Damp rain, the dark midnight sky, and the yelling of guards was the only thing I knew. I could still feel the cold rain pitter onto my bare head as I clutched Jasmine's emerald in my palm. I had just watched her delicate hand hit the ground as an arrow struck into her chest, creating a deafening swishing sound that silenced the entire street.
I peeked across the side of the stone alley wall, glancing down to the pool of blood and lifeless Jasmine on the floor. There was a figure standing over her body, a dark cloak was hung over their broad shoulders and a crimson mask lay on their face that almost covered brown hair tied back into a makeshift ponytail. I immediately ducked back against the wall out of sight, my eyes closing as I tried to stop my heart from beating loudly in my chest.
"The purge has begun, this one has betrayed us." I could hear a voice faintly trickle into my mind like a whispering ghoul. "Did the child get away?" The voice sounded scratched and garbled, as if it was behind some sort of filter.
"I'm afraid so." Another deep voice replied, "Do you want me to hunt him down?"
"That won't be necessary," The city went quiet. "He's already here." The low whisper turned into a loud but controlled yell, "You can come out now Lacertia."
I froze, my back was glued to the wall. I remained completely silent and even still I was shaking uncontrollably.
I felt a gloved finger tap me on the head, "Hello there young one." Somehow the mysterious figure had managed to sneak up on me in a mere couple of seconds, "Do you have something you'd like to tell us?"
I pocketed the emerald silently, "N-No."
"Well," now that I was closer I could hear that the voice was oddly femenine, "I would consider answering that question correctly." She brandished a silver knife in her palm, it's ivory hilt shining in the lamplight like a dim lantern.
I panicked, struggling to produce words from my mouth, the stench of blood and malice was emanating off of the figure so harshly that it was hard to grasp any bearings on my surroundings.
"Perhaps I'll make this easy for you, either you answer the question, or you end up like your friend over there." The voice had a hint of sympathy, but just enough to make it sound condescending.
I still didn't answer, and as I did the figure drew closer, the silver blade doing so as well. However, as the figure stepped closer a bolt of purple energy streaked between us, causing an explosion that impeded my vision and knocked me to the wet stone pavement. I watched as a figure emerged from the clouds of dust, a large man who wore a dark cloak that covered every inch of their body. The only visible limb was their hands, which crackled with a deep violet electricity.
The cloaked person still kept their gaze on the masked figure that was in front of them. Somehow, she had managed to dodge the massive explosion, "Go Julian! Leave this place!" The man's voice had a buttery tone to it that made me want to obey his every command.
I heard the clanking of two weapons colliding as I ran as fast as I could.
"Julian?"
My eyes slowly opened as I peered into Rico's dark eyes that were barely visible underneath his shaggy jet black hair. I glanced down at my hands, I had almost forgotten that I was now human. To think I had to become one of them to complete this simple job was disgusting, but then again there was a handsome reward to collect.
I cleared my throat, slowly watching the sun set along the northern mountains, creating a college of reds and oranges. "How long did I-"
"Around half an hour or so," Rico interrupted. "I didn't want to wake you, you seemed tired."
"Indeed, although I'm not fond of sleeping on the job. I feel dirty."
"Get used to it J," I tensed as he gave me a hearty clap on the back, "Welcome to the Marauders."
There was a moment of silence before a sudden memory hit me like a ten ton brick, "How long did Alice say we had before the spell turns off?"
Rico stared at me blankly.
"Seriously?"
"Sorry J, it sorta slipped my mind."
"Will you stop calling me that?"
"Sorry J."
"You guys are running out of time," a sudden and familiar voice trickled in from behind me, I recognised it in an instant.
I was shocked to see Alice standing behind me, she had changed into a deep violet blouse with a white undershirt, but the most surprising thing she wore was the impatient look on her face. Normally I would have smelt her fragrant smell a mile away, but unfortunately I was cursed with these damn human senses.
Rico leaned in for a hug but she brushed him away, "Where are Ray and Corra?" She demanded.
"That I am unsure of," I answered. "We're just lookouts. How are you feeling by the way?"
"I'm fine." Alice rushed. Without another thought, she turned and walked towards the house Ray and Corra had entered.
"Wait!" I called back, "Try to think more rationally here! You can't just-"
She simply waved me off, but as she stepped up the stairs to the door of the house, she passed right through it like it wasn't solid, disappearing from sight.
"Well then," Rico sighed, "This is going to be interesting."