Cardinal Caged (2 of Cardinal Series)

Chapter 4

A/N: Here you go my precious!!

The following day, the car ride to the Academy was dead silent. Sabra and Natasia had left early on a case translating via phone conference for a job. Darcy was called in ahead of schedule to the bar she bartends for, and Triz had to go to the shop she worked at as a mechanic.

That left Yolo as the person to give me a ride to the Academy for my first training...hence the silence.

Today her hair was straight, parted on the side, and draped over to hide one of her sultry eyes. She had on a large, flowy shirt, cut on the top and pulled off of one shoulder to continue with the asymmetrical look. Finishing the look off, she had on ballet flats and plum-colored skinny jeans.

Even though that was a casual look for her, I still felt underdressed in my shorts and t-shirt. And it wasn't from lack of funds. It had been one of the first things the team had done. In fact, Yolo had been the one to take me to the shopping mall for clothes and things for my room. However, I had only really felt comfortable buying the necessities. It was what I was used to, and I felt guilty about spending their money though they assured me many times that it was mine to use as well.

I looked out the window, having memorized the way to the Academy on my trip yesterday--knowing the necessity of it--so I spent my time studying the streets and landmarks in case I ever found myself stranded like I had after that CIA agent, Branson Grinley, had taken me.

Yolo pulled us into the parking garage for the hospital, whipping her little, vintage beetle into a space before another driver could take it. She ignored the angry honk and proceeded to get out, her head held high though she was only half a head taller than me. I scrambled to undo my seatbelt to follow after her. I wasn't entirely sure she wouldn't leave me stranded if I didn't keep up, unable to access the Academy without her key card, and I didn't want to be late on my first day.

I caught up to her just as she entered the stairwell. We went to the 4th floor at the hospital, entered the designated elevator, scanned her card, and entered the Academy through the elevator's back wall when the mirrored doors parted. It was bustling and busy inside--busier than I had seen it my two times here.

I wondered if Corey would be in today. I'd had a hard time sleeping last night after our disagreement--still unwilling to budge but wanting to smooth things over all the same. He was one of my few friends.

With confidence, Yolo headed towards another set of elevators.

I frowned in confusion but didn't say anything.

"Just ask the question if you have it, Sang," she said shortly in her sultry French accent, pushing the button for the fifth floor. "You're too cautious."

I cleared my throat, not sure how she'd known that I'd had a question in the first place as she hadn't looked at me once this morning. "Uh..." I pushed in my bottom lip. "Well...I sort of figured out why we needed this elevator to go up. The hospital only has four floors, but I guess I was also wondering what was on the different floors."

"Well," she said. "That's classified."

"Oh," I said.

She gave me a weird look. "I'm just kidding, Sang. Lighten up. There are different classes on the floors, the fourth floor is mostly admin and conference rooms for all. The fifth floor is the gym--or dojo as Griffin would call it. There are a short shooting range and bomb tech departments in the basement, completely soundproofed. You'll learn the different levels soon enough."

I processed all of that information, realizing that Corey's office was on the admin floor. He was very young to be the head of a department, but maybe the Academy just focused on who was best for the job, despite age? It was very interesting.