Wicked Heirs (Electi Academy #1)

31. ~Elliot Sabre~

31

~Elliot Sabre~

“The sales projections of the Illuminex Shield are…”

Frederick’s voice faded into the background as he delivered his report.

As my top marketing sales associate he was the best of the best with the ability, much like mine, to hold an audience captive with a gravitas borne from a perfect combination of charm and esteemed know-how. I knew our latest product launch was in good hands with him at the helm. But I always oversaw every stage of rolling out a new product from the development stage all the way through to the end stages and beyond when the product was out there in the supernatural world and being consumed by the public, I continued to monitor it.

But for the first time in decades since I’d established Sabre Tech , I wasn’t focused.

I was missing information as I continued to space out from the immediate and pay attention to the unsettling, aggravating sensations thrumming through my blood and assaulting my psyche alike.

The stabbing pain radiating through my head that had begun ten minutes ago was also growing in prominence and worsening, refusing to be denied.

Something was wrong.

The wrong beings were within range of my protective magic.

Considering how many protective barriers and wards I had erected throughout the supernatural world, it took time and great concentration to determine which was in question here.

“Finish up without me,” I told Frederick, rising to my feet.

My team gathered around the mahogany oval boardroom table all eyed me incredulously.

I didn’t walk out in the middle of a business meeting.

Although I had a responsibility to Exemplar , unlike some of the other members, including Abi, my schedule there was strict and set in stone, not flexible, because of my commitment shared between Exemplar and Sabre Tech .

The last time something off schedule had occurred and I’d been forced to break from the well-oiled machine that was my life and schedule, had been three years ago during the Cataclysm . So my business associates weren’t used to it now that we’d been in a period of peace from all of that madness for so long.

“Sir?” Frederick, a Light Fae with a platinum blond buzzcut and impeccable style rivaling mine, but with more of a flair, queried as I rapidly gathered my phone and tablet and rounded the table toward the door.

“Personal emergency,” I informed him and the dozen other of my staff gathered around.

“Xavier? Is he all right?”

“It’s not him. My son is fine,” I answered a little tersely, the pounding pain in my head not helping matters, nor the urgency and time sensitive nature of the situation.

“Finish the meeting and send me the minutes. Have Dahlia hold my calls.”

“All right, will do, boss man.”

“Apologies,” I told the room.

With that, I hurried out.

As soon as I was clear, I teleported to a quiet alley a few blocks away from my office building where I wouldn’t be disturbed.

As I rematerialized, a wave of dizziness beset me and I had to slap my hand to the wall to steady myself.

The pain in my head was becoming unmanageable too.

It meant only one thing in this context—someone, or someones, were trying to breach my magic. They were no longer just near, they were attacking.

It took me a moment in my state to manage it, but I succeeded in lessening the pain to a more manageable level with a muting spell.

It wouldn’t last long, but it was enough for me to be able to think and focus so I could deal with the root cause.

I was just about to start doing that when my phone rang.

I was going to ignore it until I realized that it was the ringtone I had specifically reserved for my son.

I’d never ignore his call.

Especially considering it was so rare whenever he did actually reach out these days.

Things just hadn’t been the same since he’d been turned.

Against his will.

Because I’d failed him.

I hadn’t been able to protect him.

It was my life’s biggest regret.

I blinked and answered my phone, “Son.”

“Hey, Dad.”

I smiled at the sound of his voice.

“I’ve missed you, Xavier.”

“Missed you too. I’m just sorry that this isn’t a personal call.”

“It’s not? Has something happened at Electi Academy? Did your vampire side—”

“It’s nothing to do with that. I’m fine. But a whole lot else isn’t.”

“I’m listening.” And I didn’t have a lot of time, I needed to deal with the threat currently pushing against my protective magic. Alas, he sounded extremely anxious, so I needed to hear him out.

As much as he didn’t want it to be the case anymore, my son took priority over all things for me.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was trying to protect Saryan for Orpheus.”

“I’m well aware that Saryan has been taken and intel is being gathered as we speak. As soon as there’s something to go on, I’ll be overseeing the rescue myself.”

“It’s… more than that. It’s about how he was taken.”

“Through an enemy in possession of a Hellborn .”

