The Phoenix Society

Chapter 16

"What do you think?" Banks asked me from where we sat hidden behind a large boulder. I surveyed the scene that lay in front of me. The trail we took led us to the top of a small hill that stood above a clearing. Besides the clearing beneath us, we were surrounded by acers of thick forest that made it nearly impossible for the sun to peak though. The more I looked at the surrounding area, the more I determined that this place would be ideal for anyone trying hide something.

There was almost no ariel access and besides the logging road which was heavily guarded, no other way to get vehicles to this point. The clearing was filled with guards, much more then I had anticipated. There was at least three guarding the road, and other groups walking in and out of the clearing. My eyes wandered to a large access tunnel built into the rocky mountain side only a couple yards over from where we lay hidden. Just in the time we had been here, I had seen over five groups of people allowed access inside the tunnel. I was surprised at how easy it was for these people to be allowed inside. It made me wonder if they all knew each other.

"I wasn't expecting there to be this many of them." I said as my eyes glanced between groups of guards. A low rumble sounded, slightly shaking the ground beneath us, as another military style truck showed up. Two men, dressed in black slacks and a white shirt, got out of the truck. I watched as they made their way over to the tunnel entrance. Both men smiled at the guard, before each turned their wrist over revealing a marking burned into their skin. I frowned as I glanced down at my own marking, its scar tingling at the memory.

"So, this was your big plan?" Lillian spoke as she peered around the side of the boulder. "I'm so glad we decided to come this way." She rolled her eyes. My hands clenched into fists as rage began filling inside me. This obviously was not what I had in mind. But what did she expect? Us to just show up and be able to waltz right in there?

"You know what. I'm over this whole Kya is only trying to get us killed game that you are playing." I said drawing both Banks and Lillian's attention away from the scene below us.

Lillian's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"

"You guys this isn't the time." I heard Marley's small voice say. But my attention never turned from Lillian. It was too late. I was mad, and I was going to let her know it. 

"Do you seriously think that I wanted this to happen? Do you seriously think that this was part of my plan? Obviously, this is not what I had intended. But instead of sitting there, blaming everything on me, you could try and help us come up with a way to get in."

"All I'm saying is that maybe this could have all been avoided, if we had gone through the cities tunnel system. Like I suggested." She took a step towards me. She held her head high, like she was trying to scare me.

"Okay! But we didn't." I threw my hands up as I released my anger, almost forgetting how close the guards were below us. "We're here now. There's not much we can do about that. So instead of complaining and throwing digs at me, help solve the problem."

"There wouldn't be a problem if we went with my suggestion in the first place!" Lillian countered. At this point I don't think she was even listening to what I was saying. She just wanted me to know that it was my fault we were here.

"Stop it." Banks commanded as our voices grew louder.

"I am so sick of this." I took a step closer to her. In this moment, I was doing everything I could not to take my pellucid blade out and use it on her - an act that I'm sure would disappoint Banks. But I didn't care. I wanted to show her what I was capable of. That she had no right to speak to me this way. I was surprised with my hesitation though. I never used to hesitate on my rage when working with the Phoenix Society. In fact, I probably would have done something about it the first time she opened her mouth.