Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Sergeant Davis blew out a steady breath. “There have been some unusual activities at the Prison of Thorns.”
Immediately, my heart stuttered. If he was mentioning the prison, that meant it had something to do with Vasilios. “What kind of unusual activities?”
“Just a few small suspicious incidents, like doors being found left open when they were previously locked by prison officers, certain items going missing from the kitchens. It began after Vasilios and Sven entered the prison, which leads me to believe Vasilios has discovered a way of overturning the wards and magical blocks within the building. We believe he can still use his magic, if not all of it, then at least some. We thought he might use it to escape, but he hasn’t made any attempt so far. Now, we suspect he used his magic to get a message outside the prison, a message to orchestrate you being framed for murder, making him, ultimately, the one behind today’s killing.”
“You think Vasilios framed me?” It made perfect sense. He’d despised me after I betrayed him, playing a part in his arrest. I always knew he’d try to get his revenge. I just didn’t expect it to come so soon.
“We do. The ectoplasm strengthens the theory. Vasilios is from another dimension. We don’t know many things about the kind of demon he is.”
“But he didn’t kill Belinda. He might’ve given the order, but someone else clearly did the dirty work. Does that mean there are more people travelling from his dimension? People willing to do his bidding?” A chill went through me at the thought, especially since Vasilios had described Oreylia to me, and it didn’t sound like many nice people were there. Not the sort I wanted coming to my world anyway.
“It’s a possibility,” Sergeant Davis replied, and a silence fell between us.
At least a full minute elapsed before I asked, “So, why am I here if you’re sure I’m innocent?”
He clasped his hands together. “I recall you being eager to join the Guard after you graduate,” he said, piquing my interest.
“That’s correct.”
“Well, how would you feel about working for us a little sooner than anticipated?”
I stared at him for a beat, my eyes widening. “Obviously, that’s something I’d be very interested in.”
“I wouldn’t go agreeing until you hear my proposal,” Sergeant Davis warned, pausing a moment to rub his jaw before continuing. “Our expert witches and warlocks have no idea how Vasilios might still be accessing his magic while inside the prison. The only real way to find out is to have him confess his methods to another prisoner.”
“So, you’re going to recruit a prisoner to work for you?” I surmised.
Sergeant Davis shook his head. “There isn’t anyone we can trust inside that place. Most of them are in there for life. We have no sway with them. What I’m proposing is to send you in under the pretence of being found guilty of Belinda’s murder.”
I stared at him again as his words sank in. Then I stared some more. Had he really just suggested I go undercover to the Prison of Thorns? Was he out of his mind? Admittedly, a part of me was intrigued by the plan, but the other, more logical part knew entering a prison full of notorious criminals—and not just average human criminals but supernatural ones—was a very bad idea. There were witches and warlocks, demons and vampires, shapeshifters and elves. All variety of nefarious beings dwelled within the Prison of Thorns. It was a terrifying place to enter merely as a visitor, never mind masquerading as an actual prisoner. And my mortal enemy, one Vasilios Acacius Girard, just so happened to be a resident.
“Wouldn’t it be wiser to send in one of your trained officers? Don’t get me wrong, I’m highly motivated by the idea of joining your ranks early, but I’m just not sure I’m the right person,” I told him honestly.
“Yes, it would be better if I could use a trained member of the Guard. Unfortunately, those in our ranks have already crossed paths with many of the inmates. All it would take is for one person to recognise our undercover agent, and the entire operation would be toast. You, however, are a brand-new face. No one in the prison knows who you are.”
“Right, except for Vasilios and Sven. I mean, they might not suspect that I’m undercover, but they could decide to tell the other inmates that I’m Ethan and Tegan Cristescu’s daughter. My father was involved in putting many of those people behind bars, and they’d be more than happy to use me to get back at him.”
Sergeant Davis ran a hand over his five o’clock shadow. “That is a possibility, but I feel it’s unlikely. I don’t think Vasilios means you harm in that way. He has a fondness for you.”