Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

The faint clink, clink of metal against glass sounded from the edge of the balcony, only audible to those who chose to listen. Aeluri took another swig of her whiskey, then resumed tapping her rings against the pristine glass. She was waiting as patiently as she could for the night to get interesting. One arm resting on the balcony supported her chin as the other lazily held her drink, which was dangerously close to spilling. The woman wouldn’t allow it to spray onto the ball-goers below, though. Whiskey was too precious of a liquid to waste so carelessly.

From the balcony, she could see nearly every part of the room except the bar underneath in the alcove. The elegant chamber was filled to the brim with high-class individuals of varying importance, with new ones arriving every few minutes. Entertainment of all kinds was scattered throughout the room, and more than once Aeluri found herself distracted by the sparkling outfits of dancers. Waiters carrying food and drinks navigated the crowds like expert sailors, the waves of people threatening to knock their trays over. Despite the chaos, not a single glass had fallen nor bite of food been dropped. It was clear that the staff hired for the event was top notch. When Aeluri had visited the bar earlier, she was enthralled by the speed at which the many bartenders hands flew. She had come to realize that the mixing of drinks, cutting of fruit, and garnishing of glasses was a true art form. The woman had left a large tip upon departure.

Aeluri reached up to adjust the masquerade mask she had been given at the door. It was surprisingly comfortable, despite the sequins and lace that covered it. The item was intricately designed with red and black fabric bordered by black lace, with roses and sequins placed on the right corner. It was entirely Aeluri’s style, and she appreciated the thoughtfulness of the woman who had brought her here tonight.

The dark mage was disguised by more than just the mask, though. Crimson and gold eyes were too memorable to those who saw her and she needed to blend in, so she wore a contact in her left eye to hide the red iris beneath. Of the two colors, gold was less likely to stand out, so she donned dually warm eyes tonight. The contact felt odd, but Aeluri had to just grin and bear it. She would be getting paid if tonight went well, so any small sacrifice was worth it.

A hand was reached to her shoulder to toss a dark lock of raven hair over the back, but was met with nothing. Aeluri cursed herself for forgetting that her hair was up for the first time in ages. Delicate braids and pins held the locks together into a hairdo all too elegant in her opinion. The dark mage also wore an inconspicuous long sleeve black dress that was more revealing than she was used to. Alongside a diagonally low cut top, two large gaps in the fabric revealed the pale skin of her torso all the way across her back. Despite it being fancy for her own taste, the summoner barely stood out among the crowd. The highest quality fabric was used for everyone else’s outfits and they were designed by only the best and brightest tailors. After all, this was an event for the rich and famous, a charity disguised as a way for them to flaunt their wealth. What seemed like idle chatter was likely them sizing each other up, making alliances while analyzing their opponents.

Aeluri noticed the doors open with a flourish, revealing Ivory Tremaine in all her businesswoman glory. The Tremaine heiress greeted everyone passionately, reestablishing connections made long ago. Even with a beautifully designed mask, it was easy to tell who she was. An air of elegance and importance followed her wherever she went. The woman had been all over the news lately due to multiple assassination attempts. Each time she barely escaped, but not without many lives of her employees sacrificed. The dark mage observing from the balcony had made sure to do plenty of research on Mrs. Tremaine before attending this event. The woman had reached out in the form of a cloaked man who had passed Aeluri a note in the streets of Crocus. It seemed she had heard of the summoner’s time in Basilisk Fang and was inquiring about her skills. With piqued curiosity, Aeluri had followed through with the communication. The two women had met in an abandoned factory in the slums of Crocus. It was clear that Ivory had been using the utmost caution. Aeluri hadn’t even recognized her until she took the hood down from her cloak. The businesswoman was surrounded by a circle of intimidating guards as the two ladies had conducted business. The male company hadn’t intimidated the dark mage, though she was infinitely more curious about the situation. In the end, Ivory had promised Aeluri payment if she conducted a certain task. Payment - especially a generous one - was always welcome, so the summoner accepted.

Behind Ivory trailed a tall man in a fashionably simple blue suit and matching mask who attempted to accompany her further into the room. The lady turned and spoke to him in hushed tones. He appeared frustrated at what she had said. To the untrained eye, he may have seemed like a minor businessman who was in the process of doing business with Ivory and following her to get a word in. Yet, with the way he glanced around the room and held himself with caution, any assassin would be able to tell he was a guard of sorts. Aeluri let out a humph. With that suit, he wasn’t doing a great job of staying out of the limelight. In her opinion, black was the best way to blend into crowds. She may be biased though.

All of a sudden the heiress was whisked away by a dashing-looking man. Blonde hair flopped over his forehead in a messy, yet endearing way. His golden suit stood out like a flower against dirt and his mask was an equally vibrant royal blue color. This was Jett Dexter, a up-and-coming businessman and Ivory’s new lover. Their relationship was the gossip of the upper class, so Aeluri hadn’t had to look far to find out more about him. The only thing she couldn’t discover was where he had come from. His business had seemed to sprout from almost nowhere, employing thousands in a company who dealt with trade deals. Every end the dark mage had attempted to follow lead to nothing. Lack of information made her curiosity blaze like a wildfire. As always, she wanted to know more only to satisfy her curiosity. Jett Dexter was not her target tonight, yet there was intrigue in his mysteriousness. Perhaps she would find time to conveniently overhear some of his conversations.

Aeluri watched from the balcony as Ivory made her way into the crowds, greeting friends, allies, and business partners left and right. A group of her closest dignitaries flocked to her like birds, hovering around her to make themselves seem important. They jabbered on about nonsense like a bunch of magpies attempting to get a morsel of food. Any acknowledgement given by Mrs. Tremaine only made them squawk louder. Aeluri had to admire the woman’s patience. To be surrounded by such awful people sounded like hell.

The dull roar of chatter quieted almost instantaneously. Aeluri shot her gaze to the door, where a man had just entered. Arco Tremaine, Ivory’s soon-to-be-ex husband, had entered with his own group of dignitaries and a woman whose waist his arm was wrapped around. His red mask complemented the deep maroon suit he wore. A freshly trimmed beard lined his jaw. The woman at his side donned an equally red dress and a white mask. Thousands of pairs of eyes focused in on the man, many glancing between Ivory and Arco. Any movement or reaction of the businessman was soaked up in the sponge of gossip that was likely to be squeezed out momentarily. Tension filled the air as Ivory realized the silence and looked up to lock eyes with Arco. The two stared each other down for what felt like hours. Years of resentment and betrayal rested in those gazes. A silent battle of wills was at hand. At last, Arco averted his eyes and made his way to the other side of the room with his group. Mrs. Tremaine smirked triumphantly, turning back towards the bar.

While her magpies were distracted with gossip, the businesswoman began looking around. Her eyes traced the room, then all the way across the balcony until they landed on Aeluri. Without expression she gave a subtle nod, and Aeluri raised her glass in response. With one last swig, the empty whiskey glass was left on the balcony to either fall to the ballroom floor or be collected by a busboy. The clack of heels was muffled by chatter as the dark mage made her way to the balcony stairs, confidence in her step.

The night was about to get fun.

