Page 49 of Fated Angel

Gabby angles down, spinning as she gains speed. She pulls herself up at the last second, landing lightly beside the cupola. This is the secret entrance, she can feel it. Executing a quick circle, she discovers the rounded dome is almost like a small lighthouse, a beacon for angels wanting to access the academy without being seen.

She notices a small, inconspicuous latch hidden among the metalwork along one glass panel. With a bit of effort, she manages to unlatch it, revealing a narrow staircase leading downward. She doesn’t allow herself a glance over her shoulder as the cries and clangs reach her even here as she lowers herself in.

Leaving the battle behind is hard.

Knowing she needs to save those trapped inside the academy is the only reason she does.

Gabby cautiously descends the staircase, which spirals down within the cupola's structure, concealed from view. As she reaches the bottom, she finds herself in a dimly lit attic space, filled with forgotten furniture, dusty crates, and cobwebs. This entrance isn’t used often. And certainly hasn’t for a long while.

As Gabby cautiously navigates through the attic, she treads softly, mindful of the creaking floorboards beneath her feet. Dust motes dance in the dim light filtering through the cobweb-covered windows, casting eerie shadows across the forgotten relics stored within.

Moving with stealth, she passes rows of forgotten furniture and dusty crates until she comes across a narrow opening leading to a narrow passage. The air grows cooler as she descends deeper into the corridor, the sound of her own breath echoing in the silence.

The stairs level out and Gabby realizes there’s a door to her right. Opening it carefully, she emerges from the shadows onto a landing. Stilling when she hears voices, she peers cautiously over the railing, her heart pounding in her chest. Below, she spots two cult members patrolling the hallway, one carrying a gun, the other a sword.

“I’m buying shares in underground bunkers when this is done,” one says, his voice thick with excitement. “If we’re about to live forever, we need to think smart.”

The other man chuckles darkly. “People are gonna need it when these crazy angels are running the show. We’ll be filthy rich.”

Horror blooms in Gabby’s gut like black tar. The Grigori have promised these people immortality? And they’re hoping to profit from the chaos that will descend if they win?

Yet they have no idea that no one will be around to win or lose.

No one will exist.

The first man shudders. “Not that I ever wanna see them again.”

The second glances around as he walks away, his gun over his shoulder. “You won’t need to. They’re off to get this show on the road.”

Gabby pulls back a little, surprised. The Grigori aren’t inside the academy.

Then where are they?

She takes a few more steps back, wondering what that means. She came here to end this once and for all. But if the Grigori are still playing games…

Determined to answer that question, just like the one about the secret entrance, she slips back into the secret passageway. There, she wraps her magic around her. She felt Colt’s cloaking spell as she rose into the sky as she left him, but now she weaves her own through it. Even though she’s tucked from view, she needs to be more than invisible. She needs to be silent. Cloaking both any sight and any sound, she descends the staircase.

Hugging the shadows, she moves swiftly, her senses on high alert as the staircase winds down and down. It passes each floor, but Gabby ignores door after door. The air grows heavy with the scent of dust and anticipation as she continues to descend the narrow staircase. Occasionally faint sounds of laughter drifting from the other side of the wall. Although dozens of cult members have rushed out to meet the attack, there are still many still inside.

The Grigori are prepared for war.

Gabby reaches the bottom of the staircase, finding herself in a small, empty space. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she pushes open the door and peers into the darkness beyond. Only feet away is the entry to the courtyard that holds the hound statue sitting above the entrance to the underground club. Although no one will see her approach it if anyone sees the door open or the gargoyle move, her cover is blown.

A group of cult members run past, weapons raised high and she freezes.

“For a new world!” they scream as one.

Gabby draws deeper into the shadows, even though she’s invisible. It makes her sick to hear the lies these people have been fed.

Just as much as she hates that these people are willing to kill for the empty promises.

Closing the door even though she should be running across the corridor now that it’s empty, Gabby pulls in a shaky breath. She may have found a way into the academy, but how is she going to lead the people hiding in the club out? There’s no way the cult won’t notice who-knows how many people rising from the ground, then disappearing into the wall.

But what choice does she have? She can’t leave them here. If the cult were to find them…

Gabby squares her shoulders, telling herself she’s faced worse odds. She can’t think of when, but she’s also short on time. For now, she just needs to focus on the next steps. All she has to do is run across the hall. Enter the courtyard.

“Apertum,” she whispers.

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