Page 12 of Rising from the Ashes

Trailing behind her, I attempt to catch up. “Hey!”

When I do, she turns around huffing out an exasperated sigh. “What?”

“Come on, let's not end the night like this.”

Reaching her room, she leans against the door, “Fine. So why did E bring you into the fold?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I lie. “She said she wanted a male with a certain skill, then she pointed me in your direction.”

Not exactly a lie. I did get pulled into joining The Society, but it wasn’t Everly who wanted or even needed a male archer. It was me. I knew I needed to be close to her. I could tell Everly had suspicions, but she reluctantly told me of Calista and her newly acquired skill. I tried to hide my shock learning that the once well-known Huntress was no longer wielding a gun, but a bunch of arrows to take out her targets.

I pause, looking her up and down, acting as if I don’t already know. “So, what do you do that makes you so special?”

“I excel at persuasion and archery. Whereas, you’re messy and can only use a gun.” She quips, shaking her head in disdain, “Yeah, you won’t make it an hour with me.”

I try not to laugh. Granted, she was an exceptional shot, it wasn’t long ago that she was once naively taking out anyone Enzo ordered her to.

Ignoring her comment, I smirk, “So, you’re a killer Robin Hood?”

“I don’t steal from the rich and give to the poor. I kill them all, no discrimination. I kill whoever deserves it.”

“Okay, Robin Hood, why archery? Why not a gun?”

I can see the muscles in her jaw tighten. Pissing her off shouldn’t turn me on like it does, but it’s just too easy to get under her skin.

“Don’t call me that. To you, my name is Phoenix.” She pauses for a brief moment, “And because…a gun is too easy. Archery takes precision, patience, and focus. I’m connected to my bow.”

I attempt to hide my reaction at the irony of her new call sign, because in a way I can’t explain, it pulls at my heart.

The Phoenix, the one who rises from the ashes.

Feigning amusement, I chuckle, “How poetic. Who taught you?”

“Ohh, suga, you’re asking questions that will get you killed.”

“Everly said you were efficient at persuasion. So…torture?” I say as I look her up and down. “You?”

She’s all of five foot six, definitely an athletic build, but her most intimidating feature, if I would even call it that, is her piercing green eyes. Those wide green orbs with slight rings of silver could pierce into any man’s helpless soul, and he would divulge information.

Shit, I would.

She laughs, “Queen E, giving away all my secrets.”

Shaking her head, a devilish grin plays across her face. “Yes, torture. The pain an arrow brings is excruciating, and it lasts for hours. I always get the information I want.

“I love torture. I can go for hours like the energizer bunny, it satisfies my…needs.”

Shocked, my eyes widen at her confession, “You get off on torture?” She nods, “So, you are psycho…Calista.”

Surprise takes over her face at the mention of her name.

“If you think I didn’t do my research on who I was going to be working with, then you’re not as smart as Everly says you are,” I say, trying to get under her skin and succeeding because she looks like she is about to impale me with an arrow.

Looking annoyed, she grabs the door handle and snaps, “Look, I train. I kill. Or I fuck. And right now, you fall under training. Only because Everly wants me to. Get in my way or get nosey, and I’ll kill you. I’ll make sure it’s slow and painful. Got it?”

Leaning forward, towering over her, I grin. “Aw, what? You wouldn’t fuck me?”

Her eyes light up at my words, “Mmm, right place and right time?” She says as she looks me up and down.

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