Undercity: Manifest

Chapter Thirteen

The file on Zach's screen was staring back at him. There had been several unsubstantiated reports of murders in the West District. It was an area dominated by the vampire population. He was staring at an image of a male teenager whose throat had been ripped open. There were no distinctive marks to prove a vampire was responsible. 

He knew the Coven needed to tread carefully due to the numerous wrongful accusations placed on vampires over the centuries. It was a political nightmare keeping the peace between the different Mystic groups, especially with the next arena event taking place in three days. His only option had been to send Dante in under the guise of acting as an advisor to the West District police department. He subconsciously rubbed the mark on his hand as he re-read the report Dante had sent earlier in the day.

His office door opening was a welcome reprieve from his thoughts. Sadie stepped in, dressed in her gym leggings and tank top no doubt expecting to meet Dante for training. He assumed she had headed to the training room and was here to ask why Dante wasn't there. Zach had been so swept up in the latest murder that he didn't think to let her know she wasn't required again tonight. 

'Sorry, I knocked but you didn't answer.' Her apology wasn't necessary. 

'It's fine, I didn't...' He cut himself off the moment he noticed the purple bruising above her eye. 'What happened to your face?' It came out harsher than he intended. 

She shrugged him off, closing the door behind her as she stepped fully into his office. 'Perks of the job'.

He knew he was sending her out unprepared. All other recruits had been training since childhood and were expected to be exceptionally skilled before they were considered for any formal positions. 

Guilt was plastered all over his face as he continued to look over her injury. The daily feedback he received from Ben indicated that her training at the academy was going well. He was pleased to learn that she made her first arrest yesterday. It seemed Ben neglected to tell him that she had been hurt in the process- he would have words with him about that later. 

He realised it had been a while since either of them spoke and the room was growing tense. Clearly Sadie could feel it too. She was given away by her shuffling feet and the mindless twirling of the stone around her neck. 

'Dante is away on assignment'. He finally provided. 'I'm sorry, I forgot to let you know before you came down here'. 

'Oh. Is he okay?' Her concern for Dante was unexpected. 

'He will be fine, but I don't know how long it will be until he's back.' 

Disappointment flashed across her face for the briefest of moments before she masked it. 

'Would you mind if I went and practiced alone? I've been making some progress, but clearly not enough.' She pointed to her eye re-igniting his guilt. 

For reasons he wasn't prepared to delve into, he didn't want her to leave. 

'How would you feel about practicing something different today?' 

They found themselves in the magic training room which sat at the back of the combat room she trained in with Dante. The room was set up with an array of targets lining the back wall. Like all the other walls including the ceiling and floor, the back wall was spelled to nullify mis-aimed magic. A weapons rack hung along the edge bordering the target range. Central to everything was a raised sparring area.

'Your necklace.' Zach requested as he held out his hand. Sadie handed it over and he hung it from a silver dagger resting on the weapon rack. 'You look nervous.' He observed.