Allies of the Sun

Chapter 23

     They walked through the tunnels for a while. "What's Alina's number?" Jay asked. "What did you say?" Gabe asked. "I don't think I heard you right but it sounded like you want our enemy's phone number." Jay nodded. "Why would you want that  number when you have me?" Gabe asked, his words echoing loudly through the caves. "No offense Aspen," he added halfheartedly. Jay had a feeling that Aspen did take offense since Alina is her sister and they look similar.
    "How else will I know what happened?" Jay said. "WHY WOULD YOU CHEAT ON MEEE?!" Gabe yelled, the cave making it louder than it should have been. "And with her of all people?" I don't even like you at all, so why do you act like we are dating? I don't like Alina at all either for a lot of reasons.
    "Uh, anyway," Aspen said, finally getting the chance to answer. "I think that is a great idea, we can keep tabs on my sister and you might be able to infiltrate the organization that attacked us a few days ago." Jay nodded and gave Aspen their phone. She put Alina's number in and Jay made sure Alina couldn't track them, then they went on to text her.

        4:32 PM
—This is Jay.
—I wanted to see how everything has been since your last party.
—It seems you don't have very much luck with those.

    They put their phone in their pocket to wait for a response. "Why does everyone hate me?" Jay heard Gabe mumble. Because you're annoying and weird. They walked in silence for a while but Gabe of course had to interrupt that silence, "Hey Sasha, did you bring my clothes? I couldn't find them so I had hoped maybe you had grabbed them."
    "I would like to get out of here before it gets dark so walk faster please," Sasha said commandingly, not answering him. Jay noticed that they were walking uphill now. Sasha turned down a tunnel and found the exit they were looking for and then came to a stop at a dead end.
    Sasha felt around the wall and then found a loose stone. She pushed it and the wall opened up into a cave. Stepping through they could see light from their left which led out into a forest. The cave wall closed up behind them and when they all had left the cave the first thing Jay noticed was that the air was different from inside the caves, cleaner and not stuffy like down inside the cave tunnels.
    "Isn't it beautiful!" Aspen exclaimed. "Yeah, it is," Lexie said breathlessly. Jay had to admit that this was one of the greener, and brighter, forests they had been in but it was just that, a forest. There wasn't anything special about it but Jay had this nagging feeling that something was off about it, they just couldn't figure out what.
    Jay felt their phone buzz and looked down to see that Alina had responded.

        Blackmailer 4:44 PM
—How did you get my number?

    4:44 PM
—I have my ways.

       Blackmailer 4:45 PM
—You got it from my sister didn't you?

         4:45 PM
—I'm not with your sister..?

       Blackmailer 4:45 PM
—yes you are, I told you to save her and you did
—I had a plan, I found an assassin who didn't like to kill, I sent that annoying boy your way and made sure to avoid him so Aspen would see and go help him. I knew that boy had a history with...that...... And when she finally went to talk to you I knew that she would be safe.

    Blackmailer 4:46 PM
—I thought you had figured it out since Devin told me she saw you at my party.
—His Ugliness had contacted me so I decided to become a spy and get information from them but I made a mistake and got trapped. With how many of them that had entered the castle I knew I would be killed the moment I left them.

    Blackmailer 4:47 PM
—I knew they would come after my family if I didn't do something so I took a chance and hired you to kill my sister. (I am sorry about blackmailing you into it btw) things are just really complicated right now.
—ARE YOU GONNA SAY SOMETHING!? I JUST POURED MY HEART OUT AND APOLOGIZED SO JUST SAY SOMETHING!

     Jay ignored her, turned off their notifications, and put their phone back in their pocket deciding not to read the essay of messages that this woman just sent. On another note, they had finally noticed what was wrong with the forest, it was moving. They didn't think the others had noticed so Jay said, "Oh."
     "Yeah, that's normal, don't worry about it," Glimmer said like it was no big deal. "So are you done talking to our enemy yet?" Gabe asked sarcastically. Jay ignored him and went back on their phone.

        Blackmailer 4:48 PM
—Hello?
—Hellooo?
— Are you still there?
    Blackmailer 4:49 PM
—YOUR THE ONE WHO TEXTED ME!!
—DONT IGNORE ME
       Blackmailer 4:51 PM
—oh good you're still here
—Since my parents death I have tried to claim the throne but the elders won't let me. They said I am not the heir...
—Do you or Aspen have any clue what they are talking about?
    
    4:53 PM
—I told you I'm not with Aspen

     Blackmailer 4:53 PM
—I don't believe you.
— Did you know that I was able to hack your phone? I wasn't able to track your location which is good. That means O.M.B. can't track you either.

         4:53 PM
—I don't believe you.

       Blackmailer 4:54 PM
—I'm not lying, I was able to hack into your phone the moment you messaged me

         4:54 PM
     —And?

         Blackmailer 4:54 PM
— I want you to take care of my sister.

     4:55 PM
—I told you I'm not with her.

    Jay wasn't a hundred percent sure Alina was telling the truth but even if she was Jay wouldn't tell her in case O.B.M saw and used it against them.

        Blackmailer 4:56 PM
—Whatever, just watch out for her even if you're not with her. I'm sure you can track her down undetected, I told Devin everything and she is helping from the inside, I just hope they don't find out that I care about her, they might kill her then.

        Blackmailer 4:56 PM
—OH MY GOSH I ACTUALLY TOLD YOU THAT! Just ignore everything I just said...

         4:57 PM
— I was planning on it.

     Jay paused and tried to decide if they should tell Alina about Estella. They eventually ended up just saying,

       4:57 PM
—Estella says hi.

       Blackmailer 4:57 PM
—Who's Estella?

      They then turned off their phone and put it away, ignoring Alina's question. "We're here!" Glimmer called out from ahead of them. They didn't see anything different about this spot compared to the rest of the forest but they didn't question it. The forest was already weird so Jay knew it was probably something 'magical'.
     Gabe seemed more pouty than usual for some reason, Jay ignored him mostly because they didn't care. But then he crossed his arms and said "Are you done talking to your new girlfriend?" Jay glared at him, but Aspen interrupted, "Hey Glimmer, what species is your master?"
     "She is a forest dryad," Glimmer said proudly. "We are waiting for her here." Aspen seemed confused, "I thought they were myths?" Jay knew they weren't since they had seen one, their brother had been obsessed with finding another one after he killed Glimmer's old master so they probably all knew to stay away from their family. I guess no one told Glimmer that though.
     "All unicorns have dryad guardians, I just like to call mine 'master'. She's really nice too", Glimmer said. "That is so cool!" Glimmer gave them a smug grin, "I know! Just ask J.T. all about it! Their brother did kill one after all." Sasha and Haiden seemed confused but no one said anything after that comment.
     "Could you not call me that," Jay finally said. "Nope!" Glimmer said gleefully. Then a voice that was nowhere but everywhere said, "Welcome, what brings you here?"

Uploaded: 9/8/24