“Roger that,” he replies to someone unseen. The other lines are moving around us while he stares me down. His grip on my ticket loosens and he lets go, glaring at me.
“Have a safe trip, Miss Warren.” He steps aside, letting me through. I lower my head and walk quickly onto the ship without correcting him or looking back. Once on board, I find my seat and tug at my sleeves, trying to calm my breathing. That wasn't so bad.
“First time off the island, dear?” a little old lady sitting beside me inquires.
“Yes, ma'am,” I reply, feeling the ship rumble under us as we pull away from the dock.
“Nothing to be afraid of now, sweetheart,” she comforts me, patting my hand. “There are no bad guys on the mainland,” she reassures me sweetly. If she only knew she was sitting next to a murderer. We settle into our seats for the two-hour journey to the mainland.
Watching the walls of the island shrinking in our wake, I must have dosed off because I am woken to the announcement that we will be docking soon. Staring out the window, there, in all its glory, is freedom.
A strong hand clamps down on my shoulder, startling me. I glance up and see a tracker looking down at me.
“Miss Warren, come with me, please,” he orders and his grip tightens a fraction to prove he's serious. I shake my head.
“I'm sorry; I think you've mistaken me for someone else. My name is Boroughs, Sarah Boroughs.” I speak calmly, but inside I am screaming.
“I know exactly who you are. Up, now.” He straightens to his full height, letting me know he can and will take me by force. I give in, if only to spare a scene in front of all these people. Picking up my backpack, I step into the aisle. With his hand on my elbow, he leads me down a corridor and into an office. Behind a desk is a handsome man in a sharp suit. He looks at me with angry, stormy-grey eyes. My heartbeat picks up. I've seen those eyes before.
“Marcus,” I gasp and try to back up, but the tracker is holding me in place and pushes me toward a chair. The look on Marcus' face is pure rage, which turns murderous when he hears me say his name.
“Leave us, now,” he orders the tracker, who nods and leaves the room, closing the door behind him. I stare over at this man I don't know, or do I? Is he the Marcus from my flashes? Could he be my brother? I'm matching his rage with my own. Whoever he is, Asher says he is responsible for everything bad in my life. He continues to stare daggers at me.
“What, no hug, big brother?” I ask with a smirk. My question gets the desired result. I can almost see the moment he snaps.
“Who told you who I am?” he yells at me. I cross my arms over my chest, feeling like I'm the only one who has ever had the upper hand against him is a good feeling.
“That's my secret. See, we both can hold secrets over the other. Now maybe you want to tell me where you've been my whole life? Why you left me to rot in that place? And why you’ve been messing with my memories?” I demand answers from him. He just shakes his head, completely ignoring me.
“I got rid of the damn shield, so it can only be Blaze. What did he tell you?” he demands his own answers from me. Neither of us budge. We just stand there staring daggers at each other, mirror images of mistrust and anger. A knock on the door interrupts our standoff.
“The chopper is set to land in ten minutes, sir. Will Miss Warren be joining you?” the guard asks. Marcus moves directly in front of me, leaning into my space before speaking.
“Yes, she will, even if I have to drag her unconscious body onto the chopper myself. Understood?” he warns me as the tracker disappears again. I glare back, I am not afraid of him. He is holding my whole life hostage with whatever block he has put in my head.
“I'm not going anywhere with you.” I stand up to him for the first time in my life, I think.
He reaches out to touching me. “Forget,” he whispers, but I lean back, shaking my head. It’s all true.
“Don't compel me. Just let me go, Marcus, please,” I beg with teary eyes. So close to freedom, I won’t be thrown in a cage again. He reaches his hand to the chain on my neck, dragging it out from under my shirt. I pull the pendant out of his grasp.
“That fucking shield, I should have known he’d pull something like this,” he rants, pacing the room.
“Why is me knowing you're alive such a terrible thing? It's my life. What gives you the right to choose what I remember, what I know about myself?” I yell at him. He stops pacing and glares at me.
