(Selena Flint)

Midnight was fast approaching, and Selena felt giddy. A mixture of exhilaration and fear roiled in the pit of her stomach. It was time to sabotage Stoneridge with another inferno of destruction. She gleefully prepared herself to incinerate more vital enemy resources.

She smiled wistfully as she thought of her mentors, the Demon Twins. She had learned everything that she knew under the guidance of Alecta and Vala Jade. Her tutors were unpredictable and violent, just like a frenzied conflagration.

She had joined the Shadow Lands army the day after her magical Awakening. Five years later, Queen Sapphire herself had welcomed her to the Fire and Blood Sisterhood, which was the elite vanguard caster division.

In the last two weeks she had set two silos and a smithy ablaze.

She trembled and her cheeks flushed as she thought of the wild inferno that she had unleashed. The fire was a roaring fiend. Her progeny was as beautiful as it was playful. She had given it life with her Lightning Strike. It had coiled its flaming forked tongue around the wooden beams of the silo, savoring the flavor. It had emitted a shower of sparks after the first gulp, before turning ravenous. The flames had swiftly enveloped the building in a fiery embrace and had consumed it.

She shivered, barely containing her excitement.

Twenty-two days had passed since the rebels had captured Stoneridge. Ten days ago, Selena had almost been caught. One of the silos she set fire to had burned completely to the ground. Her only regret was that she had not been able to stay and watch the fire devour the building. She had been forced to flee, but the escape had been thrilling! A well-placed Lightning Strike, a dodged arrow, and Invisibility had allowed her to avoid capture.

Her associates had not been so fortunate. She had lost contact with the other underground agents in Stoneridge. The Corpse Lord and his group had been apprehended five days ago. The nine members of the Skree Clan had been rounded up a day later, and the blundering Squirrel Assassin had gotten himself killed during a botched attempt to eliminate Lord Tepi. Yesterday, she had even lost contact with her bounty informant – Boba, the Fat Innkeeper.

How are they finding us? Selena narrowed her eyes. Suspicion gnawed at her… She considered the possibilities, but that only gave her a headache.

Well, it doesn’t matter. They’ll never catch me. She pursed her lips. Soon, my exalted Queen will arrive and take Stoneridge back from these smelly pit dwellers. She sneered. I’ll do everything in my power to weaken their resolve and sabotage their defenses. This backwater trash will pay with their blood.

She snatched her backpack, cast Invisibility, and clambered out of the roof hatch of her hideout. Her new place was a derelict, boarded up brewery near the heart of the city. It was located off a side alley near Hawthorn Street. It was the perfect place for a hideout. Not even her informant knew about her new lair.

Selena crouched down on the roof and surveyed the street below. As usual, at this time of the night, it was dark and deserted. Her long rope was secured to one of the flues on top of the brewery. The rest of it was coiled inside a cracked flowerpot next to the roof’s edge. She tossed her rope down the side of the building and nimbly rappelled down the brick wall. Once she reached the alley, she hid the rope behind the gutter and nodded to herself.

She skulked past the brewery and glanced left and right. The alley was still deserted. There were no vagabonds or urchins around.

It’s time to hit the Grotto Sunstone Garden on Baker Street. The thought energized her. The underground garden provided a sixth of the fresh produce for the city. She just needed to set enough of the orchard trees and planter boxes on fire. The air vents would do the rest.

She adjusted the straps on her backpack. She carried five jugs of overproof Resan Rum and some other supplies. The rum was the perfect brew for killing brain mass and for setting things ablaze.

Selena made her way out of the side alley and entered Hawthorn Street. Sentries patrolled the area, and the place was lit by sunstone spires.

From this point on, I’ll need to be extra careful.

She prowled through the shadows and maintained maximum distance from the patrols. She paid close attention to how and where she stepped. Even with Invisibility, the guards might notice the telltale sign of footprints or the sounds of walking on the cobblestone street.

It took her a while to reach Baker Street. When she finally got there, her target was directly ahead of her. She stopped next to the ramp that led down to the grotto. She surveyed the street and waited until the east side sentries had departed. She moved forward and peeked over the parapet that led to the garden and froze.

Ash and embers! she cursed silently.

Last night she had seen only a single guard at the entrance and now there were six of them. It was too risky to take on all of them at the same time.

She stilled. Did the Fat Innkeeper spill the salt? She frowned. Nah, he’d rather die before he’d sing. The Fat Innkeeper is totally devoted to our queen.

She stood for a moment, paralyzed with indecision.

Well, I can wait. She shrugged. The night is still young, and I’ve got plenty of time to scorch the sunstone garden. She clamped down her fervor.

She looked around and saw a line of blooming lilac bushes across the street.

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Oh, perfect!

She snuck across the street and crawled between the shrubs before dismissing her Invisibility. She was well hidden from prying eyes and had a good vantage point to the grotto’s entrance.

She grabbed a sandwich from her backpack and started to munch. Three sandwiches, seven mint cookies, and a sip of rum later, she finally saw some movement. Three of the sentries walked up the ramp. She recast Invisibility and crept behind the shrubs.

“The city reserves are running late, again,” one of the guards grumbled. “I’m tired of covering for them. I’m not staying here past my guard duty. This is their job to begin with. I’ve only gotten a few hours of sleep in the last couple of days. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“Tell me about it,” another guard replied. “They’ve been running us ragged every night since we captured the city. I miss my cushy job in Scar. I miss being the requisitions clerk.”

Selena lurked in the shadows until the guards left and then snuck toward the ramp.

Nice! She grinned.

