Seraphine hate rain.
Not because wet or cold—her body temperature already long time maintain at 15 degrees Celsius, rain or snow for her all same same—but because rain make blood wash away too fast. Blood should stay on ground at least give people some respect let them know here got person die already not just disappear like never exist before.
She stand at Central Hospital roof watching down that emergency entrance those ambulance come come go go red light blue light flash until eyes pain. 3am this kind time hospital should quiet one but tonight different—tonight got bomb.
Small bomb lah actually just enough blow up third floor one room but effect very good. Fire brigade still inside busy corpse probably burn until cannot recognize already
Room 317. Lynn Craven teacher - Marcus Webb - research room.
Seraphine light one cigarette. Smoke in rain become weird shape then disappear she never really like smoke just like the action of smoking. Give her something to do when thinking
Her phone vibrate.
"Report" she answer never say hello one
"Target eliminated" voice from phone is her subordinate Dreyfus sound tired like never sleep three days "Room 317 completely destroyed all documents gone Webb himself... pieces everywhere"
"Surveillance footage"
"Wiped clean. Professional job - estimate is Internal Affairs people"
Seraphine blow smoke her ice-blue eyes narrow "Internal Affairs moving already ah quite fast also"
"Boss you think this related to that notebook or not"
"Of course related" Seraphine throw cigarette on ground step on "Webb teach Lynn Craven, Lynn teach to who we never know now both dead means somebody want close this loop"
"So that Kyle kid..."
"He now is only lead" Seraphine turn around walk toward roof edge "I going personally watch him tonight nine o'clock if he dare never come I will break his legs drag him come"
Dreyfus at phone that side silent few seconds "Boss... you really think Dark Contract can help us or not this thing five hundred years never appear already suddenly now got one maybe is fake—"
"Not fake" Seraphine interrupt "I see his contract core already that kind black not dye can fake out one is real dark energy corruption"
"But if really Dark Contract then he should already dead already ah normal person cannot withstand that kind—"
"Exactly" Seraphine jump down from roof land on fire escape stairs boots make crisp sound "So he either not normal person or... somebody protecting him"
She hang up phone
Rain still falling Seraphine walk through empty street toward her apartment direction rainwater automatic separate when near her like Moses split sea that kind but more lazy. She coat never wet one drop water all no
Pass by one 24-hour convenience store she stop
Through glass window she see inside got one young girl probably seventeen eighteen around working night shift. Girl look very tired keep yawning but still smile when customer pay money
Seraphine stare at that smile
She remember long long time ago she also got smile before that kind simple happy warm smile. Before steel contract before Surveillance Bureau before she become... this
Her left hand unconsciously touch chest
Under clothes under skin her steel contract core is special one—not normal gold color not even Kyle that kind black color but transparent like ice crystal. Empire call it "Perfect Synchronization" say she is compatibility highest contractor blah blah blah
But Seraphine know truth
Perfect Synchronization actually mean her humanity already almost gone liao. Every time use contract power every time kill people a little bit soul will freeze a bit until one day completely become ice sculpture
She already feel not pain feel not heat even feeling all becoming more more blur
Only hatred still here
Hatred toward Empire hatred toward steel contract system hatred toward those people who make her change to monster
And hatred toward her own weakness
Seraphine turn away from convenience store continue walk her apartment is at edge of city one very old building seven floor no elevator every time climb until leg pain but she like because quiet no neighbors nobody will bother her
Open door apartment inside one piece dark
She never open light anyway she can see in dark like cat same Living room super empty only got one sofa one table kitchen from before never use before because she don't need eat already
Bedroom also empty only have one mattress on floor top
Seraphine take off coat throw on sofa walk to bedroom lie down stare at ceiling
Her phone again vibrate
This time is unknown number
Seraphine consider few seconds then answer "Who"
"Seraphine" voice very old very familiar make her blood suddenly freeze "Long time no see ah my dear student"
Seraphine sit up grip phone until almost crush "Director Voss"
"Oh don't call me director lah I already retire three years liao" old man laugh voice friendly until disgusting "I hear say you recently very busy oh investigating what Dark Contract ah ancient notebook ah these dangerous things"
"This with you no relation" Seraphine coldly say
"Of course got relation ah" Voss suddenly serious "Seraphine you think you very clever secretly investigate Empire secret think we don't know meh I train you five years I know you every move"
Seraphine clench fist nails dig into palm but still no feel pain "You want how"
"I want you stop" Voss say "That Kyle kid kill away notebook burn away all these things forget away then you can continue do your Ice Heart do your perfect contractor"
"And if I say don't want"
Phone that side silent very long
Then Voss sigh "Then I will have to activate your kill switch"
Seraphine whole body freeze
