“They’re all alive?” Bryson said as he looked at the cages, “How long have these kidnappings been going on?”

“Months.” Lottie said examining all the kids while Florence and Kristel quickly joined them.

“It’s all of the.” Lottie said recognizing their faces from pictures. “All the kids that have gone missing. Here are the two that just got caught.”

“Why were they kept alive all this time?” Bryson asked as Lottie began to pick the locks of the cages. Kristel in the meantime went to the opposite door and pressed her ear against it, after a moment she motioned to them that more movement was on the other side.

The children inside the cages looked at the kids that discovered them in a mixture of fear and hope. Florence quickly got inside the cage the moment the door was opened and focused her attention on them.

“Take out anyone that enters.” Bryson ordered Kristel who nodded.

“Hey, don’t worry. But try to stay quiet we’ll get you out of here.” Lottie said gently to the children who were awake.

“Who are you?” One of them asked fearfully.

“My name is unimportant.” Bryson said briskly as his mind raced for why the kids were still left alive and seemingly fed and taken care of for months. They didn’t look too mistreated, no wounds from beatings, just locked up for some time.

“He’s Bryson Coldwater.” Lottie said instantly.

“Coldwater?” One of the kids said in amazement.

Bryson rolled his eyes, Lottie was basically using him as something to brag, “Florence how are the two sleeping ones?”

“Stable but in deep sleep.” Florence said checking both their vitals.

“They won’t wake up until tomorrow. The candy is very strong.” One of the more miserable looking kids said.

“You’re Nicolas, the first one that got kidnapped.” Lottie said recognizing him.

He gave a slow nod, “Will you get us out of here? How are my parents?”

“They miss you and yes, we’ll get you out of here.” Lottie said to him gently. At the same time both the sleeping kids woke up with a start.

“Quiet.” Bryson whispered to Florence as he checked the door Kristel was guarding, they still didn’t seem to notice their entry, “How are they even awake I thought he said they would still be asleep.”

“My apologies Lord Bryson, I gave them some adrenaline. I think it’s best for us to move them to the surface as fast as possible.” Florence said after verifying that the two recently woken up ones were alright.

“What’s their status?”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“No real injuries or malnutrition.” Florence said now that all the kids were gathered outside the cage. They all looked hopeful for their escape.

“Do you know how many bad guys there are here?” Lottie asked.

“Not really, they cover their faces.” Nicolas said shaking his head helplessly.

“Have they hurt you?”

“Only when we tried to run.”

“There’s seven of them.” Bryson realized.

“Pardon Lord Bryson?”

“The tattoo had the number seven and there are now seven children here.” Bryson explained.

“They’re likely to perform whatever they’re planning soon then.” Florence said nodding and as if on cue, the door Kristel was watching opened.

A man with a strange horned mask looked into the room froze as he saw the children out of their cages along with three more kids. He failed to spot Kristel who stood by the door and with one quick strike to the midsection Kristel sent the masked man hurling backwards.

He flew across the room and crashed into the wall and slumped over unconscious. Unfortunately he wasn’t the only one in the other room, in fact it seemed that where the man came from was the man room with about a dozen others inside witnessing their compatriot get launched into the wall.

After the briefest of seconds of stunned silence they all began to react. Bryson quickly ordered Lottie.

“Get them out now Frost! Marsh, take the rear, Kristel you’re forward!” He barked out.

“But-” Lottie began before being cutoff.

“Get them to safety!” He yelled out.

Lottie took a moment to hesitate before quickly ushering the now scared kidnapped children out of the room and back to the surface. Two of the cult members reached out to grab Kristel, who easily battered them to the side.

Bryson looked around as Florence shot a nonlethal concussive blast sending a couple more people into the wall. Most of these people were normal, a few had some magical items but nothing special. Bryson supposed this should be normal, but the way the children were kept healthy and the tattoos caused him to be on edge.

One of the cultists pulled out a rifle and pointed it at Kristel. Bryson extended his hand out and the rifle flew from the cultists grip into his. With a look of alarm the cultists quickly crumpled with a kick to the head.

Then came the only cultist that Bryson noted as dangerous approached. The only one that Bryson sensed had any magic ability acted. The woman twirled her hands around and a crystal-like flail appeared and launched it at Kristel.

Deftly dodging out of the way, the flail embedded itself into the wall while the woman prepared to launch another one. This time Florence fired a single shot blasting the crystal flail into pieces before rushing in and throwing a flying knee directly to the woman’s chin, taking her out.

As Bryson scanned the room the fighting quickly subsided. The few that drew their weapons were quickly incapacitated and it seemed that everything was under control. That was until Bryson noticed him.

He was a normal person like everyone else. No particular impressive mana behind him, but he stood dressed differently. No robes just casual wear, he stood there relieved while everyone else was panicked and simply watched everything. His eyes met with Bryson Coldwater.

“He told me that you would come Bryson Coldwater.” He said his voice unnerving, “He’s not happy for what you did to his brother. Now you don’t have that walking automaton to protect you now.” He said a mad grin on his face.

As Bryson was about to move towards the man looking for answers the man suddenly burst into flames and the cries of pain filled the room. The entire room was filled with the pain cries of the man and the sound of burning flesh. For a long few agonizing moments the man continued to scream.

Gradually his screams turned into laughter as the flames subsided and stood the same man looking absolutely unblemished, but his eyes were a sickly yellow. He grinned at Bryson and his smile sent chills down his spine.

Bryson felt it, the presence of power, real power. He felt fear grip his heart and could only stare at the man. Bryson felt himself unable to move as he recognized the mana signature. It was similar to that of the demon from the ruins, but this power in front of him dwarfed the demon from before.

“Bryson Coldwater, good to see that my little trap worked.” The man, no demon, said with a grand smile on his face.