Only three guards remained, and they were chatting about the Spirit Competition. She crept down the ramp, moving closer to her targets.

When she was finally within striking range, she slammed her palms against the backs of two guards and cast Shatter Touch. She followed her opening attack with a few Lightning Strikes. In the blink of an eye, three bodies crumpled to the ground.

What the abyss? Selena’s eyes widened.

The guards were still alive…

How?

They wriggled around like turtles on their backs, trying to remove their vests.

“Intruder!” one of the guards bellowed and she viciously kicked him in the face. Despite the savage blow to his head, he kept yelling.

Ash and embers! They’re using Vests of Protection… Sháte, is this a trap?

She hesitated for a moment before steeling her resolve.

How long till reinforcements arrive? she wondered. She bit her lip and squared her shoulders. I can still do this.

Selena pulled open the door and ducked inside the Grotto Sunstone Garden. She stepped on something sticky but ignored it. She hoisted off her backpack, placed it on the ground, and quickly opened it. She flung the bottles of rum at different targets. They shattered, spreading the flammable liquid exactly where she wanted it. Her eyes burned with euphoria. She cast Lightning Strikes, setting the area ablaze. The flames rose but she did not have time to watch them blossom.

She recast Invisibility and dashed out of the grotto. On her way out she only had a moment to glance over her shoulder. Fire danced in her eyes. She grimaced as she stepped on something sticky on her way out.

Gross, what’s that? It better not be manure! She scraped her shoe and kept running.

It’s time to bail out of here.

Remaining invisible, Selena burst through the door. Two of the sentries were still on the ground, but the other one had removed his VOP and faced her. She easily ducked under the blind swing of his blade. This time, without his enchanted vest, her Lightning Strike ended him.

She leered at his spasming body.

The death of every enemy is a tribute to my Queen…

“Put out the fires!” She heard shouts behind her.

She vaulted up the staircase and sprinted along Baker Street. She ducked into a side alley and ran to the next lane. Once she had put some distance between her and the grotto, she slowed down. She had the advantages of Invisibility and moving with stealth.

Selena did not immediately go back to Hawthorn Street, but instead kept to the back alleys. She could hear distant shouts.

It took her awhile to reach her hideout. She pulled the rope from behind the gutter and grabbed it tightly. She then made the laborious climb up the brick wall, to the roof of the brewery. She did not relax until she had passed through the roof hatch, closed it behind her, and entered the familiarity of her hideout. She dropped her backpack on the floor and rolled her shoulders. Next, she reached for the small moonstone attached to her necklace and uncovered it. The soft light illuminated the empty second floor of the building.

Why were they using VOPs? she wondered. None of the sentries at my previous targets used Vests of Protection. Are they changing strategies? Did Boba tell them that the grotto was my next target?

She paced as she speculated about what was going on. Without her informants she felt like a fish out of water.

She took a deep breath. I’m overthinking it.

Still, Selena felt like she was missing something important. She rubbed the back of her neck and stared down at the floor.

Well, I’m sure it’s nothing. She dismissed the nagging feeling in the back of her mind.

She loped downstairs to the first floor of the brewery.

I hope that grotto burns to the ground! Her face lit up. It’s time to celebrate another successful mission.

She shrugged out of her coat. She grabbed a bottle of rum with one hand, a blanket with the other, and scurried over to her onyx stone. It was a small one, so it did not put out as much heat as she would have liked. She really missed the warm weather of the Shadow Lands, but she did not miss the ashfalls.

She raised the bottle. “A salute to my Queen.” She took a big gulp. “Whew, that’s strong.” The burning sensation down her throat and chest warmed her. She coughed and wiped her mouth on her sleeve.

She lay back, looking at the ceiling overhead and smiled. She propped her feet up on top of a small barrel and put her hands behind her head. She closed her eyes and relaxed.

Her ears twitched and she furrowed her brow. What’s that sound? She cocked her head to the side. It sounded like people.

She reached inside her pocket and pulled out a small, enchanted hearing gadget. She stuck the magic contraption in her ear and focused.

There was definitely a large group of people heading in her direction.

They’re probably just passing by, she reassured herself. Still, she sat up and listened intently.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Ash and embers, they’re coming straight toward the brewery!

She cast Invisibility and padded toward one of the windows. She peeked out through a small hole in one of the boards.

Her eyes widened. They were at least fifty soldiers out there and they quickly surrounded the brewery.

Her muscles tensed and she sucked in a deep breath.

She still had her listening device in her ear and overheard a discussion outside. A boy was talking to a man.

“William are you sure this is the place?” asked the man. “This whole building is boarded up.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” replied the boy. “The minty trail leads straight to this brewery, and I can see the magical signature.” He crossed his arms.

Minty trail? Selena frowned. What’s that brat talking about? Her mouth twisted.

“That clown of a Shadow caster stepped all over our sticky trap,” the boy declared. “I can follow him anywhere. The trail he left reeks of mint.”

Selena’s eyes widened. She remembered stepping on something sticky at the entrance of the grotto. She leaned down and took off one of her shoes. She lifted it up and sniffed it. The color drained from her face. It had a faint minty smell.

Well, they’re not going catch me alive! Selena clenched her jaw and slipped her shoe back on. She pulled out her dagger and prepared to fight.

Something crashed into the door and sent it flying off its hinges. Selena raised her hand, preparing to unleash a Lightning Strike. She heard the floorboard behind her creak. She whipped her head around and something slammed into her face. She teetered and thudded to the ground.

Before she lost consciousness, she heard the griping voice of the boy.

“Roooose, you cheated,” he groused. “You used a small shift and snuck in through the back.”