Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

‘Don’t care. I’m coming. I’ll go invisible until the time is right.’
    I shook my head stubbornly. No one else would be sacrificed. ‘No. Your glamour won’t hold around so many of them.’
    He scoffed. ‘I’m strong enough and you know it. You’re not my keeper, Eden. I’m coming whether you like it or not. Same terms as always – I get dead, it’s on me.’
    ‘We could use him,’ Phoenix said quietly from his place by the door.
    I wanted to argue and yet I found myself shrugging.
    ‘Promise you won’t make a move until I say,’ I demanded, glaring at Spence.
    ‘I can’t believe you guys are even discussing this! You can’t go after her alone, Vi!’ Steph shrieked.
    We ignored her.
    ‘My word is gold. You know that, Eden,’ Spence said, not looking away from me.
    That much was true. I sighed. ‘I need a phone.’
    Phoenix passed me the same phone Lincoln had given him before we’d entered Lilith’s estate. I called Griffin.
    ‘Violet?’ he answered on the first ring.
    ‘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 itwas 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 hasto 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