The crowd grew silent, tension building as the smoke consumed the assassin entirely. Then, in an instant, she vanished from Lydia's grasp.
"What the—?!" Lydia's words died on her lips as a sharp, blinding pain exploded on her left side. She gasped, her body twisting from the force of a sudden strike she hadn't even seen coming.
The blow sent her hurtling to the side, her feet leaving the ground as she tumbled through the air. She gritted her teeth, twisting her body mid-flight into a controlled somersault, and landed on her feet in a crouch. Clutching her side, she winced but forced herself to stand, daggers at the ready.
The assassin reappeared several feet away, her posture different—sharper, more predatory. Her movements carried an unnatural speed and power, and her previously smug grin had been replaced by a cold, calculated glare.
