VENGEFUL SPIRIT

The scent of blood still clung to Asher's gloves as he moved through the corridors of Lord Kael's estate. His heartbeat had steadied, his mind clear.

Another name erased. Another life taken in payment for the massacre of his family. Yet, as always, the moment of vengeance left him feeling hollow.

He crouched by the window, surveying the courtyard below. The guards hadn't noticed their master's absence yet, but that would change soon. The night was still his ally, but dawn would come quickly, and Asher had no intention of being caught here when the sun rose.

Slipping out of the chamber, he retraced his path through the estate, careful not to disturb the silence. He avoided the pools of candlelight cast by the ornate sconces, moving like a whisper through the halls.

But then—

A noise.

A soft creak of wood.

He turned just in time to see a figure stepping from the shadows. A woman, dressed in dark leathers, her stance poised, a dagger in her hand. Her eyes locked onto him with something between recognition and curiosity.

"I wondered when you'd come for him," she said, her voice quiet but steady.

Asher's grip on his blade tightened. He had mapped out every guard, every servant—she wasn't one of them. "Who are you?"

"A question you should have asked before spilling Kael's blood."

She moved swiftly, her blade flashing. Asher barely avoided the first strike, pivoting away as the dagger sliced the air where his throat had been a moment before. She was quick—quicker than he expected. He countered, feinting left and striking right, but she matched him move for move.

Metal kissed metal in rapid succession as they exchanged blows, neither yielding. Asher's mind raced. If she had wanted to sound the alarm, she would have done so already. No—she wasn't here to protect Kael. She was here for him.

"You knew I was coming," he said between breaths, narrowly dodging another strike.

"I knew someone would," she replied, twisting away from his counterattack. "Kael had too many enemies. But few are skilled enough to slip past his defenses."

She was testing him, gauging his skill.

He feigned a stumble, drawing her in. She took the bait, lunging forward, and Asher twisted, trapping her wrist and wrenching the dagger from her grasp. He spun her around, locking an arm around her throat, his blade pressed against her skin.

A moment of silence.

Then she smiled.

"If you were going to kill me, you'd have done it already."

Asher hesitated for half a breath—too long. She drove her elbow into his ribs, breaking free of his grasp, and leapt back, retrieving her fallen dagger. But instead of attacking, she lowered it slightly.

"Who are you?" Asher demanded.

She studied him, as if deciding how much to reveal. Then, she sheathed her blade. "I'm not your enemy, assassin."

"That remains to be seen."

She smirked. "I'm Selene. Kael's death was inevitable. I just wanted to see who would be the one to do it."

Asher's eyes narrowed. "You were watching?"

"Since the moment you set foot on the estate." She glanced toward the corridor. "But we don't have time for more questions. The guards will notice soon."

"You should be running, then."

Selene tilted her head. "I could say the same to you. But we both know you're not done yet."

Asher didn't answer. He didn't trust her, but she wasn't wrong. Kael was just one piece of the puzzle.

She turned, moving toward the window. "If you live long enough, seek out a man named Rylan Graves in Black Hollow."

Asher frowned. "Why?"

"Because he has answers you're looking for."

With that, she vanished into the night, leaving Asher with more questions than before.

Hours Later — The Safehouse

The small, abandoned forge at the edge of the city served as his hideout. Asher sat by the dying embers in the forge's hearth, rolling a dagger between his fingers. His mind replayed the night's events.

Selene. Rylan Graves.

Names he had not known before, but now they lingered in his thoughts like unfinished business.

Kael's death had been necessary, but it wasn't the end. Asher knew there were more men, more names on his list. And now, he had a lead.

He pulled a map from his satchel, his eyes tracing the path toward Black Hollow. It was a city built on rot and secrets, a place where men like Rylan Graves thrived.

If Selene was right, then Asher's quest for vengeance was far from over.

It was only just beginning.