“You saw the evidence at the cathedral site.”

“You were there?”

“I was. We were doing our own investigation.”

“Xavier! That wasn’t permitted. Not by the Academy and not by me. It’s far too dangerous.”

“It’s Orpheus’ father we’re talking about. Reprimand me later if you must, but I need you to listen right now.”

I blew out a breath. “Say what you need to.”

“That Hellborn was in Saryan’s possession. He obtained it somehow and went after Constantine’s acolytes. Yeah, they’ve risen, and they’re searching for the Vitalium. Saryan was trying to stop that from happening. Please, Dad, don’t officially report this. For me. It will destroy Orpheus if his father is punished. I mean, he’s already kidnapped, who knows what’s already befalling him as it is.”

By the fires of Hades! “Xavier, this is—”

“It’s a lot, I know. I realize how bad it is, and I should’ve told you sooner, but—”

“I need to go. Now.” It was obvious where the attack on my protective magic was coming from.

“Go? Why? What’s—”

“I’ve felt an attempted assault against one of my barriers. You’ve just given me vital intel to determine which one is under threat.”

“Your ward around the Vitalium,” he choked. “Hell.”

“That’s exactly what will befall us if I don’t stop this.”

“Dad, no. It’s too dangerous. With the Hellborn in play—”

“Son, it’s my duty. Stay within the dome at the Academy. Be safe, for the love of the angels.”

With that, I hung up.

And in the very next moment, I was teleporting to one of my lesser known estates where I was housing the key to keeping the monstrous entity that was Constantine Vale apart from the world.

As soon as I arrived, I noticed that my ward was down.

Not just down, ripped apart and burned by the work of a Hellborn.

I sent a quick magical SOS to Abigail.

I just hoped she’d get it in time, considering she was currently off-realm in the Empire of the Dragons at their bi-annual peacekeeping summit.

I called my magic, my indigo flames sparking on either upturned palm, and I carefully made my way into the house.

Right away, as soon as I stepped into the entryway, I heard commotion coming from the worst place possible—my lab in the basement.

I took a risk and teleported just outside.

Sure enough, voices reached me, as well as sounds of scraping, thuds, and hell knew what else.

To break into one of my properties… it was unbelievable.

Then again, Constantine’s acolytes were known for their hubris.

They mistakenly believed they were serving a god.

He was nothing but another madman abusing his power.

A madman who’d hurt my son.

These fools succeeding in freeing him was unthinkable.

I peered around and down the rough stone steps that set the tone for the rest of the space, the walls and ceiling white stone also, the place more like a cave than an actual room. My potions and magical ingredients covered the walls, set into the stone shelves. Ancient weaponry including suits of armor were set around the space too.

Over to the right was a large protective golden case housing volumes of my grimoires, including those passed down to me by my parents and my ancestors.

To the left was my white marble work table where I conducted experiments and performed new spells, while practicing known ones to keep my skills sharp.

I shuddered as I saw it wasn’t empty anymore.

No, there now, sprawled across the entire length of it was the unconscious form of Constantine Vale.

They’d also freed him from the incubator Abigail and I had stored his body in to preserve it so it didn’t rot over time.

You should’ve killed him when you’d had the chance.

I gritted my teeth against that voice that still plagued me every now and then three years later.

Because I’d touched black magic.

I’d tried to save my son, to reverse the transformation, but he’d stopped me and literally gotten on his knees and begged me to forgo my pursuit. He’d claimed he’d needed me to accept him as he was, but I wasn’t fool enough to believe that. He knew I’d always accept him, no matter what. I’d been doing it for him. He’d only said that to protect me from becoming forever tainted by wielding high-level black magic, which was where things had been headed.

But now, looking at the prone form of Constantine, it had me regretting that I hadn’t at least taken his life. It would have been brutal justice for my son, for us all.

There were two dozen of his acolytes surrounding him.

Another three dozen were gathered around the room. Vampires, magic-wielders, werewolves, and Light Fae.

Shit. It was an issue battling different species in one shot, because they all possessed different abilities, so it was hard to guard against attack.

I caught sight of the Hellborn that Xavier had warned me about.