“You stupid child, do you think any of this is easy?” He waves his arms around the room. I have no idea what he is talking about, but I refuse to back down from him.
“How should I know? I don't even know who you are!” I stand up and start pacing now. I'm furious that he thinks he can just step into my life, snap his fingers and I fall in line.
“All I have is tiny moments, wisps of memories of you and me as kids, but the things you've done, the things Asher's says you've done to me, to him—I can't see how you can be both of those people. You can't be my savior and my worst nightmare, Marcus. You have to stop compelling me and the people around me,” I plead desperately, walking up to him, looking into his stormy-grey eyes, hoping to see a glimpse of my brother in this cold, calculating man in front of me.
“Everything I've done has been to protect you,” he pleads, putting his hands on my shoulders.
“If you want to protect me, then let me go. Let me off this boat and let me live my life as I see fit. I can't be locked away anymore.”
“You won't last a day out there. You have no idea how to blend in in the real world. You'll be flagged by trackers in the first five minutes. Look at the chaos you caused getting this far! Attacking and knocking out two people to get here is hardly blending in.” He looks pissed.
A knock on the door interrupts us. The poor guard ducks his head in looking terrified to interrupt all the yelling going on in this room.
“WHAT!” Marcus booms.
“Um, excuse me, sir, we've docked and the trackers need your direction, sir,” he stammers out nervously.
“For Christ sake, useless...” Marcus mumbles as he walks toward the door. He stops, turns, and stalks toward me, stopping directly in front of me.
“Do NOT leave this room, Phee. I swear to fuck, if you try to run, I will find you and I will compel you into submission once and for all.” He turns to the guard. “Watch her! Do not let her leave this room,” he growls out through clenched teeth before turning his heel and walking out. The guard takes his position in front of the door, giving me a hard look. I almost laugh. If there's one thing I can do, it’s distract guards. I walk up to him smiling.
“You're not going to keep me locked up, are you?” I question as I run my finger down the front of his shirt. His eyes go wide in panic before narrowing into a glare. Damn, this is going to take some effort. I trail my finger lower over his belt buckle.
“Stop,” he demands, grabbing my wrist. I smile up at him innocently, I watch him watch my tongue as it slowly moves over my lips. He loosens his grip on my wrist and a hint of a smile plays on his face. Men are so easy.
He backs me up into Marcus’ desk. While he kisses my neck, I reach back and pick up the first heavy thing I can get my hand around and bash it into the side of his face. He slumps to the ground. Placing the now bloody paper weight back on Marcus' desk, I grab my bag and crack the door, peeking into the hall. I see another guard at each end of the hall. No way am I getting out this way. Closing the door, I cross the room and press against the window. It's at least a fifty-foot drop to the ocean below.
I don't give myself time to think about the consequences, throwing a chair through the window, I launch myself into the air and drop like a rock in to the cold ocean water. I kick my feet rapidly until I break the surface. And immediately start swimming to shore, silently thanking Ianna for all the swimming lessons she gave me.
I crawl over barnacle covered rocks and slimy seaweed until I am finally out of the water. Without looking back, I sprint into the woods sur
rounding the docks. I hear an alarm faintly in the distance. Too late, big brother; you'll never find me now.
I run for hours without stopping. Thanking my training for my endurance. Soon enough, I reach civilization, and know I will be spotted if I don't change my appearance as soon as possible. Marcus will be on a rampage, and I don't intend to ever see my brother again.
Finding a shopping mall easy enough, I buy myself a change of clothes and a wig. Checking my reflection in the mirror, not bad. I may just survive out here yet, I think with a smile.
Finding Silas was easy. He had written me a couple postcards when he went home over winter and summer breaks. I figure the best way to stay off radar will be to travel by train, which, by the way, is the world’s slowest form of travel except the bus, and there is no way I’m getting on a bus.
I arrive in Silas’ hometown just after lunch and locate his parents’ house. Knocking on the door, but there is no one home. So, here I sit, at the bus stop across the street. I'm anxious to see him again; there are so many things I want to say to him. Sorry doesn't seem to cut it, but I will start with that.
