Chapter 42: Phoenix leaped off her hellhound, and tentatively touched the ground where Mom had just sank through. It steamed and burned, and she yanked her hand back. “Well, she’s certainly powerful.” Phoenix murmured. “Can you explain this?” Vera asked Ember. "Not me. You should ask my apprentice,” Ember responded. “She is more informed about this than I.” Vera turned to Phoenix. “She just went straight to hell. Likely to gain allies. That’s all I can tell you right now, her tracks are well covered.” Phoenix looked her in the eye. “The only way we can stop her is if I go on my hellhound right now and follow her.” “Let’s hold that off for now,” “But there is no time!” Phoenix protested. “She mentioned ‘the weapon from hell’” Reyna coolly responded. “Unless you know what that means, I am not sending you, or anyone else into unknown danger.” “Hold on,” Phoenix responded. We held on for a full minute. And at the end of that minute Phoenix looked even grimmer than before. “Yeah, I know what that is. And I am not exactly prepared to wait for her to win them over, consul.” Vera put her hands to her temples, as if cursing her luck. “To your cabins! I need to think,” she ordered. Ember immediately dragged both of us out, all the way back to our cabins. Before he could say a word however, Phoenix interrupted. “Ember. Don’t stop me. I need to go now. Or we’re going to lose her trail.” Ember hesitated. “I will not stop you. Go. I’ll come with you.” Phoenix turned to me. “Artem. I offered you a field trip to Hell at some point. That was a joke. This is not. Do you wish to come?” Ember interrupted. “Wait, no. She’s a froster. How can she handle Hell?” Phoenix looked back at him. “That is for Artemis to decide.” I hesitated. Then I looked at her. It was obvious she wanted me more than Ember. “I’ll go.”
Chapter 43: “What! But she’s just a Froster, most probably not even capable enough to defend herself in such extreme heat! Can you not see by now how powerful I am? Do you find me lacking as a partner? Or are you going to leave our fate in the hands of a Froster when we are walking through hell?” Ember exclaimed at Phoenix. “What kind of deputy are you if you don’t know when and how to speak! It is my decision and Artemis’s decision. So back off! This is my journey, not yours,” Phoenix raged, the palms of her hand getting redder with every word she said. She closed her hands into fists. The heat vanished. Ember’s palms filled with flames as he launched it forward, aiming towards Phoenix’s arms. If I hadn’t blasted a block of ice into his hands, he would have tried burning Phoenix’s hand off due to the anger that likely blinded him. I was realizing something. Even in a place such as this, the enmity between Frosters and Pyros was still alive and well. And then Vera entered. She took one look at the room and lost her temper in just a few words. “Ember. You are dismissed from your position. Go,” she ordered coldly. Ember protested. Vera’s hands filled with ice menacingly. And he stalked out. Vera turned to us. “Do what you need to. I need to stay here in case they actually attack. But go. Find her trail. And fast.” Phoenix dipped her head. “Artemis. I am promoting you to deputy in this emergency. Now go.” “What wha-” “A senior rank person must go on a mission like this. And right now, you, as my trainee, are the most suited. Plus, I see something in you.” I didn’t say anything. Phoenix dipped her head again. “Shall we go?” Author's Note: Jeez Ember, harsh man. -Jenna
