Interlude I
The day before…
The Champion stands barefoot on a coastline, a rocky cliffside to her left, her boots left somewhere behind her. The tide laps against her ankles, then pulls back, drawing away the sand under her feet. The night sky reflects in the water peacefully, the image of the moon rippling with the waves.
She detects the subtle disturbance in the fabric of space that comes with someone tearing nearby, but she doesn’t turn. She recognizes the panting breaths, the hustling feet. As he approaches, she smiles under her hood. “Hello, Angel.”
“Felis is dead.” He stops beside her, breathing hard. “The Fae they were protecting, too.”
“I know,” she murmurs gravely, clasping her hands in front of her.
“What do you mean? Do you know who did this?”
“Yes.”
“What?” His voice is indignant. “Who?”
“A man who hunts his own kind.” She sighs softly, shifting her weight as emotions well in her chest. She’s already lost too many of her Reapers to him, and she fears that more losses are still to come.
He’d been beneath her notice back when he first entered the human realm centuries ago, but recently, he began killing other Fae.
She has never felt it her responsibility to involve herself in disputes among Fae, but this one is forcing her hand.
In the past year, he’s become increasingly erratic, killing not just the Fae he happens to come across but proactively hunting and killing every single one that crosses the barrier.
When she began directing Reapers to protect those who crossed, he began killing Reapers, at which point The Champion began to hunt him.
He’s proven himself extremely intelligent and cautious, though, and The Champion has made the mistake of underestimating him too many times.
But Fate has just handed her an opportunity to end this.
“I have an inkling that a certain Faeral is his next target, and I’m planning to get to her first. I’ll have her taken to a safehouse, and begin the hunt where he’ll think she still is. ”
Angel shudders beside her. “Gods help us all if you’re getting involved. What safehouse is she going to? Mine?”
“No, I was thinking Anima’s. No Faerals currently working out of there, so there won’t be a territory dispute.” She turns and offers a cryptic smile to the man. His golden brown skin is lit with a pale glow from the moon, highlighting the straight line of his nose. “No offense, of course, Angel.”
“None taken. I have enough on my plate as it is.” He sighs, putting his hands on his hips. “Do you think this will work?”
“Not at all. But I have to keep faith that Fate will be on our side.” She cranes her head towards the moon. “Go ahead and get back, Angel. I will take things from here. But keep the Fae in your safehouse close, will you?”
“Yes’m.” With another shuddering fold of the fabric of space, he tears away, leaving The Champion alone again. Just as she always is, throughout time.
She has busy days coming. But, for now, she will enjoy the waves a little longer.