The Four Protectors

Thirty Two

3rd Person POV

The ride back to the Academy was completed in dead silence. Everyone was thinking the same thing though as nervous glances were exchanged. If the operation had known they were coming, there was a traitor in their midst.

The only people who'd known about this mission were the ten people involved and Rafia of course.

Piling out of the car, the ten of them went straight to Rafia's office. Her tiny office was suddenly overcrowded but she didn't seem to mind, as she looked at each of them in turn, waiting for an explanation. It was Talia that stepped forward finally and explained everything they'd seen, and what it meant.

If Rafia was alarmed that there was a traitor in the room, she didn't show it.

"Lock the unconscious guard up in the cells. I'll look through his memories. You all can return to your dorms," she said.

Desmond stepped forward then before anybody could leave.

"You're just letting everyone here leave. One of the people in this room right now is a traitor and is dangerous," Desmond argued.

Rafia looked unaffected by Desmond's outburst, though Emily shifted uncomfortably at the blatant lack of respect.

"The rest of you may leave. Desmond and Cassius stay," Rafia ordered.

Before Desmond could argue any further, everyone filed out leaving Cassius and Desmond alone. Desmond looked beyond pissed as he stared at the woman. Cassius didn't know what to feel.

There were traitors in their midst but it wasn't a particularly shocking revelation. The Academy was huge and its students easily influenced. This had been inevitable.

"I can't believe you let them all go," Desmond snapped.

"What did you suggest I do? Find one traitor amongst dozens that are probably hidden all over the Academy," she retorted.

Desmond plopped himself down in one of the seats before her desk with a heavy sigh. Rafia didn't tell either of them to leave, sensing their distress. Every plan they took, the operation seemed one step ahead.

"What are we going to do," Cassius asked.

Rafia rubbed her forehead as a frown marred her face. For the first time, Cassius could see how weary she was. She really didn't have a plan to proceed and that scared the hell out of him.

They were so many lives hanging in the balance.

"We don't crack. We find the location of the next compound, pick a different team, and attack," Rafia said solemnly.

"What if that's empty too," Cassius asked.

"Then we try again, with another compound," Rafia pressed.

Cassius already had a retort at his lips but Rafia got out of her seat and leaned over the edge of the desk. Her eyes flashed, warning him not to press her any further. Cassius gulped and stared down at his shoes.

Desmond didn't back down so easily though.

"So you're hoping if we keep attacking more compounds, finding more clues, it'll lead us to a source of some sort," Desmond said.

Rafia heaved out a sigh and sat down once again.

"That's the plan, and somewhere along the way hopefully we can find a cure," she said.