Malice

Chapter 1 - Running

Selene was running through the streets of Valdor as fast as her legs could carry her. The night air was cold on her face, but the rest of her was covered with a hooded black robe. She was accompanied by Veronis and Dahlia, who were both dressed the same as her. They rushed around a corner as a gunshot flew over Selene's head and blasted the building wall behind her. The City Watch had been on their backs for months, and this was not the first time they had to outrun them. The street was getting narrower, and Selene quickly realized that the watchmen were approaching them. "Go down the alleyway! Quick!" she shouted, motioning toward an alley to their right. Veronis went first, followed by Dahlia and Selene. Another bullet whizzed past them. The sound of the gunshot was deafening as it resonated through the narrow alley.

It was getting more difficult to see with every step. The darkness seemed to grow around them as they ran. The end of the alley was unable to be seen. The watchmen got closer, their dogs barking through the night. Selene looked back to see a hound nipping at her heels. She waved her arm backward, blasting the black dog back with a flash of red light. It hit the ground in front of the watchmen with a thud, tripping them up and slowing them down. Selene looked ahead to see Veronis shift into her raven form mid-run, green light flashing where she stood. Her cloak fell to the ground as she flew away into the night.

"That craven bitch!" Dahlia yelled in anger. "Slow down, we have time." They stopped running, catching their breath.

"Didn't she have the amulet?" Selene asked worriedly.

"Of course not. Why would I trust her with it?" Dahlia reached into her cloak and pulled out a beautiful golden chain necklace with a shimmering blood red gemstone on the end of it. She held it out in front of her, pointing it at the watchmen, who were steadily catching up to them.

"How does it work?" Selene said. Dahlia looked like a fool holding the inactive amulet in front of her face, but she would never say that to her face.

"You expect me to know that? The Lady only said it was valuable," she responded, her voice full of disdain when she mentioned their superior. Dahlia was fixated by the amulet as a watchman lifted his pistol at them. Selene jumped in front of Dahlia and put up a shield of red energy. The watchman fired, smoke blazing from his barrel, and the bullet was deflected by Selene's mystical shield.

"What are you waiting for? Run!" she shouted at her. Dahlia swiftly pocketed the amulet and ran off with Selene closely on her heels. It wasn't long until they reached the end of the alleyway.

"Damn it!" Dahlia screamed, pounding her fist on the brick wall before them. Eight watchmen cornered them, two with leashed hounds. The watchman standing in the center of the group had a helmet that stood high on his head, decorated with a golden insignia in the shape of an eye. They all wore this symbol as a badge, but his uniform was decorated with another triangular pin. He must've been their captain.

The captain drew his broadsword from its sheath. The two watchmen beside him did the same. Two others held pistols at the girls, and one had a large rifle with the barrel pointed directly at Dahlia's head. The captain said, "Don't move, or you'll be food for the rats." His voice was low and harsh, but clear. His skin was tan, his eyes a chocolate brown, with black hair running down to his ears. Selene found him quite handsome. She raised her arms in surrender, and Dahlia quickly did the same. "Take 'em, boys. Make sure they don't escape," the captain ordered. The two pistol-wielding watchmen stepped forward and grabbed them, forcing them forward as they held their weapons to their heads.