A car pulls into the driveway. Silas climbs out of the driver’s seat, his bright smile bringing tears to my eyes, but the smile wasn’t for me. As I stand up to call to him as he walks around the other side of the car. A beautiful blonde gets out and wraps her arms around Silas’ neck, pulling him into a hug. His hands tangle in her golden hair.
They look perfect together. She smiles sweetly at him and his eyes glow with happiness when he looks at her. I am a fool, a selfish, heartbreaking, asshole of a person. Why would he want me when he could have her? Why would I think he wouldn't have moved on after what I did to him? I am such an idiot.
I watch them talk in hushed tones with each other as I stand there wiping away the tears that won't stop falling. His body suddenly goes ridged and he slowly turns around, facing where I am sitting. All my bravado disappears and I panic Throwing my hood over my wig, I start walking fast down the street.
Wracking my brain, trying to remember why I thought this was a good idea.
“Phoenyx?” he calls out behind me.
I break into a run, turning down an alley, determined to get away, but I have no idea where I am going and it's a dead end. I turn around and Silas is standing there looking like a golden god, a very pissed off, confused golden god.
“What are you doing here? How did you get off the island?” he asks, stepping closer to me.
“I'm sorry!” It burst out of me so fast. “I didn't mean to interrupt. I wanted to see you, and then when I did you looked so happy, I didn't expect...”
I have no idea how to end that sentence. I didn't expect what? Him to be making out with Barbie? I didn't want to ruin his life for a second time? This was a mistake coming here.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have come,” I apologize, trying to walk passed him and away from this train wreck of a day.
He grabs my arm. “Stop running, dammit, and talk to me! You ran away from the Academy?”
I nod in response, tears clogging my throat. He runs a hand through his hair and starts pacing.
“How did you get out? Why? How did you find me? When are you going back? Have the trackers seen you yet?” he asks so many questions.
“I broke out, stole an ID. I couldn't be there anymore; things are just so bad. I missed you and I had these old postcards you sent me with that address on them. I'm sorry, Silas,” I said, shaking my head.
“You already said that, Nyx. What about the Academy? The Titans? Asher? Your whole life was there. Why would you throw that away? You are not allowed to leave the island. I will be in serious trouble if they catch you here with me.” He starts pacing again.
“I wanted to make sure you were alive and happy. If the trackers catch me, so be it, I had to see you one more time. If Marcus catches me, there's no telling what he will do. I wanted to tell you I loved you and I regret everything I did to hurt you. For the rest of my life, I will regret losing you.” I am openly sobbing now.
Silas wraps me up in his warm arms, soothing me. “Nyx, it will be okay.”
I’ve missed the way he can make everything all better with a hug and some sweet words. How I ever thought Asher was better than him in any way is insane.
“Wait…what do you remember about Marcus?” he asks, his eyes wide.
“Everything, I know he is my brother, that he can pretty much mind warp anyone into believing anything, and that he sent Asher to the Academy to break us up and I fell for it. Thanks to you, I finally know the truth about my own life,” I explain, holding his necklace out.
“I can’t be involved in your fight against Marcus. He’s too dangerous. I have a life here, I have responsibilities.”
“Yeah, I saw your responsibilities, Silas. She is very beautiful.” It hurt to admit, but it was the truth, she looked sweet, kind, and perfect. Her mere existence in his life created a black hole of guilt in my chest. He could have been mine all along if I wasn’t so weak, but he’s happy now, and I can't be the one to ruin his happiness, again.
“I didn’t come here to cause problems for you. You seem happy with her. I'm glad. I thought you could tell me information about Marcus.” I confess, forcing a smile.
His eyes narrow at me and he steps away, like he finally came to his senses and realized who he was touching. Finally seeing me for who I am. “You're glad? You leave me for some scumbag asshole, and then you show up here, illegally just to tell me you’re happy I moved on, but want me to help you get info against Marcus? What the hell, Nyx! This is messed up, even for you.” His words gouge at my broken heart. I deserved that; I shouldn’t have expected him to help me.
