Relentless

Chapter 55

By the time Skylar and Peter caught up to Enzo and Celeste, they were already deep in discussion with the Order of the Silver Phoenix council.

Celeste had stormed into the war room in the basement of the institute. "What do you mean 'it's better left alone?'"

Skylar was just as surprised by Peter at what she was hearing. Neither of them had ever heard such an intense angry tone from Celeste. Frankly, she never had a reason to be before.

"She's my sister! And you expect me to sit by and do nothing?!" Celeste roared at the council.

"Yes, we do."

"If she is as powerful as they say," said an elderly woman named Kathy, who Peter learned never to cross, but Celeste has yet to learn that lesson. She looked down her long nose at them, a pair of glasses, distinguishing that she is a foreigner, sat swayed on her nose. Her patronizing tone was outdone in humiliation only by her stone cold stare. "She would probably be able to escape on her own," she continued, "and she could be on her way now."

"No, but-"

Celeste was interrupted by the Elder, the last living Celestial on the council. "To be honest, Miss Nightclaw, we have limited resources and-"

"You are aware that we are trying to win a war, don't you?" Kathy said.

Celeste could hardly stand that woman. "Yes, but-"

"We just don't have the resources to wa- spare on one person." Celeste didn't miss how she caught herself from calling Ashton a "waste" of resources.

"Then I'll go!" Celeste finally shouted. The whole room fell quiet as all eyes turned to her. There are ten members of the Silver Phoenix council, all of them are very powerful and have been members for decades.

Being under their scrutiny was almost unbearable to Celeste. She started to feel flushed. She wished there was the slightest breeze but not even sunlight could reach this depth. There were no windows and the heavy double doors were always closed. No one knows what this underground hall was originally made for but it serves their purpose.

"Don't be ridiculous! You'd be playing into their hands. You're acting like a child. Grow up! They already have your sister. We don't need to lose you too."

"Lose? As in gone? You never had any attention in rescuing her did you?" Celeste said, her eyes widening with realization.

"She's a bright one, isn't she?"

"I'm not just-"

"That's enough, Celeste." Peter barked from behind her.

Celeste was startled by his voice. She didn't know that he was behind her. She tried to face him but she stepped up to her so he was pressed against her back. He laced his fingers into her. She looked at the council and realized her mistake. Even if she kept protesting, it wouldn't do her any good. They have already made up their mind so she was only disproving her own loyalty.

The Elder stood to address Celeste. She braced herself for a scolding but he was kinder than Kathy was. "Miss Nightclaw, if you are to stay here and ultimately join us, you will learn respect. You will have to not only respect our decision but also follow our lead. You have no place in our hall until you are ready to do just that. You are dismissed."

Celeste stood there mystified until his words sank in. Did he just kick me out? Peter gently grabbed her arm and led Celeste out of the room. Once they made it to the top of the steps Celeste broke from the group. There was so much that she still wanted to say but she thought it best to go cool down in her room. While her friends thought that she was letting go the crazy idea of rescuing Ashton, she formulated a plan to free her sister without the council's help.