Phoenix

Chapter 3 (Anya)

I was standing there looking at myself in the mirror admiring my new uniform. It was made of strong fabric with a platinum belt and gold rings attaching the cloak to my shirt. The white shirt was fitted to my top, it matches well with my red skirt and boots. The best part is that I can move and fight in this.
"Well, Anya, what do you think?" Asked my father.
"It's beautiful father," I responded, "But I have a few minor suggestions."
"And what kind of suggestions would those be?" Asked my father.
"Well, for starters, the cloak should be more lightweight and shorter. You don't want me tripping over myself when I'm fighting someone."
"That's true, anything else?"
"Yes, I feel like the colors should be more faded, I don't want to stand out when I'm trying to hide."
"I'll get to work on that."
"Thank you, father."
"Anything for you."
Father went to go talk to the tailor to make the alterations to the uniform. I stood there admiring myself in the mirror. The uniform fitted me perfectly, and it was beautiful, shame it was going to get ruined when I was fighting. I know I won't use it a lot, but it will come in handy when I'm undercover. My father left my room with the tailor before I started to change into my everyday white and red dress. My mother walked in when I was about to leave my room.
"Anya! What are you wearing!?"
I looked down and then back up. "Clothes" I answered.
"Don't be smart with me, why are you wearing these?"
"Because I can."
"Anya!"
"What!?"
"Don't sass me, you know who you are. You are the daughter of one of the biggest council members in the light region."
"Ok and?"
"You know you have an image to uphold, why are you being difficult?"
"Because this is more comfortable and I don't like the type of clothes I am supposed to wear, they're annoying."
"Would it kill you to dress properly for once."
"Would it kill you to leave me alone."
"Anya-"
"Ok fine," I said cutting her off. "We'll compromise, I'll get to wear this if I take the stupid family crest."
"It is not stupid, do not use that type of language young lady."
"Do we have a deal or not?"
My mother took a breath. "Fine, just remember to-"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, just leave me alone."
"Alright,"
My mother turned around and left me alone in my room. I put on the necklace with the golden phoenix with the tiny rose quartz as the eye. It's not hideous and it's not that I don't like it, it's just that it seems like too much, and it clashes with my outfit. I would much rather wear a different necklace or no necklace at all. But I knew that I could win in situations like these if I just brought up the necklace. I didn't know why my parents were so easy to deal with whenever the crest was mentioned. All I had to do was wear the necklace and that was enough to bring my parents to their knees. It was so easy and I barely ever had to deal with my parents like that. I looked at myself in the mirror one last time, cringing in how distasteful this looked before I walked out of my room and headed downstairs.
"Mom, Dad, I'm going out," I say as I head towards the door.
"And where are you going in such a hurry?" Asked my mother.
"Uh to the library, I have some books that I need to pick up."
"You do realize that we have a library here."
"Yeah but it only has so much and this is the new copy that was recently put into the library and I kinda need it."
"What kind of book is this that you need it so badly."
"It's... this book I need for my physician studies."
"Really and why am I only finding out about this now?"
"I only found about it recently from Ashta," I say starting to get annoyed, "Why is this such a big deal? You said that if I wore this necklace then we compromised and I can go out."
"I never said you could go out, just that you could wear that attire." "Seriously? Mom, it's not a big deal I can easily come back."
"Well then at least take a guard with you."
"No!"
My mother raised her eyebrows. "No? And why not?"
I panicked, my mother was staring me down, waiting for me to answer. I could feel my face begin to heat up and as I tried to come up with an answer, I was getting more and more flustered, all the while my mother was figuring out that I was up to something.
"Um... that's not necessary and would be a waste of time to the guard," I said nervously, "It's just a simple walk to the library and back. No big deal." I laughed nervously.
My mother continued to stare me down with a look of disbelief, I could feel the sweat forming at the top of my forehead. I tried to come up with another comeback before I get myself into any more trouble. Then my father walked into the room and put a hand of my mother's shoulder. "Celine, let the poor girl go," Said my father with a smile, "She doesn't want to stay here with us all day."
"But Henry-" Started my mother.
"It will be fine, the library isn't that far from here, and that's why she's been taking those defense classes. There's no need for a guard."
"But-"
"Please, mom?" I begged.
My mother looked at my father and then back at me then she sighed. "Alright, but come back before sundown ok?"
"Ok, thanks!"
I ran to both my parents, hugged them before I ran out the door and headed to my destination.
-------------------------------------------------------
"Why did you let her go?" Asked Celine.
"Letting her go isn't the end of the world." Answered Henry.
"I know that, but that doesn't mean I don't worry."
"Celine, it'll be fine, this is what we prepared her for, that's why we've been sending her defense classes."
"I know that, but that doesn't mean I don't worry."
"Henry don't play dumb with me, you know that she's hiding something."