This particular one was a golden staff flaming wildly with hellfire at the top end .

It was being held by a sorcerer who was more than just a little familiar to me.

Trent Astor.

He was a disgraced former member of Exemplar, having been kicked out by Abigail for violating our policies and serving his own interests rather than those of the supernatural world. In essence, he was a power whore.

My optimal strategy was to snatch the Hellborn , then raise my ward, forcing them all out in a tidal wave of magic, but with him in possession of it, a five-hundred-year-old experienced sorcerer, it would be much more difficult and time-consuming. And time wasn’t something I had available to me with five dozen of them filling the room.

I watched two of them cry out excitedly and I zoned in on them carrying the ornate carved black jar that contained the Vitalium. It was sealed by my magic, but that wouldn’t be the case much longer once it got within reach of that damned hellfire.

Any notion of waiting for Abi had just flown out the proverbial window.

There wasn’t time.

Especially as I watched that fool, Astor, approach the two holding the jar raised high in premature celebration.

I bolted down the steps and swept my hand to the left in an arc, sending the two dozen gathered around Constantine sailing across the room and crashing into the stone wall, bottles, vials and ingredients smashing to pieces at the harsh magical impact.

After downing them all in one shot, I turned to my right to inflict the same.

But several of them dove for cover and others moved out of range.

Of that magical move.

Not this one.

I slammed my palm down onto the ground and created a violent shockwave with my magic that ripped them off their feet.

Cries of surprise and groans of pain filled my ears as I went to storm over there to finish it and take back the Vitalium jar.

But then a ferocious white-hot pain shot through my lower back.

“Fuck!” I roared.

I only just managed to crane my neck to see Trent Astor there and shoving the Hellborn into my back, the raging hellfire burning through my suit and shirt and deep into my skin.

I smelled burning flesh in moments as the agony just increased evermore with each passing moment.

“Not today, almighty one. No wild magical theatrics from you,” he said.

“You’re making a mistake,” I gritted out, trying to keep my magic alive to finish off the acolytes, some of which were already getting back to their feet.

He pulled the staff away, only to thrust the fire into the back of my right leg.

I cried out and went down onto my knees.

My magic sputtered out.

And then he was there in front of me.

“I’m truly sorry. This is not about you. It’s Exemplar that needs to fall. And that fucking angel, Abigail.”

“No,” I rasped, before collapsing onto my side as the hellfire continued to ravish my body, spreading rapidly and melting my flesh, then continuing on down to the bone.

My surroundings blurred and I fought not to pass out.

I couldn’t.

I couldn’t let this be.

I was just about able to make out Astor walking away and taking hold of the jar.

He broke my ward with the staff, then opened it and rushed over to Constantine’s body with all the acolytes at his back.

He held it over him and the clear shimmering solution was poured into his mouth as two acolytes held it open.

“Stop!” I rasped.

In the next second, a familiar bright white light tore through the room.

Abi.

Bolts fired at them like a fusillade of missiles, blowing them all back and knocking some of them out. I saw Astor and a few of them taking cover under the table, as some of them tried to return fire, only to slam into a shield she conjured lightning-fast.

I must have screamed, because it broke her concentration and she snatched the Hellborn from Astor with her magic, then rushed over to me.

“Sweetheart,” she choked, at the state of me being ravaged by hellfire.

A cool sensation permeated my body and after a few moments, I looked to see that the hellfire had been extinguished.

“The damage is extensive. I need to heal you. Immediately, Elliot.”

“No… stop them… first.”

She hesitated.

“Greater… good.”

She listened and then she was gone, battling the acolytes like the fierce being she was in combat.

Some of them worked to keep her busy as I caught sight of others rushing over to the table again while she was over on the right side near my grimoires dealing with the others.

Those to the left were gathering Constantine’s body into their arms then, the magic-wielders calling their power and preparing to teleport.

Shock permeated every part of me as I watched the monster’s eyes flicker open.

They locked on mine and recognition shone a moment later.

He smirked.

And then he disappeared with his acolytes in a cloud of their teleportation.

No. No. No. No!

“Abi,” I rasped. “Our children… they’re in danger.”

It was over then… I couldn’t hold on any longer.

I lost consciousness.