Page 34 of The Flame

“I really can’t stay.” I wished I could. I wanted to absorb every precious minute of my family while I could. “I thought, maybe, Roman and I could come over for dinner tonight?”

“Of course, darling,” she said. “That would be wonderful. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged and smiled weakly.

Mom wasn’t fooled. She studied me, seeing far more than I was willing to share.

I averted my eyes, and spotted the newsletter on the hallway table. “Is that a new flyer?”

“It came this morning,” Mom said. “Did you not get one?”

“I left home early.” Or maybe they were no longer delivering to Parklands, since only wardens now resided there.

SISTERS OF CAPRA

BULLETIN

REFORM & REGULATION

Dear Citizens of Capra,

Effective immediately, all curfew restrictions are abolished. We will continue to have a guard presence on the streets and expect all citizens to abide by the law of our society and conduct themselves appropriately. There will be no exceptions.

All young ladies between the ages of 12 and 15 are invited to book an appointment at the clinic with regard to ovarian egg harvesting. This initial interview will be a consultation andopportunity to discuss the screening process and determine how you wish to proceed. This is not mandatory.

Single men older than 25, and who have unsuccessfully participated in at least 2 graduation ceremonies are eligible to book interviews regarding alternative options going forward. Please enquire at Berkley House.

As always, the Sisterhood stands with each and every citizen of Capra, regardless of gender, age or social standing.

We stand together.

Once I’d read the newsletter, Mom murmured, “I know you’ve had some concerns about the Sisterhood, and Geneva.”

“I thought you hadn’t noticed.” She’d certainly dismissed it all as irrelevant.

Mom could flip from mother hen to stern parent mode in a heartbeat, and she did so now.

Her tone was unapologetic. “I didn’t want to encourage your negativity.”

“You think I’m being overly sensitive and that the sun shines out of Geneva’s—” I cut off in horror at the word I was about to use in front of my mother. I’d been spending too much time with Axel.

“I think you’re young and idealistic, and I’m well aware of Geneva’s flaws.” Mom pursed her lips around a sigh, looking at me. “It takes a strong woman to run a secret organization within a patriarchal society like ours.”

I refrained from rolling my eyes. I’d had just about all I could take of Geneva’s strength and power.

She plucked the newsletter from my fingers and waved it at me. “It takes a hard woman to achieve this.”

Well, I couldn’t argue against any one of those points in that bulletin.

Her gaze softened on me, as did her tone. “And it takes astounding courage and idealism to do what you’ve done. You are the girl behind a woman like Geneva, the one she built her throne on. I am incredibly proud of you, Georga.”

I wasn’t the girl standing behind Geneva: I was flat on the ground, trodden down beneath her dictatorial boots, and now I was about to lose my town, my home, my friends and my family.

Resentment flared within me, but it was stubborn and selfish. Things were changing for the better in Capra. Not for everyone, but for the vast majority…for the greater good of all. That was how Capra society had risen from the ashes of the old world. If not for all the selfless sacrifice back then, none of us would be here now.

Mom’s hand curled over my shoulder. “There is no perfect in our world, darling. There wasn’t before, there isn’t now, and there never will be. There’s only better than or worse than, and I believe the Sisterhood is better.”

I swallowed down a lump of pure frustration, at my mother, at Geneva, at myself.

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