Alrea
I walk down the streets, weaving my way through people, carriages, and stalls. I moved quickly to my destination, and the night crowd had started forming. The smells of delicious food hit my nose, but I kept moving. I had stolen food earlier and hadn't had a chance to eat since the meeting place had changed. I tightened my cloak around my face and picked up my pace.
The note I had received early this afternoon told me to find the alleyway and to trace the brick door. Within a few minutes, I finally came up to two large apartment buildings with businesses attached to them. A shoemaker's on one side and a florist's shop on the other. This was the place. I quickly slipped down the alley and walked till I hit the tall brick wall.
Taking a few minutes, I stand there and listen out for anyone else. Making sure I hadn't been followed or someone just happened to come out of the businesses. I then pull out my chalk and draw a door. While doing so, I whisper the magic incantation. A silver light highlights the chalk line and a door knob formed.
This was the secret way witches got around to hide and escape the hunter. It created a door on any surface to the intended destination. Just like most magic, it had its limits. Where it was taking me could only be a mile away.
I open the brick door and step inside quickly, the door shutting and disappearing behind me. It led me into a small back room filled with boxes. I walked around them to the table that sat three people.
Hendrik sat in the middle, a tall man in his thirties. He had long black hair, white strands peppered throughout. A scar ran from his right temple down his jaw. He was a head member of Hexerei. A witch group that starts rebellions to finally take Cana back from the vampires. Hendrik is one of the most powerful known witches in the underground. He is the reason behind several recent attacks on vampire noble homes. He was the reason I was so good at stealing. Helping me when Mei died on a mission for Hexerei.
"It took you long enough. I was starting to think the hunters finally caught you," the woman on the left of Hendrik said. Christa, a short, curvy lady with short red hair. She was powerful with sound magic. Being able to use high frequencies and create vibrations. Though she had a snippy attitude, making it hard to work with her at times. We had worked together a few times before. We always want to kill the other by the time the job is done.
"Unlike you, I make sure I'm not followed before moving forward," I say to her. I take the last empty seat. I pull out an apple from my bag and a small knife. Christa had been too hasty on the last mission we did, getting this jewel for Hendrik. Luck was on our side that day at least, but she would still spin it as if it were my fault.
A young boy sat on the other side of Hendrik. He sat still and quiet, looking ahead at nothing. His long brow hair hid most of his face, to tell how old he was. If I hadn't seen him sitting at the table, I don't think I would have noticed him.
"It's a good skill to have," I thought to myself.
Hendrik cleared his throat loudly, bringing our attention to him. "The job tonight is a big one, though we must complete it." He starts his voice low and serious. He keeps his hands clasped together in front of himself.
"A shipment of newly developed magic stones arrived today at the dock warehouses. These new stones are even more powerful than the ones used before. Not only does it give the vampires a way to walk in the sun, but it also has a connection to magic again. We need to get hold of these to study before the leeches get stronger." He continues telling us.
"You three will get in and take what you can, and we will destroy the rest." His eyes float between the three of us.
"Christa can make a large distraction to pull most of the guards away. Alrea and Cole will go in and destroy the locking system." His gaze then falls on just me.
"Alrea, there will be a new locking system in place for you to break. Cole knows some techniques and will be there to assist. He will mostly be your cover." Hendrik informs me. He hands me a folder containing papers with markings and stone placements.
A new lock system!? How was I going to figure this out in just a few hours? I thought to myself. What I was already undoing was intricate enough. I should have known they would eventually create something different. They didn't kill all witches for blood. They would breed us to make sure they had unlimited food and a magic source. So they had some work on different incantations to use on stones, since the vampires couldn't themselves.
Looking through the pages, my head swam with shapes and symbols. I kept my face calm in front of everyone. Anxiety was bubbling up inside of me. I could hardly piece together how to undo the spell. I looked up and my eyes locked with Christa. Her green eyes seemed to still scan my real emotions. So I just smile as if everything was fine.
"Shouldn't be too much of an issue," I say, hoping it came off unshaken by the information.
"The information was given at the last moment before I left to meet here. I believe if anyone can undo this locking spell, it will be you. After all, they had to find a new way to keep you out. No one can keep Alrea out," Hendrik says to me with a quick side smile. His words gave me a boost of confidence. I pick up the papers to study each line, symbol, and word.
"Where will you be?"Christa then asks Hendrik.
"Setting the place on fire when the three of you have done your job," is all he said as he got up to leave. "We will all meet at the docks at three." Hendrik leaves through the front of the building.
Christa then gets up to leave as well, leaving only Cole and me. I handed him some of the papers. "You might need to look over these as well," I suggest to him. He quietly takes them from me and seems to look over them.
"So, how did you find Hexerei?" I ask him, breaking the weird silence. Cole continues to look at the papers, taking a moment before I hear him respond.
"A month ago, I was caught taking food from witches on a mission themselves. I didn't know who they were. Once they realized I was just a starving kid and saw my magic, they brought me in as a member. As long as I do what they ask, I can eat." Cole simply said, his voice deeper than I had expected. The room quickly went silent again.
I left him alone, feeling he didn't want to talk much. That was all of us, though, and traumatic pasts were the norm.