Page 44 of Goddess of Storms

The GPS chirps that we have five more miles till our destination, my nerves are on edge as a gated town comes into view.

“Fuck, they have their own town? I knew we’d be outnumbered, but this shit is getting crazy. Maybe we will finally get to the bottom of this cult. There’s no smoke yet, so Harper hasn’t made her move,” I say.

“She may be biding her time, until we get there,” Nile pipes up.

“How does she know we are going to show up? She doesn’t know we know where she’s at, or how to get to her. Blind faith?” Phoenix asks.

"Yes, Harper knows that Nile and I will stop at nothing to get her back. We lost her once, I'll be damned if that happens again," I vow.

Nile slows as we pull up a few yards from the main gates.

"So, son of Ares, got any tactile plans to enlighten us with?" I turn towards Phoenix to ask.

"Never bring a knife to a gunfight," he jokes.

"Okay, anything useful?"

"I'm a son of Ares, not Athena. She's the brains and my dad is the brawn," Phoenix replies.

"So, you're basically useless," I state. "You can fight but have no sword, no plans, or ideas to get her back?"

"I bring the good looks," he replies with a straight face.

"So, you can kill them with your smile, got it. Medusa your mom? That would be helpful if you could turn them to stone."

"Ha ha, what is your plan?" he asks me.

" Let's park and walk up. Scope out the town and see if there are any entrances. I don't think the locals will welcome us with open arms. First, let's get in and then we fight our way to our girl," I tell them.

"So, death in battle. My father will be pleased with that death."

Nile chirps in, "I for one have no plans of dying. It's been too long since I've been with Harper, I will cut down any man in my path to get back to her."

"Who knew you were so passionate, Nile?" I laugh.

"Shut the fuck up and get out," he barks as he throws the car into park.

We pile out and Nile locks the doors as we head to the cozy but oddly placed town.What kind of sick fuck run this place?The gates are the only thing that looks out of place. It's like a fortress. I swear I'll go nuts if they are holding hands and singing. I'm going to lose my shit.

"This place has to be a couple of miles around, anyone here a runner?" I ask.

"Fuck, I’m going," Phoenix replies as he takes off in a jog.

"So, are we just supposed to stay here and chat until he comes back?"

Awkward silence passes Nile and I as we wait for Phoenix. Pacing a little, I am ready for this fight. I don't want to imagine what they are doing to her. I've only just got her back, I am not waiting too much longer to have her in my arms.

It's about twenty minutes before Phoenix is huffing and puffing back into sight.

"Well, anything?" I ask in anticipation.

"There is a back way in, it is halfway around almost in the back. You two think you can keep up?" Phoenix smirks.

"You're the one out of breath, you think you can make it?" Nile jokes.

"Keep up if you can," he replies and takes off jogging again.

Nile lags behind the both of us, I hear some choice words leave his lips, and he nearly falls over when we stop.

---