Arin’s sleep was shattered by the crash of the bookstore’s door being kicked in. Her eyes flew open, heart pounding as she registered the chaos outside her room. The heavy thud of boots, the crackle of radios, and the harsh, barking commands of SWAT officers filled the air, transforming the familiar sanctuary into a warzone.

She scrambled out of bed, her body moving on instinct. The pendant around her neck throbbed, sending pulses of warmth through her veins as if urging her to action. She grabbed her jacket and threw it over her night clothes, her fingers brushing against the cool metal of the pendant for reassurance. Pushing open her door, she saw the full scope of the chaos. Officers in tactical gear swarmed the bookstore, their flashlights slicing through the darkness, illuminating the overturned shelves and scattered books.

"Liam!" she called out, her voice a mix of fear and urgency. She spotted him across the room, his expression grim as he moved with the grace and precision of a predator, silently taking down officers with a few well-placed blows.

He turned to her, his eyes blazing with intensity. “This is the work of the Council,” he said, his voice low and urgent as he moved to her side. “They’re manipulating the police to do their bidding.”

Arin’s mind raced. “Should we fight them?”

Before Liam could respond, Noah appeared, clutching a stack of ancient books to his chest, his expression tight with worry. “We can’t,” he said, his voice firm. “These officers are just pawns, manipulated by the Council. We’re outnumbered, and we can’t afford to hurt them.”

A gunshot rang out, the sound deafening in the confined space. Evangeline appeared beside them, her eyes glowing with the ethereal light of her magic as she erected a shimmering shield to protect them from the onslaught of bullets.

“Move!” she commanded, her voice strong and unwavering. “We need to get out of here!”

Liam nodded, his jaw set. “Arin, stay close to me.”

They moved as one, a well-coordinated team despite the chaos around them. Noah continued to gather as many books as he could, his hands moving with practiced efficiency. Evangeline’s shield deflected the bullets, her magic a protective cocoon around them.

A flashbang grenade clattered to the floor, its bright light and deafening bang stunning them all momentarily. Arin blinked away the spots dancing in her vision, her ears ringing from the blast. She felt a strong hand on her arm, guiding her through the haze of smoke and confusion.

“We need to get to the back exit,” Liam’s voice was urgent in her ear. She nodded, following his lead as they navigated the labyrinth of overturned furniture and scattered books.

As they reached the back door, an officer lunged at them. Liam moved with lightning speed, disarming him and knocking him out with a swift strike. The officer crumpled to the ground, unconscious but unharmed.

They burst through the back door into the alley, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stifling chaos inside. The city around them was alive with activity, blue and red lights of police vans casting eerie shadows on the rain-slicked streets. A helicopter spotlight swept over the alley, illuminating every corner before moving on, making the dark alley briefly resemble a daylight scene.

Noah and Evangeline were right behind them, Evangeline’s shield shimmering faintly before dissipating. The sound of sirens wailed in the distance, mingling with the helicopter's hum above.

“We have to keep moving,” Noah said, his voice tight with urgency. “They’ll be after us.”

Liam led them through the narrow alleyways, his senses on high alert. Each footfall echoed against the brick walls, mingling with the distant sirens and the persistent hum of the helicopter above. The shadows seemed to stretch and twist, playing tricks on their minds as they ran. Arin’s mind raced, a jumbled mess of fear, anger, and confusion. The pendant throbbed against her chest, a constant reminder of the power she wielded and the responsibility that came with it. Her heart pounded in her ears, almost drowning out the sounds of their pursuers.

Behind them, the clatter of boots on wet pavement grew louder. Liam glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he saw the dark figures closing in. "They’re gaining on us," he muttered, urgency sharpening his tone. "Evangeline, can you set up a cloaking spell?"

Evangeline’s face was tense, concentration etched into her features. She shook her head, frustration clear in her eyes. "Something’s interrupting the magic in the air," she replied, her voice tight with strain. "The most I can do is spells that affect only me." She raised her hand, casting another shimmering shield just in time to intercept a bullet that whizzed past them, deflecting it harmlessly to the side.

"Keep moving!" Noah urged, his breath coming in short gasps. He clutched the stack of ancient books tightly, their precious contents too valuable to lose. "We have to find cover!"

They darted around a corner, the rain-slicked streets offering little traction. Arin slipped, her foot skidding out from under her. Liam was there in an instant, his strong grip hauling her back to her feet. "Come on, Arin," he said, his voice a low growl of determination. "We can’t stop now."

Arin nodded, her resolve hardening. She wouldn’t let her fear control her. They had to keep going. They had to find a way out.

