As we transition, I find myself standing in the same room I was just in a few hours ago, and I glance around to see a small group of guards awaiting our arrival.
“Oh look, the gang’s all here?” Knox nudges me with a grin.
Before I can say anything, though, the group of soldiers slowly make a path between them. A hauntingly beautiful black-haired woman draped in a dark cloak comes closer. Her piercing silver eyes lock on to me, and for a moment, it’s as if she can see through me, reading my thoughts and worries. Her head tilts to the side as if questioning something, but her eyes swiftly soften, and her energy shifts to match. I quickly avert my eyes, breaking our bond.
“Nice to see you, Zayne. It’s been quite a while. I must say, it was unexpected to hear you’d requested a meeting.” Although her voice was soft, it commanded presence.
“Hello, Steph. It has, I’m sorry to intrude, but I felt this was a conversation that needed to be done in person instead of through soldiers.”
She steps closer to me and leans in a little. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
“Let’s go down where prying eyes and ears can't hear, shall we?” she whispers.
Before we proceed, she shifts her focus to my right and nods, giving Knox the attention he always seeks when seeing her. Knox has always had a small crush on Steph, and he knows she’s Jess’s and that Jess would crush him in a blink of an eye. But that doesn’t ever stop Knox from laying it on thick when it comes to Steph.
“Knox, good to see you.”
“Looking as lovely as ever, Steph.” He winks.
She smiles back at him and turns to lead the way to the underground. Her soldiers dressed in matching dark cloaks, aretall and menacing. They position themselves around her, as we make our way down the stairs.
I jab my elbow into Knox’s side.
“Ow, what was that for?” He rubs his ribs.
“Jess will have your soul if he catches you flirting with Steph.” I scowl.
“I’m not flirting. I just said hi, take it easy, man.” He scowls back at me.
“Besides, I like someone else,” he casually admits.
“Oh, now you wanna confess your love?” I laugh.
He shrugs, and I shake my head at him as we continuing through the passageway.
The underground bunker has grown significantly since we were last here. It seems more recruitments have been added, which in turn has created a need for expansion.
The large room we walk into looks as though it’s straight out of a movie. Maps are draped across the walls, and the long table that occupies the middle of the room is surrounded by large, engraved oak chairs currently occupied by a group of people heavily engrossed in conversation. As we approach, they turn their attention our way, pausing their discussion and the man at the head of the table stands up.
“Zayne!” Jess bellows as he stands tall, then his 6’6” frame walks around the table to greet us. His long brown hair is pulled into a half ponytail, flowing in the air, his silver gaze meets mine, dancing with excitement. His hand is already stretched out to grasp mine, and his other grips the top of my shoulder firmly.
“It’s good to see you.” As he lets go of me, he turns in Knox's direction, and his grin falters.
“Knox,” he barks. “Have you flirting with Steph again?” he scolds, towering over him.
Knox’s eyes widen, and his throat bobs as he swallows hard. Steph stifles a laugh as she looksin amusement.
“I…uh…well…” Knox stumbles.
Jess, failing to keep the façade up, buckles as he begins to laugh.
“Knox, I’m kidding.” He slaps Knox on the arm.
Knox's shoulders instantly relax, and the look of relief on his face is priceless. He glances at me with a half-cocked grin, and I give him the universal facial expression of,“I told you so.”
Jess puts his hand on Knox’s shoulder. “C'mon on, let's go talk somewhere private.”
We follow them to an adjacent, much smaller, room which houses only a small round table with chairs. Old, tattered papers are scattered across it.
