Amber points toward a massive structure looming in the dark. "Look over there. That’s the fortress."

  Shion nods, her face grim. "Good. Thanks."

  Amber turns and vanishes into the night.

  Shion glances at Patience. "Alright... follow my lead."

  They crouch behind a thick bush, their eyes fixed on the heavy main doors.

  "This looks like a castle to me," Patience whispers.

  "Indeed. Look over there. What do you see?" Shion points toward the upper floor.

  "Where?" Patience squinting, seeing only shadows.

  Shion moves closer, her voice barely a breath. "Follow my hand. High up—see that cracked window and the stained frame?"

  Patience nods. "Yes!"

  "Keep it low," Shion warns.

  Patience quickly covers her mouth. "Sorry..."

  "That room is an execution chamber,"

  Shion says, her eyes hardening. "I’d wager they butcher people there."

  Patience’s eyes widen. "The stains... that explains the red on the frame. It’s blood."

  Shion’s gaze locks on the glass. "Someone was trying to claw their way out."

  "So what do we do?" Patience asks.

  "We charge in, of course."

  "Wait—what?"

  "There’s a party going on. We can blend in."

  Patience raises an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

  "I can hear the laughter. The echoes of an orchestra. Can you fight?"

  Patience hesitates, her voice small. "No... not really."

  Now I have to babysit, Shion thinks. She sighs. "Fine. Just stay close."

  They emerge from the bushes and walk toward the entrance. Shion’s knuckles rap against the wood. A man pulls it open, a pistol hanging loosely in his hand. He narrows his eyes at them. "Ladies... here for the party?"

  Shion flashes a charming smile. "Yes. We are."

  He steps aside. They step into a sea of guests. On the left, men play violins; on the right, others strum guitars. Maidens whisper behind silk fans, their eyes slicing into Shion like cold knives.

  Shion scans the room. The men here are guarded. They won't listen to reason.

  She decides not to start a scene yet.

  She begins climbing the stairs, Patience trailing behind like a shadow.

  On the upper landing, three men lounge around a table. One gnaws on a chicken leg, his teeth tearing the meat loudly.

  "Venus, what do you think of the King Pin’s fortress?"

  Venus sips his wine, his fingers tight around the glass. "Not bad... for a castle."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The men roar with laughter.

  Venus grins. "I’ll have to bring half my crew just to keep the 'guests' entertained."

  A chubby man with a sweaty brow leans in. "Venus, we should head down. King Pin is arriving soon with the female slaves. He said the prices would be fair for everyone."

  Venus’s eyes light up. "Perfect. I just lost one. Casey’s been moping—she needs a new 'sister.' The girls downstairs aren't her match."

  The chubby man wipes his nose. "Then let’s get to the door."

  The door bangs open. Venus lunges out, his laughter filling the hallway. The three men follow him.

  Shion stands ten feet away. Her gaze catches Venus’s face. She freezes. Her eyes tremble.

  "Lady... hey!" Patience whispers, shaking her arm.

  The realization turns Shion’s blood to ice. Venus is here. Why now? I can't fight him, not with Patience in the way. Fuck... what do I do?

  As Venus draws closer, Shion pulls her hat low to hide her face. But it’s too late. Their eyes meet.

  Shion turns instantly, hurrying back down the stairs with Patience. They almost reach the bottom. Their boots have barely touched the landing when a dark silhouette surges from the shadows, blocking their path.

  Shion’s heart stops. "Fuck."

  "Oh... don't look so surprised, Crocodile," Venus drawls. He wears a jagged grin. "Forgotten our last dance? This time, I’ll repay that kiss."

  He levels a pistol at Shion’s head.

  The crowd screams. Boots pound the floorboards as guests shove toward the exit.

  Shion shouts, "Run!"

  Patience bolts.

  The associates close in—a ring of steel.

  Venus snaps toward Patience.

  Shion’s fist whips forward.

  Venus catches it.

  His palm acts like a vice,

  forcing her arm down.

  Shion doesn't stop.

  She lunges.

  Her knee crashes into his stomach.

  He groans.

  His hand snaps out,

  clutching Shion’s neck.

  Her hat hits the floor.

  She slams her palm against his wrist, breaking the grip.

  The associates lunge for Patience.

  Patience weaves.

  A woman in a gown dives.

  Patience leaps.

  The woman slams into the floorboards.

  Shion vaults.

  Her knee cracks against Venus’s skull.

  He stumbles back.

  He snarls. She’s not even using her guns.

  He fires.

  Shion twists.

  The air hisses as bullets pass her ears.

  She moves like a dancer through the lead.

  Venus retreats,

  trigger finger working.

  Shion advances.

  She drops.

  A lightning sweep catches his ankles.

  He trips.

  His gun skids across the floor.

  She leaps.

  He rolls.

  Her boot shatters the wood where his chest had been.

  He springs up.

  A knife flashes.

  He drops into a guard.

  Shion strolls toward him—no rush, just steady death.

  He tilts the blade. I can smell it. That same ominous vibe. She had on our first encounter. He thinks.

  His gaze flicks to Patience.

  The air folds.

  Venus is suddenly over the girl.

  The knife snaps toward her.

  Patience leaps back.

  Rifles clear leather.

  Silk parts.

  Cold steel gleams against bare thighs.

  Venus moves again.

  Shion cuts him off.

  The associates tighten their fingers.

  Every gun points at Shion’s heart.

  Shion’s body fades.

  A desk smashes into splinters.

  Her presence shifts.

  She is behind a man.

  A stake drives through his neck.

  He drops.

  In a heartbeat,

  she is in front of a woman.

  The stake surges upward through the jaw.

  Venus lunges.

  The knife arcs for Patience’s spine.

  Shion ripples between them.

  She shoves Patience away.

  Squelch.

  The blade disappears into Shion’s stomach.

  Blood pours over Venus’s hand.

  "Haha!" Venus laughs, twisting the metal. "I knew you’d protect her."

  Patience screams and tries to run to her. A man grabs her, pinning her to the ground.

  Shion falls to her knees, clutching the wound.

  Venus grabs her hair. He pulls her head back until her face contorts.

  Suddenly—

  The window shatters.

  A bullet screams in.

  It hits the wall.

  Ricochets.

  Tears through a goon’s neck.

  Another follows.

  It strikes the stone,

  veers to the stairs,

  and rebounds into a chest.

  Venus’s jaw drops. "What? Show yourself!"

  The bullets keep coming.

  They bounce like angry hornets.

  Associates drop in heaps.

  One bullet zips for Venus’s forehead.

  He ducks.

  It hits the wall,

  veers back,

  and homes in on his skull.

  He twists.

  It whizzes past,

  loops,

  and comes back a fourth time.

  His eyes widen.

  He ducks.

  The bullet stalls in mid-air and drops.

  Silence.

  Every underling lies dead.

  "I’m out!"

  Venus body-slams the door.

  He hits the ground outside and dissolves.

  Shion lies shivering.Red soaks her hands as she tries to hold herself together. She gasps for air. Vision turning grey.

  Patience crawls toward her. “Lady... we have to go find help—”

  "You sure know how to get into trouble, Shion," a voice cuts through the room. "Look at you. Pitiful."

  A woman stands by the wall, dressed in black from head to toe, wearing sharp glasses and a dark hat..

  Patience freezes. "Who is she? How did she get in?"

  Shion’s voice is a ragged whisper. "N-Nina... h-how did you find—"

  In a flicker, Nina is there.

  Her hand covers Shion’s mouth.

  “Shut up,” she says. “I’ve been tailing you the whole time.”