Twilight to Destiny- Quest of Legacies

Chapter 22

Valor started panicking. She quickly closed the system and hid behind the large machinery.

Oh shit, what if it's Phoenix?! She thought, squeezing her eyes shut. The steps grew louder and louder.

"Alright, who's in there?" a familiar voice asked loudly. Valor's eyes widened. It was Phoenix. She heard a knife being sharpened. The blade being scraped against stone made her eardrums ache and tingle. "Hm, okay. Keep hiding."

Terror began to mount inside of her, her heart pounding out of her chest. Valor bit her lip so hard she was surprised it wasn't bleeding. She looked under the narrow gap of the towering machinery to the floor. The door was left open and Phoenix was in front of it. She immediately made a plan.

When he gets to this side, move to the other side, she thought to herself. Then when you're on the opposite side, make a run for the door. Yeah, that should work. Hopefully. 

She soundlessly took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Phoenix inched closer as she inched away. Every time he took a step Valor dragged herself back. Soon, she made it to the corner and she got on all fours and crawled around. Phoenix was on the opposite side searching both ways. He was being discreet but so was she. She turned back as he was busy looking under a table.

Praying silently, Valor then dashed for the exit. Her footsteps were so loud that Phoenix whirled around as soon as she put on her hood so he wouldn't see the color of her hair.

A blade whizzed by her. It swiveled past her arm, barely grazing off a scrap of her sleeve. The weapon struck the dark, marble walls and stuck there deeply implanted. It would have wedged into her arm if she hadn't stumbled over a wet spot on the floor.

"Hey!" he barked. He started running after her. "Get back here!" He began forming fireballs and launching them at her while Valor dodged them. She sprinted as fast as she could until she got lost. She whipped her head around and panted for air. She was pretty sure Phoenix was somewhere else. She'd have to find her room from there.

Valor began running again, looking back once more and then knocked into a servant with a black and dark gold robe that brushed against the tile floor. He was carrying a gold plate with purple flowers, an unlit candle, and grapes. She accidentally slapped the plate out of his hand as she tried to get past him.

"Hey-What the?"

Valor paused. She knew that voice but she didn't dare turn around. Not without her mask anyway. Putting on her black disguise that covered her chin to the middle of her nose, she faced him.

Toni?! Valor shouted silently. 

 He was gawking at her with a confused expression. "What's wrong with you!? Who are you?"

"U-uh-uh... " She then heard stomps coming from the hallway diagonal from her.

She jumped over the grapes and candles and darted for the corner. Seconds later, Phoenix halted in front of Toni who was picking up the plate and setting the candles, grapes, and flowers back on it. "Where did it go?" he asked breathlessly.

"It?" his servant repeated. "I'm pretty sure it was a boy."

"Then where did he go?" the Lord asked impatiently.

"Around the corner to Hallway Thirteen."

"Thank you. Now get back to work."

"Yes, my Lord." Phoenix started racing for the corner as Toni casually carried on with his work, slightly puzzled. Valor entered the nearest door hoping she lost him. She cautiously closed the door and faced around, taking a deep breath.