Rise of the Phoenix

by Jamie McLachlan

  The Chief nods, a vigorous shake of his head, but the constables remain motionless.

  “Good.” Scott spreads his gaze across the room. “Now, everyone hand over their weapons.”

  The men stand still for a moment, and I tense in preparation. If the police resist, the blockers outside will kill the Elite. I skulk toward their minds, ready to use persuasion if needed. Finally, the constables in the front reach for their revolvers. They unbuckle the weapons from their waists and hold them out. Scott gestures to the two blockers behind us to gather the guns. They amble forward and take the revolvers. The constables in the back lose their fight, and I exhale as the knot inside my stomach eases.

  The two blockers wind their way around the station, and their bags expand with the stolen weapons. Movement in the corner of my eyes draws my attention away. Within a second, the deafening roar of a revolver pierces the room. The sound echoes again, and Daniel swears behind me. I tumble into the constable’s mind, equipped with a command. But before I can use persuasion, a gunshot close to my ears reverberates through my skull. The constable’s mind slips from my grasp. I blink and focus on the scene before me. The constable lies immobile on the ground. Blood oozes out from beneath his body, creating a crimson pool around him.

  Daniel’s voice cuts through the ringing in my ears. “Anyone else care to disobey?”

  He holds his revolver out and shifts his aim, forcing his point. Nothing but silence answers him. My gaze shifts to his right arm. A tear mars his suit, and the fabric around the frayed hole darkens. A little more to his left, and the bullet could have punctured his heart. Too bad. My smug expression vanishes as my eyes focus on the sight behind Daniel. Without thinking, I rush to Evan’s side and fall to my knees. He clutches his stomach and stares up at me with wide eyes. The sight causes my stomach to tighten with fear. I replace his hands with my own and add pressure. Warm liquid seeps between my fingers. I ignore the blood and hold his gaze, wiping the alarm from my expression.

  “Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.” I raise my voice so Scott can hear. “We need to get him to the hospital.”

  Daniel’s voice answers instead. “We don’t have time. He knew the risks when he joined.”

  I snap my head back, and my feet tense in a pounce. My bottled rage spills forth as an image of my hands wrapping around his throat taunts me. I’d do anything to wipe that superior look off his face. He should be the one lying on the floor, not Evan. Before I can spit out my venomous words, Scott appears by Daniel’s side. His cold, dark eyes roam over Evan’s wound before turning their glacial stare on me. In one look, I know exactly what he’ll say. Blood rushes to my head, and my skin prickles with heat. With each second we waste, more of Evan’s life slips between my fingers. I rein in my temper enough so Scott doesn’t see how affected I am.

  Scott turns his back on us and speaks over his shoulder. “If he’s still alive when we’re done, then we’ll bring him to the hospital. In the meantime, you will help Daniel escort the constables down into the prison.”

  My jaw clenches as I bite down on my response.

  Evan covers my hands with his own. “Go, Moira. I’ll still be here when you come back.”

  His ragged voice sends a spear through my heart. Blood continues to ooze from his stomach, and his face pales into a sickly grey. I don’t know if he’ll survive, and the uncertainty pierces through my subconscious. Scott won’t get away with this. The key nestled between my breasts presses against my skin, reminding me of its presence. My expression clouds over with determination. Thoughts resurface, trying to form a plan, only to sink once more. Despite their absence, their mark leaves an impression upon my subconscious.

  I nod at Evan and remove my hands. “Stay alive.”

  “I promise.”

  I rise to my feet and look down at my hands. Red dominates my vision. I glance around until my gaze settles on my skirt. After wiping my hands, the dark blue fabric conceals the blood’s vibrant colour and absorbs most of the liquid from my palms. Daniel leads the constables down the stairs, while I tag along in the back. Their collective fear fills the room, now that Evan no longer controls their emotions. I hold my lantern high as I manage the steep steps, and the faint glow illuminates the men in front of me.

  One of the constables turns his head and mutters beneath his breath. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted. You’re the reason my friend is dead.”

