SACRIFICIUM (THE UNDERGROUND Book 1)

by Allie Doherty

  I cough and her eyes slide over to me. “I’ll have a cola and the lasagne, thanks.”

  The message in my expression couldn’t shout ‘get lost’ any louder and her face twists.

  “Yeah, I’ll have the same, thanks.” Knox says, and she’s officially dismissed. I roll my eyes as she walks away. “If I didn’t know any better, Theo… I would say you just got a little bit jealous.”

  “ I’m not jealous of some girl ogling you! I’m annoyed that, for all she knows, I could be your pregnant wife and she was fully undressing you with her eyes. It was just plain rude.”

  “Or maybe you just like me.” He winks. “I mean, what’s not to like, right?”

  I can’t believe his blatant cockiness. My mouth gapes open, and I try to think of something that I don’t like about him but come up blank.

  “See?” He says, his grin widening. “I’m just too awesome.”

  I want to kick him under the table… but I also want to take his hand that’s lying on top of it.

  What does that mean?

  “So,” I start. “Which academy were you at when the council tried to kill you?”

  He chokes on his water. “Wow! That was a blunt way of putting it…”

  I shrug and wait for him to answer the question.

  “I went to an academy overseas in the U.K. Fredrick’s academy for male witches,” he tells me. “When I was a kid, I used to go to an academy on the east coast, but my parents moved overseas for work, and wherever they went, I went. They moved back a couple of years ago, but I stayed behind to finish my education in England. Until my superior pushed me into a cold room to die, that is...”

  “How did you escape?”

  “I ran,” he says, honestly. “I’m not as powerful as you are, so I wasn’t in any position to fight, and the guys who were supposed to tie me down were sloppy… The ropes were loose, and I waited for the right moment before I bolted. I almost didn’t make it, but here I am… After that, I got the first flight back to Los Angeles… and that’s when I found my parents, dead at our house, drained of their essence.”

  He stops, takes a breath and lets it out slowly. My heart breaks for him.

  I reach for him and cover his hand with mine. “ “I’m so sorry, Knox. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

  “No, it’s okay.” He laces our fingers together and my breath halts in my chest. “I mean it’s nice to talk about this with someone who knows, you know? With someone who’s been through it…”

  “I haven’t, really… not like you. I was just a kid when my mom died. I can’t even remember what she looks like, and that’s the worst part. People used to say that I look just like her, but no matter how much I stare in a mirror, I can’t see her… and that sucks.”

  “So you were raised by the academy, full time?”

  I nod. “Yeah, but it was okay, I had my big sister, Anna… sometimes.”

  “What happened to her?” He asks, caressing the skin on my hand and sending tingles through my arm.

  “She was the first witch at Raven-Hill to go ‘missing,”’ I tell him. “I miss her … which is funny, because we never really got along when she was alive. She was a lot like River – always bitching, gossiping, and most of the time, she didn’t want to be my sister at all – but then there were times where she would just show up at my dorm and she wanted to have sleepovers, watch movies, braid my hair and do all of the things a sister does, and that made up for it... We argued all of the time, but when she was gone, all I wanted was for her to come back. Now I know she never will.”

  “I’m sorry…”

  I stare down at our joined hands and then back up at him and forget how to function. I’ve never been in such a deep conversation before… It's nice. His light eyes are searing a hole in mine, but I can’t look away.

  He looks like he’s about to move closer, and I can’t think. He might kiss me, and I don’t know if I want that.

  Do I?

  What if I’m bad at it?

  The panic makes my throat close up, and I finally drag my eyes from his long enough to see our flirty-server heading our way with the food. Relief washes over me as she places the dishes in front of us.

  The eating part of the meal goes by pretty silently, and by the time we’re done, it’s getting late.

  “We should get back,” I say.

  “Okay…” He nods, taking the hint.

  Once we’re back at home, I put the barrier back in place like I do every night after curfew.

