Vitrian Secrets by Dele Andersen (book club reads txt) 📕

risked their lives.” Petter’s face flushed. “Sorry, I didn't mean—”

“No, it's okay,” Wanda said. “Who's that guy flicking a penknife in his hand and looking straight at me?”

“That's Erastus, Becky's older brother. He just arrived. Their dad asked him to come,” Petter said. “I hear he is a killing machine, and he's only twenty-one, I think. He's the youngest adult here.”

“Who's their dad?” Wanda observed Petter before turning back to Erastus, who kept staring at her with disdain. She wondered if he thought the look made him feel cool.

“Nathaniel. He was sitting in front of Becky yesterday.”

“I could have guessed. Becky and Erastus kind of follow his expensive and wealthy way of dressing.”

“Oh, they are one of the wealthiest Vitrian families. You, Becky, Charles, and I are the only underaged people here,” Petter said.

“Just the four of us?”

“Yes.” Petter looked toward Bathe, Alexis, and the other elders who had started dispersing from their brief meeting. “It’s a Vitrian thing. The elders place their children in proper positions. Nathaniel called Erastus home from school in England to be part of this historic 'field trip,' as they call it. Becky received the instruction to train you, 'The Chosen.' Charles is allowed to join the journey even though he's not an adult, and I can guess they will ride with their fathers for protection. They won’t be riding with you.”

Wanda could hear the tone of displeasure and possibly enmity in Petter's voice. She knew he was an orphan, and she could see on his face that he wasn't comfortable with the advantage his mates had over him because his parents were no longer around.

“You don't have to worry about that, Petter,” Wanda said. “You are more brilliant than all of them. You were the best student in class for consecutive years running.” And then she remembered their cozy incident yesterday, which Becky had mentioned.

“It doesn't work like that here at the fortress. Inequality is highly encouraged,” Petter grumbled. “Who likes you and what positions or places you were sent to when you were young defines if your future is bright or not.” He looked away into oblivion. “Whatever we’re offered, children like me have to obey; otherwise, life will be tough for us.”

“Wanda,” Bathe called, breaking off Wanda’s thoughts and her desire to discuss what Becky had said.

She turned to see him and Alexis a few feet away from her. She walked toward them while Petter followed closely. When they got to Bathe, Wanda looked up at Alexis and saw he was staring at Petter.

“Excuse us,” Alexis said to Petter, and before Wanda could object, Petter vanished expeditiously.

She wondered why Petter quivered in front of Alexis. She recalled their meeting at the House, when Petter barely spoke throughout their discussion in the conference room.

“Here, I forgot to give you this.” Bathe brought out a shrunken Praying Méndez from the denim jacket he wore over his black shirt.

Wanda stared at the shirt and noticed it had thin stripes of shimmering lines running parallel from top to bottom. How overwhelmed she must have been inside the training hall not to notice the silver on the shirt.

“This Praying Méndez has a powerful tracking device embedded in it,” Bathe said, holding onto it. “Should we be separated, we can find you anywhere as long as this is with you.”

“Becky has decided to ride with you,” Alexis added, smiling. “She's sorry she said anything about your dad and would like to make up it. Though her father doesn’t like her coming with you instead of him.”

“Becky?” Wanda was shocked, knowing how badly their training session had gone. Bathe mumbled some words to show his disapproval that Becky would be riding with them.

“Okay.” Wanda took the Méndez from Bathe. “I guess we’re leaving now.”

“Yes,” Alexis answered. “Bathe, please get everyone ready in their different cars.

Bathe walked away, and suddenly Wanda realized the hooded person stood beside her. A cold chill went down her spine at the unanticipated appearance.

“Definitely a strong and unique presence of The Chosen,” a woman’s voice said behind the hood.

The woman slid the hood back. Her eyes were gray, her facial skin as flawless as one could imagine—no single spot or blemish. Her hair was long and gray, but the blond in it was still visible. She spoke with a slight Eastern European accent that made Wanda wonder where she grew up.

“Are you sure, Ventress?” Alexis asked. His eyes carried intense excitement and disturbance at the same time.

“Ventress.” Wanda spoke without meaning to. The name struck a bell.

“Yes,” the lady replied, looking at Wanda.

“You're the head of the Medical Hall.”

“Yes, my girl.” Ventress smiled at Wanda. “I've been swamped trying to resuscitate your brother.” Her eyes showed no sincerity in what she said. She was straight and cold, looking void of emotion.

“Thanks.” Wanda felt awkward as she observed the eldritch woman. Everything about her looked too perfect, and it gave Wanda an uncomfortable feeling.

Ventress touched Wanda's arm, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. Something unexplainable passed from Ventress' body into hers.

“I will destroy the rebels.” Wanda found herself repeating what she received from Ventress' mind. “I vow to burn their demons, to burn that which killed my father, with fire never seen before. This is my oath—I swear it.”

Ventress let go, and Wanda took a deep breath.

“Yes, I'm sure, Alexis,” Ventress said. “More rage than I have felt in any other child in fifteen years.”

“What just happened?” Wanda asked.

“You swore a blood oath to destroy the rebels and their demons.” Ventress smiled, a smile so cold it warned Wanda that there was something she should dislike about Ventress.