The alleyways twisted and turned, a labyrinth of narrow passages and dead ends. The sound of their pursuers was relentless, growing closer with each passing second. Arin’s chest burned with the effort of running, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She could feel the pendant’s power pulsing in time with her heartbeat, a rhythm that seemed to sync with the danger around them.

"Down here!" Liam called, leading them into another narrow alleyway. The walls loomed high on either side, creating a claustrophobic tunnel of darkness. "We need to find a place to hide."

Evangeline cast another shield spell, the shimmering barrier flaring up just in time to deflect another barrage of bullets. "This isn’t going to hold forever," she warned, her voice laced with worry. "We need to find a more permanent solution."

Liam nodded, his mind racing. They couldn’t keep running forever. They needed a plan. "Noah, any ideas?" he asked, his tone urgent.

Noah’s eyes darted around, searching for inspiration. "There’s an old safe house a few blocks from here," he said, his voice low but firm. "It’s not much, but it should give us some time to regroup."

"Lead the way," Liam said, his grip on Arin’s arm tightening as they followed Noah’s lead. The rain poured down around them, turning the streets into a slick, reflective surface. The helicopter’s spotlight swept over them again, casting long shadows that seemed to chase them as they ran.

As they moved through the maze of alleyways, Arin felt a strange sense of clarity amidst the chaos. She was part of something bigger now, something that required her to be stronger, faster, and braver than she’d ever been before. The pendant’s power was a part of her, and she had to learn to control it, to use it to protect those she cared about.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"We’re almost there," Noah said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. "Just a little further."

They turned another corner, the safe house looming ahead of them. It was an old, decrepit building, but it offered a semblance of safety. They burst through the door, slamming it shut behind them. Evangeline cast a final shield spell, sealing the entrance with a shimmering barrier.

For a moment, they stood in the darkened room, their breaths coming in heavy, labored gasps. Rain started pattering against the windows, the sound a reminder of the storm rolling into the city. The tension in the room was palpable, each of them acutely aware of the precariousness of their situation.

“How did they find us?” Liam asked, his voice cutting through the silence. His eyes were sharp, scanning their faces for answers.

Noah and Evangeline exchanged a look before Noah spoke. “It must have been a blood ritual,” he said, his voice grim. He lifted his arm, revealing a faint scar. “Despite the protections we set up, they must have used my blood to track us.”

Evangeline nodded, her expression equally serious. “Blood rituals are powerful and hard to counter. They bypass most magical defenses. They knew exactly where to find us.”

Liam cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “So what do we do now? We can’t stay here, and we can’t outrun them forever.”

“We need to think fast,” Noah said, pacing the room. “Our options are limited, and time is of the essence.”

“The sewers,” Noah suggested, his voice steady. “It’s our best bet to disappear quickly and move without being seen.”

Arin’s eyes widened in protest. “The New York sewers during a rainstorm? That’s suicide! They’ll be flooded, and we could drown.”

Liam looked at her, a hint of a wry smile on his lips. “You don’t know the half of it. But Noah’s right. We don’t have much choice. The disruption Evangeline feels in the magic means there’s something dangerous along with the officers. We can’t face it head-on.”

Evangeline nodded, her expression resolute. “We need to get to the basement. There’s an entrance to the sewers there. It’s our best shot.”

They moved quickly, gathering their things and making their way to the basement. The building creaked and groaned as the storm intensified, the sound of rain a constant backdrop to their hurried steps. The basement was dark and damp, a stark contrast to the cozy atmosphere of the bookstore above.

Noah moved to the back of the room towards a large dark metal coffin. He knelt beside it, his movements swift and precise dispelling multiple runes and opening the lid. It was an intricate contraption, a blend of sleek metal, tubes with glowing liquids, and runes etched into its surface. The device hummed with a low, ominous vibration, the runes pulsating with an eerie light that cast flickering shadows on the basement walls.

“This is a combination of magical and regular explosives,” Noah explained, his voice steady as he adjusted a series of dials and switches. The device emitted a faint, rhythmic clicking sound, like a countdown beginning. He glanced up at Liam, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “It’ll cover our tracks. That’s two safe houses you owe me now.”

Liam chuckled, a brief moment of levity in the midst of their dire situation. “I’ll make it up to you,” he promised. Noah activated the charge, a low hum signaling the countdown to the explosion. “We need to move fast,” he said, his voice echoing in the confined space. “Stay close, and keep your wits about you.”

