Zane crouched on the thick branch of an oak that leaned over the plaza, hoodie draped over his shoulders. His muscles ached from the climb—he hadn't scaled anything taller than his bedroom window in years—but the sting only made his grin sharper.
"Almost… there," he muttered, steadying himself against the bark as the night breeze tugged at his hood.
From his perch, he spotted them: Asher, Mira, Luna, and Celeste gathered by the cobblestone fountain. The moonlight made their hair glimmer like stage lights. He twirled the dagger he'd just purchased from a blacksmith stall earlier, feeling its balance in his palm. Years of tossing random objects at his bedroom wall had made him far too good at this.
"Let's see if the hoodie works," he whispered, sliding the hood over his head. The rune shimmered faintly, and the night seemed to breathe him in.
His smile widened. Game on.
---
Group's POV — The Fountain
The night was quiet except for the steady trickle of water from the fountain. Luna hugged her arms, her eyes darting around nervously.
"Where is Zane?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper. "He said he'd meet us here."
Asher leaned against the fountain's edge, smirking with lazy confidence. "Don't bother. If he comes early, then you know something's wrong. Zane doesn't do—"
Swish!
A dagger cut through the air, grazing Asher's cheek before thudding into the stone beside him. He froze mid-sentence, every muscle tightening.
"—that."
Mira instantly drew her blade, eyes narrowing. Celeste's hands glowed faintly with her magic, and Luna flickered at the edges—half-visible, half-invisible.
But there was no one there.
The shadows seemed heavier, the air thicker. Then—
Wham! Mira staggered back, a boot landing squarely in her chest before she hit the ground with a grunt. She swore, slashing upward, but her blade sliced only empty air.
Celeste spun around to throw a spell, only for her wrist to be seized from the dark. A swift sweep knocked her feet out from under her, dumping her unceremoniously onto the cobblestones.
"Asher, behind you!" Luna cried, but she was too late—something unseen yanked his leg out from under him, and he barely had time to roll before a second dagger embedded itself where his head had been.
Then Luna blinked invisible, vanishing from sight. For a heartbeat, the plaza fell silent. The group held their breath.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed lazily across the stones. Luna reappeared suddenly with her arms pinned behind her back, a cold edge of steel resting against her throat. She thrashed, but it was useless.
The figure finally let go, stepping into the moonlight. The rune shimmered, then released its veil.
Zane lowered his hood.
"Miss me?" His smirk was devilish as he spun the dagger once more before sheathing it.
Mira scrambled up, glaring. "What the hell was that for? You nearly crushed my ribs!"
Celeste groaned, brushing dirt from her hair. "Do you always greet people by knocking them flat on their backs?"
Asher crossed his arms, clearly fuming. "I don't know what's worse—the ambush or that smug face you're wearing."
Zane laughed, a low, amused chuckle that echoed through the plaza. "Relax. I was just testing my new outfit… and you guys failed spectacularly. Not one of you saw me until I wanted you to."
He walked over and offered a hand to Mira first, then Celeste, and finally Luna. "Come on. Don't pout. You'll thank me when we're out there in the real world and you're not dead in five seconds."
The group muttered various complaints, but the unspoken truth was clear: they had just witnessed how dangerous Zane could really be.