Midnight Fire - Rise of the Dark Angel - Book One (22 page)

             
She was confused about her feelings, though. First, she was growing attached to the human women she’d helped escape. Now, she
wanted
to find a man she didn’t know. She couldn’t understand how the humans got through a single day without being frustrated. She certainly wasn’t thrilled with all the new emotions running through her.

             
Phoenix sat anxiously
in
the circle
for what seemed like forever. Finally, she
saw the elders coming in
and once again all sound stopped in the large room. The elders were followed by six women who were looking at the ground. She felt Jayden tense next to her and then jump to his feet. Before she knew what was happening he was rushing towards the group.
             

             
As she watched him rush for
ward one of the women looked up
and a huge smile split her face
.
S
uddenly
,
Jayden was pulling her into his arms. Phoenix’s heart sunk at the look of pure happiness
crossing
the
girl’s
features
. They obviously knew each other and it seemed to
Phoenix
he’
d forgotten about her in a matter of seconds. Before she could stop it a tear slid down her face. Sadie was right there to wrap her arms around Phoenix,
in comfort
.

             
She swiped the tear away and berated herself. It wasn’t like she’d been with Jayden forever. She’d lived through far more pain in her life than the loss of a boyfriend. She would smile and give them her best because she would let nothing destroy her. Besides, she wasn’t old enough to be in love, yet. Her heart thumped at that thought. She feared she was certainly half-way there, already.

             
Phoenix looked up and saw
a
look of pain cross John’s features, which she didn’t understand. It seemed neither of them
was
too happy about the happy reunion of Jayden
and
the new girl. She had to reassure herself
that at least she’
d gotten a few weeks of happiness with the boy who seemed to take her breath away.

             
She watched as her
father’s
face split into a s
mile
and the group walked to the stage. There was silence as everyone in the room couldn’t tak
e their eyes from the new women
and the happy reunion.

             
“It seems today is a day of
joy
. Jayden arrived with us
a little over a month ago
and has been a pleasure
. He has been such a great
help to all of us
.
I
t looks like today the fates have shined down
once again
as these brave women managed to escape one of the prison camps, bringing valuable information,” her father started off. Phoenix wanted to rush from the room
but
didn’t want her pain to be so obvious to everyone in the room
. She could feel some eyes switch to her as they knew
she
and Jayden had been
inseparable
since his arrival.

             
She saw Jessica, who was practically beaming
with
delight at her. She was really close to jumping up and beating the snot out of her. She was in no mood, whatsoever for the bratty
girl’s
vindictiveness. Jessica was even angrier than normal. She’d not only been rejected by Brian, who’d made it more than clear he and Sadie
were
a couple
,
but Jayden had never once given her the time of day. She was taking pleasure in the fact that it looked like Phoenix had also lost him. Phoenix really hated how mean the girl was. It wasn’t like she’d ever done anything to her.

             
“The beautiful girl Jayden doesn’t seem able to let go of is his sister, who he thought he
’d
never
see again,” Larry finished
, then
looked at Phoenix and gave her a small wink. She stared at her father
,
then over at the girl and Jay
den, who suddenly turned toward
her with a
brilliant
smile.

             
Jayden
saw the tears on
Phoenix’s
face and immediately let go
of his sister and rushed toward
her.
He’d never thought what it would look like to her if he simply got up and embraced a girl she’d never seen before.

             
The room erupted at the news and soon the women were surrounded by people wanting to ask
them
questions and trying to find out
if they’
d seen some of their missing loved ones. Phoenix had eyes for only Jayden and felt unbelievable relief. Not only did it appear he wasn’t in love with someone else
but
he got his sister back. It was a beautiful moment.
She forgot all about Jessica.

             
“Why are you crying?” Jayden asked as he took her into his arms. He rubbed along her back and she couldn’t keep the tears from flowing. She realized she really
did love
him, even in the short time
they’
d been together. She didn’t know how or when it happened
but
she couldn’t picture her life without him.
She would survive without him but she didn’t want to.

             
“I’m sorry,” was all she said, not wanting him to know how vulnerable she was.

             
“That didn’t answer my question,” he said
,
as he placed his hand under her chin so she couldn’t look away from him. She stared at him for a moment trying to figure out how she was going to get away without telling him
.
F
or some reason
, though
she couldn’t
seem to
hold anything back from him.

             
“I thought maybe the girl was your lost girlfriend,” she finally admitted, feeling shame
she’
d be jealous if he had found a lost love.

