The trials sacrisvita bo.., p.1
The Trials (Sacrisvita Book 8), page 1
THE TRIALS
SACRISVITA BOOK VIII
Dylan Steel
THE TRIALS: SACRISVITA BOOK VIII
Dylan Steel
Heritage Publishing
Copyright © 2017
www.DylanSteel.com
Cover design by Flappy Dog Designs.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ALSO BY DYLAN STEEL
1. STARTING STRONG
2. GOODNIGHT
3. KUNBRIAT
4. HIDE
5. TECH
6. THE REVEAL
7. THE CHALLENGE
8. SKILLS
9. THROWN
10. WOUNDED
11. RESPONSIBILITIES
12. SWITCHED
13. CHANGES
14. A FAVOR
15. STRAINED RELATIONS
16. THE ARCHIVES
17. A NEW TRIAL
18. ALARMING
19. SECRETS
20. THE CEREMONY
THE ROGUE: SACRISVITA BOOK IX - EXCERPT
READ MORE BY DYLAN STEEL
ALSO BY DYLAN STEEL
Sacrisvita
THE PRODIGY: A Sacrisvita Prequel
(FREE and only available HERE.)
THE INSTITUTION: Sacrisvita Book I
THE ARCHIVES: Sacrisvita Book II
THE RELIC: Sacrisvita Book III
THE ESTATE: Sacrisvita Book IV
THE VANISHED: Sacrisvita Book V
THE CAPTIVE: Sacrisvita Book VI
THE OUTCAST: Sacrisvita Book VII
THE TRIALS: Sacrisvita Book VIII
THE ROGUE: Sacrisvita Book IX
THE CITIZEN: Sacrisvita Book X
THE SURVIVOR: Sacrisvita Book XI
***
Third Earth
SLEEPER: A Third Earth Prequel
(FREE and only available HERE.)
ALONE: Third Earth Volume One
***
For the most updated list of Dylan’s books, visit www.DylanSteel.com.
Join Dylan’s Insiders Club to find out when her next book is out! Plus, get an exclusive prequel scene to Sacrisvita.
1. STARTING STRONG
“Don’t roll your eyes,” Mr. Walsh scolded good-naturedly, gesturing with enthusiasm. “I can almost guarantee you’ve never had this much fun in a history class before.”
Snickering filled the room as the students exchanged incredulous looks.
Sage’s mouth puckered to the side, half in sympathy and half in resignation.
“Ordinarily, trips to the Archives are reserved for the Historical Interest Society, but as you all are in Level Fourteen now, the administration feels you need the added exposure. Especially after the reduced excursions the last couple years.”
Sage felt everyone’s eyes shoot in her direction. She slumped lower in her seat, ears burning.
Mr. Walsh snapped his fingers. “Eyes up front. It’s no one’s fault.” He sighed and leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms as he continued. “If you haven’t already heard, this is the last year you’ll all have the same basic schedule, so you need to make the most of your time. Beginning next year, your coursework will become more and more unique to your interests and abilities, separating you from your classmates in anticipation of your most likely future duties.”
Marnie’s hand shot up. She didn’t wait to be called on. “But Mr. Walsh, why do we have to go? It’s not like that many of us even want to be history teachers or work at the Archives or whatever. Isn’t it kind of a waste of time?”
“Marnie,” Mr. Walsh began in a calm voice, “please don’t interrupt.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and continued. “As I said, the administration feels you need the added exposure. Your interactions with the relics at the Archives will help the administration and Quorum place you in the correct track next year, even—” Marnie opened her mouth to protest and then snapped it shut at the look he gave her, “—even if it only serves as nothing more than confirmation that you should not be placed on a historical track. I certainly don’t expect everyone to find it a perfect fit.”
He walked around his desk. “And as you go through the remainder of your classes today, you’ll soon realize that these excursions are not isolated to history. This year is a final sort of getting-to-know-you for you and the administration. While your graduation assignments are certainly not set in stone yet, it is rare for most students to deviate from the paths that they are put on next year, so I would encourage you to make the most of your time this year. If there’s something you think you’d enjoy doing with your time after graduation, you should pursue the corresponding subjects zealously and give yourself every opportunity to—”
A tone sounded across the room, interrupting his speech and sending the students into a flurry of activity as they grabbed their databooks and rushed toward the door. Whether Mr. Walsh wanted to admit it or not, class was over.
Penelope turned around with a slight smirk. “You ready?” she whispered loudly.
Sage grabbed her databook and nodded. “Yeah.”
The two girls stood and crossed to the front of the room, trailing after the others.
“Think about what I said,” Mr. Walsh called over the noise of the thundering herd already streaming into the hallway. “Your futures are being shaped much earlier than you realize.”
Sage rushed through the door behind Penelope, shooting a sympathetic look over her shoulder at Mr. Walsh, who was still standing behind his desk, shaking his head ruefully as the last of the students left the room.
