Page 60 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Nodding her head once, a blade goes whipping through the air, its point landing near Fallan's shoulder, Niverna's eyes lowered with hate.

"What the fuck-"

"I had a child," she hisses. "Dove Morgan killed her and boasted to you about it with joy. You're lucky I don't skin you alive," she snaps.

Trying to gain some clarity, I shake my head, rolling my fingers over my eyes.

"So, my sister, she planned all of this out?" I question.

"To the best of her ability. She knew there would come a time she would have to leave the life she loved so desperately and find her way to the inside. Before Xavier, it was simple and straightforward. Now, it would seem her sudden exit was fueledby the list of people she regrettably did not want to leave. War is one hell of a thing."

Grabbing the knife from the wall, Fallan scoffs, waving his arms with frustration.

"You truly think war will solve any of this? Have we not learned from our past-"

"So long as free will exists, Fallan Markswood, there will always be war," Niverna snaps. "In ten days' time, the Revolutionists plan their greatest attack, allied with the Shifters. Forest knows the deadline. We all must make preparations-"

Feeling a gust of wind, the door to the small space swings open, another man concealed in a cloak panting painfully.

"He's found our operation," the man gasps, blood pooling from his mouth. "Run-"

Watching a blade slam into the man's head, we all gasp, taking a step back, Niverna's hands quickly yanking us backward, pulling us toward the farthest end of the room.

"Go," she gasps. "Go!"

Making a barrier with their bodies, those once focused on packing now grab their weapons, all of us barreling toward the floor, her hand running along the wall, fumbling until a latch presents itself.

Flipping it up, a large space in the wall opens up, her hands shoving us all in, one of her men slamming the door shut behind us.

Putting her finger over her lips, we all stay dead silent, taking a seat on the floor, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"What-"

Slamming her hand over my mouth, she urges us to stay silent, touching my ear as we all begin to listen.

Hearing the heavy presence of boots slamming down on the floor, a joyous laugh breaks out through the air, Niverna's body shaking with adrenaline.

"As you can see, a few pesky Revolutionists still try to make leeway in the cities, setting up illegal operations like this," an unfamiliar voice taunts.

"Well, that just won't do," his voice beckons.

I know that voice.

Elyon.

Pressing her lips to my ear, Niverna faintly whispers.

"Atticus is here. The Commander of the Precipice," she grovels. "He has brought the Prophet-"

"What do you say, Elyon?' Atticus questions. "Care to shed some blood?"

Taking in a few seconds of silence, we all wait with fear.

"Gladly."

Horrified, screams rip through the air, bodies slamming into the wall, a thick pool of blood seeping under the crack of the door to the small hideaway. Letting the blood touch our bodies, we all stay perfectly still, flinching each time bones crack or bodies rip clean open. Covering my ears, I lean into Aaron, feeling his body tremble, all of us allowing the blood to seep into our clothing, the men's laughs maniacal, continuing until every scream is silenced.

Smelling the rich iron with every inhale, I focus on nothing but the sounds around me, counting silently in my head, the men's deep inhales uncomfortably close to our hideaway.

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