Marcus smiled, satisfied with Shinon’s answer. "Good. Feel free to leave for now. We’ll summon you when we need your assistance. Also, ask Selena to get you marked. She’ll know what it ans."
Shinon nodded again, then turned to leave. He didn’t want to be there any longer than he had to. He felt a sense of sha and guilt wash over him, but he knew he had to push those feelings aside and focus on saving Rico.
As he walked out of the room, he could feel the eyes of the Phoenixes on him, watching his every move. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had made a deal with the devil, but he had to keep his head down and do what was necessary.
He left the Phoenixes’ stronghold feeling heavier than he had ever felt before. He wondered what the future held for him and whether he could ever redeem himself. But for now, he had to focus on his task and save Rico’s life, even if it ant working for the enemy.
’What’s done is done. No point thinking about what-ifs.’
***
Selena paced back and forth outside the chamber, her heart heavy with worry for Shinon. She had heard the demands of the Phoenixes and knew what they ant for him. She wanted to go in there and help him, but she knew better than to interfere with the Phoenixes.
Ti seed to slow down as she waited, each passing minute feeling like an eternity. She couldn’t bear the thought of Shinon being forced to work for the Phoenixes, but she knew he would do anything to save his friend Rico.
Finally, the door to the chamber creaked open, and Shinon stepped out. So gravely injured guards were being dragged behind him. Shinon’s face was grim, but he seed to be holding himself together.
"Shinon, are you okay?" Selena asked, rushing over to him.
"I’m fine," he said curtly before turning to look at the fallen guards. "Not sure about them, though. You should probably check on them."
"Forget about them. The other guards will take care of their situation," she asked tentatively. "Tell , did the Phoenixes agree to help Rico?"
Shinon nodded, and Selena felt a wave of relief wash over her.
"But there’s a catch," he added.
"What kind of catch?" Selena asked, her heart sinking.
"I have to work for them now. My loyalty is the paynt for Rico’s life," Shinon said, his voice heavy with resignation.
Selena felt her stomach drop at the news. She had hoped there was so other way, but she knew the Phoenixes were ruthless opportunists. There was no way they would let Shinon go a second ti, especially not after he had proven himself capable of surviving in their world.
"I’m sorry, Shinon. I wish there was sothing I could do to help," she said, reaching out to touch his arm.
This ti Shinon didn’t pull back, allowing Selena to grab onto his hand while her eyes locked into his. For a mont, he rembered the intimate monts he had spent with Selena, forgetting about everything else. But the mont of weakness didn’t last long as he slowly pushed her hand off his.
"Well, you could help get marked," Shinon mumbled, averting his gaze. "Marcus said you’ll know what it ans."
"Oh, they want you to get marked. That’s interesting," Selena replied, her expression serious. "If it’s not much trouble, would you mind explaining what happened inside? And please, don’t skip any details."
Shinon sighed before narrating everything from his point of view, from Marcus’s demand to take Kira to their fight. When he was done, he could see Selena looking at him as if it was her first ti eting him.
"What’s wrong?" he asked.
"That’s amazing, Shinon!" Selena almost squealed.
"Getting my ass handed to is amazing?"
"Not that! You don’t understand," Selena looked around before continuing, "No one had ever been able to touch Marcus in a fight, let alone kick him in the face. That’s why it didn’t surprise how he suddenly changed his tone about helping you."
It finally clicked for Shinon why Marcus changed his mind and demanded loyalty from Shinon instead of taking in Kira. The mont he managed to kick him, Marcus realised his value was much more than that of Kira and decided to ’keep’ him instead.
"Okay... that explains why he offered a second choice," Shinon said while scratching his chin. "But what’s the deal about getting marked?"
Selena straightened up and crossed her arms, a smirk on her face. "Getting marked ans, you’re getting assigned a rank and a tattoo to signify that. Just like , you rember the spider tattoo on my back, right?"
"Oh great, so now I’m a foot soldier." Shinon shook his head in dismay. "Things keep getting worse and worse with every passing mont."
Selena chuckled, shaking her head. "I know you don’t wanna listen to what I have to say, but it is not all bad. You’ll get free food, shelter, and, more importantly, peaceful rest.
Yeah, it’d be a bumr to lose your ’freedom’, but in my opinion, your friend’s safety in his state is more important than that."
Shinon sighed. Only he knew it was not just about his freedom but about morals. He didn’t appreciate the way the Phoenixes did things. Yes, they provide for their people, but by no ans would it justify killing and looting other settlents.
Just by being there, Shinon felt like he was betraying the trust Sarah and others from Kira’s settlent had placed in him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in a position to do sothing about it either, as he was now indebted to the ones he swore to kill.
’However, it might not be all bad... like Selena ntioned.’ Shinon tried holding back his laughter as an evil thought popped up in his head. ’They like exploiting others.
He continued, ’It’d be fun to give them a taste of their own dicine. Also, I can’t possibly kill them in my weak state, and I need to get stronger... but it’d on the Phoenixes’ di.’
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