Xeney

Chapter 1

In her human guise, the Enforcer sat quietly at the edge of the party, observing the crowd from a distance. She was there on a mission, her purpose far removed from the frivolous dancing and teenage drama unfolding around her. Her true objective lay in investigating the illicit black markets, the kind operated by the Fragments—those who dared to sell forbidden powers. Siblings of the Almighty or not, the Fragments’ activities were unsanctioned by Heaven, and this operation, like countless others before it, had to be dismantled.

As she sipped from a cup, her senses stayed sharp, scanning the faces, watching for anything unusual. She had secured an invitation to this party by using someone she 'knew'—Mark, a classmate at her high school whom she had been manipulating for months. Mark was a textbook player, always chasing the next thrill, the next girl. The Enforcer had found his desires easy to exploit, and his network of connections made him a convenient pawn. It was through him that she gained access to this building, a location tied to the underground market.

The building was primed for something darker that night. She could feel it in the air—the energy rippling subtly around her, just waiting to manifest. But for now, everything appeared normal. Teenagers danced, laughed, and mingled, oblivious to the sinister forces set to converge two floors above them.

“I’ll be right back,” the Enforcer said, standing up abruptly. She felt the need to slip away, use the restroom, and recalibrate her focus for the mission. As she turned to leave, a small leaflet slipped from her pocket and fluttered to the floor.

Mark, ever observant when it came to things that weren't his, scooped up the leaflet almost as soon as it hit the ground. He glanced at it, his curiosity piqued.

“Anything you wish could be yours if the price is right,” he read aloud, noticing an address scribbled on the paper. His eyes widened as he realized the address was right in this building—two floors up. The words on the leaflet hinted at something secretive, something forbidden. His thrill-seeking nature kicked in.

“Sorry, Katie, finders keepers,” Mark muttered with a grin, tucking the leaflet into his pocket as he headed toward the elevator. The Enforcer, Katie to him, had been acting strange all evening, and now he knew why. She’d been hiding something exciting.

Mark’s pulse quickened as he reached the second floor and stepped into the hallway. The building above the party was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos below. The air was thicker, humming with an energy he couldn’t quite place. When he reached the door with the same number as on the leaflet, his hand hovered before knocking. Then, without thinking twice, he pushed it open.

“What the…?” he mumbled. The space inside was nothing like he’d expected. It looked like a market of sorts, but not like any he’d ever seen. The room was filled with strange, surreal stalls, and beings that didn’t belong in any normal setting. The creatures, many in animalistic forms, worked behind the counters, trading goods, whispers of deals slipping through the air.

A girl in a cat-like costume caught his eye as she stood by the entrance, her large eyes blinking up at him. Something about her seemed off—too real, too lifelike—but Mark brushed it off, assuming it was part of the costume party he had stumbled upon.

“Hey, uh… is this the place?” Mark asked casually, trying to keep his cool.

“Yes, yes, Mr. Human,” the girl responded in an unnervingly high-pitched voice. “I see your ticket is valid. Do enter.”

Mark glanced down at the leaflet still in his hand and shrugged. “Yeah, sure thing,” he muttered. As he stepped past her, a strange sensation prickled his skin, as if he'd just crossed an invisible threshold. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just a regular costume party, but then again, what was the harm? His excitement only grew as he ventured further in.