Fire & Ice

ch. 17

JAMIE

I was so unbelievably mad at Daniel. 

First, he had the nerve to handcuff me and my friends like we were actual criminals, and then he delivered us to Jordan on a silver platter! Now we were being transported back to the city in Jordan's custody on his helicopter, and it was no one's fault but my stupid brother's. 

Payton was trying her best not to bawl like a baby, but she wasn't succeeding.  

"Chill, Pay-Pay. We're getting out of here," I whispered back to her, sick of her whimpering. Everybody was all huddled together in the back of the helicopter except Daniel and me. We were restrained more than the others and tied together--which was even more annoying.

Jordan had just announced that he was taking us all back to the city, and the first thing he promised to do was kill us all if we didn't hand over our rings and surrender. 

"This is all your fault," Daniel hissed in my ear.   

"Save it," I growled back. "If you'd just let me go, none of this would be happening." 

"Hm, I see you two are still at each other's throats. I bet your bond has been weakened," said virtual Jordan. He was appearing to us as a Holo again, standing in the center of the copter. 

"Bond? We barely had one to begin with," I scoffed.

"Harsh, Jamie. You'd say that in front of your own brother?" 

"I'd say it in front of anyone because it's true," I growled, looking straight at Daniel, who was now glaring at Jordan.

"Now, Danny. I thought you were the best big brother ever," Jordan mocked, getting right in my brother's face. "What happened to that? Did you neglect your only sister? Natalie must've taken up all your free time." 

Daniel's eyebrows twitched at the mention of Nat, and I rolled my eyes. 

"Struck a nerve, did I? I'm surprised you left her with that dumbass of a boyfriend she's got," Jordan laughed.

"Um...actually," clarified Adrian from behind us, "she broke up with Ethan." 

"Well that explains this shocking video then!" Jordan backed off, snapping at one of the Stormtroopers standing nearby. It revealed its latest spy camera footage--which showed Natalie and Daniel talking and then sucking face in the middle of the woods near the storm cellar. 

Izzy made a noise behind me, and I snickered, knowing she'd be furious. 

"What's so funny, Jamie?" Jordan probed. My cheeks heated up.

"Nothing," I answered. "You're just late. Some of us already knew." 

"But not all of you." Jordan stepped back towards us. "Just like not all of you knew about the stones you Morgans have been hiding so selfishly for all these years." 

I gasped as he reached forward and grabbed the hand with my ring on it. "The power in these stones is going to be the key to taking control of the city, and now, no one's going to stand in my way, especially since I've locked all of your parents away. Not even your traitorous mother is going to be able to stop me," he growled at us.

"What did you do to her?" I demanded, snatching my hand away. 

"President Keel," called one of the pilots, catching his attention. I took my chance and I kicked him hard in the shins. 

His Holo disintegrated to the ground. Daniel somehow wriggled free out of his binds, launching himself at one of the Stormtroopers, but the jolt of his sudden movement knocked my ring off of my finger. They went wrestling to the side. I inched forward to grab my ring, but it was knocked to the side.