Not to mention they’d been starving. I was certain Alexei’s parents felt like they had nowhere to go.
We worked in silence for a moment, until Ethan moved closer to Alexei. “Where are all the oppressors?” he whispered. “There are a few guards, but not half as many as I’d thought there would be. The cult stormed Dolinska with an army before, and the only cultists I’ve seen are initiates, and a few guards to make sure we can’t escape.”
Alexei’s eyes flashed. “Iknowthere are more. They have to be somewhere.”
“I bet they’re being stored in a different location, for Gabby and Elijah,” I hushed back. “They’d want the cult’s oppressors to be a backup army to call on if times got tough.”
“I agree. It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Alexei whispered back.
We fell quiet then, because Acolyte Xantha stormed in. She grabbed Ludwig by the shirt, and shoved him backward. His broom went clattering to the floor.
“Ludwig, I have a better assignment for you,” Xantha snapped. “These children are being too arrogant and rambunctious. They need to be taken down a peg. I suggest you follow me to their quarters, so you can teach them a lesson.”
Ludwig’s face drained of color, going completely white. I felt like I was going to throw up as I realized exactly what she meant. “But— my son.”
“And?” Xantha raised an eyebrow. “It’s time you instruct him on how to become a man.”
“Wh—what about Acolyte Vesper? He usually oversees such tasks,” Ludwig stuttered.
What a disgusting pedofile. He was going to get his one day. And it was going to be soon, because I wasn’t leaving here without crushing his heart in my hand.
“Vesper is busy, as are the other acolytes,” Xantha said. “Are you going to disobey a direct order from me?”
Ludwig quivered. I held my breath, until Alexei stepped in front of Acolyte Xantha.
“We’ll do it,” Alexei said. “Kiara, Adam, Agata and I. We’ll teach those kids a lesson.”
Xantha gave a wide smile. “Excellent, Alexei. It’s good that you’re finally living up to your potential.”
She waved her hand. “Come with me.”
We followed Xantha down a few winding catacombs, to the southwest chambers. She stopped before a grand wooden door and said, “They’re in here. The four of you should make quick work of them. I’ll be back in an hour, to check on your progress.”
“Thank you, Acolyte Xanta.” Alexei bowed to her, and Xantha left. As we strode inside, we caught sight of twenty children, quivering against the wall. Their clothes were threadbare, and their faces were thin from hunger. As we came closer, they simultaneously flinched.
I despised the acolytes for what they’d done to these poor children.Thiswas why I was the Worldweaver. To stop merciless bastards like them.
“We’re not here to hurt you,” Alexei said, and he knelt down in front of the group. “We’re here to help.”
The children didn’t come any closer. They clearly didn’t trust us.
Alexei’s voice remained gentle. “We’re going to get you out of here, to someplace safe where no one can hurt you again.”
“What about my mommy and daddy?” a little girl dared to speak up, and several other children nodded in response.
Alexei’s gaze softened. “I’m… sure they’ll be along soon.”
Kiara flinched at the lie, and guilt ran through my insides. It felt like a dreadful thing to take these kids away from their parents, but like Alexei’s family, these parents weren’t doing anything to protect their own offspring from abuse. We had to get these kids out of here… even if we had to lie to them.
Kiara turned toward me. “Emma, we need a portal.”
“To where?” I asked. We had the children, but what did we do with them?
Ethan paused for a moment, as if listening. He gave a firm nod and said, “I contacted Arthur. He’s going to let Stefan know to alert his parents. The Slasky family has connections. They’ll find good people to take those children in, make sure they’re safe for now.”
“Then I’ll open a portal to the Slasky mansion.” I began calling upon my magic, to open up a portal from here to the above world. A circle glowed and widened in front of me, expanding until I had a clear window to the living room in the Slasky mansion. The children’s eyes grew huge as they watched me work my magic, like they’d never seen such a thing before.
As I opened the portal, I saw Miroslava standing at the other side of it, already waiting. She nodded, as if telling me she was ready for us to send these kids through.
