At midnight, two large cargo trucks silent but for the low hum of their engines, like predators stalking their prey its even marked with the notorious insignia of the Iron Cartel, rumbled through the darkened streets of Elysian Reach. The trucks were transporting their captives. Inside one of the SUVs at the rear was Daemon who was scanning his surroundings intently.
As an enforcer for the cartel, his mission tonight was clear: ensure the safe transport of the cargo, no matter the cost..
'So far, nothing unusual... no police interference, no signs of anyone following us,' Daemon thought.
Just as Daemon settled into his thoughts, a sudden, jarring noise filled the air metal scraping loudly against the ground. The trucks screeched to an abrupt halt, the force of the brakes jolting everyone inside. Daemon felt a sinking feeling, as if he had jinxed their smooth passage.
'An attack... could it be the Blood Bankers? They must have caught wind of the shipment today,' Daemon speculated.
"We're under attack! Everyone, move!" someone shouted over a walkie-talkie.
Despite the urgency, the trucks remained immobile. The Iron Enforcer driving Daemon's SUV sped to the front to assess the situation. There, in the middle of the road, stood a girl, her silhouette illuminated by the flames of the overturned SUV.
"What the hell? What's that girl doing in the middle of the street?" one enforcer in the car exclaimed.
Another enforcer's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie, "Someone quickly deal with her!"
Daemon realized the gravity of the situation and took charge. "Wait, I'll handle it," he said over his personal walkie-talkie, Daemon's assertion was to mask his concern over the unexpected disruption. He saw this encounter as an opportunity to assert control again.
Before anyone could respond or protest, Daemon opened the door and stepped out.
As he approached the girl, the cold wind tousled his hair and clothes. He retracted his tenace back into his body and focused on her. She stood about 5'5" with an athletic and agile frame. Her rich ebony skin and long, braided hair styled into cornrows that cascaded down her back were striking. Small silver beads adorned the ends of her braids, glinting in the streetlights. Her sharp, almond-shaped eyes, deep brown and piercing, tracked his movements.
She wore a mix of functional and stylish tactical gear in dark shades, accented with personal touches like a silver locket, patterned leather body armor, fingerless gloves, and sturdy combat boots.
Why is she here, standing in our path? What makes her want to face the Iron Cartel alone?
'She has strong Nyx energy, but it feels like she's new to using it,' Daemon noted. He continued approaching her and asked, "Who do you work for?"
As Daemon arrived a few feet away from the girl, her eyes widened. "It's you," she said, her voice tinged with both shock and recognition. 'He looks so composed, unreadable... or maybe he doesn't remember me,' Aaliyah thought.
How did it come to this? The man who once saved me, now my enemy... What happened to you, Daemon?
Suddenly, Daemon saw her eyes blaze with a mixture of anger and determination. "You don't remember me, do you?" she asked.
Daemon looked at the girl, unblinking. "Should I?" he replied.
"Maybe not. But I remember you, I remember the day you saved me—or at least I thought you did," Aaliyah said, her voice slowing at the end.
"Saved you?" Daemon repeated, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"From those people you're now working with. The ones who took my sister," Aaliyah stated.
Daemon then recalled something from Thornbrook Village, a time when he wanted to test his strength on some cartel members who were about to kidnap a girl. He hadn't had a proper look at her then, so he didn't recognize her now. Understanding what the girl meant, he leaned back, assessing her. "Interesting how memories can be twisted," he said.
"What do you mean?" Aaliyah asked, her brow furrowing.
"I don't specifically remember saving you. If I ever did, tell me your name before I kill you," Daemon said coldly.
He doesn't remember me... or perhaps he chooses not to.
"Aaliyah," she responded. "Twist them all you want. It won't change the truth. Why are you with them? What could they possibly offer you that's worth joining them despite saving me?"
Daemon smirked icily. "Loyalty is overrated, Aaliyah. Sometimes the only thing that matters is power."
Aaliyah took a couple of steps closer. "Is that what this is about? Power? Or is it something darker?"
Daemon narrowed his eyes at her. "You wouldn't understand."
Aaliyah shrugged. "Try me."
"You want to know why I'm working with them? Fine. I have my reasons, just as you have yours for being here right now," Daemon said.
"My reasons are simple. Find my sister and kill every person they've hurt," Aaliyah declared.
