The Enchantress (Wicked Book 1) (24 page)

• Book Two •

The Sacrifice

Blaire
Hammond

All is not as it seems;
war is fast approaching.

Coming in 2017!

Shadows of
Nightfall

Blaire
Hammond

It’s
been five and a half years since Abril and his followers rose up against the
rulers of the country of Athena.
He took over the Kingdom and murdered King Marther and Queen Ember, forcing
their only son into hiding.
It’s been five years since the last of the Kings men and women who managed to
escape that fateful night, came together and chose to protect Athena’s only rightful
heir to the throne.
Together, they have been moving across the country, keeping out of the enemy’s
clutches and searching for survivors; those who have yet to yielded to Abril
and still believe in the lost Prince.
They have kept to the shadows, watching Abril, learning about him,
strengthening their cause and training their followers, waiting for their
moment to strike.

That
time was now coming. And it would be arriving soon. Very soon.
Coming
in 2018!

The Sacrifice,
book two in the Wicked Saga.

Prologue
August 6st 2013

Kane ruffled
through his papers anxiously. He knew he had found the answer. The truth behind
the girl.
  Turning to his desk he hastily scribbled down an address on a piece of paper
before shoving it into his pocket.
   There was a knock at the door. Kane jumped, turning abruptly towards the
entrance and tipping over his tea cup as he did so.
  Hot liquid poured down his pant leg and he flinched with pain. Whipping a
towel from the bench he wiped down his leg, shouting, ‘who is it?’
  ‘Open up, it’s the force.’ A rough husky voice bellowed.
  Kane straightened immediately, dropping the towel.
  ‘Uh, just a minute.’
  Taking a hold of the papers, he rushed to his armchair. Thrusting it aside,
he yanked up the loose floorboard and shoved the papers down into the hole.
Replacing the board, he pulled the chair back as quietly as he could.
  Remembering the address in his pocket, he whipped it out, shoving it into a
crack in the fireplaces hath.
  Fists pounded on the door. ‘Wizard Kane Marker open this door!’
  ‘Yes, I’m coming.’
  Kane rushed to throw his bathrobe around his shoulders, wetting his hair.
  ‘I’m sorry sir, I was occupied elsewhere.’
  He laughed sheepishly as he opened the door, allowing a tall, strong built Wizard
to push past him and into the living room.
  Two guards flanked his sides, dressed in complete battle gear.
  It was dark outside, Kane noticed, and wondered what guards were doing out at
this hour when they were meant to be patrolling the streets.
  Kane fumbled with the door handle as he struggled to close it.
  ‘What would this visit be in reference to?’
  The tall one turned and eyed Kane.
  ‘I’m sure you have heard recent jail break?’
  Kane nodded, ‘yes, I think everyone has heard of that.’
  ‘Indeed they have. But for everyone’s safety we have been conducting thorough
searches of the city and houses within. We endeavour to discover how a break in
was possible, and to ensure no other criminals who escaped are hiding out in
someone’s basement.’
  Kane’s eyes widened with shock, ‘you don’t think I am hiding them, do you?
I’m an honourable Wizard. I would do nothing of the sort.’
  The Enchanted Wizard cracked his knuckles as his eyes glided over the room.
  ‘Stephan, check the basement, Mosey, upstairs.’
  ‘Yes sir.’ Both guards said, marching off to fulfil their assignments.
  The Wizard began wandering around the room, looking behind the couch,
checking in cupboards, snooping through the bin.
  Eventually he came to rest at Kane’s desk. Sifting through the papers, he
rose his eyes to meet Kane’s.
  ‘What are these maps for?’ He asked suspiciously.
  Kane wiped his sweaty hands on his robe, ‘uh I’ve just been doing some
research for the school. They want to conduct a trip and asked me to find the
perfect place where they could continue with their training.’
  The Wizard went back to the papers, ‘and these books about the Gods?’
  ‘Once again, research.’ Kane laughed gingerly, in attempt to lighten the
mood. ‘I’m obsessed with our protectors.’
  The Enchanted picked up one of the books, flipping through the pages. As he
did so, a sheet of paper fell from the pages, fluttering to the ground. The Wizard
watched it as it settled onto the floorboards, only a few feet from the
armchair. As he bent to retrieve it, something caught his eye.
  ‘What’s this?’ he asked Kane as he pushed the armchair from its place, bending
down to inspect something.
  Kane’s heart leapt.
  ‘What is what?’
  ‘This?’
  The Wizard lifted a round object off the ground, the size of a small tennis
ball.
  Kane let loose a laugh and sigh of relief.
  ‘Oh that’s my stress ball. I use it when I’m under a lot of pressure. Helps
to calm my nerves.’
  This time the Wizard laughed too.
  ‘I need to get me one of these!’ He said chucking the ball to Kane.
  Kane caught it, and watched as the armchair was pushed back over the
floorboard. It was at that moment that the two guards returned.
  ‘All clear,’ they both confirmed.
  The leader nodded, ‘sorry to bother you Mr Marker. Enjoy your night. Don’t
stress yourself out too much.’
He gave Kane a wink as they made for the door. Kane stepped aside, allowing
them to pass.
  ‘Oh, and here’s your book.’ The Wizard said, passing it back to him.
  Kane took it, ‘thanks.’
  ‘No problem.’
  He glanced down at the paper he’d recovered from the ground.
  ‘Wait, what is this?’
  Kane looked down at the words.
 
God’s Sacrifice.
  Kane raised his eyes to the stone hard ones of the guards.
  ‘I-it-I don’t-‘ he stammered.
  ‘What is this about?’
  Kane couldn’t answer, not without giving away his knowledge of the girl.
  ‘Do it.’ The Wizard said to Stephan and Mosey, before turning and leaving the
premises.
  ‘Do what?’
  Kane was trembling.
  That was when he saw it. The blade that was pulled from Stephan’s belt. He
raised his hands in defence.
  ‘Come on guys, I swear I haven’t done anything.’
  They had no mercy.
  Kane turned, and began to run for his life.