Page 112 of Reckless Witch

Whoops and shouts go up—mostly from students who have been at The Academy for a year or longer. Some of the newer students turn their heads toward the shimmer, brows drawn in apprehension.

“Unlike the real world, no one can be killed in our virtual Shadow world,” Raith goes on. “At least, not by virtual inhabitants, so don’t aim at any of your fellow students.”

Laughter ripples through the students and a few “Better watch your back” and “Ooohs” filter through the murmur.

“As instructed, newer students are to stick close to their team leaders and tell them if you start feeling overwhelmed. Watchmen are stationed inside the virtual world to help keep everyone safe. We will also be watching.”

I force my attention away from Leilah and remind myself she is in no real danger.

Chapter Forty-Seven

LEILAH

Plans of mice and men…

My heart pounds as I wait in the rear of Team Three, as Team Four enters the virtual war zone ahead of us.

Seton is here. He was a student at The Academy. If ever the fates decided to bless and curse me, it’s now. I want to cry and scream at the same time. Seton, of all people, has the ability to know something is wrong in my life. If he figures out that I intend to give up magic, he will fight me tooth and nail. I must speak with Raith immediately, once the games are finished, and get my magic stripped.

The guy ahead of me disappears through the opening into the virtual world. I take a deep breath and step inside after him. The late morning sunshine cuts off behind me and I enter misty darkness. I guess the hour to be approximately two o’clock in the morning. In the distance, skyscrapers, slim and sleek, rise into a thick fog that the full moon barely penetrates. Even insects and night creatures are silent.

Ahead of us, members of Team Four melt into the darkness that surrounds the estate we’re to infiltrate. Five feet to my left, I discern the small form of Chelsea Nightlow alongside a tall boy who’s part of our team.

Darkness, the kind not seen with the eyes, presses close around me. I shiver and resist the urge to hug myself. I hadn’t thought I would see a single Shadow in my lifetime. The wisps of fear that probe my consciousness tell me this world is filled with damn good imitations of the real thing. My pulse jumps. The feeling reminds me of what I experienced when I read the words in Grams’ spell book.

I suddenly wish I was buried under my bedcovers, Stony and I watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory. I lift a hand to pat the pocket where Stony remains suspiciously quiet but stop myself. I can’t risk her being taken away. Not yet.

Darryl, our team leader, motions us forward. I wish Fran was on our team, but she’d been assigned to the demon hunting team. Our trek through the trees is almost noiseless. The rustle of leaves underfoot comes from Chelsea’s vicinity.

We reach the estate’s eight-foot-high wall, and the wards intended to keep out intruders pushes against my senses. I concentrate on light and murmur the spell created during the Shadow War to penetrate wards: “Light and love, surround me in your peace.”

Embarrassment ripples through me, but I will my pulse to remain slow and steady. Much as I want to believe this is all BS, there’s no doubt that our warriors managed to stop The Shadows from annihilating us, and I must admit to a little curiosity at trying out these easy spells even on virtual Shadows.

I twirl the index finger of my right hand in a circle and am rewarded with a subtle but strong sense of peace. I breathe deeply and ask the nature fae to lift me with their wind. I crouch and leap, landing with the barest snick of my boots on the top of the wall.

Thank you, I telepath to the unseen nature spirits, then drop to the ground on the other side.

Darryl and two other students land soundlessly to my right. To my surprise, Chelsea follows next. Darryl crouches and motions us to follow, then starts forward. I fall in behind Chelsea, who glances over her shoulder at me before she hurries ahead.

We reach a large elm and halt as two other students catch up with us. An image flashes of us walking through the door and getting mowed down by machine gun fire. My heart leaps and I realize fear is pressing against my chest like an unseen hand. Fuck. Is this Shadow fear? I shiver. Does Stony feel the darkness? I touch the pocket where she’s hiding and am comforted when my fingers discern the slight bulge.

I release a breath. Team Four will do their job and all will be well. They have to enter the mansion through a skylight on the east side of the house, then disable the security system located in the security office on the ground floor.

Half a dozen students catch up with us and Darryl leads us across a darkened expanse of lawn to a large oak close to the circle of light cast by night lamps that illuminate the house.

A minute later, the last two of our team arrive. We drop flat to the grass and I hold my breath as two guards approach along a walkway that skirts the house. They wear body armor and carry AR-15 assault rifles in addition to sidearms. Fuck, did Elijah Walker’s guards carry AR-15 assault rifles? My mouth goes dry. What if the instructors are wrong and we can be killed?

No one twitches so much as a muscle as the guards near. My heart pounds so loudly I’m sure everyone can hear. The guards are almost past us when one abruptly stops. The other swings around as the first one turns in our direction. He reaches for the small flashlight on his belt.

Movement snaps my attention right. Chelsea pushes up onto her knees and hurls two curved throwing knives so fast that the blades blur before they hit their marks. The two guards fall to the ground with so little noise it’s eerie. My heartrate jumps to a gallop.

Darryl surges to his feet and whispers, “Everyone up.”

We stand.

Darryl faces Chelsea. “Give me your remaining weapons.”

She hesitates.