  Knox takes my hand again, and I discover happily that I like holding hands with him. He smiles as we make our way to the ‘main room’ for the final briefing.

  Everyone is already gathered, and nobody notices us sneak in. Knox drops my hand and kisses my cheek.

  “Thank you for joining me,” he whispers before making his way to the stage area with Tavis.

  I look up to find his eyes already on me, and a clear question is posed in them. He tries to communicate with me via the mind, but I dismiss his attempts, not knowing the answers, myself.

  Maeve appears at my side. “Where have you been all day?”

  “Long story…” I sigh, happily

  “Okay, everyone, listen up! Now that everyone is here, we can get started! Tomorrow is the big day, and we’re all going to be at risk, including those left behind,” Tavis starts. “You all have your orders, and before bed, I want y’all to converse with your teams and make sure everyone is on the same page. We can’t afford for anyone to go rogue, okay? Stick to the plans and everything should be alright! As for those of us who are newer or less experienced, you guys will be holding down the fort. I need you on your A-game and ready to fight if anyone comes through those doors, okay?”

  Chatters of agreement make the rounds, and then quiet down again.

  “Okay, that’s all. Theo, Mateo, Zhavia, Maeve and Knox, meet me in my room, please…”

  He turns from the crowds, and everyone else goes off into their social groups.

  “I guess it’s time for the final meeting,” Zhavia says, appears beside Maeve. “Come on, let’s not keep the boss-man waiting.”

  We all walk to Tavis’ room together and when we get there he’s sitting on the floor beside four lit candles.

  “A spell?” Zhavia asks.

  “More like a prayer… we’re going to need all of the help we can get tomorrow. It could get bad…”

  We all take a seat in a circle and join our hands, praying to the universe for strength and safety. Maeve snorts at the idea but lends her energy, anyway.

  We all stay silent for a few moments, letting ourselves open up to the wonders of the world and all the protection it has to offer us, and then Tavis ends the prayer.

  “Tomorrow is going to be dangerous for us all but we can do it without losing anyone. This is going to be the hardest mission we’ve ever carried out and the first for a lot of you. Maeve, you in particular are at risk because despite your impressive skills in combat, you’re a mortal. If a witch comes at you, run, don’t fight.”

  “Trust me; I’ve already seen what Theo can do. She flipped a range rover like it weighed nothing. I don’t like my chances against a witch.”

  Knox lifts an eyebrow at me, and I avoid his stare, wishing she hadn’t used me as an example.

  “Okay,” Tavis moves on.

  “No, not okay… I need to hear this story because it sounds awesome.” Knox sits forward. “So, what happened to make you flip a range rover? Were there people in –”

  “Zhavia,” Tavis cuts him off and he rolls his eyes. “I know you want to be in thick of it but we really need you with me in the library, and I really hope that I can trust you to not break protocol when we get there…”

  She doesn’t look happy about it, but she agrees.

  “Matt, while I’m gone, you’re in charge. I need you to make sure all security measures are taken, and while we’re away, nobody goes out, nobody comes in.”

  “Got it!” Matt looks honored to
be entrusted with the job, and for the first time, I take in his features. He’s very baby-faced. If I had to guess, I’d say he was fourteen at most and he’s already doing far more for the underground than half of the eighteen-plus year olds around here.

  Tavis looks at him like an older brother, filled with pride.

  “I have a question…” Amalie’s voice comes from behind us, again. “If this is such a big mission, why are we all getting left behind? The more people who go in, the more chance of success we have, right?”

  I narrow my eyes. “Wrong! The more people who go in, the more people we have to worry about getting out without being killed.”

  “Theo’s right, A,” Tavis tells her. “I know you’re bummed about not coming, but I promise, if you keep working, you can come on the next mission.”

  She huffs and walks away.

  “I really need a real, working door.” Tavis sighs. I open my mind to him for just a second and can feel his frustration radiate in waves.

  “Is that it, boss?” Knox says.

