Chapter X
I looked at Riru, trying to keep my tone even, but there was a sharpness I couldn't quite hide.
"So, what exactly is it that you want to inquire about?"
She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing, holding back a storm of unspoken things.
"I'm only sending my sister here because of the Master," she said coldly. "If it were just up to me… I wouldn't trust you with a flicker of her magic."
Her words hit harder than I expected. Still, I kept my face unreadable.
"You still haven't forgiven me… for that day in the forest, have you?" I said quietly, but firmly.
"For leaving you behind."
She scoffed, her gaze sharp like glass. "Forgive?"
Then her voice softened — just a little, just enough to feel real.
"You ran away, Nexa. Just like that. No warning. No explanation. I was left alone, wondering what the hell happened to you. And now you expect me to trust you with my sister?"
I tried to keep my composure, but I could feel the tension between us building like fire pressed behind thin walls.
"I remembered something important. That's why I had to leave. And anyway… how well did we really know each other, Riru?"
I gave a small, bitter smile. "What difference does it make to you now?"
Riru looked at me for a long moment. Her jaw tightened as if she wanted to say more — maybe scream, maybe cry. But all she said was:
"It doesn't. Not really. Just… whatever. Forget it."
She looked away for a second, composing herself, then glanced toward the path her sister had taken.
"Just… take care of her, alright?" she added, her voice quieter now, almost pleading beneath the weight of her pride. "That's all I came here for. I'm leaving."
I took a deep breath and nodded gently, my voice calm, assuring.
"You don't need to worry. I'll look after her like she's my own."
Riru gave me one last look — unreadable, but lingering — then turned and walked away, her footsteps fading into the distance.
But her words stayed.
And so did the ache in my chest that came with memories neither of us dared to name.
After the children's training ended, I quietly slipped away. My next mission awaited.
Tonight, my target was a high-profile businessman — a man whose influence stretched across continents, yet whose secrets were darker than anyone could imagine. On the surface, he was known for creating luxurious, cutting-edge gloves — accessories that appeared elegant, even fashionable — but in truth, they were laced with dark enchantments. These gloves gave wearers a false sense of power, tapping into the hidden veins of ancient magic. His biggest crime, however, wasn't selling cursed objects…
…it was his obsession with turning vampires into humans.
Yes, you heard that right. The very balance of nature, of power, of darkness and light — he wanted to break it. By manipulating the essence of vampire blood and experimenting on unwilling creatures, he was attempting to "normalize" them. To force them into a shape they were never meant to wear.
And tonight, he was going to be at a lavish party — an event only the most elite were invited to. This was my one chance. If I missed it, I might never get so close to him again.
But strangely, none of this — not his twisted research, nor his vampiric alliances — was the reason I was assigned to kill him.
I was doing it because my boss told me to.
Who is this boss of mine? I don't know exactly. I've never seen his face. I don't even know his real name. He only appears through shadows, through encrypted messages, through a voice that somehow always makes me stop and listen.
But what I do know — what I believe — is that he is a good man. A rare kind of human who still wants to protect this fragile world from the chaos we creatures can bring. He wants to help people. To shield them from forces they'll never understand.
So I follow his orders.
Even when I don't fully understand them.
Even when it means blood on my hands.
Because in a world where nothing is black or white, he's the only guiding light I have left.
Malti, Jenny, and I began preparing for the masquerade party.
This wasn't just any ordinary gathering — it was an elite, invite-only event where appearances were everything and identities were hidden behind ornate masks and dazzling gowns. But behind all the glamour, danger lurked in shadows. My mission was waiting inside… and we needed to get in.
The biggest challenge? Entry.
We didn't have invitations — or as they called them, golden passes. Only guests with passes could enter, and those passes were personalized, registered, and extremely hard to forge. So we had to be clever. We devised a plan to wait near the venue's side entrance — close enough to observe, yet hidden in plain sight.
There was one condition: we needed a group of exactly three girls, in the same age range and order as us — only then could the magic work seamlessly without drawing suspicion.
Minutes ticked by. The sun began to set, casting a fiery glow over the glittering mansion where the party was being hosted. Music was already thumping behind the grand doors. People arrived in luxury cars, stepping out in gowns of silk, masks studded with diamonds, feathers, or firelight shimmer.
And then — luck favored us.
A group of three girls walked toward the entrance — dressed perfectly, laughing together, the same dynamic as us. And — most importantly — they were holding three golden passes.
"This is our moment," I whispered.
I raised my hands slightly, my fingers curling into motion as a soft glow lit beneath my palms. My magic swirled through the air, invisible to ordinary eyes but potent in its charm. I sent a powerful illusion spell toward the girls — weaving thoughts into their minds gently, like a breeze slipping through an open window.
They stopped walking.
Their smiles softened. Their voices quieted.
They now believed — truly believed — they had already attended the party. That they had enjoyed it. That it was over, and it was time to go home. Laughing, completely unaware of the manipulation, they strolled toward the nearby trash bin and, as casually as tossing away a napkin, dropped the three golden passes inside.
I exhaled slowly. "It's done."
Before the moment could pass, Malti stepped forward. She whispered an incantation under her breath and disappeared for a moment — not fully, just enough to become part of the shadows. Like a wisp of smoke, she glided over and retrieved the passes without a single soul noticing.
She returned, grinning mischievously. "Got them."
I looked at the shining golden cards in her hand — keys to a world filled with danger, luxury, and death. My heart thudded.
"Let's go," I said, tightening my cloak. "The night has only just begun."
To be continue....