Maybe the others didn’t appreciate the full weight of his words, but she certainly didn’t want to take anything for granted this year. She was on her own now, and her actions this year would help determine whether she had days or years to live after graduating. And if anything, she was going to have to work harder than the others to overcome her less than perfect past. Being part of the Transitional Class, getting caught after multiple fights, missing an entire year of classes...
“I’m heading to the Common Lounge. Coming? Or do you have class now?” Penelope looked over her shoulder at Sage.
She shook her head. “I’ve got class. See you at lunch?”
“K.” Penelope flipped her hair and trotted down the hall, disappearing into the throng of students.
Sage pursed her lips and turned the corner toward her next class, still thinking about what Mr. Walsh had said. She wasn’t about to mess things up now.
This year, she was going to do comply with every dumb demand from the headmaster and the instructors. She’d even tell the truth—whenever possible. Sure, she’d have to try harder to avoid Carnabel and her drama, but that wasn’t really new. And she’d definitely have to stop letting Penelope talk her into disappearing when they were supposed to be studying.
Definitely.
Her eyebrows crowded together seriously as she reminded herself that she needed to grow up. She’d run out of time to do anything else. This year, she had to do everything she could to protect her future. No distractions.
Exhaling slowly, she pushed the door open to her next class and slipped into the seat beside Nic, waiting patiently for the instructor to show up and start class.
She was ready.
2. GOODNIGHT
“Wrumpheeereeus.”
“Huh?” Sage squinted in confusion at Penelope.
Penelope rolled her eyes as she pulled the toothbrush out of her mouth and spat in the sink. She dragged her fist across her mouth. “You can’t be serious.”
Sage shrugged. “Why not?” She pulled a brush through her hair. “Joining the Tech Society certainly can’t hurt my odds of getting a good placement.”
“Yeah, but you know I hate tech. We’d be in totally different Interests,” Penelope pouted. “I’d barely see you.”
“Pen, we have three classes together.”
“So?”
Sage rolled her eyes.
“You still have time to change your mind. Final choices aren’t for a few more days,” she pleaded. “You could still—”
“I’m not changing my mind.”
“Fine,” Penelope huffed. “Be that way.”
“It’s my best option, and you know it. Not all of us are ambassadors with squeaky clean records,” Sage said pointedly.
Penelope blinked. “Oh,” she said quietly. She turned her attention to the mirror, leaning forward and poking at a stray hair deliberately.
“Pen, don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad. I’m just—” she straightened, “—going to bed now.” She jerked her head toward the Level Fifteens who were quickly overtaking the bathroom. “We already took too long, and the Sixteens’ll be here any minute.”
“Hang on,” Sage said, putting the brush down. Penelope had already begun walking toward her bunk. She scrambled after her.
“I said I was coming.”
Penelope held the edge of her sheets loosely as she forced a blank look at Sage. “Sorry. Must not have heard you.” She crawled into bed, fixing her gaze on a point on the bunk above her head.
“Sure.” Sage’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I’m glad to know that you care abo ut where I’m placed after graduation. Too bad I won’t be able to hang out with you at the Center someday, but I guess we can’t all make it that long,” she grumbled. She flung back her sheets and flopped into bed.
“Are you kidding me?”
Sage forced herself to look at Penelope with as much indifference as she could muster. She wasn’t expecting to see Penelope sitting up with her jaw hanging open. Or the shiny wetness in her eyes.
Penelope shook her head. “If one of us is going to make it to the Center, Sage, it’s gonna be you.”
“Right,” Sage scoffed dismissively.
“Think about it.” Penelope’s voice was quiet. “All you’ve been through, and you’re still here. Not just here, but at the top of the class, even in subjects you hate. And you haven’t been shunned, even though you probably should’ve been a bunch of times.” She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Her eyes flitted to the ground. “And I don’t know of anyone else who’s talked to Mr. Gaztok, let alone gotten him to listen to them and agree to anything on their terms.”
Pausing, Penelope lifted her chin and met Sage’s stare.
“You’re gonna be just fine, Sage. It’s the rest of us that have to worry. We just follow the rules.”
Sage just looked at her dumbly for a moment. “Thanks,” she finally managed to mutter. “I guess.” Forcing a smile, she added, “But hey, if you’re worried about not being ok because you just follow rules, you should probably stop worrying right now.”
Penelope brightened a bit. “I don’t break nearly as many rules as you think I do, you know.”
“Oh, sure,” Sage teased, “just a few a week, nothing major. Not like anyone ever—”
“Lights out in one minute, ladies! Get to your bunks now! Don’t dawdle!” Madame Humphrey’s voice rang out across the room. “Let’s start the new year off well, shall we?”
The two girls snapped their mouths closed and exchanged resigned looks, scooting under their covers.
“Goodnight.”
“‘Night.”
Pulling the thin sheet up around her neck, Sage squeezed her eyes shut, welcoming the end of the day before Madame Humphrey snuffed out the light.
***
Her face was throbbing. Her wrists too. And based on the pressure against her legs and stomach, the bunk overhead must have somehow collapsed on top of her.
That couldn’t be right.
Sage moved her head side to side in the slightest, trying to wake up. Something was wrong.