When the guard that came in with Ivory started making his way towards the bottom of the stairs, Aeluri narrowed her eyes. Was he coming to interrogate her? Or had Ivory filled him in about her task? His tall form wove through the crowd like a fish through water, dodging trays and people just as easily as the waiters. The dark mage began her descent, watching the guard from the corner of her eye.

As she got closer, she enhanced her vision to a feline level. Golden eyes peered at his approaching face, trying to discern the man beneath the mask. After a moment it struck her so hard she nearly stopped in her tracks. It was Shane Stern.

The pulsing of her heart increased, but she managed to keep her visible reaction to just pausing on a step. Her mind was racing. After the night they had shared months ago, Aeluri certainly thought she would never see him again. The vision of his broken, bleeding body lying within the trashed honeymoon suite was one that resurfaced in her head every now and then. Honestly, she had tried to forget about the situation. Mulling over a dead man was not her kind of thing. That was, until she saw his face - his new face - proudly plastered on the cover of Sorcerer’s Magazine. Aeluri had stared in shock at the magazine she found discarded in the streets of Crocus. She had taken it home, stared at it, and read the articles within. He had even mentioned her within his interview! For hours, she fumed, paced, and stared as his handsome likeness on the cover with fury. How dare he live through her attack! Now she had to worry about encountering him again, knowing he was alive and out there in the world. The man had plagued her mind the rest of the day, so much so that she had holed herself up in the room she rented at the Hidden Blades headquarters.

Now here he was in the flesh, rushing to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. Aeluri nearly balked and ran back up to the balcony. Though she had scoped out all the exits upon arrival, there seemed to be no easy escape from this. The dark mage wasn’t sure how much of that night he would remember. Gemini’s hallucinogenic saliva did horrible wonders to the memory, but some people were more resistant to it than others. Would he remember her launching the attack, then standing by and watching him be torn up? Surely if he did, he would be on his way over to arrest her.

Aeluri steeled herself. Ivory had brought her here and she was determined to complete her task no matter what it took. Any big reactions or loud speaking would draw attention to her, and she hoped the man had the sense to keep things on the down low as well. The raven-haired woman had to keep her cool in order to carry out her job. Golden eyes met his as she descended the final few steps. This was Shane, no doubt. His blonde hair looked soft in its styled position and striking blue eyes peered from beneath the mask he was given.

Aeluri nearly rolled her eyes at his bow, unpleasantly reminded of how ridiculous formalities were. They were a necessity at this event, however. The dark mage gave a gentle nod as she took Shane’s hand. The feeling of his palm against her fingers was familiar and she was frustrated with the way it made her feel.

“Yes, you may,” she answered, her voice smooth and composed.

Aeluri could feel the gazes of people nearby, painfully aware of how much attention was upon her at the moment. Male and females stares drilled into her with interest, lust, and envy. It wasn’t the whole ballroom’s attention, but it was enough that she was becoming recognizable to those around her and not just another masked face in the crowd. That, combined with the sudden presence of Shane, was making her mission more difficult already. How could she possibly complete her task with this big, handsome distraction at her fingertips? Aeluri stewed her frustration in silence as she was escorted by the Rune Knight to a quieter corner of the room. Most of her desperately wanted to escape the conversation likely to happen about the last time they met, but a slight curiosity nudged its way into her mind. The chaos-loving side of her wanted to know just how awful things could get if he did remember her attack. Thus she continued her trajectory behind Shane.

For a moment she made eye contact with Ivory, whose discreet, watchful eyes gave nothing away. Surely she was trying to figure out why Shane was abandoning his close proximity to dance with the woman she had hired for completely different reasons. Having her guard so far away was nerve-wracking under the surface. The two knowing each other was not in her plans, just a coincidence - lucky or unlucky as it would come to be.

Aeluri took up the dancing position without a second thought. The movements were familiar, albeit learned long ago. The material of Shane’s blue suit beneath her hands was smooth to the touch as her hands were placed gently upon his shoulders. The two fit together perfectly, dancing as if they had done it a thousand times before. Slow, soothing music played as other couples began to pair off and dance. Aeluri caught a glimpse of Jett and Ivory dancing together across the room, their bodies uncomfortably close to one another.

Shane captured her attention once more as he began to speak. His voice was the same as she remembered, despite his outward changes. She almost missed his mismatching eyes that mirrored hers, but it was undeniable that the blue suited him well. As she listened to the words he spoke, her brow furrowed for a second in confusion. Put her in harm’s way? She was never in harm’s way that night. Then it dawned on her. He didn’t remember anything after she had returned from the shower. Not her calling the Rune Knights scum, not Gemini’s eruption from beneath the bed, nor how she left him to die. Nothing.

Aeluri was rendered speechless for a moment. Of course it would be easy to correct him, to press herself closer and whisper the truth in his ear, to watch his beautiful face fall at the realization that she wasn’t who he wanted her to be. Ruining the man’s dreams in a heartbeat was so simple and attainable. The sorrow and anger he was likely to feel if he knew would be delicious and she would soak it all in as if it were whiskey. Yet, something held her back. Her disgust with the Rune Knights and his affiliation with them and the fury she felt at him for keeping it a secret was still there, though not as strong as it had been in the moment. She’d had mild intentions earlier that one night that turned sinister quickly, but still had found enjoyable moments that often came up in her memory. Despite it all, Aeluri found that as she looked in those gentle blue eyes she couldn’t bring herself to confess.

“Er…” she stammered. Long eyelashes hid golden eyes as she glanced away, collecting her thoughts. “It’s okay, Shane,” Aeluri began quietly, gaining volume as she grew confident in the story she was making up on the spot. “I managed to escape out the window once they attacked. I figured you didn’t seek me out because you were kidnapped, or… worse.”

It was a little lie, small and easy enough to say. Aeluri was used to lying to benefit herself. It was just a part of life. Little did she realize that some little lies grow bigger and bigger until it consumes everything and comes crashing down. But this was just a little lie, and it wasn’t hard for her to convince herself that it was not a big deal at all.

Shane lit up at her words and Aeluri almost scowled. How could he accept her lie so easily? If he pried deeper it was likely to be revealed. He was too pure and trustworthy of her for his own good. The dark mage was dangerous, a threat and likely a potential target to Shane’s guild. Should they end up tied together romantically, it would put a target on both of their backs.

Aeluri noticed the sudden tension in Shane’s frame as he stared towards the balcony. Golden eyes glanced the same way without a turn of her head, discreetly observing the area. Nothing in particular caught her watchful eye, and the summoner wondered what Shane had seen. Anything that was a threat to her mission had to be eliminated. She was mostly aware of what was going on around her, occasionally heightening her feline senses to check for anything new.

The Rune Knight inquired about getting drinks, and Aeluri was about to answer when he mentioned cinnamon whiskey. Ah, so he had remembered that part of their night together very clearly. A tight-lipped smile crossed her face for a moment. All of their interactions were certainly not helping her focus on the night at hand. If he was at her side the whole time, she wouldn’t be able to do what was necessary. She decided to bide her time and wait for some sort of distraction that would give her a second to slip away.

A more pleasant expression overcame her as she answered. “Yes, I’d like that.” She waited for Shane to lead the way to the bar. Peering around the room briefly, her eyes landed on her target in the corner of the room. They were dancing with their date, surrounded by friends and dignitaries alike. She made a mental note of their whereabouts, then refocused on the man before her.