             
“
Phoenix there’
s no one else
who’s
ever captured me like you have. I’m sorry I somehow hurt you. I was just so excited to see Chastity again. We were apart for
a
long
time
and
I was really
close to
her before the separation,” he said truthfully. What was amazing to him was that he was truly happy to be with her again. He felt as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders.

             
“I can understand how you feel. I don’t know what would happen to me if something were to ever happen to John,” Phoenix told him on a little
hiccuping
sob. He continued to hold her close. Then
,
Chastity slowly approached them.

             
“Phoenix, I want to officially introduce you to my sister
,
Chastity,” Jayden said. Phoenix looked up
,
feeling ashamed she could’ve ever been jealous. Now that Chastity was close
,
she could certainly see the resemblance
between
the two of them.
They were both unbelievably stunning and their eyes matched perfectly. They were almost black in color with a sparkle to them. It was like looking directly at a star.

             
“It’
s r
eally nice to meet you
,
Chastity.
I’m glad you were able to
find freedom, again
,” Phoenix said
,
a bit shyly.

             
“It’s really great to meet you
, Phoenix. I’
ve never seen my brother look so happy,” Chastity said, sitting down with the two of them. They spent the next several minutes talking and Phoenix found she liked Chastity and thought they may end up being friends.

             
“I just realized I’ve never asked Jayden how the two of you became separated or what happened to your parents. I feel like a terrible person for not knowing,” Phoenix said. She’d been so fascinated by Jayden she’d simply been fine to listen to whatever he chose to talk about.

             
“I can’t tell you when it happened, exactly. Jayden and I have been on our own, without parents for so long I don’t remember it any other way. We got separated one day when I was off doing something and suddenly, Jayden just disappeared. I was going frantic trying to find him. I never did, obviously. Then, one day I was napping too close to one of the prisons and
the
guards found me. You’ll hear the rest of that story later. What’s important is we’re together now and everything will be fine from here on out,” Chastity said.

             
She had a way of talking, just like Jayden
did
, that made you feel your question had been answered even if it really hadn’t been. Phoenix looked at her for a moment in confusion and then forgot what they were even talking about. It didn’t help Jayden was still stroking her back. 

             
John came up to them and sat down and Phoenix watched as Chastity tensed up a bit. John
couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Chastity
. Phoenix’s head swung back and forth between the two of them, won
dering what was going on. She’
d never seen her brother act so awkwardly. It was almost amusing.

             
“Chastity, have you met my brother
,
John?” Phoenix asked. Chastity looked from John to Phoenix and then
Jayden
, who gave her a smile and a wink and then she laughed
out loud
, which surprised
everyone
.

             
“I should’ve known you were related,” Chastity finally spoke and John raised his eyes in question
to
her s
tatement.
“Oh, sorry about that.
I
t just seems your family has a real impact on my own,” she said, still not making herself clear. John decided to shrug it off.

             
“Would you like a tour of the facilities?” John asked her. Phoenix was
surprised
at her brother
’
s words. He never offered tours. It seemed her brother had a crus
h
on Chastity
and
Phoenix
was thrilled about it
because he hadn’t shown interest in
any of the admiring girls who’
d made it more than clear
they’
d like to date him.

             
“That would be great,” Chastity said and Phoenix realized she was interested in John too. John seemed to realize the rest of them were there and offered for them to come along to
o
but
Phoenix could see he wanted privacy so she quickly declined. After they left she turned to Jayden.

             
“I think my brother has a crush,” she said with a smile.

             
“I think my sister has one
,
too,” he agreed and they both laughed. For a moment all of their worries were forgotten and they thought of none of the danger outside the caves and focused on the glow of having people around them filled with love and hope.

             
“Oh
my gosh
,
Phoenix, John was like a puppy dog with that girl,” Sadie said as she came bouncing up to them with Brian right behind her.

             
“Her name’
s Chastity and I think
he’s quite interested
,” Phoenix said. Both girls started talking about boys for a few minutes as if Brian and Jayden weren’t there. They looked at each other with an eye
roll
and waited the girls out.

             
“I think today is a day of celebration. When John gets back, let’s all sneak to the hot springs,” Brian said. The rest of the group quickly agreed. They were ready to g
et out of the caves for a while
and with the women there, the elders would certainly be busy enough not to notice the teenagers.

             
They waited for over an hour for John and Chastity to get back
,
then
all of them slipped into the night.
Phoenix wanted to be alone with Jayden but she didn’t know how to ask him and didn’t want to seem too needy. They stayed
in
the hot spring longer than normal, all of them feeling secure.