Phoenix

Chapter Twenty Two - Fatal Salvation

DK's absence has pained her severely and the news that Kilo brought to her left a swelling hole in her heart. Stella didn't want Garreth to see but she cried out terribly her worries last night. She has decided to forgive him and forget everything the he has lied about to her. She knew she couldn't trust any of the Dark Knights assassins anymore but she once suspected that Alexia is capable of these things. DK had nobody but his mother yet he suffered for that kind of love. Stella is obliged to save him and she will.

She has talked to Garreth who was unbelieving of everything that is happening. It was not difficult for him to accept the existence of the hypergenes years ago because his reality was shattered when he found out his wife was dead or possibly missing but now for him was another mystery --- immortality. Only the Empress could tell the whole truth and I would make her confess. Anger and pain . . . again in her heart; it was the same feeling she mysteriously felt during her Knight ceremonial re-naming. The Empress owes her her life! She will make her explain why she needed to save her and whether it was coincidence that the Knights had found her that night when the tragedy occurred. She still could remember that fear and Garreth told her it must be the night when the cruiser ship sank together with the bodies of her parents.

There was not enough time to think but they both flew to the Bahamas Base and it was all for the cost of truth. Stella is prepared to face whatever opposition is there and she has disgusted herself for even calling her as her mother. She had visited the tombs of her parents two days ago and she had never known whether she had done everything to be there before they died. The only thing she didn't regret was the training and how it made her stronger as she is now. Garreth was holding her hand all the time during the flight and he had warned her of the coming danger which Stella understood.

If she would need to fight against the Empress, she would for what it's worth. The truth was that she didn't want to risk Garreth's life for this mission but Garreth would not let her resolve this alone.

Together they arrived at the Bahamas Islands and Stella had been there for a while ago. Memories reminding of her near death beside the sea even added up to her pure resentment to this woman. She knew she would need to face Kilo and Catseye and match their skills but she can do everything with Garreth beside her. It was an irony.

Stella knew the Bahamas Base mean nothing but danger to anyone but no matter how far it is, their cause is urgent and it is a now-or-never situation. The Empress will forever put her in her deadpool and there would be no peace for them as long as Alexia lives. She was aware of the skills which the Empress can exhibit yet in such matter, she needs to trust DK and she believes DK will fight alongside them then they will have a higher chance to beat her. That is even before she kills him. But the Empress would need him, will she still kill his own son? How if she decides to make Catseye the immortal instead?

There were too many possibilities but DK needs her now or it might be too late. He had risked his own life for her, why wouldn't she?

Whatever Alexia was planning, it has an impact on everyone especially DK and she is involved in this matter. She is a hypergene and an ironborn. There was something more important that Alexia is hiding from them and she would find out herself. What would happen to DK once he becomes immortal? Would he be much like the Empress --- an animal without conscience? Or would he stay the same except that he has greater power?

The journey to their main headquarters was not easy; it is situated in the coast of the island where the Pacific Ocean washes the land. Its presence is camouflaged by the woods near the foot of a small-range mountain but once someone finds it, it becomes easier to track. It appeared like an ancient castle made of old cobblestones and terrible cement that was made ugly by the passage of time and the presence of the ocean. In that manner though, it was kept hidden from the discovery of anyone.