Shane took off to retrieve their drinks and Aeluri realized she had a moment alone. Giving an occasional glance to the Knight’s location, she swiftly crossed the room in the opposite direction. Any time away from him would allow her to progress in her mission.

Her golden eyes fixated on a man at the edge of the room. It was Arco Tremaine, his maroon-robed arm wrapped around his date’s waist as the two chatted cheerfully with another couple. She proceeded casually, appearing to be occupied with a charcuterie tray on a nearby table. Her eyes stared blankly at the cheeses while she focused on her hearing. Arco’s voice rang clearly in her head as if he was speaking right next to her.

“-be over soon. We have our last few court appointments coming up in the next month.” Arco explained to the other couple. “It’s been a long road, but I can’t wait for it to be over. Freedom will feel so wonderful.”

“Oh, it definitely will,” the woman across from him replied. “When I got divorced from my first husband I felt like a new person afterwards! Luckily I met James here shortly afterwards,” she added with a smooch to her husband’s cheek. The man gave a nod and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Yup,” was all he said.

“Let’s go grab some more drinks!” she said to her husband, taking his hand and leading him away. “We’ll chat later!” the chipper voice called back to Arco and his companion, who both waved goodbye.

Arco’s date turned to him. “We’ll be wed soon, right dear?” she asked coyly. She sounded very young, years less than her partner.

“Of course, Arianne,” Arco cooed to her, grabbing her hips gently and pulling her closer. “As soon as I get my money’s worth from that old hag, I’ll give you anything you want. You can have your dream wedding dress and we can go anywhere on our honeymoon!” Arianne giggled and kissed him.

“Aren’t you worried that she’ll send someone after you?” Arianne asked in hushed tones, her face suddenly becoming solemn. Her brow furrowed as she looked into Arco’s eyes. The man let out a quiet laugh.

“My dear, I have nothing to worry about. She’s too proper and reserved to do anything of the sort. She’s bound by tradition and rules of the high class. I know she won’t play dirty like me,” he replied cockily.

A glance in his direction revealed his smug grin to Aeluri. She had heard enough, and Shane was likely to be back soon with their drinks. Abandoning her false infatuation with the charcuterie board, she wove through the crowd back to where the Knight had left her. The summoner’s mind was going over what she had heard and tying it into her plan. Perhaps her task would be a little easier with the knowledge she had gained from eavesdropping.

It was only a minute after she returned that Shane approached with two glasses in hand. Aeluri eagerly accepted the whiskey and took a long sip. The cinnamon comforted her taste buds and she relaxed slightly.

“Hmm,” she mused, swirling the liquid gently in circles. “I visited Talonia for the first time recently. It’s a lovely place.”

”Yes, the waterfall was beautiful,” Aeluri agreed nonchalantly. She took another sip of the drink Shane had brought, the harsh liquid bringing a familiar burn to her throat. The man had remembered her favorite drink, yet the abuse he had suffered at her hands was jumbled and lost by the hallucinogens. Gemini’s saliva was an intriguing substance that Aeluri had tested out a few times and got mixed results. Some victims forgot everything or had terrifying hallucinations, while others merely saw vibrant colors and felt a little dizzy. Though the substance and dosage was the same every time, the effects seemed to depend on the person. Aeluri planned to test more in the future to quell the burning curiosity she felt. Perhaps she would accidentally encounter some kids or a person walking alone at night. The summoner felt a dark amusement. If only Shane knew the things she had done and intended to do!

“I haven’t been to Desierto, though I’ve heard it’s an interesting place,” Aeluri mused, tapping a ring on her whiskey glass absentmindedly. “Their mining industry is quite large if I remember correctly.”

Aeluri’s observant eyes caught the movement of Shane’s hand. She was already on edge due to tonight’s task, so her brow furrowed slightly when some ice cubes appeared in the man’s hand. He seemed to have been planning this. As he flicked the ice cubes towards the waiter, Aeluri tensed. Hopefully nobody else noticed his actions. She didn’t need any more attention on her.

The eyes of everyone were on the waiter, however, as he maneuvered expertly to keep his balance. In his hand, the tray barely wobbled. Aeluri clenched her jaw as she understood what Shane had been up to. Golden eyes scoured the crowd, picking out each waiter and watching them carefully. Minute movements and details confirmed it. These waiters were impeccably trained and physically fit. Their purpose was definitely not just waiting on the guests tonight.

Aeluri was growing twitchy. If these waiters acted on whatever they were instructed to do, her own mission was doomed. Her window of opportunity was slimming. She had to act soon. The summoner opened her mouth to question Shane about what he knew, but was interrupted by a silky smooth voice.

“Mr. Stern, would you like a dance?” It was Ivory, her expression sharp. The heiress and her date had meandered over from their group of magpie-like friends. She looked calm and collected, but up close one could notice the irritation brewing beneath the surface. Aeluri could see the slight twitch of her eyelid and knew Shane was in for a stern talking-to.

Before the Knight could respond, Ivory was already grabbing his arm. “Ma’am, I’m sure my lovely Jett here would gladly dance with you until Mr. Stern returns. Right, Jett darling?” The businesswoman had just that on her mind - business. She wanted to question Shane about his actions with the waiters and make sure he wasn’t getting distracted from his duty.

Jett grabbed Ivory’s hand and gave her knuckles a gentle kiss. “Of course, my dove,” he replied smoothly. Ivory’s stony smile softened for a moment, then she began to drag Shane off to the side of the room to have her chat with him. Aeluri raised her hand slightly and gave a mocking wave to the man.

Turning to Ivory’s companion, she looked him over. Jett’s royal blue mask covered a large part of his face, the rich color making his skin tone look warm. The rest of him seemed to be coated in gold. His suit was expertly fitted and Aeluri could see the fine golden threads woven into it, giving it a subtle shine. Blonde hair flopped over the edge of his mask, not reaching far enough to cover his golden eyes.

As their eyes met, gold clashed with gold. The two were subtly sizing each other up, watching to see if they could pick up any information about the other. It lasted for mere seconds, but it felt like Aeluri was staring down a threat. Jett seemed confident with a touch of cocky, but acted nothing but sweet towards Ivory. Aeluri was suspicious of him. The way he stared into her eyes like he was trying to devour her soul made her uneasy. Not to mention that she couldn’t find much information on him in her research. Jett was a mystery, and she hated that.

“So, Ms. Atra,” Jett said in a honey-like voice. He bowed down and extended his hand for her to take. “Shall we dance?”

”I suppose so,” Aeluri replied to Jett with a collected tone. She wasn’t about to let her poised front down just because the man unnerved her. Something about him was familiar and it set her on edge. Whatever it was wasn’t clear. With all senses on high alert, she took the hand that was offered to her. The skin on his hands was tough and smooth. He definitely used hand lotion a lot. Aeluri could smell the faint orange scent.

Jett led her farther into the dancefloor, away from Ivory and Shane. Aeluri followed without protest, but a worried gaze glanced from beneath the intricate mask back towards Shane. Hopefully Ivory wouldn’t lay into him too bad. For once, she despised the distance between herself and the Knight. Despite her current distaste for him after he had survived her attack, she couldn’t deny that if anything went wrong he was a valued ally. As a Rune Knight and a General, he was likely to be a fearsome fighting force.