  A sliver of guilt pricks my skin, burrowing beneath the flesh. But an image of Evan lying on the station’s floor washes the emotion away. His friend is the reason my friend might die. My gaze narrows as a deep scowl twists my features. I open my mouth, ready to snap back at him.

  Daniel shouts from the front. “No talking!”

  The constable gives me one last sneer before he snaps his head forward.

  Up ahead, Daniel halts in front of a cell and slides the key into the lock. He swings the door open and pushes the first man into the dark prison. A gust of relief sweeps through my landscape at Rick’s absence. The other constables shuffle forward, and their emotions light up the darkness in a burst of crimson and tangerine. Their rage taints the air, snuffing out the rancid odour of dank earth. My throat burns as the scent of smoke fills my lungs.

  The last man steps into the cell, and Daniel slams the door shut. The lock clicks, and the metal bars ring with the sound. Daniel grins at the constables before turning his frenzied gaze on me. His lips part. I swivel on my heel, determined not to wait for his words, and march up the steps. But my feet fail to move fast enough.

  His low chuckle creeps up my spine. “Next, it’s your lover. Maybe if you beg Scott, he’ll let you own the detective. He can then be your whore.”

  Daniel’s words slide down my back and fall to the floor in a useless heap. Nothing he says about the detective can rile me up. I step over the prison’s threshold and into the station, blinking in the sudden glare from the windows. The Elite members crowd the station and amble toward me. I lift onto my toes, and hope pulls my gaze to the front in search for Evan. Instead, I meet Scott’s dark eyes. I fall flat on the balls of my feet and squeeze in between the crowd. Once at the bottom of the stairs, I seize one of the Elite members, grabbing onto his shirt and tugging him forward.

  I call out to Daniel. “Are the other cells unlocked?”

  “Yes.”

  I lead several Elite members past him.

  Daniel watches me through squinted eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “You don’t expect them all to fit into one cell, do you?”

  Without waiting for his response, I continue along the path. The prison fills with the echo of footsteps. Back at the front, Daniel orders the Elite members into the following cells. His lantern sways with his gestures, creating a dance of shadows and light upon the wall. I reach for one of the cells and swing open the door. The metal groans with resistance. I grab the first Elite member and pull him into the dark room. He complies with ease and walks to the small cot against the wall. The others fall in line without my guidance. For once, I’m grateful for Scott’s use of persuasion.

  The line vanishes as the last Elite member steps into the cell. I close the door shut, while keeping my eyes trained on Daniel. His back faces me as he ushers more Elite members into other cells. With a surge of adrenaline, I lower the lantern to the ground. My feet shuffle backwards a few steps. When Daniel fails to turn around, I swivel on my heel and push my legs into a run. With one hand along the wall, I race down the dark path. My skirt rustles around me, restricting my movement. I snatch up the fabric with my other hand. The smell of damp earth rushes into my lungs.

  After a while, I slacken my pace. I peer backwards and squint, as if I could see in the dark. Metal bars shriek in the distance. But no shouting. They must not know I’m gone yet. I continue forward until my fingers graze the ladder. My hands and feet rush up the metal rods. Once I feel a door above me, I hook my elbow around the ladder and heave the door open. I crawl through the opening
and close the door behind me. After pushing up to my feet, I tiptoe toward the other door and pull out the key from between my breasts. The lock opens with one twist, and I peek out at the street. A few citizens, the industrial kind, walk by. I slip out the door and lock it behind me.

  After pushing the key back into its place, I march across the street. With each step, my determination rises, consuming me with one purpose. Two blockers stand at the entrance to the Pleasure House. Questions whirl inside my head. Are they here to guard the empaths or to watch them? They watch my approach with interest, and one slides his gaze downward. His brows narrow, and I follow his line of sight, focusing on the dark streaks staining my skirt. Urgency pulls my spine straight, and I rush up the first step.

