A Thief's Treasure (8 page)

“We need to perform the spell now.
 
The thing is the necklace is trying to take over us and the plane and even though we could put it in the enchantment box, it’s still very powerful and I don’t want to take the risk.
 
We have to perform the spell now.
 
I’ve done it a few times but it was with my parents both around and they were here to help.
 
I think Coco might know the spell, but I don’t want to burden her.
 
I need you to hold the necklace and don’t let it get away.
 
I’m going to perform this and then we can leave,” Darren instructed.

“Are you sure?
 
Coco can fly fast—“

“There’s not enough time Alyssa.
 
I wouldn’t even bother to try this if it weren’t for the fact that if we don’t do this now we’re risking all our lives.
 
Please listen to me and just hold it.
 
If we need backup I’m sure if we call out for Coco she will come back,” he replied.

“Okay,” I stated.
 
I grabbed the necklace and immediately it tried to brainwash me with the tactics it used before.
 
This was what Anthony was talking about, and I definitely could feel the power this device had on me.
 
I didn’t let it affect me though and I held it steady.
 
It tried everything it could, by telling me how bad Darren was to even having the nerve to go through my memories of my family and throwing them in my face.
 
I stayed strong though and ignored them.
 
I knew it was the right thing to do and it would be the smart thing in the end.

Darren started the incantation and I could feel the necklace’s power grow even stronger.
 
It was going into
defense
mode and was trying to use all of its power to overtake me.
 
I stayed strong though and I let him continue it.
 
The force was almost like I was getting hit by a bus though.
 
A bus that was telling me that I was a stupid motherfucker and an idiot for liking a man like Darren and trusting my guardians.
 
It was even telling me that my parents were horrible people and weren’t trying to protect me, but rather they were just trying to get rid of me because they didn’t want me as their child.
 
I knew these were all lies though and I continued to ignore them as Darren started to say the spell even faster.

After a minute of really powerful force the force started to diminish though, and I had even more control over it.
 
It tried as best as it could to overtake me, but soon it was growing even smaller until it was about a murmur of force.
 
I was happy it finally stopped, and soon I felt like I didn’t have to put up as much
defense
anymore.
 
The necklace was shaking the entire time I was holding it, but soon as the force diminished it was stopping the shaking and the attempts at getting away.
 
Finally, when Darren finished it was nothing but a solid piece of
jewelry
.
 
Darren stopped and looked at me, shock and awe present on his face.

“That was awesome!
 
You did a great job.
 
Now let’s get this little fucker in the box and let’s get home,” he voiced.
 
I nodded and placed it in the box, going back to my seat afterwards.
 
Coco came back on the intercom once we were all buckled up, her chipper voice still present even in the face of danger.

“Alright now that that little turd has been taken care of, let’s get the hell out of here shall we?” she asked.
 
We both said yes and soon we took off.
 
Both of us sat back as we ascended and the initial awkwardness we had at the beginning was dissipating.
 
I was starting to feel comfortable around Darren, and I could tell that he was comfortable around me now.
 
I felt like this wasn’t just a silly little crush, but it was actually that we really did care for one another.
 
The feelings I had for him were very different form my normal feelings for guys, and I didn’t know what to make of it.
 
Was I in love?

Chapter Nine

The plane landed smoothly and Anthony was waiting for us on the tarmac.
 
It was about six am and I was dead tired.
 
I know that Darren was as well, and we both knew it was time for bed.
 
When we got out Anthony smiled, obviously happy with what had unfolded today.

“Had fun?” he asked.

“We did.
 
It was hard work but we both definitely learned a lot from it,” Darren replied.

“Well good.
 
I heard as well on your way back that you destroyed the black alchemy on the necklace.
 
I’m impressed,” he voiced.

“Yeah.
 
I mean I wouldn’t have been able to handle it if it weren’t for Alyssa.
 
She’s a great person and an asset to the team, and I hope we can keep her around for a while,” Darren said warmly.
 
I started to flush; I was above average most of my life and I would get hollow compliments from teachers and peers, but for once I felt like I had finally gotten some recognition as a person and that I wasn’t just some normal girl.
 
It didn’t help that it was from Darren either. I could feel not only a flush on my cheeks but nervousness in my stomach.

“Thanks,” I managed to reply.

“Well good, glad you both came back safe and sound.
 
Let’s go back to the house though shall we?” Anthony asked.
 
We both nodded, sleep overtaking the both of us as we walked over to the car.
 
We got in and buckled up, both of us starting to fall asleep as the car started and Anthony drove us home.
 
I started to nod off and think about various things, both about the realm of alchemy and everything that has happened within the last few days and also about Darren as well.
 
I also thought about my parents and when I would be able to see them again.
 
I know it wouldn’t be for a while, but I felt like I was doing what they wanted when I decided to join this clan and become an alchemist.
 
