Chapter 4
Hide and Seek
LANIAS
A FEW MONTHS LATER…
“In today’s news another incident has left the American people shaking…A body was found dismembered in a dump truck. The identity of the body has yet to be determined…”
Lanias entered her living room, pulling her towel from her shoulders, she started drying her hair, not paying attention to the news.
She’d spent the night trying to sleep even with the vibrations from the moon louder than usual.
She sighed plopping down on her couch, as she let her towel fall on the couch, she looked over her coffee table that was covered with files, loose papers and pictures.
So far, there was no backlash from killing Gaul, the greedy creature had made many enemies over the years.
He’d been useful to her when she was first coming up in this world on her own.
The treachery of those in Veil City couldn’t be underestimated.
He’d been more than willing to sell out friends, family, and enemies alike for just a little more gold.
Reaching down, she picked up a picture of an older man and looked it over.
“You’re not getting away,” she said aloud.
Stanthos was the one who’d delivered her to her uncle. And over the years despite being focused on building the Nerium organization and protecting the Witches she’d put feelers out for the man. Each time she received nothing but radio noise in return.
She leaned back, closing her eyes. Seeing the torn expression of her little sister. Sabina hadn’t asked to have her life changed so drastically. Lanias couldn’t lie to herself, she had always felt guilt for the death of Sabina’s grandmother.
Opening her eyes, she stared at the ceiling and pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the strong beat of her heart. A habit from when she’d been locked in her cell for long lengths of time.
The doctors had been intent on protecting their favorite test subject. They’d painted the walls with anti-magic metal and placed a light inhibitor on the windows. They would call for lights out, and she would be plunged into the inky black darkness.
The one thing the doctors didn’t count on was the noise. The sound of screams from the girls they didn’t treat as well. The stench of their fear, and hatred swirling over her head.
Knowing her bed was soft, while they slept on hard stone flooring.
She was the “Numb Witch.”
The one they’d been tasked with finding and duplicating to use for war. The program had failed; The council had been influenced by bureaucratic neighbors. In a power move to defy Legolas they’d canceled the program only proving just how much more disgusting The Council had actually become.
A hand reached out and landed on her shoulder, “Don’t worry, we’re only disposing of the filth.”
She flinched as she jerked up whipping around, she found no one there.
Releasing a shiver, she stood, she would finish preparing for the day then she would head to the bar Stanthos frequented. Usually, she’d use her magic in her everyday life, but she had to be more careful.
While she was sure she’d covered her tracks, it wasn’t impossible for someone to be suspicious and pay a little too much attention to the ball that hovered in the depths of the Shade. Her magic was tied to it, too much use of it would alert her sister that she was still alive.
The secret of her life over death must continue until she’d found her father.