Veil of Shadows

Chapter 19. Reunion Gone Wrong

The dagger was on its way before Wraith had finished turning around.

Midnight watched the dagger with an amused look before snatching it out of the air moments before it could lodge in her heart. Wraith's eyes widened. "How...how did you..." She stuttered.

There was no trace of amusement in Midnight's eyes now. She let the dagger fall to the ground with a dull thud. "Now that that's over, could you kindly explain why you were about to kill my friend?"

"Hey, I was perfectly fine before you showed up!" Blaze protested. Midnight gave her a look that said 'Yeah, okay, we'll go with that.' Wraith replied "It's nothing personal, really. I was hired."

Midnight nodded. "I thought as much. And who, exactly, hired you?"

Wraith crossed her arms. "Wouldn't you like to know."

For a few moments, there was silence. Then, a flash of movement, and Midnight was right in front of Wraith, grinning slightly. That was never a good sign.

The wither hybrid didn't have time for surprise as Midnight kicked her in the face with so much force and power that Wraith flew backward and slammed into a tree. Hard.

"Allow me to repeat the question. Who hired you?"

Wraith had the breath knocked out of her on impact with the tree, and she crumpled to the ground, trying and failing to regain the ability to breathe. "You...expect me to...tell you...that easily?" Wraith managed to get out.

Midnight shook her head and stalked toward Wraith, grabbing her chin with one hand and jerking her head up so that they were face to face.

"No. I don't expect you to tell us who your employer is. I'm hoping you won't tell so I can play this game for as long as I like before you finally break." She said quietly, and the promise of violence in her voice alone made Wraith flinch.

Blaze cleared her throat loudly, and Midnight looked up. "Let's not get too out of hand." She said softly. Midnight glanced once at Wraith, then released her hold, stepping back.

Immediately, Wraith tried to salvage what was left of her defiance. Humiliation was not something she took lightly. "You realize that you've only strengthened my resolve, correct?" She said.

Midnight looked to Blaze, who simply nodded.

There was a muffled thump, and Wraith was knocked unconscious by a single punch from Midnight, who merely brushed off her cloak and said "Not the ideal situation to meet my best friend."