Shadow Market

Chapter Three

Raven Moon:

Dante and I moved swiftly through the labyrinthine alleys of the Shadow Market, our footsteps echoing softly in the dimly lit pathways. The market was a hidden world of its own, with stalls and booths draped in silk, illuminated only by the flickering glow of enchanted lanterns. The air was filled with exotic spices and supernatural beings that smelled like the place poop goes to die.

"This whole place smells like shit!" I whispered to Dante, who only snorted in response.

Dante led me to a narrow, almost concealed stall tucked away between two larger, more elaborate setups. The stall was covered in dark green velvet, and the vendor—a tall, hooded figure with a face hidden in shadow—was busy arranging an assortment of mysterious items.

"Quickly," Dante murmured, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "We need to be in and out before we draw too much attention."

The vendor glanced up as we approached, his eyes sharp and alert despite his concealed face.

"Good evening," Dante said in a low, respectful tone. "We're in need of specific supplies for an urgent task. Can you help us?"

The vendor's gaze flickered between Dante and me, his voice a low murmur. "Depends on what you need. The market is full of curious eyes."

"We need items that can aid in navigating supernatural barriers and protecting us from dark magic," I spoke up earning a side eye from Dante. After all, I was the one cursed. 

" I have just what you need." He reached under the counter and produced a small leather pouch. "This is enchanted dust. It will reveal hidden pathways and magical traps."

I took the pouch, noting the faint glow emanating from it. "How does it work?"

"Sprinkle it on surfaces or objects you wish to examine," the vendor said quietly. "It will reveal anything magical or hidden. Keep it discreet."

Dante placed a few coins on the counter. "We'll take it. Anything else?"

The vendor nodded and handed us a small vial of shimmering liquid. "This is a potion of clarity. It sharpens your senses and helps detect illusions.."

I examined the vial and put it into my bag. "And?"

The vendor pulled out a compact, ornate compass with an intricate design. "This compass is attuned to supernatural energies. It will help you locate powerful entities."

I took the compass, feeling its weight in my hand. "How much?"

"Six gold coins." Dante nodded, sliding some more coins across the counter.

We made our way quickly through the market, avoiding eye contact with the other vendors and patrons. The market's bustling activity seemed to fade into the background as we focused on getting out of sight.

We didn't dare go back to the theater; Viktor would no doubt have eyes all over that place. Instead, we went to see an old friend.

Raven Moon was an eccentric girl with dark hair and even darker eyes. She was also my fence when I needed to sell certain stolen items. She, however, hated Dante.

As we approached Raven's rundown apartment building, Dante grumbled under his breath. "Why does it have to be Raven? She hates me."

I smirked, knocking on the door. "Because she's the only one we can trust right now. Besides, watching her hate you is the only fun I've had all day."

The door swung open, revealing Raven's petite frame. She looked me up and down, her dark eyes narrowing slightly. "Lena. I heard you were in some deep trouble. Come in." Her gaze shifted to Dante, and her lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, it's you. The human embodiment of a bad decision."

"Nice to see you too, Raven," Dante replied dryly, stepping inside.

Raven led us into her cluttered living room, "So, what brings you two here? And keep your shoes off the rug, Dante. I just had it cleaned."

Dante rolled his eyes but complied while I quickly explained our situation. Raven listened, her expression shifting from amusement to concern. 

"A curse, huh?" Raven said, eyeing the brand on my arm. "And you need a place to lay low and plan your next move."

"Exactly," I said, glancing at Dante. "We need to figure out how to deal with this and stay out of Viktor's sight."

Raven crossed her arms, her gaze lingering on Dante. "Alright, you can stay."

"Thanks, Raven. We owe you one."

Raven waved a hand dismissively. "Just don't bring trouble to my doorstep. And Lena, if you get the chance to ditch him, take it."

Dante sighed, sinking into a worn-out chair. "You know, Raven, your warmth and hospitality never cease to amaze me."

Raven smirked, tossing a throw pillow at him. "And your charm never fails to make me nauseous. Now, let's get to work. I have a feeling we're going to need all the help we can get."

We settled into the cramped space, spreading out the map and laying out our newly acquired supplies. Raven sat cross-legged on the floor, examining the mark on my arm. "I have never seen anything like it. It almost looks like Celtic with the knots intertwining."  she mused, her dark eyes narrowing in thought.

I leaned forward. "Really? Do you, by chance, know what it means?" Raven rose to her feet. I have a book. I'll be right back"

As she disappeared into the next room, Dante glanced around nervously. "Are you sure we can trust her?"

I shot him a sidelong glance. "Do you have a choice?"

Before Dante could respond, Raven returned, an old, dusty tome in her hands. "Found it," she declared, dropping the book onto the table with a thud.

Dante raised an eyebrow. "You actually have a book on ancient curses?"

Raven ignored him, flipping through the pages with practiced ease. "Here we go," she said, pointing to an illustration that looked eerily similar to the mark on my arm. "This is a binding curse. It's designed to tie the bearer to a specific task or entity. But we already knew that."

Dante muttered something under his breath, earning a sharp glare from Raven. "Do you have something useful to contribute?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. "Raven, see if there is anything in there about how to remove it without actually doing the task."

Raven sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine, but he"—she pointed at Dante—"stays out of my way. And he doesn't touch anything."

Dante threw up his hands in mock surrender. "As if I'd want to touch any of your junk."

We sat in silence while Raven flipped through the book. Making the occasion hopeless sighs. She closed it rather forcefully. "Nope, nothing. Sorry, Lene."

"It's okay, thanks for trying. Let's look at the map and plan our next move."I spread the map out further, tracing the route with my finger. "We need to find the first soul. The map should get us close, and I have the compass to narrow it down."

Raven nodded, her eyes scanning the map. "I'll see what I can dig up about the locations. You might also need more than just what you got from the market. I know a few people who can get you some heavy-duty protection."

Dante groaned. "More people like you?"

Raven smirked. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you, Dante."