The two had just positioned themselves to dance when the current song ended. At once, a new one picked up at a faster pace. The piano grew louder while the violas plucked their strings at a consistent pace. Aeluri perked up a bit. It had been a long time since she’d danced so something this swift. Dancing was something she actually enjoyed. The energetic movements quite differed from her personality, but the profound feeling it gave was unlike any other.

Jett positioned himself pristinely for the next dance. Not a muscle was out of place, and even his hair looked like it belonged exactly where each strand fell. “Ms. Atra,” he began with his honeyed voice, “You do know the Midian Waltz, correct? It’s become popular among the Fiorean upper class.” He was testing her, seeing just how involved she was in the billionaire culture.

“I do,” Aeluri responded simply. The more basic she responded, the less he could glean from her words. She distrusted the man. There was sugar in his words and it left a bad taste in her mouth. The dark mage had been sure to do her research before arriving at this ball. Time had been taken to refresh her memory on the different dances and customs so that she would fit in perfectly with the other party-goers.

“Good. Let us begin, then.” With that, he led her into a simple waltz. The two went a few counts with the easy step, assumedly to become comfortable with Jett’s lead. Aeluri’s heels clacked on the floor softly with each movement of her feet. Eye contact with Jett was avoided for the most part, but occasionally she couldn’t help but catch his gaze. His eyes were mostly a soft yellow, but at a closer distance she noticed a fiery orange-hazel color around the pupil.

Jett began to pick up the pace. Their steps sounded in unity, echoing in time with the dancers around them. The masked man twirled Aeluri a few times, which she completed with perfection. A few more counts of basic steps occured, then Jett grabbed a strong hold on her hands. Aeluri remembered the proper move and leaned back, lifting one foot off the ground with her leg straightened. Upon uprighting herself, the duo continued their dance. Light, quick steps paired with spinning and exaggerated hand gestures made up the Midian Waltz. The dance floor looked like it was covered in pairs of elegant birds.

Yet again, the music picked up pace. This would be the truest test of dancing skills. The two dancers met eyes, the saffron gazes staring intensely. Jett raised an eyebrow as if to challenge Aeluri. He was a competent dancer and wished to see if she could maintain her skill. The raven-haired woman’s mouth curled up at the edges ever so slightly, as if to say ‘game on’. Jett began to step and spin faster and faster. Aeluri kept up with him on every movement, never missing a beat. Surrounding people began to make space for the two as their dance became more fevered.

A second was all it took for the mood seemed to change. With a yank, Jett pulled Aeluri closer to him. The woman felt the air escape her lungs for a moment, but otherwise did not waver in her dance. What was he doing? If anyone saw them so close, they would certainly gossip. Was he trying to hit on her? Aeluri went to pull away, but his grip on her hand and waist was like iron. The woman’s heart rate increased slowly as she realized she was trapped. The two had reduced their dance to a simple, yet swift basic waltz.

“So, Ms. Atra,” Jett began to whisper in her ear, his voice low and quiet. “Ivory filled me in on your recent... employment to her. Just how is that going, hm?” There was a little sour note at the end of his question.

“You shouldn’t be speaking of it out loud,” Aeluri hissed, keeping her mouth close to his ear. The two danced in tight circles so as not to disturb the other pairs around them. “If anyone was to hear, Ivory’s life and livelihood would be in jeopardy.” The dark mage cared little about the Tremaine heiress or her businesses. However, if she was to be caught or killed, Aeluri wouldn’t get paid. The summoner was eager to obtain the handsome reward, so she was even willing to protect Ivory just this once.

“Oh, I don't care about that,” Jett responded. “Any eavesdroppers would be taken care of easily. What I am worried about…” his grip tightened on her hand and waist, fingers digging into the flesh. “...is that you’re not doing your job. My men have been watching you since you got here,” Aeluri clenched her jaw, trying to ignore the growing pain of his grasp. Her heart was racing faster now. Jett had people watching her. Was it the waiters? She glanced around and found that every waiter nearby was watching them through the corners of their eyes.

“I’m doing what I can,” she countered shortly. “It’s not easy to do such a thing in a place like this, especially with distractions. It takes a bit of time. There’s tactics to it!”

“Hmm,” Jett hummed exaggeratedly. “Those just sound like excuses to me,” he said dismissively. Aeluri felt his glare on her cheek and pulled her head back to meet his eyes. The fierceness within the gold startled her. Jett’s pleasant expression had been replaced by one of malice tinted with smugness. Gone was his loverboy persona. In its place was a man who had only ill intentions and savage words. Aleuri felt her gut twist. She had been right to distrust this man. Her feelings of unease were justified instantly when she realized his sweet face had turned sour.

“Well what do you expect me to do?” she chided, her voice still soft enough to be heard by just him. Though their conversation had grown tense, their steps never wavered.

“I just think you need a little motivation is all,” his snide voice turned into a snarl at the end. Her hand was still in his tight grasp and his eyes trailed over to it. Despite the dark mage’s rich appearance, she had still worn a few of her summoning rings tonight. Each one was to aid her in case she needed assistance with the night’s mission.

Jett suddenly clenched his hand around hers, squeezing hard enough to send waves of pain through Aeluri’s arm. Try as she might, the woman couldn’t help but let out a little grunt at the sensation. “Oh, does that hurt?” Jett cooed mockingly. He squeezed harder and Aeluri tensed her muscles.

“Maybe it’ll help you get a move on if you have a little incentive,” Jett explained. Using his fingers, he pushed at the Gemini ring on Aeluri’s middle finger. Her eyes widened and she wanted to pull her hand away, but it was too late. Jett popped the golden ring off of her finger and had caught it with his other hand. He held it up to the light to look for a moment, twisting the metal to and fro.

“What a lovely ring you have, Ms. Atra,” he mused with a smug smirk. “You can have it back when you’re done with your little task.” Aeluri’s heart sunk and she felt frantic. Without the Gemini ring, she felt naked and helpless. The spirit assigned to the ring was her most powerful and always able to help her in a pinch. Not to mention that the woman cared deeply about her summons. They were her comfort, her friends. If anything were to happen to them, she would be devastated! Now one was in the hands of a man who intended to do harm!

“Give it back, you bastard!” she growled, reaching up to grab it from Jett. The suave man pulled his arm back and out of her reach.

“Ah, ah, ah! That’s not going to happen. Now get back into the dancing position before anybody starts to suspect anything.” He chided, slipping the ring onto his own finger. Aeluri reluctantly put her hand back on his shoulder, her golden eyes glowering from beneath the red and black mask. This man was infuriating!

The two continued to dance for a few more counts, reduced to just a basic waltz as the music had slowed down. Their gazes didn’t break contact. Aeluri was furious and starting to panic. If she didn’t get the Gemini ring back soon, she may never get it back! Her brow was furrowed in an expression full of hatred. Meanwhile, Jett only looked smug, and continued to look even more so as Aeluri grew angrier.

Aeluri forced her fingernails to begin transforming into claws. The cartilage bent and hardened, sharpening into fine tips. Fingers curled and dug into Jett’s shoulder, while the other hand cut into his. His smug expression began to slip as he realized what she was doing.

“Listen here, you little punk,” she snarled lowly. “If you think that I wouldn’t tarnish this mission for any reason, you’re absolutely wrong. Ivory means nothing to me. This event means nothing to me. The money can be sacrificed. I don’t give a shit. Now, give me back my ring or I’ll make a scene!”

