Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,48
opposite side of the room, but their bickering stops when the reason for their fight comes in.
“You’d better stay away from my sister for a while,” I tell her.
Renata rubs her nose. “She has a good hook for a Norm.”
We find Xavier, Felicity, and Bryce deep in conversation when we join them. It ceases when we approach the table.
“What’s our next move?” Rufio asks.
Judging by Xavier’s face, we might not have one yet.
“Gunther doesn’t want us anywhere near the Knights’ headquarters.”
“Why the hell not?” Phoenix asks.
“Because of the pledge we made to Chaos on the island,” Bryce replies.
“That was ages ago, and we more than proved we’re not working for that son of a bitch,” Rufio replies angrily.
“It’s not a matter of trust, son. It seems Chaos is using the tattoos you have on your backs to track you.”
“That means nowhere is safe,” I say.
“No, there’s one place, but it’s a little unorthodox.” He pauses, leaning his forearms on the table and linking his fingers together.
“Are you going to spill, or do we need to tip you over?” Phoenix raises an eyebrow.
“There’s an underground group, older than the Knights, that has been preparing for this war for centuries. They’re called the Church of the Bold and the Fearless.”
“What did you say?” The blood from Rufio’s face seem to vanish.
Xavier narrows his gaze. “You’ve heard of them before.”
“Long live the Rinnegati,” Bryce mutters. “That’s not a church. It’s the Norm resistance.”
19
Daisy
Since we were transported to the diner by Erebus, we had to split up between Renata’s and Felicity’s cars. Rosie refused to ride with Toby’s tormentor, so they went with Felicity, Xavier, and Morpheus. Which left me no choice but to ride with the girl. I don’t trust her, no matter what Toby said.
Phoenix is riding shotgun, and I’m sandwiched between Rufio and Bryce. We haven’t spoken since we left. I have a thousand questions, but I refuse to ask them in front of her. She already knows too much. The most burning question is how Bryce and Rufio know about the Church of the Bold and the Fearless.
Xavier didn’t elaborate on where we were going, but the drive takes hours. By the time we arrive, it’s already late in the night, and the world is pitch black outside. We’re out in the boonies. The car’s headlights reveal a welcome sign that says “Church of the Bold and the Fearless Campgrounds.” The little I can see shows a place that looks like the perfect setting for a horror movie. Everything is shrouded in darkness save for the lonely lamppost in front of a large cabin.
Two men with long gray beards are waiting for us. They’re dressed like hippies, wearing loose tunics and pants above sandals. It’s hard to believe they’re part of any resistance.
“That’s the drunk guy from the bus,” Rufio says, breaking the silence.
“You’ve taken the bus?” Renata asks with a hint of surprise in her tone.
“Yes,” Bryce replies coldly.
It seems only Toby truly believes in her redemption.
We get out of the car and meet the others in front of the rustic building.
“Greetings, my friends.” One of the hippies opens his arms. “I’m Harry, and this my brother Artex. Welcome to the Church of the Bold and the Fearless.”
“Harry, thank you for granting us sanctuary,” Xavier replies.
“We couldn’t say no to the reason this all started.” Both men glance in my direction, making me uncomfortable. Their intense gazes seem to imply that I was somehow responsible for their organization. But that’s impossible if they’ve been around for centuries.
“Long live the Rinnegati,” both brothers say in unison.
That’s what Bryce said in the diner. It’s the motto of the church, it seems. Rinnegati was the last name Magia’s descendants adopted. It means renegade. Fitting, since that’s what she did.
“Now, come, friends. You must be weary from your journey. We have prepared supper. Let’s fill our bellies and get to know one another.” Harry motions for us to follow him inside the cabin.
“I’m not sure I want to get to know them too much,” Rufio whispers to me.
The interior of the main cabin is as rustic as the outside and in need of some heavy cleaning. Spiderwebs are in every corner, and the furniture is covered in a film of dust save for the main table in the middle of the room, which has been cleaned. There’s a spread of sandwiches, drinks, fruit, and even a large steamy bowl of soup in the middle.