“Do you even realize that if I am even seen with you, they will send me to the Academy? And not by choice. You don't think Phoenyx, you never did. You act, not caring what kind of consequences or chaos you leave in your wake. You can't be here. Go home. You belong on that island. Marcus will find you and take you back. There is no stopping him.”
Silas is so angry. I came here to see him, and I ruined everything, like I always do. “I'm sorry, goodbye, Silas.” I push past him and start running down the street, I run back to the sad little motel room. Collapsing on the bed and cry myself to sleep.
There is this cute little coffee shop close to my motel, my craving for coffee forces me out of my wallowing and I drag myself across the street. The bell over the door rings as I enter. The smell of coffee and sugar wafts over me. Walking up to the counter, I order a coffee and a donut. When I reach across the counter to pay, my sleeve slips back, exposing the black bands wrapping around my wrist to the young cashier, causing her to gasp, still holding the money I am passing her. I meet her eyes, and see blind terror staring back at me. Shaking my head, I silently beg her to keep my secret.
“I won't hurt anyone, I swear.” I plead as tears form in her eyes, I am a monster to her; we all are. She's been told horrible stories of the things people like me do to people like her. She is smart to be afraid, but I need her to be on my side.
“Please, help me,” I whisper. The girl’s mother comes to stand next to her. She stares me down, taking in my exposed wrist. She lifts my other sleeve, seeing all the murder charges. Her eyes go wide; then she schools her expression. She locks eyes with me for what feels like an eternity, as if she is weighing my soul. She’s searching my eyes for a monster. I stare back, hoping my monsters are locked away tight enough to keep me alive another day. She nods once.
“We don't want or need any trouble. I know exactly what those marks mean. You have no business being off that island, child. None of you do,” she states matter-of-factly. I had no idea this is how people like me are treated on the mainland.
“Keep your marks covered. If I see those markings again, I'm calling it in.” At that, she walks away.
Rushing out of the shop as fast as I can, “That was close.” I sit behind the building, waiting for sirens or any sign she called the trackers, but noth
ing happens. I go back to my motel and wait to be dragged back to the prison I called home. Nothing happens; no one comes for me. I can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing I am still safe here. Maybe I don't have to run again, maybe I can make a home here.
This morning, I decide to turn on my cell for the first time since I ran away. It comes alive with messages, all from Ianna.
Where are you?!
The guards are looking for you? What did you do to Adam? He is PISSED!
Please come home. Running away doesn’t fix anything.
TURN ON YOUR DAMN PHONE!!!
I send her a quick reply:
Me: I’m okay. I had to leave. Please understand. Love you.
Ianna: You are making this so much worse for yourself. The trackers will find you. I don’t even know how you’ve made it this far, but please come back.
My reply is simple.
Me: Accept my decision. Or I will throw this phone away and you will never hear from me again.
Ianna: I’m sorry; I’m just worried about you.
Me: I will be okay, gotta go. I will talk to you again tomorrow.
I miss her so much, but I know I can’t be locked away again. I need to move on with my life.
The bell on the door dings as I enter the coffee shop, and the same waitress nods in my direction.
“Sit anywhere you like. I'll be around in a minute with some coffee,” she says, snapping her gum.
Sliding into a booth. It's far in the back against the windows. I can see surfers out in the waves. Being around the ocean always makes me miss Ianna.
I wish Ianna would stop trying to get me to go back. I barely got away the first time. Going back would break me. So many mistakes cripple me. Deep down, I think I knew Silas wouldn't want anything to do with me.
Where will I go now? The Academy was the only home I'd ever known, but Marcus and Asher have tainted everything. They took away all hope and security; all my dreams were crushed. Nothing could make me go back now. I need to move forward with my life. I will miss Ianna, but I can never go back. I lose time watching the waves. I think about what I will do with my life, without the Academy.
Phoenyx Rising (Demigods Duet Book 1) Page 15