Jett attempted to move away from her, but she dug her claws in deeper. For a moment, they stood there in silence. Their dance quelled with the tension, but Aeluri forced him to continue moving.

“You think you can just overpower me with some claws, kittycat?” Jett whispered, venom in his voice. “Think again. I’ve got men all around. I’m not here to ensure Ivory’s objectives get completed, I’m here to make sure my own are successful. I don’t care about Ivory. I’m here for you,” His hand snapped up her own, crushing it with growing force. The other hand removed the Gemini ring and held it between his pointer finger and thumb.

Aeluri sensed a growing magical force around his hand, though to the naked eye there was nothing to be seen. The currents of magical movement around his hand swirled and twisted, growing stronger.

“You think you can just tell me what to do? You’re never gonna get your ring back, you dumb bitch,” Jett snarled, his fury growing feverish as his grip tightened. “Did you really think that stupid little contact would hide who you are? You don’t deserve to bear a single golden eye of the Dexter clan, let alone two! You disgust me,” he spat, leaning in close to her ear.

“W-what do you mean?” Aeluri stammered in confusion. Dexter clan? What was he talking about?

“You really don’t know? I suppose with a dead father and an insane mother you wouldn’t be taught about your heritage. Ha!” he let out a wry laugh. “Of course Alexander would try to leave you in the dark.”

“Who are you? How do you know me?” Aeluri gasped. How did he know who her father was? The man had died long ago and she only had fond memories of him.

Jett let out another quiet laugh. “Oh, dear cousin. The Dexters are always around, and we’ve picked up information here and there on you. I know about Basilisk Fang. I know about your little name change.” Jett flexed his hand and Aeluri felt a few of the bones in her hand crack.

“I know who you are, Felicity Sinisterre.”

As the words left his mouth, the magic in his hand surged. Pressure began to build around the Gemini ring until it was crackling with energy. All at once, it condensed. The Gemini ring evaporated on the spot, the remaining particles raining around Jett’s gloved hand in a golden glitter.

The invisible explosion sent out a gust of magic and air. It was powerful enough to knock Aeluri out of Jett’s painful grasp. The woman’s balance teetered for a moment but she quickly fell backwards, landing on her butt and skidding across the floor.

The people around them parted instantly. Gasps filled the air as they watched the fallen woman. Aeluri struggled to gain her breath and composure as her mind and heart raced. Jett knew her name. Not Aeluri Atra, the other name. The one she was born with. How? How could he know? Not to mention he had destroyed her beloved Gemini! She did her best to hold back her sorrow. There was too much going on at hand, mourning could wait.

Aeluri’s chest heaved as she tried to breathe normally. Golden eyes glared up at Jett, who had returned to his loverboy persona. He looked concerned and shocked, but she knew it was all fake.

“Ma’am! I’m so sorry you lost your footing!” Jett cried in feigned shock. He stepped forward and offered her his hand. Another man came forward and did so as well. She took their hands and returned to her feet, dusting off her dress. The summoner’s heart was pounding as her thoughts raced. On the surface, however, she looked fine.

Jett opened his mouth to say something more, but Aeluri cut him off. “Stay the hell away from me,” she hissed, her voice laced with venom. The woman turned on her heel and stalked back towards where she had left Shane and Ivory. At this point, subtly going after Arco was the least of her concerns. Aeluri had to warn Shane that they were in danger.

A few gasps from the nearby dignitaries led Aeluri to whirl around. Golden eyes locked onto Shane, who was powering his way towards her. Jett was on his knees, knocked down by the Rune Knight. Ivory was at his side, trying to help him up. Everyone around him had parted and were staring at the fallen businessman with shocked expressions. Despite all the eyes on him, Shane seemed to only have one focus.

He grabbed her upper arms with gentle hands, but Aeluri couldn’t help but flinch in response. After what Jett had just done, she was frantic and not thinking clearly. Gemini had been destroyed before her very eyes. The thought sent another pang through her heart. Not only was she more defenseless now, she had lost a treasured companion. Aeluri did her best to shake the thoughts away. There were more pressing matters right now. Not only could her true identity become compromised, she and Shane were now in imminent danger.

“I’m fine,” Aeluri snapped in reply, not intending for the words to come out as savagely as they had. There was no time or desire for apologies, though. “He destroyed something of mine with magic, and my hand…” she trailed off, raising her right hand. A sharp inhale came as she attempted to flex it. Jett had definitely shattered some bones in there, made clear by the searing pain she now felt.

Shane began to look around and Aeluri followed his gaze. The people that once had appeared to be waiters now ringed the room in a threatening line. All the exits were blocked. Some of them held weapons while others summoned magic from their hands, which were held at the ready. Guests began to take notice of the trap and began panicking. A woman attempted to push through the surrounding waiters, only to be shoved back into the crowd with extreme force.

Shane grabbed up her left hand. A sort of wristwatch-looking item was clasped around it. It shrunk to snugly fit around her wrist. For a moment, Aeluri felt a chill. Was Shane in cahoots with these threatening men and finally arresting her? Had she underestimated him? Her worries were dismissed as he explained what the item was - some kind of shield that was activated by magic power.

He pulled her in swiftly for a hug, then gave her a gentle kiss. Aeluri was too stunned to protest. So much was happening that her mind was on edge. They only had moments to speak before the ballroom would explode into chaos. For a second, she appreciated his company. If she were alone in this fight, there was no doubt that she would struggle. Despite her experience as a dark mage, Aeluri was only so capable alone.

Aeluri was sharply reminded of the injury to her right hand as she brushed it against her side by accident. The pain was familiar. She’d injured her other hand similarly long ago when she was a part of Basilisk Fang. Their fortress had come under attack and she had stuck her hand into a ray of energy in order to summon a feline and save herself. The woman raised her left hand and hovered it over her right. Golden eyes closed for a second as she focused. By outward appearance, she was vulnerable, but Aeluri had tapped into her feline hearing to keep herself alert and safe should anyone attack her while she was healing her hand. The shadow of her left hand over her right began to move as if they were alive, departing from their boundaries and swirling around the hand. In a second, they had been absorbed into the skin like a salve. Aeluri felt her cracked bones correct themselves as the shadows worked their magic. Once it was finished, the shadow returned to its boundaries.

The summoner gave a nod to Shane, then looked around for where to go first. The ring of waiters had started to advance on the crowd, pushing them together and causing more confusion. People started to scream and panic. Aeluri tensed and tried to pick out a weak spot in the formation. There appeared to be none. She scanned the ring above, lining the balcony.

From the middle of the balcony, a figure emerged. There stood Jett, his mask discarded. A smug grin covered his face as he watched the chaos in the room. Ivory stood at his side, a confused and worried expression on her face as she watched. The heiress was obviously not in on Jett’s plan, as she spoke to him with irritation and worry. This would be awful for her publicity. Not to mention, she still feared for her life.

Jett raised his hand and snapped his fingers together. A lacrima emerged from nowhere in particular, manifesting itself in front of his chest. “Ahem!” he cleared his throat. The lacrima absorbed the sound and amplified it around the room for everyone to hear. Screams and chaos settled as everyone turned to look at the golden man on the balcony. The waiter-soldiers stopped their advance and waited for orders.

