‘It’s me.’
‘Oh, thank God. Dapper called when they arrived at the cabin last night but he wasn’t making much sense. He said Lilith called Dapper’s phone, demanding to speak to Onyx. She told Onyx she had you prisoner. That’s why he agreed to go with the exiles she sent.’
None of it was a major surprise to me.
‘Violet, what the hell’s happening out there? I sent Spence, is he there?’
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘The way Onyx was talking last night … He said they were torturing you … That … We thought you were …’
‘I was,’ I confirmed, my tone flat. I guessed no one had spoken to Griffin since Phoenix had turned up with me.
‘You sound … What’s going on? Where are the others?’ Griffin was frantic.
So many questions. No good answers.
When I didn’t respond he said, ‘Onyx gave us Lilith’s location and Josephine’s been readying the forces. We’re on our way to you. I’ll be at the safe-house within the hour.’
‘Don’t bother. I’m leaving now. Tell them to go straight to the estate and … Bring everything you have, Griffin. Bring everyone who can fight.’
‘Violet, you’re scaring me. Put Lincoln on.’
I swallowed. I stared at a tall tree with branches that swept down over the cabin. ‘Can’t.’ The word caught in my throat.
There was a pause. ‘Where is he?’
‘Lilith still has him.’ I closed my eyes. ‘His soul has shattered.’
‘God have mercy,’ Griffin breathed.
‘Apparently not. I’ll put Phoenix on the phone.’
‘Wait. What? Phoenix?’
‘Yes. He’ll tell you how to get past the outer guards in case any are still alive.’ I very much doubted there would be.
‘Wait, Violet! Wait until we get there, you can’t go in alone!’ He sounded frantic. I could hear his fast footsteps and people calling out to him. He’d be too late.
‘It’s the way it has to be, Griffin. I have to get them out.’
‘Violet, you will wait till we get there – that’s an order!’
Every word felt meaningless, nothing penetrating the numbness that now engulfed me. ‘I’m not taking orders any more, Griff.’
I passed the phone to Phoenix and turned my attention back to the river. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me but I ignored them. Instead I waited for Phoenix to give Griffin approach instructions for the estate, describing its weakest points and suggesting entry tactics.
It didn’t matter to me of course. I would be going in through the front door.
Before he finished the call I heard Phoenix struggle to answer a question that was obviously about me.
‘I don’t know … She’s … I’ve never seen anything like it … I don’t know … Maybe never.’
He told Griffin to hurry before hanging up.
‘Let’s go,’ I said, extending my hand. I wasn’t waiting any longer.
‘Violet, please don’t do this,’ Steph tried one last time.
‘I’m sorry, Steph. I have to,’ I answered.
Phoenix pocketed the phone and nodded as he took my hand and then Spence’s. The three of us moved like the wind. But it felt different this time. I now had Phoenix’s essence in me and I could see the wind-travel like I had never been able to before. I understood how he became it, moved as a part of it and not just within it. I wondered if I could now do it, too.
I started to pull my hand from Phoenix’s to see if I could keep moving like he did. My feet caught in the momentum and I stumbled. Phoenix stopped, Spence rolling onto the ground as Phoenix tried to steady me. I looked around. We were in the middle of a forest. I started to run, faster and faster, so much faster than ever before.
But I was not the wind.
I’d picked up some of whatever it was Phoenix had. It would come in handy, but I couldn’t harness the power of the wind in the same way. I stopped running. Phoenix was beside me, Spence holding his hand again. Wordlessly, I put out my hand. The three of us moved like wind once more.
Moments later we were on the outskirts of Lilith’s estate. It was nightfall again and had just begun to rain heavily. Everything had changed in such a short time.
Dark clouds rolled in and thunder echoed around us, closely followed by lightning that struck so sharp it looked as if it had split the sky in two.
My heart turned inside out for the world to see.
Ignoring the heavy downpour, I pulled out two daggers and made my way towards the first line of guards. As I neared them, I started to run, using my newfound speed. I ran straight for them, not slowing even when my blade slid into the first, then the second, then the third. I took them all down, every one I passed. I didn’t look back. Anything that came at me from the side or from behind, I knew Phoenix and Spence had covered.
We were fast. We were silent. We were deadly.
When we neared the front gates, I stopped and gave both of my daggers to Phoenix, then turned to face Spence, taking off the holster holding the katanas.