The Arcane Rebellion- The Arcane Series #1

Chapter 2

Layla

Xavi, Amir, Uriah and I were standing on the platform, above all of the Sanctuary so everyone could see us.

The Sanctuary was opened by the first Four Horsemen, a criminal organization fighting against the iron fist of the monarchy and the Cress dynasty, around a century ago. The organization itself was supposed to be a political party, but the parliament and the monarchy were too threatened by them, so they were turned down and banned from the parliament.

The Sanctuary was a safe space for mages to live outside the radar of the monarchy. After the Great Abduction, it started housing all of the tortured mages and hiding them. They had all turned their back to the law and turned to underground crime. They're all Horsemen, they just work in secret.

The Sanctuary itself is actually just an underground cave system remodeled to be more of an underground apartment complex, or something of that sort. It's set under a tavern that works as its' cover. Though some would think it's quite complicated to keep everyone fed and clothed and whatnot, it's not. We're famous business owners and we don't only own the tavern. We own some of the shops in the street and at some other places in town. Everyone knows who were are. At least our covers. 

Xavi, Amir, Uriah and I, we're the Four Horsemen. We're the leaders of the whole organization, we're legacies, nepotism babies. Our ancestors were the first Four Horsemen. I would hope we're making them proud.

"You all know, too well even, what had happened three years ago.", my voice echoed through the Sanctuary. "The monarchy, it's doing nothing good for the mages. To them, we're just witches and warlocks. We're evil and we need to be wiped from the face of the world.", 'Witch' and 'warlock' are derogatory names for mages. They mock us and mark us as something disgusting, filthy and dirty. Nothing but evil.

"That has to end, we all know it! And we're going to end it! We're going to change the system. We're going to put a stop to this endless torture!", I started yelling as all eyes were on me. For a moment, everyone was quiet, but then they started cheering. They wanted this as much as I did, even more maybe. Maybe Xavi was right, maybe I was feeding them empty promises and false hope, but at least it was hope. After so many hopeless days and nights, months and weeks, hope is all everyone actually needed.

"We'll get our magic back. We'll get it even if we have to fight for it.", I said on a final note. Everyone was quiet again, thinking about what I had said. We all missed our magic. And we weren't going to wait any more for it.

I looked at the three gentlemen beside me to see their eyes also full of hope. We all knew it was a long shot, but we also knew we had to try. Everyone was starting to leave. I turned the opposite of where the three men were going so Xavi, surprised, stopped me by grabbing my hand.

"Where are you going?", he asked and I sighed.

"Going to see Andy.", I told him and he nodded.

"I'm coming with you.", he said and I shook my head.

"You don't have to I was just-", I started but raised his hand to stop me from talking. I let him do too much, I thought. If he was somebody else, I'd probably rip off his hand.

"He's my friend too, remember?", he asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Fine. Let's go.", I gave in and we went up to the tavern and headed toward the stables to get our horses.

***

I was going to climb onto my horse, but when I tried to do so, my back ached in protest. I took a deep breath in, preparing myself for the pain that was going to come, but when I was about to try to pull myself up, I felt hands on my waist helping me get onto the horse.