“Dearest friends,” Jett began, his voice smooth and confident. “I’m afraid that this ball has come to an end. Recently I have discovered that there are those in this crowd that wish to harm my dearest Ivory. As you see, I’ve had to hire men to help protect my love and myself. I couldn’t take any risks.” His voice had turned woeful, and Aeluri scowled at him indignantly. How dare he turn this on her when he was the one who was a threat to her own and Ivory’s lives.

“I would suggest that you all leave as swiftly as you can so we can deal with this threat ourselves. The exits will be open. Please don’t rush the door-” his voice was cut off as people started running towards the exits. Pushing and shoving commenced and some people were trampled. Screaming and yelling started up again.

Once most of the room was cleared, it was just Aeluri, Shane, and the waiters. Aeluri scoured the space for any stragglers, and to her surprise, Arco and Arianne were surrounded by a circle of Jett’s cronies. They were being held on the other side of the room. There was a wall of enemies between Aeluri and the couple. All of a sudden, Jett’s plan became clear. If he could kill both Arco and Ivory Tremaine, there was a chance that he could inherit or steal their business empire.

Aeluri turned to yell at Jett and confront him. Golden eyes widened as she noticed that he was running away from the balcony railing with a grip on Ivory’s arm. The masked heiress was being pulled along and couldn’t escape. The guards closed the gap behind the two, completing the ring around the upper balcony.

The summoner didn’t care much for Ivory’s life at this point. However, she did still want to get paid if she ended up completing her task. Aeluri also desperately didn’t want Jett to win. In the short time she had known him, she already hated every fiber of his being. He had destroyed her Gemini ring and ruined her mission. Somehow he knew her true name and had claimed to be her cousin. He was also a smug little asshole. The woman wanted to wipe the grin from his face permanently, but not until she got some answers.

Thus, she couldn’t let Jett get away with Ivory. Before she could pursue the two, a group of the waiters began to approach her. Two swung their swords while the other two summoned gold and blue magics at their fingertips. Aeluri braced herself, getting into a fighting stance while her mind raced on what to do. Which cat should she summon?

“Shane!” she cried, turning to the Rune Knight for a moment. Her eyes were fierce with the spirit of battle. “You have to save Ivory! Go after them!” she ordered, feigning concern for the heiress. If Shane could deal with Jett, then she could focus on completing what she came here to do.

Aeluri watched from the corner of her eye as Shane engaged a group of Jett’s men in battle. Such finesse couldn’t help but be admirable. He had kicked down a few of his attackers and knocked out several others with a round shield. The summoner found herself comforted in the slightest that her only ally in this situation was a competent fighter. Her attention to him was fleeting though, as she had her own enemies to deal with.

Eyeing the approaching mages, Aeluri weighed her options. The two with magic energy at their hands were the most dangerous to deal with, as they could attack from a distance. Their abilities were unknown but she could sense the magic within them. Both swordsmen possessed magic as well, but not to the degree that the mages did.

While she strategized, the mage with the blue energy in his hands let out a few bursts of magic that raced at Aeluri like bullets. She dodged the spray all fairly easily, though one managed to hit her foot. The high heel took the brunt of the damage, knocking her down a few inches in height on one side. Aeluri stumbled for a second. Damn heels! Quickly she kicked off the tall shoes. They would only hinder her in battle, moreso now that one was ruined.

The dark mage snapped her fingers. One of her rings began to glow and felt hot against her skin. Dark gray steel housed a turquoise gemstone that shined in the light. From the shadow of a nearby table, a black feline appeared. While he was taller than a standard house cat, he was significantly smaller than any of the humans in the room. Wide green eyes stared eerily without emotion as he looked around the room. Oddly enough, though the cat seemed to hold a stony expression, his eyes leaked tears. The liquid dripped down from each eye at an unusually rapid rate, creating rivulets through his fur and little puddles on the floor beneath him. This was Lamentus, one of Aeluri’s many strange feline summons.

Immediately the cat locked his intense stare on the two mages with magic-coated hands. The tears began to flow faster and faster. Each puddle on the floor seemed to come to life, weaving across the floor swiftly towards the feet of the enemy. Both stood stunned and baffled by the odd sight before them. His eerie stare was unnerving. Before they could react, the tears began to gain structure and build up around its targets. There was no escape quick enough. Within seconds, the tears had formed into bubbles that encased the waiters. They began to lift into the air, floating slowly up to the ceiling. The rafters were many meters above the dancefloor. Captured enemies collected there, their bubbles coming together to resemble a collection of weird fish eggs.

While Lamentus worked his magic, Aeluri focused her attention on her own enemies. Shane had defeated his by now and was pursuing Jett and Ivory. His footsteps echoed faintly across the balcony before disappearing down a hallway. Aeluri focused all her magic energy to her hands. Shadows from nearby began to pull towards her in wisps of darkness. The smoky looking energy swirled in and covered her fists in a cloud of magical energy. It was as if she had formed translucent gloves out of the shadows themselves.

Cockily she beckoned the two swordsmen forward. One took the bait, charging forward aggressively with a shout, baring his teeth. The blade in his hands glinted in the light. He swung it at Aeluri, who twisted out of the way and grabbed the sword. While the blade was sharp, the whisps protected her hands. Shadows raced up the metal like snakes, winding around his arm and up to his neck. They covered his throat all the way around, then began to squeeze. The swordsman dropped his blade and grabbed at his neck. However, his hands merely grasped at the shadowy smoke, unable to grab something tangible to stop the strangulation.

As the first waiter collapsed to the floor, Aeluri’s golden eyes raised to the other. His calculating gaze met her own and the two stared for a moment. The dark mage brushed off her dress, which was surprisingly unrestricting so far. Hopefully it wouldn’t get in the way of battle. Aeluri removed the red and black mask from her face and tossed it to the side. She could see much better without it in the way. Besides, there was no reason to cover her face anymore. The sword, abandoned next to the body that had ceased breathing, was grabbed up into confident hands. Shadows wove over it, extinguishing any magic that had been attached to it from the previous owner. He wouldn’t be needing it anymore.

Aeluri watched unflinchingly as the other swordsman beckoned the rest of the waiter minions forward. They surrounded her in an arc, keeping their distance and waiting for instruction. Most held weapons, only a few remained with magic power at their hands. Lamentus had made his way over to his summoner and now sat staring at the numerous enemies. Several were taken up in bubbles to the ceiling as the feline’s tears continued to flow. He was prepared to capture more at a moment’s notice.

With another snap, Aeluri summoned a second feline. This time, a golden ring shaped like a chain glowed for a moment. From the nearby shadows, another creature appeared. He was much taller than Lamentus, standing at nearly human height. Human stature accompanied entirely feline features. Purple and gold robes covered his humanoid body as well as a scarf that covered his mouth with a sharp-toothed pattern. This was Llacheu, a feline sorcerer spirit. Immediately, he launched into attack without direction. The chains from the cuffs around his wrists extended with the loud sound of rattling metal. They acted like whips, lashing out against enemies. Some of the assassins were grabbed up and used as a bludgeoning tool to knock others down.