  One of the blockers hinders my passage, and his eyes shift to the marking on my cheek. “Are you a concubine? You’re not allowed to be out alone.”

  “I’m not.” I lower my voice and harden my expression. “I bear a message from Scott for the Madame of the house.”

  His confusion trickles into the air.

  “Scott?”

  I hold his gaze until he finally nods and steps aside. My skirt brushes against him as I climb the rest of the steps. The other blocker holds the door for me, and I slip past him and enter the foyer. An eerie silence fills the house, and for a moment I wonder if I’m alone. But when I reach out with my mind, I sense the presence of the concubines upstairs. Mrs. Hughes, including the housemaids, fails to greet me, either no longer inside the house or hiding in one of the rooms. Without the sounds of sex and abuse, the house looks like any other house.

  A door to my right opens, and Josephine steps out into the hallway.

  “Moira, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  I step forward and lower my voice. “Can we talk in private?”

  “Of course.” She steps aside and gestures inside her office. “Please, come in.”

  I walk toward one of the chairs and ease down on the cushion. The door closes behind me, followed by the faint clatter of keys. Suspicion winds my muscles tight as the memory of betrayal sears across my mind. She might have helped me before. But, like Evan, she could have easily aligned herself with Scott. With quick strides, she approaches the window and snaps the drapes closed. The room darkens with the absence of sunlight. Her uneasiness slithers toward me, clouding the air.

  She turns around and sits behind her desk. “What can I do for you, Moira?”

  I narrow my eyes and decide to test where her loyalty lies. “Have you aligned yourself with Scott?”

  Her gaze flicks to the door as fear spikes through the air.

  She leans forward and lowers her voice. “Have you?”

  “Answer the question, Josephine. Because if you are, then we’re done here.”

  Her shoulders drop as a deep exhale releases the tension surrounding her. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. I figured you wouldn’t be allied with him, since he was your master. But I couldn’t be sure. For all I know, you could have been his ally and only feigning anger.”

  “So you’re not with him?”

  “No.” Rage flashes in her eyes as her mouth twists into a scowl. “His blockers came here and think they control us. They harassed the concubines and threatened to force themselves on them. I finally managed to get most of them to leave and ordered the remaining two to stand guard at the entrance. Vile men, if you ask me. They won’t ever see the concubines as equals.”

  My relief escapes me in a wide grin. “So you’ll help me?”

  “I’ve helped you thus far. I don’t plan to stop now. What do you need me to do?”

  I look her straight in the eyes, keeping my expression calm. “I need you to come to the hospital with me.”

  “The hospital? Why?”

  “I’m going to wake Icarus.”

  19

  At first, I didn’t want to believe something was wrong. My determination and hope had blinded me from the concern Evan had voiced and the truth I had known deep within my subconscious. Icarus was not locked in a dream. Rather, I had managed to lock him inside my mind. Still, I had refused to see it, even when he had haunted my dreams. But I can’t deny the truth any longer. Not with Scott still alive and overthrowing the Elite. Even if a part of me screams in outrage, demanding me to leave him unconscious. Because another part of me—the one that tremors with fear, dreading what he might do to my mind—knows he can’t stay there beneath the water.

  I tell Josephine everything, but leave out the part where Icarus’s consciousness is locked in my mind. She looks at me with wide eyes and shakes her head.

  “You can’t be serious. You’re the reason he’s in the hospital.” She leans forward and pleads with me. “Why would you want to wake him?”

  “Because we need him.”

  In my mind, more words whisper in the wind. And because I can’t let him stay in my head.

  “I think this is a mistake.”

  I shift to the edge of my seat and place my hands on her desk. “Do you expect me and you to defeat Scott and his followers? We won’t make it past the first line of blockers. We need someone powerful, someone who can enter their minds without touch. Someone like Icarus.”

  Her suspicion and doubts filter into the room, a dark mist that slips beneath her desk and creeps toward my feet.

  “And what makes you think he’ll help us?”

  My lips quirk up in a scheming smile. “Because I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse. So will you help me?”

