The
night sky
stretched endlessly above as Seraphis soared through the cold air, her
white raven form
blending seamlessly into the moonlight.
Wings outstretched
, she rode the wind currents, her sharp eyes locked onto her next destination—
The mansion of Count Leoson.
A noble. A man with power.
And the one who sent her
that pathetic threat letter.
She smirked inwardly.
Big mistake.
The Mansion in the Shadows
Leoson's estate loomed ahead—a massive
gothic mansion
, its spires piercing the sky like
claws of stone.
Black iron fences encircled the property, and heavily armed
guards
patrolled the perimeter, their torches flickering in the darkness.
A fortress.
But Seraphis had
never met a fortress she couldn’t breach.
Diving low, she circled once over the grounds.
Two guards at the front gate. Four on the walls. Two watching the side entrances.
She noted the
second-floor balcony
, the
open window
, and the
unlocked study
beyond.
Perfect.
She folded her wings,
plummeting
toward the balcony before shifting mid-air—
Her
human form
landed
silently
on the railing, boots barely making a sound.
And then she slipped
inside.
The Count’s Secrets
The
study
was massive. A fireplace crackled in the corner, casting eerie shadows across the
bookshelves lined with expensive tomes.
A mahogany desk sat in the center,
covered in documents, maps, and sealed letters.
Seraphis moved swiftly, her fingers brushing over the papers.
Then she saw it.
A
letter
, sealed with a black wax crest.
She cracked it open.
The Letter That Changed Everything
Count Leoson,
The assassin has become a problem. She must be dealt with before she disrupts our operations further. I expect this to be handled swiftly. No loose ends.
—Lord V.
Seraphis narrowed her eyes.
Lord V?
This wasn’t just about Count Leoson. There was someone
bigger.
Someone
pulling the strings.
And she hated being someone else’s
target.
Footsteps in the Dark
A creak in the hallway.
Seraphis didn’t move, her senses sharpening.
A
guard.
Heavy boots. Armed.
She
ducked behind the desk
, her breathing controlled, her hand resting on a
throwing knife.
The door
swung open.
A man entered, scanning the room. He frowned at the
open balcony doors
, suspicion creeping into his gaze.
Seraphis waited.
The moment he turned toward the
desk
, she struck.
With a swift motion, she
grabbed his collar, yanked him down, and slammed his head against the desk’s edge.
A muffled thud.
The guard
collapsed.
Seraphis exhaled.
Too easy.
The Count’s Bedroom
She didn’t have time to waste.
Slipping through the hallways
, she moved like a shadow, her steps silent, her knives ready.
She reached the
master bedroom
.
Inside, a figure lay sleeping.
Count Leoson.
Seraphis stepped forward, drawing one of her
razor-sharp metal cards
and pressing it to his throat.
His eyes
snapped open.
The Silent Threat
The Count froze, his breath catching.
Seraphis leaned down, her voice a whisper.
"Good evening, Count. Lovely mansion you have."
His body trembled. "W-Who are you?"
She smirked. "The woman you tried to have killed. You sent me a letter, remember?"
His face went
pale.
"I-I was just following orders!" he stammered. "I had no choice!"
Seraphis traced the blade along his jaw. "You had a choice. You just made the wrong one."
He swallowed hard. "Please, I—"
Seraphis leaned in closer.
"Tell me about
Lord V.
"
His face twisted in fear.
"I—I can’t," he choked out. "He’ll kill me."
Seraphis tilted her head. "And if you don’t talk, what do you think happens next?"
A moment of
silence.
Then—
"I don’t know his full name," Leoson whispered. "No one does. He operates from the
capital
, hidden behind powerful nobles. He has influence over the
guilds, the black markets, the underground networks.
"
Seraphis frowned.
This was bigger than she thought.
Leoson licked his lips, eyes darting around. "If you leave now, I can pretend this never happened. I’ll withdraw the bounty. I swear."
Seraphis smiled.
Then she slammed the
butt of her dagger
into his temple.
The Count
went limp.
The Next Step
Seraphis stood, watching his unconscious form.
She could
kill him
now.
But he was just a
pawn
. The real threat was
Lord V.
And she wanted him to know
she was coming.
Pulling a
black ink bottle
from the Count’s desk, she dipped her finger in and
drew a raven symbol
on his forehead.
A message.
You started this game. Now let’s play.
With that, she vanished into the shadows—leaving only the Count, his terror, and the mark of
his new nightmare.