Fury and Flame | 3

4 | 7

K A N E

      Being sure not to make a single noise, we snuck around the side of the warehouse in an attempt to find a way inside. The element of surprise would give us an edge on whoever was here to stop us.

      The place definitely wasn't abandoned. There was light visibly streaming through the high-up windows, amplified by the darkness of midnight. We'd wasted no time in getting here in the jet Delphinium's grandmother supplied us with. A day wasted meant another round of fuel shipped out to power Imperium's operation.

      Little steps, Benny had said. That was how we'd destroy Imperium.

      Little steps, I thought, as my thoughts returned to the dark haired girl in front of me. They always did. I wondered what she thought of me now. The other day when we'd spent the day together, she'd been her normal lewd self, forcing me into the room with her as she undressed. I had then to remind myself that she didn't want me like that anymore. She probably wouldn't have objected if I made any advances for her—not that I would have—but it wouldn't have meant anything to her.

      We turned a corner, where the moonlight hit the side of the building, casting our shadows against the metal wall. I'd stay away. I'd keep myself away from her, just as I did in the beginning. I knew her; she could flirt all she wanted, but got wary when anyone got too close. So I'd stay away. For her.

      I shook my head as we walked on, hoping the thoughts of her would stop. Deep down, I knew no matter how much time or denial I went through, they never would.

      But from now on, I'd hide it. Perhaps it would help me contain the unfortunate feelings I'd developed.

      Looking back at the rest of us, Arlo gestured animatedly at a side door and leaned his head up against it to listen for inhabitants. Whatever he heard was enough to make him pull gingerly on the door handle to see if it would open. To my suspicion, it did.

      To be frank, as we walked in, I didn't know what to expect from this encounter. We were here now for an investigation, but would we later simply destroy the entire place? Imperium was so powerful now, would it even help?

      The place was not what I expected. The ceilings were high enough, but the inside was much, much smaller than I'd been imagining and there was not as much machinery as I'd thought would take to make Hydrocarbon Petromensium.

      My brother caught my eye. "You think something about this doesn't seem right." I shrugged, unsure of what to think yet. "I'll scout the area," he said loud enough for everyone to hear, drawing his switchblade and disappearing into the shadows.

      As it turned out, the light was emitting from an office in the center of the place. The door was closed and blinds were drawn, but a shadowy figure was visible through them.

      Without a question, Jaxon went forward and wrenched the door open. As soon as he got inside, there was a thud of him throwing someone to the ground. I stood at the back of the group, meaning I couldn't see inside until everyone else filed in. And as soon as I closed the door behind us, I saw I'd been right—Jaxon indeed was holding down a squirming man—Tybalt Brimsey. My eyes locked onto a small knife that had fallen onto the floor. Normal overseers didn't carry weapons with them.

      "The bastard tried to stab me," Jaxon snarled to the rest of us as the man tried to get free. Pulling the man's head up by his graying hair, he mirrored my own thoughts, asking, "Now what would make a normal factory manager do that?"

      "Get...off me," was the only thing Brimsey said.

      "You work for Imperium," Jaxon told him. "Excuse me if I don't let you go to warn your leaders."