The moment Llacheu attacked, so did Aeluri. There were many enemies that she had to get through to get to Arco and Arianne, who were still being held captive by two of Jett’s men against the opposite wall. They were her true targets. The rest were simply obstacles. Luckily for the sinister woman, a decent portion of the waiters had gone in pursuit of Shane. There was no way she could have taken on all of them by herself. Not that she wouldn’t have tried, though.

The overtaken sword in her hands locked against the swordsman’s own blade as they came together. Metal on metal rang around the space in a clear, sharp clang. For a moment, the two pressed against each other in a battle of strength. Muscles strained from both, sweat beginning to form on his brow. She appeared unfazed. Aeluri kicked a foot forward, knocking him off balance. The blade was pushed aside and she thrust her own sword right through his chest. Limply the body hit the ground as the weapon was removed. She moved on to the next enemy, the shadowy blade cutting right through his shield and arm. As she battled through them, Aeluri pictured each one with Jett’s face. Anger surged through her, increasing the aggression of her attacks. She wanted nothing more than to rip that prick’s smug little face apart for what he had done and what he knew, but she had other things to do first.

Aeluri and her summons held their own fairly well against the line of Dexter minions. The combination of all three made the battle easier. Several times she had to pour magic energy into the watch Shane had given her. It materialized into an energy shield that the enemies bounced off of like hail. As Lamentus’ bubbles began to pop, the captives fell from the roof onto the ballroom floor. Disgusting thumps of flesh and bone resounded around the room as most died on impact. Blood splashed up onto many of the remaining people. Some became so terrified that they ran away from the battle and abandoned their comrades.

As the numbers thinned, Aeluri could feel herself becoming more exhausted. Not only had she exerted magic power to summon Lamentus and Llacheu, she was undertaking a large physical toll. Muscles burned with each swing of the sword. Many times she stumbled and received stinging retribution in the form of magic or the slice of weapons. Bruises would undoubtedly spot all over her body the next day. Several large cuts laced her arms and back that rendered the tight dress ruined. She couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed. The outfit was one she had quite enjoyed.

At last, there was only one left. Aeluri braced herself, putting her left foot forward and raising the sword threateningly in front of her. The energy shield materialized on her wrist one last time. Her breath was ragged and her chest raised with each quick breath. Only one more and then she could complete her duty. Despite all that had happened, her mission had not left her mind. It drove her through battle, giving her determination. All of the waiters had to be defeated so she could make her way to the two remaining guests. If Ivory lived, Aeluri would be paid handsomely for the death of Arco. She had to see this task to its completion.

Before the last Dexter minion could charge, a large object came flying from the side of the room and decapitated him on the spot. The head fell to the floor and the body moments later. A pool of blood began to form. The item clattered to a halt several feet away. Aeluri realized it was the charcuterie tray she had been staring at earlier as she eavesdropped on Arco and Arianne. Whipped her head to the side, she noticed Llacheu holding his paws out in the air. He had used his telekinesis magic to give life to the metal tray and send it flying at the waiter in a surprise attack. “Good thinking,” she complimented the feline sorcerer between breaths. Llacheu’s tail waved excitedly.

Aeluri waved her hand at Lamentus, dismissing him. The feline stared at her for a second before turning and disappearing into the shadows. A trail of tears followed his departure. He had done well. Normally she would have scratched his head a little, but she had come to learn that the tearful feline didn’t appreciate affection.

Across the room, the little group of four people stood. Arco held Arianne close while the two waiter guards held them in place. The woman was sobbing while she hid her face in her lover’s chest. Their clothes had several blood splatters, which stained dark red against the fabric. What the two had witnessed was awful beyond anything they had seen before in their privileged lives. Bloodshed at such a high volume was something most people in Fiore wouldn’t witness in their lifetime, especially those in the upper class. Arco himself looked disturbed, but he was trying to hold it together for Arianne.

Aeluri stepped her way towards them, dodging bodies and puddles of blood. The soft sound of feed padding against marble echoed menacingly around the now silent room. Looking around as she went, the dark mage was quite proud of her gory work. It had been tedious, but she still found pride in her display of strength and malice. As she approached, the two Dexter guards became scared. One broke his resolve quickly, fleeing out of the ballroom. His weapon clattered to the ground. The other followed shortly after, leaving Arco and Arianne huddled together against the wall.

Arco stared defiantly at Aeluri as she approached. “Leave us alone!” he cried angrily, pushing his glasses up. The assassin stopped a few feet away and observed the couple. Llacheu had followed behind her, chains scraping over the floor, and halted by Aeluri’s side. It was pathetic how the couple were cuddled up, so helpless. The two looked like cowering rabbits cornered by a hungry fox. They had no defenses anymore. Their lives were in her hands. Despite it all, the man still had the gall to lash out at her. What a fool!

“Now, why would I do that?” she replied, a dangerous edge to her voice.

“Please, just let us go! We didn’t do anything!” Arianne sobbed, looking at Aeluri through teary blue eyes. Delicate hands topped with perfectly manicured nails clutched at Arco’s suit jacket. The dark mage felt her fear. The smell of it graced her senses and set her heart pumping with adrenaline. The bloodlust was building within her.

“You didn’t do anything, hmm?” Aeluri paced slowly in front of the lovers. “What was that I overheard earlier…” she mused, then raised a finger in exaggerated excitement. “Oh, right! You two were planning to have Ivory assassinated and steal the Tremaine empire for your own. How could I forget~”

The couple gave each other a startled glance. Arco opened his mouth to protest. “Don’t try to deny it, Arco,” Aeluri chastised, waggling a finger mockingly. “I know exactly what I heard. All the previous assassination attempts were from you as well. It’s really not hard to come to that conclusion. Sure, Ivory has business rivalries, but none bad enough to want her dead. You tried to be discreet, but you’ve failed.” She took a threatening step towards the floor-bound lovers.

“S-stay back!” Arco cried. “You can’t do anything to me! The Rune Knights will hunt you down! You’ll never get away with it!” His attempts at threatening her were halfhearted, though. The ex-Tremaine knew he had been discovered and that his fate was in Aeluri’s hands now. Fear caused desperation within him, so he felt the need to try to save himself.

“Oh, can’t I? Don’t worry, I already have a plan for that!” Aeluri trilled. The delicious scent of their fear had alighted her more depraved side. She craved for the two to fear her, to beg for their lives. The dark mage wanted to see them suffer before their lives slipped away. Perhaps they could die at each other’s hands. Their bodies would be discovered together, holding each other in a final act of love. A crime of love and greed, how tragic!

The dark mage pulled the slitted side of her dress back, revealing her leg. Strapped to her thigh was a knife with a thick blade. She quickly removed it from its hiding place, holding it up in the air. Light from the massive chandelier above glinted off the blade. “I sharpened my knife just for you~” Aeluri purred towards Arco, whose eyes were wide and terrified.

It wasn’t actually her knife, though. It was stolen from Arianne’s father. The blade had a decorative hilt with the insignia of that clan at the bottom. There would be no mistaking where it came from. The assassin had chosen to use a weapon that had no connection to her. Ivory had made it clear that there was to be no trace back to herself or Aeluri from Arco’s death. This plan had come to fruition long before the start of the masquerade. It would be a dramatic setup that pinned the blame on Arianne.

The young woman shrieked as Aeluri pulled the blade from its sheath. The tight grasp on Arco was released as she scrambled to her feet. Picking up her skirts, Arianne made a panicked break for the door. A sigh escaped the raven-haired assassin’s lips. “When will they ever learn?” she muttered to herself.

