Page 113 of Their Reckless Thief
“Keep an eye out,” I whispered, my mind already running through possible scenarios in case things went south. “I don’t trust this place.”
In our earpieces, Vivian’s voice was a constant whisper of instructions and warnings. We were relying on her as much as we were relying on each other. “Everything’s running smoothly so far. But remember, this is only half the battle. Expect barriers ahead.”
The auction hall above faded into the distance as we descended a flight of stone steps into the bowels of the building. The deeper we went, the colder it got. Unnaturally cold. It was the kind of cold that came with powerful magic or the presence of the undead.
“We’re getting close,” Luca said. His shadows flared to life at his fingertips, forming inky tendrils that slithered through the mist like dark lanterns, illuminating the twisted path before us.
As we descended farther, I could feel the attention of the wraiths on us. Their hollow, lifeless eyes lurked just beyond the shadows. Ghostly forms slipped in and out of the mist, some barely more than whispers of darkness, while others were solid enough for me to catch glimpses of. Ciro had probably instructed them to watch us.
Vincenzo stayed close behind Luca, his broad shoulders tense, ready to strike at any threat. Dorian hovered near me as his gaze darted around, watching for any sign of trouble. They were all on high alert, ready to defend me at a moment’s notice.
We reached the vault at the end of the hall. It was massive and imposing, the dark iron door etched with glowing, eerie runes that pulsated faintly with magic. The whole thing whirred with an ancient energy, as if daring anyone to try and breach it. I took a breath, steeling myself.
This was it.
“Vivian, we’re at the vault,” I said, stepping forward to examine the seals. The atmosphere around them crackled with energy that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. “How do I disable it?”
“That vault is warded with high-level fae magic,” Vivian’s voice crackled in my ear, steady and composed as always. “Luca can handle the magical components, but you’ll need to bypass the alarms and triggers using your tech. You’ve got about three minutes before the system resets.”
“Understood,” I muttered.
Vincenzo nodded at Luca. His shadows flared again, swirling around the vault door like living tendrils. As the shadows made contact with the glowing runes, the intricate web of magic began to unravel. The runes dimmed, the light ebbing like a dyingflame. Luca’s power was raw, dark, and precise. I loved watching him work, but this was my moment.
My fingers flew over the control pad I had hacked into, syncing my tech with the magical defense system. The magic was complicated, ancient, and dangerous, but tech had its own kind of magic, and I was good at this. My psychic ability provided me with subtle nudges, warning me of potential missteps as I worked through the layers of security.
If I focused hard enough, I could see myself pressing the wrong combination, but each vision was murky, not clear enough to rely on completely. My tech knowledge was my guide. For the first time in a long while, I silently thanked Roberto for my training.
Dorian constantly scanned the mist, his hand never far from the blade at his side, while Vincenzo stood just behind me, his presence a steadying force. I knew they were all watching my back, trusting me to get this right. For once, I wasn’t just a thief, I was the deciding factor in a succession of events necessary to defeat The Shadow.
I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. “Almost there,” I whispered, sweat beading on my forehead as I worked through the last of the system’s defenses. I could sense the pulse of magic draining as I disconnected each ward, carefully disabling the alarm that would have brought every creature in this cursed place down on us in seconds.
“Two minutes,” Vivian warned through the earpiece.
Luca’s shadows pulsed, creating a final barrier between us and the wraiths that lingered just beyond the hall. The creatures were agitated now, sensing the disruption of their sacred space. Their hollow stares followed our every move, but they stayed back, for now.
The final lock clicked open, and the door to the vault creaked as it swung outward, revealing a chamber lined with treasure and ancient artifacts.
But we weren’t here for treasure.
At the far end of the room, resting on a pedestal, was the key we had come for. Small and unassuming, it radiated power. That very thing would get us one step closer to the Mirror of Truths.
“Dorian,” I said, not needing to say more.
He was already moving, slipping past the others with his usual grace and speed. In seconds, the key was in his hand, and we turned to leave, but that’s when things went wrong.
A loud crash echoed through the vault, followed by the low, guttural growl of something ancient and evil. I spun around in time to watch a group of incubi emerging from the shadows, their skeletal forms materializing out of the mist like nightmares made flesh.
“Incubi,” Luca hissed, his shadows surging forward defensively.
“They’re blocking the exit,” Dorian said as he drew his blade. “We’ve got no choice but to charge straight at them.”
“Vivian,” I whispered urgently. “How do we get out?”
The incubi were closing in, their eyes glowing with hunger, their hands outstretched toward us. Their very presence sapped the energy from the room, making it harder to focus, harder to breathe. These weren’t just undead - they were predators, feeding on fear and life itself.
“We can’t fight them head-on,” I muttered, thinking fast. “Luca, keep them distracted. Dorian, stay close to me.”
The men didn’t question me. They moved into action, trusting my judgment for the first time. I was in the zone now, my mind racing through possibilities and calculating our chance of survival. Luca’s shadows surged forward, creating a wall between us and the incubi, slowing their advance. I glanced athim. His face was strained as he used his magic to protect us. He was powerful, but even he couldn’t hold them off forever.