  She eyes me from the other side of the desk. “Alright. When do we leave?”

  “Now.”

  We rise at the same time. She steps around her desk and strides beside me, slipping her hand into her pocket and pulling out a ring of keys. The small metal fragments jingle as she selects one and places it into the lock. The door opens with ease, and we step out into the empty hallway. Her gaze slides down to the stains marring my skirt. But instead of questioning me, she turns away and opens the front door. The two blockers turn their heads in our direction, and one nods his head at Josephine.

  She strolls out and slips between them, an air of confidence surrounding her. “I have an errand to run. Make sure no one enters the building.”

  One of the blockers’ jaw clenches, while the other’s nostrils flare. But her authority must hold some weight, because they remain silent and watch us leave. Their curiosity latches onto my skin as we descend the stairs and step onto the sidewalk, and I can even feel their eyes on us as we cross the street. Once we vanish around the building, my steps quicken with determination. She falls back and lets me lead the way.

  After travelling north several blocks, we finally arrive on Churchill Road. We do a quick turn to the right and walk a few more feet before we finally arrive at the hospital. Citizens amble along the sidewalks, ignorant to what’s happened inside the Legislature building and the police station. I wonder when and how Scott plans to announce his authority to the rest of Braxton. How long will it take before the other cities hear of the Elite’s fall? How long before they invade the city?

  We stroll up to the hospital’s front doors and enter the building. A clerk attends the front, and her gaze rises to greet us. Her smile and the warmth around her silhouette fade the moment her eyes focus on the scar marring my right cheekbone. She drops her head and feigns interest in the documents before her. I grit my teeth as annoyance tugs on my patience. She continues to ignore me as I approach, and it takes all of my will to force calm into my voice.

  “I’d like to see Mr. Hayes.”

  She runs her finger along the paper, as if reading. “I apologize, but no one is permitted to see him.”

  I clench my teeth and reach for her mind. Before I can plant a seed of persuasion, a man appears. His long white coat covers the clothes he wears underneath, signalling him as a doctor. He squints behind the small frames propped on his nose, examining me before shifting his attention on Josephine. An air of superiority shrouds him like a second
coat.

  He regards us with veiled hostility. “Is there a problem?”

  “Not at all.” I turn away from the desk and lift my chin. “I’m here to see Mr. Hayes.”

  I plunge into his mind before he can respond and bury a seed of persuasion. You will lead us to Mr. Hayes immediately.

  His eyes glaze over. “Please, follow me.”

  He turns right and heads down the hallway. I glance at Josephine before following his lead. A few nurses walk by, and their gazes slide in the doctor’s direction. A faint blush blossoms on their cheeks, and one even bats her lashes. The doctor nods in greeting with a slight tilt to his head. The moment the nurses catch sight of me and Josephine, they shift their gazes downward, avoiding my scrutiny. I look away in dismissal.

  The doctor pauses in front of a door. “Here we are. This is Mr. Hayes’s room.”

  The two constables guarding the door straighten their spines and eye us with growing confusion.

  One of them addresses me. “What’s going on?”

  I turn to the doctor. “Thank you. You can leave us now.”

  His brows furrow as bewilderment settles over him. He can’t remember why he has brought us here. I tense and wait for any sign of resistance. His eyes dart to the ground, and he stuffs his hands into his pockets and walks away.

  I slip into one of the constables’ mind and use persuasion on him. You will let us enter, and you will not interfere.

  The moment the command takes hold, I plant a similar one in the other constable’s mind. They step aside, allowing us entrance. My heart clamours in my chest as I lay my hand on the knob. I open the door before Josephine senses my hesitancy. She slips into the room after me and closes the door. My gaze falls on the man lying in the hospital cot, and I halt at the edge of the bed and stare at the tranquil face before me. What am I doing? Why would I ever let this man walk again? The pool inside my mind ripples as thoughts float to the surface. I must survive. But, more importantly, I want to live. I want a life based off of more than pure survival.