With a wave of her hand, the feline sorcerer Llacheu kicked into action at her side. The chains from the cuffs on his wrists whipped out, soaring across the room. Arianne didn’t make it far. The metal wrapped around her midsection, pinning her arms to her sides. Llacheu reeled her in like an unruly and vibrantly-colored fish. The young woman’s flopping about and screaming only fit the part.

“Now, now,” Aeluri tutted. Llacheu held the attempted escapee in the air before his summoner. “You would just leave Arco to his demise so easily just to save your own life? That’s not how lovers are supposed to act.” The assassin stepped up and pressed the blade to Arianne’s cheek, drawing blood in a thin line. Realization and fear filled her eyes as she recognized the knife. “Look at how hurt he is!” Llacheu turned the woman around to look at Arco. Defeat was written all over his face. He wouldn’t meet his lover’s eyes.

“Let me go!”

“I was going to do this differently, but now you’ve given me an idea Arianne.” Aeluri purred. She gave a nod towards Llacheu. The feline sorcerer removed one of his chains from around her waist. One arm was freed up, which he used the second chain to wrap around and control. Even her fingers were completely left to Llacheu’s whim.

“Llacheu, would you do the honors?” Aeluri asked her summon. A quick auditory check was made to make sure Shane was still far away from the ballroom. The distant sounds of fighting confirmed that to be true.

Without acknowledgement, the feline reached out with Arianne’s hand and grasped her father’s knife from Aeluri. The chains pushed her towards Arco despite her frantic protesting. Her voice turned into hysterical sobs as she approached.

Within seconds, it was done. The knife had been plunged into Arco’s chest, right into his heart. The Tremaine had died at the hands of his lover. His life slipped away quickly before the watchful eyes of Aeluri. Arianne sobbed. Then it was her turn. The chained hand turned the weapon on its owner. She sobbed and pleaded, her words becoming incoherent. There was no salvation for her now.

Llacheu placed the young woman’s body on the ground. The knife clattered from her hand as he released the chains. The scene portrayed a different story from the reality of the situation. To any observer, it would seem Arianne had used her family’s heirloom knife to end her lover’s life. She could have taken the opportunity created by Jett’s distraction to commit the deed. There would be no doubt the motivation: money. The Tremaine fortune was a hot topic among high class circles at the moment. Ridden with guilt, it would seem she had ended her own life because she couldn’t live with what she had done. It was a believable story.

Aeluri gave Llacheu a pat on the head, signaling that his job was done. With a bow, the feline sorcerer disappeared in a puff of shadowy smoke. The assassin gave one last glance at her handiwork. A smirk graced her face. This would definitely make the news. Should Ivory survive tonight, her mercenary would be paid handsomely.

After a moment, Aeluri turned and headed swiftly towards the staircase where she had last seen Shane take off. She had to help him ensure that Ivory wasn’t dying at the hands of Jett. Plus, maybe she would get a chance to lay her hands on that little bastard. The thought spurred her to run faster.

Aeluri exited the ballroom balcony, sprinting down the hallway that Jett, Ivory, and Shane had gone only shortly before. The edge of her dress was in her hand to make running easier. Her bare feet hit the floor with dull thumps as she went, the sound muffled by the fancy carpet below. The summoner paced her breathing, shooting for endurance. Who knew how far her targets had gone while she was dealing with the waiters. They could have even fled the building by now. Aeluri shook the thought off. Shane probably would have caught up with them by now. She had enough sense to know that he didn’t give up easily.

Pale hands clenched into fists. A fresh memory of what Jett had done to the Gemini ring flashed through her mind, along with a wave of anguish. Gemini was gone. Aeluri felt as if there was a gaping blank space beside her. The absence of the beloved feline spirit felt uncomfortable and wrong. Gemini had been with her for years and was her closest companion beside Umbra.

Along with the woe came a hot fury. Claws extended at the end of Aeluri’s fingertips subconsciously, the sharp points digging into her palm. The pain went unnoticed. If Jett and Ivory hadn’t escaped the building yet, Jett was in for a beating. She would make sure he begged for his life at her fingertips. Not only had he destroyed something precious of hers, but he had attempted to sabotage her mission. While she had managed to complete it, the delay was only another reason to flay him within an inch of his life.

Aeluri had been using her heightened senses to guide her pursuit by scent. Shane had only passed by maybe ten minutes before, while Jett and Ivory’s scents were more faint. She rounded a corner through some open doors and came to a battle scene. The room was strewn with torn carpet, scattered chairs, and blood. Several of the walls had holes in them. In the corner lay the body of a man, still breathing but knocked out cold. His arm was sitting at an odd angle, most likely broken. Aeluri slowed her sprint to a walk as she approached the body. This was definitely one of Jett’s minions. Something caught her eye and she crouched down for a closer look. Upon the back of his neck was an insignia tattooed in gold ink that shimmered in the faint light from the doorway. Her eyes narrowed. This mark was unfamiliar, but it had to somehow be connected to the Dexters. She made a mental note of it. Leaning over, she used a claw to swiftly finish Shane’s work. Blood began to pool on the floor as Jaron took his last ragged breath.

Returning to her feet, Aeluri continued her quick pace down another hallway that led from the room. It was long, clearing the entire width of the Linden Manor. The trail of shurikens that Shane had left only confirmed that she was following in the right direction. Mismatching eyes glanced through the large windows that lined the hall to the ground rushing by far below. The sun was beginning to set, halfway covered by the distant hills. Reds, oranges, pinks, and golds began to streak across the clouds in the sky.

The trail led to a set of stairs that climbed up the final stories to the roof. Aeluri was greeted by the blast of air from opening the final door. It blew loose a few pieces of her formerly neatly pinned hair. The sight before her only increased her adrenaline and sense of urgency. Jett and Ivory stood at the opposite end of the glass roof. Jett’s arm was around her neck and he had her arm pinned behind her back. The conniving bastard had that same infuriating smirk on his face. It only grew as he noticed Aeluri had arrived. Behind the two, high in the air, a large aircraft hovered, its edges lit up in orange by the sunset. The same insignia she had seen on Jaron’s neck was plastered on its side. The airborne vehicle seemed to be waiting for Jett’s signal.

Shane stood about halfway across the roof with a shield on his arm and a gun in hand. Aeluri noticed that he had ditched his formal clothing, which she wished she could copy. While her dress hadn’t gotten in the way too much, it was ruined by the cuts and blows she had received during her battle with the waiters. The black fabric had been soaking up her blood for a while now. Something more comfortable would be ideal. Alas, this was not the time nor place.

Aeluri swiftly crossed the glass panes to Shane’s side. Locking eyes with Jett, she bared feline fangs at him. At her side, clawed hands twitched in anticipation of battle. The Dexter man only cockily winked at her. He was waiting for their move instead of making a hasty escape into the aircraft. It was a taunt, testing how the two would react.

In assessing the situation, there was no clear angle on how to come out on top. If they attacked the aircraft, Jett would surely use that opportunity to kill Ivory. Aeluri’s eyes drew to the glass beneath them. Maybe?... She glanced at Shane to see if he had thought of the same thing and to gauge his reaction. There had to be strategy to their attack if they wanted to save Ivory.