The Phoenix Society

Chapter 10

My body was trembling with fear. They came out of nowhere. They moved silently. The only reason I knew they were there was from the faint sound of their breathing in the night. Before I knew it, I was surrounded in all directions. I looked around frantically, my heart was pounding. There was nowhere for me to run, nothing for me to do. I knew what fate awaited me. It was only a matter of time. I'd seen the marking on the others. We walked soundlessly down the hall. No one said a word to me. They didn't even look at me. My breathing quickened as uncertainty played at my nerves. We stopped outside his office.

"It will be over soon." Jonah leaned down and whispered to me as Kila's hand rapped against the wooden door. I looked up at Jonah, worry crossing my face. He gave me a small reassuring smile as the door opened and they pulled me inside.

Monroe stood with his back toward me, facing a cracking fire. He didn't move a muscle, didn't even flinch as I entered the room. I didn't even know if he knew I was here. Jonah cleared his throat.

"Sit." His soft voice said. His head turned sideways, the fire illuminating his profile. I felt Jonah's firm hands rest on my shoulders and thrusted me downwards. For an instant I was sure I was being pushed to the ground. Instead, I was met with a wooden chair. Jonah's hands never left my shoulders, forcing my back to rest against the chair. For a moment, I struggled against his hands, before admitting defeat and turning my attention back to Monroe.

  "Now now, Kya. There is no need for that." He chuckled as he watched me struggle. "I thought we had come to an agreement."

My eyes met him as I considered the conversation, we had a couple nights ago. He called it an agreement, that's not what I called it. I pictured Laken sitting cold and hungry in the damp cell Monroe had locked him in. My only chance of getting him out was joining the Phoenix Society. I swallowed praying for something to relieve my suddenly dry throat. I tried shifting my weight in the chair with no prevail. Jonah only clamped down harder.

"Or do I need to remind you what happens if you go back on our agreement." Monroe placed his hands on the armrests as he leaned closer to me. My heart dropped. Laken.

  "Leave him out of this."

Monroe gave another raspy chuckle as he turned back toward the fireplace. His hand twisted a long metal stick that had been placed in the coals. A smile crept up on his lips as he turned back around, stick in hand. Jonah's hands dug into my shoulders as Kila grabbed my wrist and flipped it over, exposing the veins on the underside. As I looked closer at the stick I recognized the letters 'PS' glowing in red. The realization hit me. I kicked my legs as I continued to struggle against the people holding me down. Monroe stopped behind me.

He bent down, until he was eye level with me, then traveled to my ear. I felt his hot breath in my ear. Chills spiraled throughout my body. "Just remember my beautiful Kya, pain is only temporary."

Within the next instant, I felt a searing hot pain run down my wrist. I screamed in pain as I felt the skin on my wrist burn off. The room filled with the smell of my burnt skin. It was enough to make someone gag beside me. I fought against the arms holding me trying anything to get away from the pain burning through my wrist. After a minute, I felt the hands lift. My eyes went directly to my wrist where the faint letters 'PS' had been seared into my skin in a red, blistered, mess. I looked up and watched as Monroe placed the rod back into the crackling fire. A tear fell down my cheek as my hand shook. While it was only my wrist that was branded, my whole body felt as though it was on fire. Monroe came near me. He placed his rough, calloused thumb on my cheek and wiped my tear away.

"No more of that." He told me. "Tears are a sign of weakness. And you are not weak."

* * *

I gasped as I sat up. My hand immediately went to the mark on my wrist as the burning sensation from that night came back. I groaned in pain and clenched my eyes shut as I tried to rid my brain of the memory that kept replaying. Sweat droplets ran down the back of my neck and I shivered as they travelled down my spine. I took a deep breath as I calmed my breathing. Slowly, I allowed myself to relax and fall back into my bed. My eyes remained open, staring at the crown molding that lined the ceiling. I lay like that for at least an hour, before deciding sleep was not coming to me. I rolled over glancing at the clock. 4:30.

"Great." I mumbled as I pulled myself out of bed. I swung my legs over the side of the bed then ran my hand through my hair. I pushed my feet onto the cold, cobblestone floor. One thing I was beginning to realize during my time at the Estate was just how cold it was. There was no central heating in the castle like structure. There were fireplaces placed in every room used to heat the entire structure. It was going to take some getting used to as my body naturally runs cold. I was going to have to learn how to dress        in layers. I padded across the room and quickly changed out of my sleeping t-shirt. I placed my hand on the door handle and took a deep breath before opening it. I was met with a very tall man Banks introduced as Reid. I looked up at him. He must be at least 6 feet, which compared to my height of 5-foot 1 inch, was like looking up a mountain. He stood with his hands behind him, his legs straight and stiff, and looking straight ahead.

I raised my eyebrow. "It must be a very boring job staring at a wall all night."

"You aren't permitted to leave your room." He said looking down at me. The light from the candle chances on the wall lit up half his face causing an eerie glow on the other half.

"What would I have to do to convince you to let me get some air?"

He turned his head back toward the wall. I followed his gaze, curious at what he has been looking at all night.

"Must be an interesting wall." I leaned against the door frame.

"I won't tell you again." Reid said. His voice was deep which caught me very off guard as I felt it didn't really match his tall, lanky figure.

I sighed. "Look, I just want to go to the PIT."

He cleared his throat, clearly annoyed with my presence.

"If you're that worried about it, you can just come with me. Or call my personal babysitter." I prodded.

Reid turned his head back toward me, processing the options that lay in front of him.

"What is the worst that can happen? I'm outnumbered. If I try to run, just sound the alarm and over a hundred assassins will be on my ass. And, in case you haven't heard, I already tried escaping. And we see how well that worked out."

Reid sighed scratching his forehead. I smiled knowing that I had convinced him.

"You try anything, and I'll have your ass within a matter of minutes." He said pointing his arm down the hall, gesturing for me to walk.