Veil of Shadows

The Deal in the Shadows

The moon hung low over the city of Eldralis, casting its pale light through the thick fog that clung to the streets like a predator waiting for its prey. Ariana moved silently, her dark cloak blending into the shadows as she made her way to the arranged meeting spot. The pulse of her necklace was the only reminder of the magic she carried—magic she kept hidden from a world that despised it.

She didn't question why they wanted the book or who they were, but the reward was enough to keep her interest piqued. Gold always spoke louder than secrets in her line of work. The client had been specific about the location: the abandoned tavern on the outskirts of the city, where prying eyes rarely ventured.

The familiar weight of her daggers at her side gave her comfort as she approached the building. Her eyes flickered over the entrance, already counting the exits, gauging the possible threats. She didn't trust anyone, especially not the kind of people who would hire her for a job like this—stealing an ancient book from the king's personal library was no small task.

Ariana stepped into the tavern, the door creaking softly behind her. The dim light from a single candle flickered on a nearby table, casting long shadows that danced against the decaying walls. Her contact waited, shrouded in a cloak as dark as the night outside. His face was obscured, but she could feel his gaze on her, sizing her up, just as she was him.

"You're late," the man's voice rasped, low and hoarse.

"I'm never late. You're just early," Ariana shot back, her grey eyes narrowing slightly. She approached the table, her hand resting casually on the hilt of her dagger, just in case.

The man's lips curled into a thin smile beneath his hood. "Fair enough. You know the job?"

"I get the book. You get me paid," she replied coolly. "But you still haven't told me why this book is so important."

"It's not your concern," he said, pushing a small satchel of gold toward her. "The king's library. Tomorrow night. The ball will provide all the distraction you'll need. Get in, get the book, and get out. No complications."

Ariana eyed the gold before pulling it toward her, her fingers brushing over the heavy coins. "There are always complications."

The man leaned forward slightly, his shadowed face giving off an eerie glow from the candlelight. "Not for someone like you, Reaper."

Ariana's lips twitched into a slight smirk. "We'll see."

The streets of Eldralis hummed with activity as preparations for the masquerade ball swept through the city. Lanterns strung from rooftops, casting a golden glow over cobblestone roads. Noblewomen draped in silks and lords cloaked in velvet glided toward the castle gates, their laughter echoing through the night.

Ariana slipped between them, unseen and unnoticed. The mask she wore was simple, a delicate black piece that covered her eyes, blending her in with the sea of masked faces, though hers was far less ornate than those around her. It served its purpose, just like everything else in her life. Tools. Disguises. Weapons. She walked with her head held high, as if she belonged, every step confident, her gaze sharp beneath her mask.

The towering silhouette of the castle loomed ahead, its high walls and glittering towers reaching toward the sky. Ariana's heart thrummed with the familiar thrill of a job. The excitement of the unknown, the danger that came with infiltrating the very seat of power in Eldralis. But tonight, it wasn't the king's watchful eyes she feared—it was the unpredictability of the unknown forces at play.

Her target lay within the deepest part of the royal library, buried among centuries-old tomes and forgotten knowledge. What she was stealing, she still didn't know, but that wasn't her problem. It rarely was. Her job was to retrieve it, and for a sum as large as the one offered, questions weren't worth asking.