"It's not like we're not doing the same thing."
Celine fell quiet and looked down, she knew deep down that he was right. She couldn't help but feel guilty whenever she thought of it, but she didn't have much of a choice.
"You're right," She sighed, "I just don't want her to not trust us with these types of things."
"She's a smart girl, we're just going to have to learn to trust her with these kinds of things." -------------------------------------------------------
I walked towards the Thgil gate, marveling at the clean bright, white bricks and the giant metal doors. I'm still amazed at how huge it is, I've come by here many times but I never understood why we had a gate so big. I know it's part of the border but I've never found it useful. No one ever comes here, I don't understand the need to build something so extravagant. But the people of Tiawuk have always been a bunch of paranoid fucks. I pull out the note that I had hidden in my pocket and re-read it to make sure I was headed towards the right place. I pulled out the crinkly piece of paper and traced my fingers over the letters as if the letters had never been there before.
Meet me behind the library, at the corner of the border.
So I was heading in the right direction. Good, this is exactly what I needed, a chance to show that there is more to me than Henry Najib's spoiled daughter, that I was more than Airgela's golden girl. I walked towards the meeting place, but it seemed empty, there was no one there. Perfect. No one would be able to see us. I walk towards the corner of the giant wall which is the northeast corner of the entire border. I try to act as normal as I possibly could, I couldn't afford to draw any attention. I waited for what seemed like hours and still no sign of him, the sun was starting to go down, my parents would know something was up. I was growing impatient, if he takes any longer, I'm going to have to leave soon. But if I left, then that would mean I'll my chance on this opportunity. I can't do that, I don't want to do that. Finally, as if my prayers were heard, he finally shows up.
"There you are, I thought you ghosted me there for a second," I said.
"Who me?" He said, "Nah I couldn't possibly do that while I was the one who asked you to come."
"So what took so long?"
"I had to wait until there were fewer people around, got to eliminate the possibility of getting caught as much as possible."
"You almost had the possibility of losing me, any longer and I would've left. At least give me a warning next time."
"Always have to be the princess huh?" He said while rolling his eyes.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked while narrowing my eyes.
"Nothing, nevermind," He said looking away, "So do you want in or not?"
"Oh, I'm in, I was already getting prepared the moment you told me about it."
"Slow down princess, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I told you that you might be a good fit, I never said that you would automatically get the job."
"First off, Renzo, stop calling me princess. You know my name, so start calling me by my name. Second, what the fuck are you talking about?"
"I don't think a rich girl like you is supposed to be speaking like that."
"I don't give a fuck, now tell me what you mean about that."
"You are being considered for the job, but you have to prove that you are the one for the job."
"How do I do that?"
"First off you have to come to the meeting place-"
"Which is?" I asked getting impatient.
"I'm getting to that," He said with his narrowed and his tone getting annoyed, "It's going to be at the west corner of the Tiawuk border, there's is the least amount of officials or people with money there. No one important will see us."
"Why so much secrecy?" I asked.
"This isn't the most legal job there is." Responded Renzo.
My eyes widened. "You mean to tell me that we're doing something illegal?"
"It's nothing bad I promise."
"If it's not bad then why isn't it legal?"
"Anya, come on, you can't be that naive. You do know that the government isn't all that righteous, you think everything they do is legal too?"
"My father is part of the government, he would never do such a thing."
"Do you even know half the things that have been done by the council?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing," He said looking away again, "Just know that in order for this to work it needs to be kept a secret, especially from the government. You can't tell anyone."
I hesitated. If this is such a secret mission, then why me? Why someone who has so many connections with the government if this is to be kept secret from the government? What did they want with me anyway? Also, what did Renzo mean about what the council has done? What has my father done? What have they been keeping from me? And why?
"What happens when I go there?" I asked trying to keep my composure.
"Here, take this," He said as he handed me another piece a paper, "It's a letter from me explaining that you've sent to a training camp, requested by me to improve your skills. This will explain why you have to leave."
"What if my father questions where this place is?"
"I've handled it, this is a real training camp, I have a contact there that will cover us. Now I've told you everything you need to know about this mission, it's very important that we have someone who knows people on the inside. This could mean life or death for many unsuspecting people if we don't hurry up. So let me ask you one more time. Are you sure you can handle this? Once you're in there is no backing out. So, are you in?"
I took a moment to think about it. If I were to go through with this mission, I could make a difference in people's lives. I could for once make a name for myself, to show how much I've improved and how I am not what they think I am. If I go undercover and get the information we need, a lot of people will benefit and be safe from the Taht Al'ard. I am done being Henry Najib's daughter, I'm done being used as a trophy for the public's eye. I am done being a spoiled rich girl. It's time I finally make a name for myself. It's my turn to do something.
"Yes."