Pain shot up her spine. She winced, opening her eyes in the darkness. The dorm was still pitch black, but something—or someone—was moving beside her.
Nervous now, she started to lick her lips, but they were too dry. It was like running her tongue across a cotton ball. No, actually, it was worse. It was—
“Got it?” A girl hissed next to her ear, barely loud enough for her to hear.
Sage jumped—or at least she tried to. Something was pinning her down, making it impossible to move. Her eyes widened as her alertness finally started to surface. Her lips weren’t dry, she’d been—
“Yeah,” another voice whispered back.
—gagged. Again.
Panic rose up in her chest as she pieced together what little information she knew. She’d never thought she wasn’t safe at the Institution of all places. Were the Lawless angry that she’d given up the benefactor? Was this retribution? How could they have gotten to her here?
“She’s awake,” the first girl hissed again.
“Duh,” said the second voice.
“Sage,” the first girl breathed in her ear menacingly, “do as we say, and you’ll be fine. Don’t do as we say, and you’ll regret it forever. Understand?”
Sage jerked her head up and down quickly, but her mind was piecing together a way to escape. She couldn’t do anything with the weight pressing her down, and she couldn’t scream with the gag in her mouth.
“Ok. Keep quiet and sit up. You’re coming with us.”
Whatever had been holding her against the bed suddenly fell away, giving her limbs a sense of lightness. She sat up cautiously, her body tense.
“Follow me.”
As soon as Sage stood, she felt someone grab her wrists and force them together behind her back, fastening them together in one fluid motion. Her shoulders twisted instinctively in protest, and she felt something rough scrape down her face and settle around her neck as another set of hands braced her upper arms. Not again.
Darkness settled over her eyes, making it impossible to determine how many people she’d have to fight off if she managed to get free. She hated to admit it, but it didn’t look like she had any choice but to trust them to keep their word that she’d be fine if she cooperated.
They shuffled blindly down the empty space between the bunks. From their footsteps, she could tell there were at least three—no, four—people flanking her. Maybe more. Her nostrils flared in frustration.
A sudden pressure against her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.
“Is it open yet?” a girl’s voice behind her whispered. She sounded worried.
“Shhh!”
“Ow!”
Sage felt her arm jerk to the side as one of her captors grunted in pain. Her mind was reeling. Whoever this was, she no longer thought they were working for the Lawless. This was far too disorganized for them.
“Ok, go now.”
Sage felt a different set of hands grabbing at her now as the others released her. She was being pulled forward, dragged into the hallway and through the maze of corridors in the Institution. Only two other sets of footsteps padded along with her now. If her hands were still free, she was confident she could’ve put up a good enough fight to save herself, but this? She needed to play along awhile longer.
For the first little bit, she tried to count her steps, mentally tracking each turn and its distance, but after the eighth direction switch, she had to admit defeat. Her math skills may have improved, but she wasn’t enough of a genius to keep all that information in her head. Plus, they’d gone down several flights of stairs, and she was no longer sure what level of the building she was even on anymore.
Finally, she heard a door creak open, and she felt herself being pulled through it, out of the hall. Pinpricks of light blurred through the woven fabric in front of her face. She shivered. Somehow this room felt much colder than the hallway she’d just left.
The door swung closed immediately behind her, clanking loudly, followed by a deafening click.
Her heart sank. Wherever she was, she was locked in.
“C’mon.” The voice that spoke this time came from beside her. She felt the grip on her arm tighten as she was jerked farther into the room.
“Sit.” Sage’s head snapped in the direction of the command. It came from a low voice just a short distance in front of her.
Hands pushed down firmly on both of her shoulders. Her knees buckled beneath her, sending her crashing straight into a chair rather unceremoniously.
“You can take that off her now,” the low voice spoke again.
She squinted in the light as the hood was removed from her head. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene before her.
3. KUNBRIAT
Sage blinked. She was sitting in a room unlike any she’d ever seen at the Institution—assuming she was still actually in the Institution at all. Every surface was lined with stone, a general dampness hanging in the air that made her breathing through the gag even more strained.
In front of her stood two boys and two girls, studying her seriously. They all looked like they were Level Sixteens. A muffled noise at her side made her whip her neck around. Another boy sat beside her in a similar state, still bound and gagged. She recognized him from their Common Lounge, but she couldn’t remember his name.
“How come she’s here?” One of the boys blurted out as he looked Sage up and down with disgust.
A small smile slid over the other boy’s face. “You know how this works, Tate,” he said. “It’s either by vote or invitation. Either way, no vetoes.”
“Well, I didn’t vote for her,” Tate grumbled.
Sage shifted her weight uncomfortably. It wasn’t exactly like she wanted to be here either.
“Fortunately for her, you didn’t have to.”
Fortunately?
The other boy was clearly in charge of whatever this was. He turned to address the two Level Fourteens still at their mercy. “I would say sorry for the secrecy, but…” he gestured around the room with a smug grin, “I’m not really sorry, and the secrecy is actually pretty necessary.”
