“I want to access the Donovan family vault,” my father says. “May the Order continue to serve and protect.”
The Keeper on the right tilts his head. “You know the rules, Master Donovan. To keep the secrets that lie within, and to prevent leaders from stealing, only one may enter at a time.”
My father nods. “I am aware, Keeper. I’m willing to take the risk and will abide by the consequences.”
Both of the Keepers jerk back, their gazes widening behind their masks. The one on the left is the first to recover. “You realize that this is a crime within the Order?”
My father nods. “Yes, but I don’t give a shit.”
The mercenaries on either side of him lift their concealed firearms, all of them firing a single shot. The Keepers crumple to the floor, their masks cracked and bloody, their eyes sightless and empty.
I shake my head at my father’s audacity. Every Keeper has a ILR surgically implanted inside their chest once they’re given this sacred position. If they’re killed, the monitoring device will notify the leaders of the new status of their lifeless hearts. Then there will be hell to pay, and the currency is death.
“I won’t let scruples get in the way of my empire,” Edward says. He turns to look at me and Benjamin. “The others have been notified. We only have three minutes before we’re trapped down here. Move quickly.”
When he opens the door, a rush of cool, damp air greets us, carrying with it the musty scent of earth and decay. It’slike stepping into another world, one forgotten by time and shrouded in mystery. Each step is a journey deeper into the society’s dark tapestry of rituals and power.
“They used to perform virgin sacrifices here,” my father says with a smile in his voice. “It was before my time. When I take over the Order, I might consider bringing that ritual back.”
The deeper we venture, the more the oppressive history of the place seeps into my skin. These catacombs have witnessed centuries of depravities, of decisions that have altered the courses of lives far beyond their stone confines. Tonight will be no different.
We finally come to a small cavern which houses a tunnel that’s specific to each founding family, the surname marked above the entrance. My father enters the McKenzie tunnel.
“Move faster,” he snaps.
We follow him until he comes to a halt at the end of the tunnel where the vault lies. My father looks at Benjamin expectantly. “Place your hand on the panel.”
Benjamin shakes his head, and the men guarding my father raise their weapons in his direction. With no alternatives, he outstretches his hand, resting his palm on the flat surface. He looks back at me, his expression unreadable.
After a soft click, the wall slides back, revealing the interior of the vault. We step inside, the room a treasure trove of artifacts, books, and scrolls. The scent of dust and musty paper wafts under my nose.
“Watch them,” my father instructs the mercenaries. “Especially my son. He could kill all of you within seconds.”
One of the men, someone around my age, steps closer to me, digging the end of his pistol into my back. Another does the same to Benjamin, and he shoots me a pointed look.
I nod. We’re going to have to act soon if we want to live.
“Where is that fucking USB?” My father mutters to himself as he continues searching through the items, his movements becoming more frantic with every second.
“There’s a flash drive on the table,” one of the gunmen says.
My father smiles, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “Excellent. I need to check the contents before we leave, or else I’ll have compromised my position for nothing.”
The gunman removes his backpack to retrieve a laptop. He quickly powers it on and plugs in the flash drive. My father watches as the files appear on the screen, his face betraying nothing.
Then he lets out a long breath. “After all these years… finally!” He spins to face me and Benjamin. “Can you imagine the efficiency of communicating via satellite? It’s a shame, really. If your father hadn’t refused to hand over his prototype, I wouldn’t have killed him.”
My watch vibrates, indicating a change in Delilah’s location. I stare in disbelief when I realize she’s nearby. In the catacombs.
I’m going to fucking kill Declan.
Benjamin’s face goes ashen. “You killed my father?”
Edward waves a hand. “Of course, I did. Your father believed that the tech would create more chaos than the Order could control.” My father scoffs. “You can imagine my surprise when I learned about the DNA vaults your father implemented. Thank goodness I found his bastard.”
“And now that you have the tech?” Benjamin asks.
“Now, I will rule the Order.”
