Selene stood over the body of the fourth victim, livid. She wanted to shake the victim and take out her anger on her, but she knew that would be wrong. The thought itself was unforgivable. Selene tried to calm her breathing and relax and calm down, but she couldn’t.

Nivette had already sent word to the Kings’ Garrison, and they readily replied. They would be here in two days, and Gabrielle had personally asked to see Selene when she arrived. Selene wondered if her failure here had caused her luck to run out. Hopefully not. Selene had no desire to meet the King and Queen and face death; she wasn’t ready to die now. Not like she had before.

“No sign of forced entry,” said Blake.

“Looks like she invited them here and shared some wine with them,” said Jeanette, picking up the bottle from the counter. “Oh my. This is Rueberry Wine, dated 562 A.B.F. Over a thousand years ago. This must have cost her.”

“Check her financial records, see if anything, and I mean anything, seems wrong. The same goes for the first three victims. See if there is any connection or if they’re just random. Next, I want everyone in the building interviewed.”

Selene slumped down into a nearby seat and held her head in her hands. She was among the best Hunters in centuries, among the best fighters and magic users imaginable. No one had ever evaded her for this long. No one had ever beaten her. Those were reasons why the Kings’ Garrison wanted her dead. As well as the rune on her right wrist. She was dangerous, a capable killer, and too tied to Darkness. She could kill them all. Every one of them. What frightened her was how much she wanted to.

Selene looked down at the strength rune etched onto her right wrist, darkness forever writhing beneath her skin. She usually hid it under her black steel wristbands, but today, she had been in too much of a hurry to properly cover herself up. Now, two of her eight runes revealed themselves. It was something all the Enforcers looked down upon.

“Um, excuse me, Selene,” came a voice. Selene smiled at James, one of her more favorable Enforcers.

“Yes, James?”

“I overheard that the Kings’ Garrison will be arriving. I know about your past. We’re required to know who the Hunters are, and I hope they don’t judge you harshly. I hope that they let you do your job. You’re good at it.”

Selene smiled. “Thank you, James, that means a lot, but they will be harsh to me. Their job is to catch murderers. To them, I am a murderer. Even if those I killed deserved their fate.”

James stared at her, kindness in his eyes. “You’re a good person. They should be able to see that.”

At this, Selene couldn’t help but laugh. “I doubt they will, but a girl can hope.” He looked up at him, finally taking in his features. There was something familiar about him, something about his eyes and cheekbones that stuck out. “James, do you have any siblings?”

“Yeah, a sister. Her name is Cecilia. Why?”

“Just curious.” Selene looked out the window on the far side of the room. “I’ll be going for a little walk. If you see my brother, tell him that.”

“Of course. Oh, and one more thing,” James said, stopping her in her tracks. “I’m an older brother, and I see how he’s been acting. Forgive me if I overstep my bounds, but he has no right, even if he’s being protective. It’s not right, and it looks to me that everyone agrees.”

“They do.” Selene waved goodbye and ran off. She only had one place in mind to go.

***

Selene flitted through family portraits, waiting as she leaned back and forth on her wooden chair. There were many photographs of a happy family, bright smiles, silly faces, and scowls. All the happy faces made her envious.

She heard a waking sigh and shut the book. She heard the mumblings of a waking person, heard the footsteps echo down the hall to the kitchen where she sat, surrounded by shades of lilac on the walls. Selene took a sit of the drink she had served herself and smiled as the door opened.

“Holy mother of light! How did you get in here?” Cecilia stood in the doorway, a large shirt hanging on her body.

“Sit down, Cecilia. We need to talk.”

“Does Jason know you’re here?”

“No, and I won’t be able to see him for a little while longer. The Kings’ Garrison is arriving.”

“I see.” Selene watched Cecilia take a seat next to her. “You could have at least made breakfast. It would have been kind of you since you’re breaking and entering.”

“I didn’t have the time.” She smiled at her. “How long have you known about me?”

“Well, I saw your portrait, then the dinner and eight runes? It’s like you handed me your identity.”

“What about Nicholas and Miranda?”

“Nicholas may have a think head, but he pays close attention to girls. I’m actually shocked he didn’t catch it first. Miranda, on the other hand, never looked at the portrait. She was blinded by fury. And she didn’t get a chance to read your history. I was holding those papers. She heard your name, then shut down. She wants you dead.”

Selene almost wanted to laugh at the familiarity of the statement. It left her with an ominous feeling that writhed in her stomach and reached her chest. “She’s too much like Katherine.”

“Katherine wasn’t all bad. Pietro had a hand in his own demise.”

“I know,” she muttered. Pietro had been too cruel, too cold. “I know full well.”

“Why didn’t you talk to him?”

“Don’t you think I did? But that arrogant ass wouldn’t listen. Besides, she had a choice. She could have left. He would have let her.”

“Society—”

“Damn society!” Selene slammed her hand on the table, breaking off a piece of wood. “Forgive me.” Selene waved her hand over the wood, making it whole again with a charm. “I’ve met your brother, good guy. I used to be lucky like that.” Selene swallowed back the tears and anguish that threatened to overwhelm her. “Tell Jason I said I’ll see him soon.”

Selene left, heading out of the kitchen with the wood door swinging closed behind her. She along the wood floor that was padded with blue and gray rugs. A cat crossed her path. A little boy with a short, stubby tail and a little pudgy belly. Selene bent down and stroked his little head. His blue-gray fur was like silver in the light, and there was a hint of brown all the way down at the roots, giving him a steel-gray look. He reminded her of her familiar Ultima, and she wondered if she had been reincarnated into this life.

“His name is Little One,” Cecilia’s voice echoed from the kitchen. Selene smiled and scratched his little chin.

“Take care of her, Little One.” With that, she left, leaving the house more heartbroken than when she had entered.