The black carriage rolled to a stop at the edge of the black market. Morning light had just started to creep over the city, but the market was already alive. People in dark cloaks pushed past each other, selling strange things: glowing bottles, old bones, whispered spells on paper. No one looked twice at Seraphina and Elias as they stepped out.
Seraphina walked ahead, her black hat low over her eyes, sword at her side. Elias hurried to keep up, trying not to stare at the weird stalls.
She stopped at a small shop almost outside the market. The door was half hidden by vines. An old lady with no teeth stepped out, smiling wide.
"Lady, gentleman," she said, her voice rough. She looked at Elias for a long time, eyes on his face, then turned back to Seraphina. "What do you want to buy, please?"
"Quit the acting, Mary," Seraphina said, voice flat.
The old lady laughed loud. Her body twisted and changed. Skin smoothed. Hair turned long and blond. Teeth appeared white and perfect. Now she looked young and beautiful, dressed in dark green robes.
"My lady," Mary said with a bow. "How can I forget? You see what others cannot."
Elias's mouth fell open. He blinked hard, like he could not believe his eyes.
Mary turned to him with a small smile. "First time seeing a shifter change, boy?"
Elias nodded fast, still shocked.
"What brings you here?" Mary asked Seraphina.
Seraphina pulled a small drawing from her coat. It showed a mark: a circle with an eye inside. "Have you seen this before?"
Mary looked at it closely. Her smile faded a little. "I have not seen it. But there is someone who can help you."
She took a piece of paper, wrote an address, and gave it to Seraphina. Seraphina looked at Elias.
"Take it," she said.
Elias took the paper with shaking fingers.
They turned to leave. Behind them, Mary opened a portal. Light swirled. She stepped through and disappeared.
In another place, far away, Mary appeared inside an old castle. Stone walls. Dark halls. She walked to a throne room. A beautiful lady sat there, golden hair shining, face hidden behind a thin veil. No one had ever seen her face, but everyone called her the Holy One.
Mary bowed low. "Hail the Holy One."
"Speak," the lady said, voice calm and cold.
"She is here. The new council lady. Third in command. She is already asking about the mark."
The Holy One did not move. "Where is she headed now?"
"On her way to the address I gave her. I need permission to attack her with a few guards."
"Do as you wish," the lady said. She waved her hand. "She will not be the first council member to die."
Mary bowed again and left.
Back in the city, Seraphina and Elias walked. And walked. And walked.
After three hours, Elias stopped.
"Something is wrong, my lady," he said. "We keep walking in circles. I think the address is not real."
"I know," Seraphina said.
Elias froze. He turned to look at her. "You know?"
"Yes. I knew the address was fake. I knew we would walk into a trap."
Elias's eyes went wide. "Then why did we come?"
Seraphina smiled. Small. Dangerous. "It is fun, right?"
Elias opened his mouth. Closed it. "Fun? We are walking into danger on purpose?"
Before she could answer, an arrow flew straight at Elias.
Seraphina moved fast. Vampire speed. She grabbed him and pulled him behind a tree. The arrow hit the wood with a loud crack.
More arrows came. One after another. Elias pressed against the tree, heart pounding.
"Stay down, human," Seraphina said.
Elias tried to peek out. "I can help!"
"You will die," she said. "Stay."
The arrows stopped. Then twenty guards stepped out from the shadows. Witches in dark robes. Swords in hands. Eyes glowing with magic.
Seraphina laughed low. She pulled her silver sword. The blade shone red in the light.
"Come," she said.
They charged.
Seraphina moved like wind. She disappeared and appeared behind the first witch. Her sword sliced clean through his neck. Blood sprayed. The head rolled.
The second witch swung her sword. Seraphina ducked low, cut up through the stomach. Guts spilled out. The witch screamed and fell.
Elias watched from behind the tree, eyes huge. "Oh gods…"
Another witch threw fire. Seraphina jumped high, landed on his shoulders, twisted. Neck snapped. Body dropped.
She spun. Sword flashed. Two more witches fell, chests open, hearts cut out.
Blood covered the ground. Bodies piled up. The last few tried to run. Seraphina chased them. She cut one across the back. Spine broke. Another lost an arm, then his head.
In seconds, twenty strong witches lay dead. Cut, sliced, broken.
Seraphina stood in the middle, breathing slow. Blood dripped from her sword. She wiped it on a dead robe.
"You can come out now, Mary," she said.
Mary stepped from the trees. Her face was white. She saw the bodies. Saw how fast Seraphina killed.
She turned to run.
Seraphina appeared in front of her. Blocked the path.
Mary stopped. "Vampires can disappear and appear?"
"Oh dear Mary," Seraphina said. "You betrayed me."
Mary looked scared. "You knew the address was fake?"
"Yes. I cannot trust witches. But you made my work easy. Now I know where to start my investigation."
Mary swallowed. "You knew?"
Seraphina stepped closer. "Do you want to start telling me everything you know?"
Before Mary could speak, an arrow flew from nowhere. It pierced her heart clean through. She gasped. Her body turned black like smoke. Then she fell. Gone.
Seraphina looked around fast. No one there. Trees. Empty path.
She turned to Elias.
He stood like a scared mouse. Hands up. Eyes big. No weapon. No fight.
"Useless," she cursed under her breath.
"The mission was useless," she said, voice angry. "Let's go."
She started walking. Elias ran to catch up.
He looked back at the bodies. "You… you killed them all. Like nothing."
Seraphina did not answer.
Elias tried to smile. "At least I did not get hit by an arrow. Small win?"
She glanced at him. "Do not talk."
He shut up.
But inside, he thought: I am so dead if I stay with her.