“Perhaps The Witch of Heart Beats? Or the Cursed Auburn Demon? So many names for one so young,” he said, walking further into the room.

My mind was whirling. The room was spinning. Mocking voices flashed through my mind, memories of blood and fire swam up to the surface. A town burning behind me as I was fleeing from hunters. I was out of breath, drenched in sweat, pain radiating through the cuts and lashes across my skin, tears salting the wounds on my face.

“Oh dear, mimic got your tongue? Did I strike a nerve?” Adding to the mocking voices within my mind.

His voice brought me back into the room, on my knees and heart racing, but I was back. I looked up at Stone, trying to look fierce. Though I knew I looked like the scared girl I was back then.

“Rin.” I croaked out. Trying to not have the fear tint my voice. “You can call me Rin.” I could feel the terror in my voice, hearing the weak girl come from my throat.

“Rin it is then. Well Rin,” Stone began, crouching down to my eye level. “It took some time to gather some intel on you, after you… failed the job I so graciously provided a newcomer to the game.”

His grin sickened me. Graciously provided? Pfft, please, it was a trap and we both knew it.

“Vincent-“ I started.

“Please, Mr. Stone. Only my mother is allowed to call me Vincent.” He said, standing, towering above me.

“Sure, Mr. Stone-“ I hated myself, the fear tainting my words.

“We wouldn’t want to be disrespectful by inaccurately addressing one another, no? We wouldn’t want your… macabre past to be spread about, would we?” Vincent again interrupted.

His strong build was one thing, but his true power was information. I felt myself sink into the despair I felt back then. I wanted to give up, I couldn’t handle it if my past got out. I looked up at his face, the same face of those who hunted me down and destroyed my home. A face that said he had won, he had caught me. That face was wrong. This play was no tragedy. I’ll rip that face from my stage.

Taking a moment to collect myself further. I needed to think. The laptop is now directly between me and Stone. Cadence is down and when he wakes up, he will head back to the main room and leave with Vex as planned, if he hasn’t been nabbed. I stared up at Stone in the face.

I took a deep breath. “Listen, I don’t care what you’ve dug up on me. It really doesn’t matter. I came here to…” I paused, standing up to my feet, trying to think of a lie in that brief moment. Thankfully Vincent provided me with one.

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“You came here to steal from my vault, the goal of all the thieves in this city.” He boasted. “And you wanted to try your hand at breaking in, as countless before you.”

Honestly, I didn’t know he had a vault. Well, I assumed there had to be a vault at a casino to hold all the coins and cash from the house’s winnings. I didn’t even consider stealing from a vault. Maybe I’ll consider that for another day, but today I’m after one thing.

“You got me,” I said, putting my hands up. “I was trying to steal from your vault. Figured you’d have a secret path to it from your office.” I tilted my head to the still open secret door. “But you caught me before I could even start. So, what gave me away?”

Vincent bellowed out a laugh, it grated on my nerves. I so wanted to toss a fireball and blow up the damn room. Grrrr… calm down Rin, calm down. First grab the computer then you can toss a fireball, or three.

Once his laugh subsided. “I knew you were staking out my place from the moment you stepped into my club dearest Rin. Nothing escapes my sight, and when the bats went dark, I knew you were striking. So, I waited.”

I clapped my hands slowly, mostly to buy time. I began to walk around him. Making my way to his desk. “I can see why you are well respected and feared, Mr. Stone. I should have taken the job you so graciously gave me more seriously.” I finally reached behind the desk and sat down in the, admittedly, comfy leather chair. “Perhaps we can discuss… new business?”

His grin turned into a scowl. His eyes intensified on me. I could feel a pressure falling on my shoulders. Circulating mana through my body, I resisted his crushing aura. After a moment, he laughed. “Perhaps I can follow your example and just let the past lie.”

“Sounds perfect.” I strained to say. His taunting wouldn’t get to me, not again. I gathered mana into my hands, slowly building two spells. Thankfully I was sweating from earlier and can play off the new strain off. “So, let’s talk business, shall we?”

“Lets.” He said, giving a gesture for me to get up. “Now rise from my seat and we can talk reparations.”

My first spell was ready, I lightly touched the closed laptop with my hand, as I stood up slowly. Silently casting a spell around it and the table. Tempus Phantasia. I staggered around the desk, the mana draining from my already low core. Vincent lifted an eyebrow in curiosity at my stumble, making his way around the other side of the desk and resting in his chair.

“Yes, let’s talk about reparations. I do believe you owe me a good deal for your transgressions, wouldn’t you agree Mr. Stone.” I said, my hand lifting off the desk, some extra weight in my hand. “First, we have setting me up with a false job. Then we have stalking. Which, do you stalk every pretty girl you try to entrap? Wait, don't answer that, I think we both know the answer.” My second spell was ready, but I needed just a moment more to steady myself before I released it.

His face soured, turning nearly crimson. “You truly are an impudent little witch, aren’t you Ashtren Bellamy, the bringer of- “

Before he could finish, I released my first spell. The illusion on the desk around him shimmered and dissolved. The illusion of it on the desk fading away, the laptop now in my hands. His eyes opened wide, his hand reaching for the blade at his hip as he stood sharply to his feet. As he pulled the blade out, it came mere centimeters from my neck. I casted, for the second time in minutes, Tempus Raskr.

“Die…You… Insolent-“ Stone’s words slowed to a crawl. My body filled with energy as I began to move away from the speeding blade. “Little… Girl.” His words became slowed and slurred.

I casually took a step back, looking like a blur to Vincent’s eyes. I took a moment, looking at the old man. Which was a mistake as he sped up, darting over the table. He charged towards me at a crawl, like moving through water. His hands flashed unexpectedly, and a dagger came flying towards me. My eyes widened and I sprinted to the only clear escape, the opened secret passage.

“I hope you lead out of here.” I said, pumping my legs full force, leaving Vincent Stone in the dust.

His once slurred shouts became normal once my spell wore off too quickly. It was an intensive spell to keep up, and disorienting. Had to steady myself for a hot second on the wall, as my core was now fully drained. I couldn’t catch much of my breath before I continued to sprint. Another dagger slammed into the wall I was just resting on.

“I WILL GET YOU FOR THIS WITCH! CURSED CHILD! BRINGER OF RUIN!” His shouting taunts bounced around the stone passageway. My heart felt each blow, but he knew nothing but stories. I soon came to an exit, a single door with a push bar. I thanked the goddess of luck and slammed into the push bar, flinging the door open.

Fresh air filled my lungs and a face full of brick as I smashed against the wall. I was out in an alleyway of the club. I rubbed my face, but hearing multiple shouts and sprinting steps from where I came from, I quickly made my exit into the warm busy streets of the city. Laughing as I weaved through its people. The brisk chill air of the night invigorated my steps as I ran towards the rendezvous.