Eliza said it would be soon, and I was curious as to when though.

We got home shortly and Eliza was there with muffins and tea.
 
I grabbed a cup and one muffin and started to eat it, loving the taste of the crumbly goodness contained within it.
 
I went upstairs to my room where I finished the tea and put the cup on the nightstand.
 
I was too damn
tired
to change out of my
catsuit
so I just pulled off my boots and climbed into bed.
 
I didn’t even set my alarm for the next day. I was ready for a break and I was damn sure I was going to get one.
 
Sleep was the thing I needed right now and within moments I was out.
 
I kept dreaming about my life and how much change I had within it.
 
Yet another thought escaped me; who exactly was
Karakan
and what the hell did he have planned?
 
I know it would be answered soon but I couldn’t even figure it out.
 
How evil was this guy?

I was soon going to find out within a few hours just how far this man alchemist was going to go to get me out of the picture.

Chapter Ten

I was woken up by the sound of what seemed like a dog whistle along with some yelling.
 
Rousing, I came face-to-face with Darren shaking me and telling me to get up and get the hell out of here.
 
Almost as if I was a robot, I pulled my shoes on and started to follow him.
 
After a minute I was awake, and there was red everywhere.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked.

“We got attacked.
 
My parents are already in the secret tunnel.
 
We have to get down there as well.
 
Karakan’s
trying to find you and wipe you out,” Darren explained.

I was in shock; how in the world did this all happen?
 
Especially after my thoughts on him?
 
Wasn’t Anthony powerful enough to ward him off?
 
I didn’t know what was going on, but I saw another bomb get launched.
 
There were no enemies; just the bombs and Darren guided me to the bathroom where a rug resided.
 
He pulled it up, revealing another trapdoor and I was pushed in.
 
He followed suit and closed it just as a bomb exploded in the bathroom.
 
We climbed down the ladder to where Anthony and Eliza were where looks of sadness and horror were present.

“What the hell is going on?
 
Why in the world are we getting attacked?” I asked.

“They found you.
 
We kept a magic seal over the house but a spy followed you home last night and told
Karakan
.
 
Now they found you and they will stop at nothing to make sure you’re dead,” Eliza explained.

I was in shock; all these years I’ve been protected and now I’m a sitting duck.
 
This all felt so weird.
 
I didn’t want to lose the family I’ve gained, and for a moment I felt a couple tears come down my face.
 
Darren embraced me though, holding me and stroking my back.

“It’s okay Alyssa.
 
We’ll keep you safe and sound.
 
Don’t you worry.
 
I will protect you with my life,” Darren said reassuringly.

“We all will.
 
Don’t worry we were able to salvage a few things, including the key to our other hideout along with the Great Rune.
 
I also alerted the Alchemic Arson Department and the fire Department and they’re going to put out the fire.
 
We’ll live in our other hideout as well.
 
But…there’s something else that has happened as well,” Anthony said.

“W-what do you mean?” I asked.
 

“Your parent’s place got attacked as well.
 
Don’t worry they both survived, but they’re coming to live with us in the cave as well.
 
You’ll be safe, I assure you,” Anthony said.

I can’t believe we all got attacked. I also couldn’t believe I would finally get to see my parent’s after eighteen years.
 
It was both a blessing and a curse to me, but I knew I had to stay strong as well.
 

“What’s the plan?” Darren asked.

“We’re going to the cave; it’s only a few miles from here.
 
We have about a month’s supply of provisions so we must devise a plan there.
 
There’s about three other clans that have gotten attacked as well and they’re going to their own hideouts but we’re going to meet in a lower cave and then we’ll devise a plan of attack.
 
I think we’re going to go to
Karakan’s
hideout and we’ll strike there,” Anthony instructed.

Darren nodded and we started to walk through the tunnels.
 
This wasn’t a sewer system and according to Anthony it had been infused with some very powerful alchemy to keep them fortified.
 
I was very interested but he didn’t go into detail.
 
We finally got to a small opening and one-by-one we all started to climb the stairs.
 
After a little bit we finally got to the top.
 
Anthony opened it and we were in a home similar to that of the place we were in before.
 
I know something was different though; it was a lot cooler and there was a different presence of magic within.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“We’re in a cave about fifty miles from the city.
 
The tunnels make it seem like we only walked a little bit but that’s to confuse our enemies. It’s a tunnel that can change distance and that’s how we got here so quickly.
 
This is where we’re going to live until we decide how to handle
Karakan’s
attack.
 
I’ve informed the Alchemic Council of everything that just happened.
 
They’re investigating and tracking where the bombs came from and will probably give us the location once found and we can use that to attack
Karakan
.
 
We have about a month to formulate and the other clans will meet in our downstairs cave to devise a strategy in three weeks.
 
Your parents will be here soon, they’ll be coming through the same hole you did so we should probably all move away,” Anthony explained.