  “Yeah, I think so.” Tavis gets to his feet. “You should all go get some rest… You’re gonna need all the strength you can get.”

  The room disperses. Knox leaves first, followed by Zhavia, Maeve and Mateo. Tavis’ voice in my head tells me to hang back, and so I stay seated.

  “You’re the only one here with enough power to pull this off, Theo, and you’ve improved so much since you got here. Your breathing techniques have come a long way and your control is getting better...” All of the words coming out of his mouth are compliments and should make me feel giddy, but there’s an underlying tone to his voice that’s making me wonder where he’s going with this. “ I need you to be on point with getting those five witches out tomorrow, which means I need you to stay in control. Only kill if absolutely necessary. Every dead council member is another vendetta made against the underground.”

  He kept me back to tell me to not kill for fun? Like that wasn’t a given, already.

  “I take no pleasure in ending a life, Tavis! Is that how you see me? As some psycho who enjoys killing people?”

  He sighs. “I didn’t mean it like that… I just… I meant that I need you to be calm and collected tomorrow, that’s all.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about me,” I say snappily. “You have my word that I won’t kill unless it’s a life or death situation. You just worry about you and your job. “

  I don’t wait for a response before I get up and walk away. Crawling into bed, I let the exhaustion and anger pave way to an easy sleep. I’m out as soon as my head hits the pillow, but it feels like I’m asleep for only minutes before I have to wake again.

  The sun is barely in the sky when Maeve rattles me awake at seven-am sharp, and by seven-thirty, the cavalry begins to move out.

  Today is the day that we storm what is possibly the most secure academy in America and face high-ranking council members as well as their superior; not to mention the oblivious, run of the mill teenage witches convinced that we’re attacking their home for no reason.

  The possibility of battling a High Priest or Priestess is likely, and I’m shocked to feel terror in my bones as I shower. It worsens as the minute’s tick by, and by the time the bus pulls up at the bank doors, I’m damn near shivering. It’s a five-hour drive, and I can barely sit still the entire ride.

  “Are you ready?” Tavis asks as we approach the gates of the large, old, wooden house and I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat.

  “Okay, good… because it’s Showtime.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  We sneak around the back area, through tall, wrought iron gate.

  “You’d think they’d lock the back gate,” Maeve comments.

  “I’m thankful they didn’t,” Zhavia adds, lining up her recruits in a defensive stance. She takes her leadership role pretty seriously; like a drill sergeant in the Navy. “Don’t break position until every single person is out, understand? Anybody who goes rogue will have me to deal with!”

  They nod, and she turns away flicking her long, black ponytail with a proud smile on her face.

  Tavis enters first and beckons her after him. They’re the first to go in because according to the blueprints, the library is on the opposite side of the building.

  It’s our turn next. We wait twenty minutes, and then follow suit. Our task requires an element of potential kidnapping that may or may not be an issue, and that makes me just as nervous as the thought of having to fight my way out.

  Entering through the back requires moving up through the tunnels, and Maeve leads us. Another impressive skill of hers: Navigation.

  “Camping pays off,” she tells me.

  We reach a large, wooden door and Maeve pushes against it.

  “It’s locked!” Tavis’ voice echoes behind us and I turn to find him coming from the left section of the tunnels.

  “Move over,” I tell Maeve and press myself against it to get a feel for the mechanics of the lock. I’m shocked to find magic blocking it. At Raven-Hill, nobody was paranoid enough to block the tunnels with a spell. It’s powerful, too, and it feels so alive; as though a seven-foot, three-hundred pound, muscular man is pushing me back.

  “I don’t think I can break it.”

  “Yeah, we couldn’t either,” Zhavia states, coming from yet another section of the tunnels. “And we have another problem…”

  Tavis blows up his cheeks and lets out a long, deep sigh. Running a hand through his hair, he explains. “The tunnels are enchanted. We’ve tried every possible route, and they all come out the same place… here. “

  “Which is why they leave the backdoor open and the gates unlocked.” I curse under my breath. “They’re not sweating intruders because the only way in is a sure death sentence to anyone who tries.” I sink to the floor with my back against the door. “Does anybody have any ideas?”