Where is she? What have they done to her? And can I save her before it's too late?
"A sister..." Daemon muttered.
A sudden memory flashed in Daemon's mind: a calm, bright, warm park where his sister was singing beautifully to him while he drew her as she asked. Her voice beautiful voice filled with an otherworldly resonance, had always brought him peace. After a few moments, everything went black and red, and he heard his sister scream. That day, marked by a brutal attack from the Iron Cartel, had changed everything. His sister's screams, echoing in his mind, were a constant reminder of his failure to protect her.
Aaliyah looked deeply into Daemon's eyes. "Revenge?" she asked.
Daemon leaned in. "Maybe, or maybe it's just a reckoning." his voice dropping to a whisper.
Aaliyah took a step back, unsettled. "What do you mean?"
"You wouldn't understand, Aaliyah. You can't comprehend the depths of what I've lost," Daemon said.
"Maybe not. But I understand pain. And I won't let you cause more of it," Aaliyah said firmly.
Daemon chuckled darkly. "You think you can stop me?"
Aaliyah started reaching to her side. "I have to try." then she thought. 'What drives him now? Power? Revenge? Or something darker?'
"Then you're more naive than I thought," Daemon said. 'What does she see in me? A savior? A betrayer?' he thought.
"Maybe. But I'm also determined. And I won't back down," Aaliyah replied.
As the conversation stretched over a minute, Daemon heard a voice over the walkie-talkie. "Mortis, what are you doing? Get rid of her!"
Daemon's leech claws began to emerge. "This won't end well for you, Aaliyah," he warned.
Aaliyah raised her hand, and in her palm, a dark sharp dagger made of shadows slowly condensed.
'So she has shadow manipulation... very useful if she really wants to get inside the cartel hideout,' Daemon thought.
At the same time, he saw multiple shadow daggers floating around Aaliyah, all starting to fly toward him. Daemon moved, dodging them easily and deflecting them with his claws. He swiftly closed the distance between them and retaliated with a precise strike, grazing Aaliyah's arm. She winced but continued to press forward.
Daemon swiped at her from the side, but she pulled out a real dagger, countering his every move. Each time he blocked, she switched the dagger to her other hand, looking for an opening, but Daemon's speed was too great. She couldn't land a hit because of it.
"You are strong for someone who only recently gained Nyx," Daemon said. 'It's been a little over a week since I last saw her. How did she gain Nyx, create an ability, and have the strength of a D threat, almost a C?' he thought.
Aaliyah didn't respond, continuing to fight. Despite her efforts, all of Daemon's attacks kept connecting. After the fifth strike, she started to feel weak, but that's when Daemon stopped using his leech.
'I have always been able to sense others' emotions and intentions,' Aaliyah thought. 'He's focused. Intense. His intentions... he doesn't want to kill me. He wants to stop me. But why?'
Aaliyah activated her ability, Synchronicity. Shadows around her condensed into an exact duplicate of herself. 'My mimic can attack, block for itself, and even have a disorienting effect. This should give me the edge,' she thought.
However, Daemon moved with a fluidity that belied his emotionless demeanor. His attacks were precise and controlled, still managing to block and dodge both her and her mimic's attacks.
How did she acquire Nyx so swiftly?
"You can't win this, Aaliyah. Give up," Daemon said as he kicked her strongly into a car.
"Not until I free those innocent people and know why you're working with them!" Aaliyah shouted, swinging her dagger at Daemon.
As the flipped car door was halfway open, Daemon twisted behind it, kicking it at Aaliyah. She reacted in time, blocking it with her hand, but felt a sharp pain as if her hand was sprained. Daemon's kick pushed her back slightly, causing a standstill in their struggle for strength.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else!" Aaliyah shouted through gritted teeth.
"Enough!" Daemon shouted, pushing the door with such force that it ripped off. Aaliyah flipped back, and Daemon swung the door through the air like a frisbee at her.
When it was about to hit her, she managed to flip again, but this time, she went through the door's window, landing on the ground on her hands and knees.
Daemon started slowly walking toward Aaliyah, his claws extending. "It didn't have to come to this, but... anything," he said.
Just as he was about to reach Aaliyah, there was a explosion suddenly went off next to him. All the Iron Enforcers were shocked they were sure what to do or if he survived, but after a few moments, they all drove off in a hurry.