Kill switch. Every high-level contractor body inside all have one kind emergency terminate mechanism if contractor betray or lose control Empire can remote control detonate their contract core
Instant death. No pain no struggle just disappear
"You bluffing" Seraphine force herself voice steady "You never activate before kill switch on active contractor before this will cause too much attention"
"For you I willing make exception" Voss laugh "Because Seraphine you not only contractor you are symbol you are proof say steel contract system is perfect if you betray or discover truth then entire system will collapse"
He pause
"So I again give you one time chance tomorrow night nine o'clock before that Kyle arrive before you kill him destroy all evidence then we treat nothing happened before"
"And if don't want"
"Then both you all together die" Voss finish say hang up
Seraphine stare at phone screen very long
Her hand shaking
She stand up walk to bathroom open cold water use hand scoop water splash on face lift head see mirror inside herself
Mirror inside that woman look like stranger
Ice-blue eyes silver-white hair perfect face like porcelain doll same beautiful but completely no have life
When start she become this kind
Seraphine remember fifteen years old that year Surveillance Bureau people come to her village say she got special talent suitable be contractor her parents very proud send her go still say this is honor is serve Empire chance
Then five years training five years transform bit by bit change her become weapon
First year they teach her how to kill
Second year they plant steel contract core into her chest
Third year she kill first person - one traitor reportedly stole Empire secret
That person is fourteen years old girl
Seraphine still remember that girl last words: "Please... I just want find my brother..."
After that time Seraphine cry three days
Fourth year she kill twenty people never cry already
Fifth year she become Ice Heart feelings all freeze
Now ten years pass she already kill over two hundred people every one Empire say is traitor is dangerous element is must eliminate target
But she never know which one really got guilt
Seraphine punch mirror
Glass break everywhere blood from knuckles flow out but still no feel pain
She look at her hand those blood in broken mirror reflection become hundreds thousands tiny red dots like she kill before all those people staring at her
Her phone again ring
This time is alarm - 8:45pm
Fifteen minutes later Kyle will arrive
Seraphine deep breath she make decision already
She want save Kyle not because kind or regret but because if really got Dark Contract if really got steel contract secret then she want know
She want know why she become monster
She want know this system actually hide what
And most important she want know got or not way can take revenge
Seraphine change clothes - black tactical suit boots gloves tie hair up check her weapons: two ice daggers contract-powered can freeze blood in instant
Then she leave apartment
Outside rain stop already city lights reflect on wet ground make everything look like dream
Seraphine walk toward meeting point - one abandoned warehouse at industrial district
Nine o'clock exactly Kyle appear
He look terrible - wet hair tired eyes jacket still got blood stains probably Lynn Craven one But he still come this prove he either very brave or very stupid
Maybe both
"You came" Seraphine from shadow walk out
Kyle jump she notice his hand automatic go touch waist that side probably got weapon
"I came" Kyle say voice rough "Now tell me what you want"
Seraphine study him this boy nineteen years old around thin but got muscle assassin body type eyes inside got anger got fear but most is confusion
Like he don't know himself standing on which side
Good. Confused people easy control
"I want you work for me" Seraphine directly say "I investigating steel contract truth investigating Empire secret I need got Dark Contract person help me"
"Why I should trust you you are Surveillance Bureau person"
"Because I also want destroy this system" Seraphine walk closer she see Kyle want step back but force himself stay "And because you no other choice Director Voss already know you take notebook he will send people kill you probably tonight"
Kyle face become white "How you know"
"Because he call me already" Seraphine show cold smile "He want me kill you"
Kyle hand go grab dagger but Seraphine faster she grab his wrist use ice power freeze his whole arm
Kyle scream
"Relax" Seraphine let go "If I really want kill you you already dead I only show you my power let you know I serious"
Kyle rub his arm that side already become red "You crazy"
"Maybe" Seraphine shrug "But I is your only chance survive So... you want or don't want"
Kyle stare at her very long
Then he nod
"Good" Seraphine turn around "Follow me we go safe house there I explain everything"
They walk through empty street Seraphine suddenly ask "That notebook you read finish or not"
"Read a bit only" Kyle say "Talk about steel contract not Aldric invent about got older system about—"
"About abyss" Seraphine finish for him
Kyle stop "You know"
"I know many things" Seraphine say never look back "I know steel contract core is made from abyss fragments I know contractors not human anymore I know Empire lying about everything"
"Then why you still work for them"
Seraphine finally turn around look him
In street light her eyes look more blue more cold
"Because" she say "I waiting for right time right person right moment to destroy them all"
She smile
"And I think that moment coming soon already"
Behind them in shadow Director Voss surveillance drone quietly recording everything