  Penelope shakes her head, Tavis groans, Zhavia bites her lip, River stares at her cuticles, Ben stares at River, and Knox leans against a pipe and shrugs.

  Maeve takes a seat by me and nudges my side. “The second I met your ass, I knew you’d find a way to get me killed. I just didn’t think it would be like this…”

  I let out a small laugh, and it turns to a moan of frustration. “What’re we going to do? We can’t just die here, and nobody can come in after us because they’ll get stuck too.”

  “Cell service is caput here, too…” Maeve says, checking her phone. “We’re screwed.”

  Knox remains eerily quiet.

  I catch his eye and search them for an idea. There’s a twinkle of something in there that looks promising.

  “I’ve got nothing,” he says.

  Well, there goes that hope.

  The wood on my back is heavy, and I have to scoot forward. The door is the problem; if we could just get through it…

  “Unless…”

  Seven sets of eyes land on me.

  I take a breath and let my mind guide my mouth. “The door is the issue here, right? So what if we don’t go through –”

  “Then we’re stuck here! Great plan, Theo.” River crosses her arms and scoffs.

  “Let her finish!” Maeve bites.

  “What I meant was... what if we go up?”

  Tavis’ eyebrows rise. “Up? You don’t mean – “

  “I mean…”

  ***

  “Seven witches and Maeve… we might actually be able to swing this,” Knox says with a smirk, and a clap of his hands.

  I force a small smile, taking my spot at the centre of the circle. Tavis faces me with Zhavia on one side and Penelope on the other. Knox is behind me, and Maeve is off to the side, out of harm’s way and preparing herself for her part.

  “This isn’t going to be the subtle entrance we hoped for,” I tell them. “But hey, beggars can’t be choosers, right?”

  Tavis opens his mouth, and I gnaw on my lip and gulp down my nerves.

  “Tavis… do it in Latin, okay? We need all of the help
we can get!”

  He nods and begins the chant. The others join him, and I call for my power.

  “Custodire ab nocere!” They chant for my protection, and I’m thankful because the hard part is on me. I have to use my power to essentially collapse concrete, and whatever other material their floor is made of, in over my head.

  It scares me that I won’t have time to duck out from the falling rubble and if I’m completely honest, I don’t know how much faith I have in their magic to keep me alive.

  I take a breath and caress my energy. It comes to me instantly and without much effort; reminding me of how much I’ve neglected it over the past weeks. It’s vast and angry and takes over my entire being. I bite my lip until I taste blood and push it through my hand, focusing the surplus of energy on the task in front of me.

  Sprinkles of dust fall first and then the debris comes fast and hard. It’s painful to sustain the amount of force I have to put into it, but I push on, letting out a small scream as the ceiling above me starts disintegrating. Big chunks of concrete land beside me and a small hole forms.

  I apply as much force as I can and think of all of the times I’ve wanted to go crazy and let my power roam free.

  The gap in the ceiling widens and bigger pieces of rubble land beside me. I am terrified. I can’t use my hands to protect myself because if I do, I’ll lose the control I have and the entire ceiling could come crashing in.

  I let out a squeal and shut my eyes. Not exactly the best method of protection, but at least if I die, I won’t see it coming.

  I hear the concrete breaking as a massive piece separates from the rest, and my eyes fly open against my wishes, just in time to see it hurtling towards me. I shriek, and the group chants louder.

  I watch in amazement as the boulder bounces off an invisible shield around me, and I let out a relieved breath.

  The protection spell is working.

  Tavis grins from his eyes. I see the relief wash over him.

  “You weren’t sure it would work,” I say, making an ‘O’ with my mouth.

  “I knew it would,” he tells me. “But I was still terrified. I didn’t want to see you get hurt.”