A/N: Sorry for the wait. I only have enough time today to load two chapters. Please review.
Chapter 5
Less than two hours later Ian
had what Scarlett left on the street in his
possession. He glanced at the hurriedly scripted note that was written to him:
Dragon,
Give me six days,my friend. Place your hope and faith in me or place them not at all. This is my decision, leave it be for now. I will rally the others by the time the sixth day is up. This must end soon.
Phoenix
"I shall place my hopes and faith in you, my lady. I just hope you understand what it is that you're doing." Ian said, looking out the window of his study.
Three days had passed since Scarlett left to New York. General Hawk was wondering if she was right in thinking she'd be confronted by the other Dragons there. She had alluded to that fact when she said she wasn't sure if she was going to come back. Whoever she was going to talk to may not have even seen her.
Snake Eyes had been sullen and morose since she left. Hawk couldn't tell him anymore than she went to New York and was going to talk to someone about the Black Dragons. He knew she already knew all about them, she had been one. After the way the broadcast had frightened her, why would she go alone to New York?
Jinx stood a few feet away, watching him. She was holding a stack of letters tied together by an ivory colored cord. She had found the letters in Scarlett's room the morning she had left.
"I found these." She said handing him the letters.
"I'm not sure if she left them on purpose or not. But they are the only thing she left behind."
*He scared her.*
"Who scared her?"
*Christian Blair. What he said during the broadcast. She knew him from…
"The Black Dragons." Jinx finished.
*You know?
"They're mentioned several times in the letters."
He took the letters and looked at the envelopes, all were from Daniel Woo. He opened the first one and started to read it.
Dear Shana,
I know this letter is probably late it arriving along with your birthday present. Tokyo is great, I just saw a tea ceremony and I'm going to a kabuki theatre tomorrow. I wanted to wish you a happy birthday and once again I hope I topped Ian on the birthday present this year.
Speaking of your birthday present; which you are no doubt looking at while you read this, let me tell you a little about it. I found it in, on my trip into the mountain area a few days ago. When I saw it; I knew it had to be yours.
After I bought it, I had it engraved as you can see; that's why it took so long to get it there. The kanji on the blade, roughly translates to 'red phoenix' or 'scarlet phoenix.'
I hope you liked your gift and happy birthday once more.
Love
Danny
Dear Shana
I'm glad you liked the blade, I can't say I'm surprised that Ian got you a pair of Egyptian Sais, he has the kind of ability to do that. I cannot believe what you told me about Hector getting plastered. Out of all the Black Dragons I thought Hector would be one of the last to not be able to hold his alcohol.
To a more serious point, about what you wrote about Christian, I believe you. There is good reason to believe he's unstable mentally….
The letters continued most like the ones before. Danny commented on her suspicions and insecurities. He wrote of being made A detective on the NYPD, of news and everyday life.
It was the last letter that caught Snake Eyes attention. It was dated a couple of weeks before Shana left for Danny's funeral and consequently the White Bulls incident.
Dearest Shana
I need you in New York as soon as possible; it's time to take the White Bulls down. I've met with an undercover FBI agent who thinks this can be done quickly, but not without your help. Once it's over you and me can go celebrate and Lee says she wants you over for dinner.
I know you'll be tired from the White Bulls but I really need you here. I'm signing over our mutual investment to you, the papers are in the mail already. We're really looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. And Mikey wants to see his godmother.
I know some things are private; and are meant to be kept that way, but I'd love to meet some of those friends of yours. You make mention of a few of them, some more than often. I'd really like to meet the guy who gave the Phoenix back her wings.
Love,
Danny
That was the last letter.
In a defunct military installation somewhere in the Canadian wilderness; several kilometers from civilization, the sound of leather striking skin echoed.
"What were you trying to do, Phoenix? Escape is impossible; you should realize this by now." Christian said, running his fingers over the whip.
"I'll stop the pain if you tell me what I want to know. I know that you were with the knights when they started. I know that you know a lot about them. I only have pictures; I want names and ranks to go with those pictures. I know you can give them to me. Now, do you have anything you wish to tell me?" He asked, turning around to face the red headed woman hanging by her wrists in the middle of the room.
She whispered something too soft for him to hear.
"What?" he asked, leaning in closer to her. Once he was close enough, she turned and spat on him. In fury he brought the coiled whip across her face, leaving a red mark on her cheek, as he threatened.
"You're signing your own death warrant, Phoenix."
"Death comes for all of us, the only difference is that I don't fear it. Neither do I fear you, you have no dominion over me."
"You should fear me." He said, uncoiling the whip and raising it. The sound echoed and blood flowed, but she held her ground. No recognition crossed he face and no sound escaped her lips. She would not give him satisfaction or power over her.