“Blood oath?” Wanda echoed and looked at her arm where Ventress had held onto her. There was a tiny dot of blood on her arm. Ventress must have had a pin-like object somewhere in her hand when she touched her. “I don't even know how to fight. How am I going to destroy demons?”

“Oh, you know how to fight, my girl,” Ventress said. “It is in your blood. When the time comes, your 'Chosen Experience' will come, and your powers will manifest. You can avenge your father’s death on the rebels and the demon that took his life.”

Wanda stared at Ventress. She did not understand what she meant, but she liked the last statement. She wanted to get back at the rebels and the demon involved in her father's death.

“Oh, my father! Him I will surely avenge,” Wanda replied, not minding the oath she had made. She looked at Alexis, still holding her left arm in his right hand. “Is the Healing Méndez all you need for Jason to get well?”

“Yes. Jason will be fine when we have the Healing Méndez,” Ventress said with no flicker of emotion on her face.

“Because you need the Healing Méndez to heal him.” Wanda turned back to Ventress to confirm.

“Yes, Wanda,” Alexis said, looking more focused than she’d yet seen. “Your brother and so many lives depend on you returning with the Healing Méndez. I have doubled the people going with your group because there are children among you. You have to return with the Healing Méndez within the next forty-eight hours.”

“What if the rebels will only release the Healing Méndez in exchange for me?”

“Here,” Alexis said. He and Ventress smiled as if they had prepared for her question. He passed an item wrapped inside a silver linen cloth to Wanda. “Hold this. Don't show it to anyone. Not Bathe, not Petter, not Becky. Someone is feeding the rebels information from inside the fortress, and I don't know who. Keep this with you as an extra tool against any demon that Bathe or the others can't overcome, or in case the rebels don't want to release you. Only open it as a last resort. Any demon will bow at its glow, providing us time to come to your aid.”

“Okay.” Wanda nodded as she accepted the item. It was small, even in her hands. She put the silver linen cloth in the pocket of her jeans. She felt the hardness of the object through her jeans.

“The journey today will be short,” Ventress said, and Wanda wondered how she knew that. “The Healing Méndez is golden in appearance, with the Vitrian symbol on every side. You can't miss it.” Ventress then walked away.

Wanda watched her as she left. She was still feeling the tiny jolts in her left arm when Bathe shouted her name to get her attention. She turned back to see Alexis already by the jeep. Everyone else had stepped into their jeeps as well, the engines running. She got inside Bathe's jeep, and the journey commenced.

About half an hour in, Wanda finally paid attention to the discussion going on by Becky, Petter, and Bathe, all in the car with her.

“You really should have allowed someone else to drive,” Petter whined.

“You're all children. I would have only allowed an adult,” Bathe answered. He looked straight ahead as he drove on the uneven mountain road.

“Well, you should have allowed some of the other adults then,” Becky said. “Rather than putting three children and yourself in a car.”

“This is my team, so you are my responsibility.” There was no remorse in his voice. “I would rather have you guys ride with me than anyone else. And besides, that's why we are the second vehicle in the convoy.”

Petter, who was seated next to Bathe up front, looked down into the valley. They were driving on the rough edges of the mountain. “How many minutes more?”

“Another half an hour or so, I'd guess,” Bathe replied.

“It's quite far.” Becky squinted.

“Would you expect the rebels to hide any of their locations close to the fortress?” Bathe asked.

“No, I wouldn't,” Becky said. She glanced at Wanda, and they stared at each other for a few seconds.

“I’m sorry for going overboard this morning,” Becky said as the car hit an undulating part of the road and bounced up and down.

“It's all right,” Wanda replied. “Thanks for riding with me.” She decided to lighten the hatred she had toward Becky.

“My pleasure,” Becky said.

Wanda noticed Bathe watching in the rearview mirror She picked up a smile on his face when she and Becky spoke politely to each other.

The car in front of them let out a loud, rapid noise. It swerved from one side of the road to the other several times as the driver tried to control it.

“They've lost a tire,” Petter shouted as the car collided with a tree and slammed to a halt.

Before any of them could react, Bathe turned and shouted, “Down, Petter!”

Petter ducked just as a sharp arrow shattered the windshield of the jeep. It missed Petter by half an inch and buried itself into his seat.

Wanda shivered as the glass broke. She pressed herself against the seat she sat on. Her breathing came in short gasps.

The arrow was long and black, strengthened by the use of metal and silver. It wasn't an arrow shot from an ordinary wooden bow; this came from a powerful, engineered string bow.

Bathe turned around, but before he could say a word, more arrows flew in their direction.

“Duck, everyone!” Bathe shouted as he turned the wheel of the jeep without delay and moved the car off the open mountain road. He drove for some feet into the woods, closer to the cliff, and stopped.

Wanda glanced back and saw the other two cars hadn’t followed. The arrows had damaged them. Two arrows penetrated the hood of one jeep and the tire of the last vehicle.

“Out, everyone! Now!” Bathe's voice was steadfast. He pushed his door open.

“They’re trying to kill us,” Becky shouted, and Wanda heard the panic in her voice.

The instant Bathe stepped out, seven Vitrian adults stood next to him. Wanda looked around. The cars had been full when they left.

“Where are the others?” Wanda asked.

Bathe ignored her and looked through the dense trees.

“Knocked out by the arrows,” one of the men answered, and everyone turned to him.

Wanda saw that he was young, in his mid- or late-twenties. Three of the other adults were in their