remarkably in its place, and his hands moved slowly, emphasizing the control he had over himself.

“Now, Raúl,” Belinda cooed, placing her hand on his, “that’s not fair, darling.

You cannot compare the two of them.” She turned to look at me, her eyes cool and piercing.

“Mara has always been…different. And with her mother’s blood running through her veins, surely you cannot expect her to achieve the same status as Jacob. ”

The words stung, and I could feel myself squirm under her gaze.

I wanted to turn away, but I held her stare, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing me falter.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jacob was uneasy too.

He always hated when they compared us. And to my surprise, he spoke.

“Maybe Mara will surprise us all, Mother. After all, her grades are way better than mine ever were, and her capacity to work with computers and tech is far superior than mine. She might not be an Adams , but she’s still a de la Puente . Surely that counts for something with the Council.”

My jaw slackened, eyes growing wide. Jacob always had my back, but it was the first time he’d been this bold about it.

I blushed, snapping my mouth shut. I wasn’t used to hearing compliments.

I didn’t dare speak, but I scanned Belinda and Raúl to see how they reacted.

Belinda, for once, seemed lost for words.

Jacob had pinned her in a corner. To tear me down further would also mean she was tearing down Raúl, and I don’t think he would take too kindly to that.

Raúl cleared his throat. “Yes, Jacob, you’re right. She is a de la Puente , and I expect she won’t disappoint me.” He looked at me, his firm stare seizing hold of my attention. “Which brings me to another subject, Mara…” My heart quickened. “Is there something you would like to tell me?”

I swallowed hard as I caved into myself. “I-I don’t think so.”

Raúl’s eyes grew cold. “I received a report about rebel activity in District 1.”

Oh shit. If I thought my heart was racing before, it was thundering now. I spoke, trying to save my skin as best as I could. “Yeah, there was. And I told the officer he needed to report the vandalism to the REG immediately.”

“Is that so?”

I nodded, but I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t know how much he knew, and I had no intention of incriminating myself.

“And what of the boy?”

The blood drained from my face, leaving me lightheaded. I stole a glance at Jacob, who was now looking at me too, clearly confused and not sure what was happening. Gulping again, “I believe the officer punished him just as he deserved.” I looked back at my dad.

Raúl’s eyes felt like a thousand knives piercing me in every way. “I heard that you and another individual interfered with an active enforcement operation.”

Damn it! “We weren’t trying too, and it was hardly an oper—”

“Silence!”

I snapped my mouth closed and averted my gaze to my hands in my lap.

“ Never do that again, Mara.”

I nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”

“Who was the other individual?”

I closed my eyes, feeling the sweat beading up on my forehead. “The child was from District 3.” It was a stupid move, and I knew it. But playing dumb was the only card I had.

Raúl slammed his fist on the table, causing me to jump as he raised his voice. “Don’t toy with me, Mara.”

I took a deep breath. “He’s just a friend. But it wasn’t his fault.”

“Name?”

My stomach twisted. “He only stepped in because the officer was going to hit me.”

“ Name? ” The acidity in his tone was growing. His patience was wearing thin, but I didn’t want to give him Chase’s name. I didn’t know what would come of it.

“He’s no one.” Oh god, please just drop it. Please…

Raúl’s eyes narrowed as his nostrils flared with his breath. “Don’t make me ask again, Mara. Or you’ll find yourself back in the basement.”

My heart seized as the color drained from my face. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry.

“What is his name?”

I glimpsed at Jacob, hoping he would help me, but he stayed quiet. His eyes poured out concern, and the look he gave me begged me to comply with our father’s request. I hung my head, closing my eyes. I didn’t want to go back into the basement.

I couldn’t.

With a deep breath and a long exhale, my chin trembled as I spoke. “Chase Beckham.”

The room went silent. I stole another glance at Jacob, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. He looked lost in thought, gazing out at nothing, and that scared me.

“Don’t disappoint me, Mara.” Raúl’s voice was stern, but his composure returned, each word said with an immeasurable amount of weight in it.

“Yes,” Belinda interjected, causing Raul to narrow his gaze on her. “Disappoint us again, and I think you will find that your past moments of solitude in the basement won’t come close to the punishment you will receive.”

I gulped, feeling my heart pounding, the blood rushing in my ears as fear threatened to cripple me from the inside out.

***

Lying in bed, gripping my pillow for comfort, I flipped through the pictures I had of Chase on my mini-tab.

My eyes roved over my favorite one, a selfie we took together.

He was holding me from behind, his cheek resting against mine.

Nothing could beat the smile I was wearing.

It was genuine, feeling the joy deep in my core.

I was so happy that day, but then, I was always happy when I was with him.

He was the only one that lifted the sadness whenever I thought of my reality.

And now I had ruined it. Any chance Chase had of being accepted as a match for me was gone.

All I could hope for now was that he didn’t get into too much trouble.

God, I hated my life.

Was it wrong of me to wish everything was different? That I could just run away from here, never having to see my parents again? Was it wrong to want to feel accepted ? Loved ?

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away.

I had cried enough today. There was no use in wishing for what couldn’t be.

That future didn’t exist for me. And the brief glimmer I had of a possible happy future had just been flushed down the toilet.

And to make matters worse, Chase never called.

He said he would, but he didn’t. And that left me feeling empty.

My fingers found my pendant—thumb running over the antiqued gold—when someone knocked on my door, startling me. It was getting late, and it surprised me that anyone was up right now. “Yes?”

The knob turned and the door slowly opened, creaking ever so slightly on its hinges. Jacob’s head popped in, a gentle smile gracing his face when he saw I was clearly still awake. “Hey, what are you still doing up?”

“I couldn’t sleep, but I could ask the same about you.” I sat up and pushed myself back on my bed, resting against the headboard. It was an invitation for him to sit, and he read it perfectly. Closing the door behind him, he flopped onto my bed, making himself comfortable.

“I’ve been working in the library with Father.”

“Oh? What’s going on?”