Phoenix Academy - Lucy Auburn Page 0,62

we are?"

"Let me pull up the maps on my phone." Turning around, he paces towards a clearing in the trees until he gets a good signal. "Somewhere in rural West Virginia. And I mean rural. No town shows up on the map for miles—this place must be half-abandoned. There's a gas station near the highway exit, and a motel, but nothing else."

"A good place for a cult to set up," I mutter, loathing for my father filling my chest. "How far is the closest academy ally?"

The Phoenix Academy allies, like the grocery store in San Diego, have portals to the campus inside that they guard with their lives—in exchange, of course, for a great deal of money and benefits. Most come from shifter family lines but lack the ability to change, so they both blend in well with humanity, while having loyalty to the protecting of phoenix lives.

"There's one about an hour away by car. We'll have to hitchhike back to get her there. That or wait overnight." Xavier glances over at me. "Do you think you'll be able to get her to come with us willingly and cooperate?"

"I don't know. I have no idea what he's said or done to her. I just know that we have a chance right now, and it might be the only one we get."

David confidently says, "We're with you, Ari."

"Then let's go. Spread out—have your weapons ready. I'll take point and try to figure out what we're dealing with."

My heart races as we near the open field behind the church where Lizzy and our father's followers are gathered. Each step closer to her is a step closer to the last remaining member of my family. To home, to love, to a future. I won't be able to give up getting her back, that much I know for sure, so I hope that it's smooth sailing.

I have the feeling, deep in my bones, that it won't be.

As we get closer, the cover of trees hides us somewhat, along with the fact that the followers seem to think they're alone, and have their attention on something they're doing. That gives me the opportunity to observe Lizzy unseen. My heart leaps to my throat and does a few somersaults to be so close to her, yet so far away, as I hover at the edge of the woods and drink the sight of her in.

The white of her hair still alarms me, though this time it's been braided back from her face, and doesn't look as fragile as I first assumed. Whatever bleached the color from it, she doesn't show signs of premature aging. And while her eyes were a startling grey-white color the last time I saw her, this time they're a natural blue again—though something swirls in their depths as she turns to face the followers, her voice raised.

"How can you expect me to do that? My flames don't reach that far."

"You will do it." One of the men takes a threatening step towards her. "In fact, you'll do it right away... just as soon as you're done servicing me."

My fingers twitch for a gun I'm not holding. Looking to my left, I spot Reggie and David; at my right, Xavier. I give them the signal to wait for a moment, to get more intel, but I know I'm not going to let this man touch my sister.

"My father will be angry with you," she says, sounding like a little girl again. "You're not allowed to touch me."

"And you're not allowed to disobey us." He flashes a yellowed smile. "Get down on your knees, bitch."

"Make me."

"Sure thing."

Reaching a hand into his pack, the man pulls out a small object I can't quite make out from here. He holds it in his palm; the men around him guffaw and stare, grinning like hyenas. Lizzy backs away, fear coming over her face, but two of the other followers grab her arms and hold her tight.

"I'm tired of you acting so high and mighty." The ringleader advances on her, and the object in his palm begins to glow. "You're nothing but another one of those freaks destined for the pyre. But you seem to have forgotten your place. Which is why, as long as your daddy ain't here... we're going to remind you. Right boys?"

A cheer from the rabble rousers. Flames erupt at my fingertips. I narrow my eyes and plot wildly.

"So like I said: get down on your knees."

Something about his voice is different this time.