Noah moved some old crates to expose a concealed hatch in the floor, the hatch opened with a creak, revealing a ladder descending into the darkness below. The smell of dampness and decay wafted up, making Arin wrinkle her nose in disgust. She hesitated, but the urgency of their predicament pushed her forward. One by one, they climbed down into the sewers, the darkness closing in around them.

As they descended, the sound of the rain faded, replaced by the distant echo of water rushing through the tunnels. The air was thick with the scent of wet concrete and stagnant water. The sewer tunnels stretched out before them, a labyrinth of passages that offered both refuge and danger.

As they descended, the sound of the rain faded, replaced by the distant echo of water rushing through the tunnels. The air was thick with the scent of wet concrete and stagnant water. The sewer tunnels stretched out before them, a labyrinth of passages that offered both refuge and danger. Behind them, the hatch shut with a heavy thud, followed by the hum of a magical seal. Evangeline paused for a moment, murmuring an incantation to strengthen the barrier, ensuring they wouldn’t be buried after the blast.

They began to run, their footsteps splashing through the shallow water. Evangeline glanced at Noah. “I didn’t know you were into Alchemy,” she remarked, her tone light despite the tension.

Noah shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “It was a gift from a client,” he responded, adjusting his pack.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the tunnels, the force of it shaking the walls and sending a tremor through the ground. The group was thrown off balance, tumbling into the murky, foul-smelling water. As they struggled to regain their footing, Liam looked to Evangeline. “Are you hurt?”

She grimaced, wiping grime from her face. “Only my pride,” she muttered, pushing herself upright as they continued their harried escape through the sewers.

The group scrambled to their feet, the echoes of the explosion still reverberating through the tunnels. Water dripped from their clothes as they resumed their hurried pace, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the walls.

“We need a new plan,” Liam said, his voice urgent. “Where to next?”

Noah wiped water from his eyes, considering their options. “We could try the Shadow Market,” he suggested. “It’s a nexus for magical trade and secrets. But it’s risky. They might sell us out.”

Evangeline shook her head. “Too many enemies there. The last thing we need is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.”

“What about the Iron Circle?” Noah asked, struggling to keep up. “They’re known for their secrecy.”

Liam frowned. “They also have a grudge against me. We wouldn’t last a minute before they turned us over to the Council.”

Evangeline sighed, her mind racing through potential safe havens. “There’s the Serpent Syndicate. They control a lot of the magical underbelly in the city.”

Noah grimaced. “I have history with them. They won’t be keen to help.”

“Is there anyone we can trust?” Arin’s frustration was palpable, her fingers gripping the pendant around her neck.

“There’s one place,” Evangeline said after a moment of silence, her voice carrying a note of hesitance. “The Forgotten Library. It’s hidden deep beneath the old city ruins. Few know of its existence, and even fewer can find it. We might be able to regroup and find some answers there.”

Noah’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. “The Forgotten Library? I thought it was just a myth.”

Evangeline shrugged, a small, enigmatic smile playing on her lips. “There’s a reason it’s called forgotten.”

Arin couldn't help but roll her eyes. “Another library? What's with you and books, Noah?”

Noah's excitement was palpable as he began to explain. “This isn't just any library, Arin. The lore surrounding it is incredible. It's said to house knowledge from the earliest days of magic, written by the ancients themselves and then transported to the new world with the first settlers. The wards around it are ancient and powerful, woven with spells that have been lost to time. It’s one of the few places the Council might not be able to track us.”

Evangeline nodded. “And it’s hidden in a way that only those with a certain level of magical attunement can even hope to find it. I can track its wards, but we need to get closer to the old city ruins first.”

“Then it’s settled,” Noah agreed, his tone resolute. “Let’s get moving before they send more after us.”

Evangeline led the way, her senses attuned to the magical frequencies she needed to track. Noah and Liam stayed close, their eyes and ears alert for any sign of pursuit. Arin followed, her mind buzzing with the promise of answers and the weight of responsibility pressing against her chest with every beat of the pendant.

“We’ll need to be careful once we get to the old city ruins,” Liam said, his voice low and cautious. “It’s not just the Council we need to worry about. The ruins have their own dangers.”

Arin nodded, absorbing the gravity of their situation. “We’ve faced danger before. We can handle this.”

Noah glanced back at her, a reassuring smile on his face. “That’s the spirit. We’ll find the library, regroup, and figure out our next move. Together.”

The distant rumble of another explosion echoed behind them, a grim reminder of the precariousness of their situation. But as they pressed on, the hope of finding sanctuary and unraveling the secrets of the pendant fueled their resolve. In the depths of the city, where history and magic intertwined, they would find the answers they sought—or die trying.