The Broken Halo

The first footsteps reached the backyard door.

Simon had not knocked over the shelf because he wanted Sorn and Ossik exposed.

He wanted them separated.

The Fourth Shroud had entered Black Horn several minutes ago. Every moment Simon spent watching the two spies exchange needles and metal threads gave the assassin inside Lower Ward Three more time to reach the unconscious vice-leader.

Allowing their fight to continue gave Simon little benefit.

If Ossik won, Simon could lose one of his few paths into the Eastern Hand’s hidden network.

If Sorn won, he could lose a known connection to the Sleeping Commander.

Both demons were more useful alive.

More importantly, the apothecary supplied medicine to Black Horn. Once the owner discovered evidence of an intrusion and poison in his backyard, he would have no choice but to report it.

Simon did not know what Black Horn’s response would be, but every response created movement, and movement created opportunities.

The door began to open.

Ossik’s metal threads disappeared beneath his sleeves. He gave Sorn a cold look, then stepped backward.

”You bought your assassin a few minutes.”

Sorn adjusted the torn section of his black coat.

”Sometimes, a few minutes is all that is needed.”

Ossik crossed the wall first and vanished into the side passage.

Sorn moved in the opposite direction. Before leaving, he looked at the poisoned needle buried in the wall, then briefly glanced toward the rooftops.

Simon remained completely still.

Sorn’s gaze lingered for a moment before he also disappeared.

The backyard door opened fully.

The apothecary owner hurried outside with one of his assistants. Both stopped after seeing the shallow cuts across the ground and the grey stone surrounding the poisoned needle.

The assistant instinctively moved closer.

”Don’t touch it,” the owner snapped.

The younger demon froze.

The owner stared at the needle for several seconds before slowly retreating toward the door. His earlier irritation had disappeared, replaced by caution.

”Go inside. Close every window and keep the night workers away from the yard.”

”What about the containers?”

”Leave everything.”

The assistant obeyed immediately.

Instead of approaching the poisoned needle, the owner activated a dark communication crystal beside the records-room door.

”Malkir Apothecary,” he said once the formation connected. ”There has been an intrusion in our backyard. I found signs of a fight and an unknown poison near the supply lockers.”

The reply came almost immediately.

”Do not touch anything. Seal the inner door and move everyone to the front of the building.”

The owner glanced into the yard.

”Should I bring the records or the needle to the Office?”

”No. Nobody leaves the building until a containment team arrives.”

The connection ended.

Simon’s eyes flickered.

That response made sense.

Black Horn would not ask an apothecary worker to carry unknown poison through Velmora, especially after someone had infiltrated a contracted supply yard.

They would come themselves.

Simon shifted his perception to the ShadowEye beneath the stone awning near Black Horn’s western service entrance.

The gates opened less than two minutes later.

Three demons emerged.

The demon leading them wore a fitted coat and carried a black case marked with several strange runes. Two others followed behind him in grey-black garments.

Their clothing resembled the Shrouds, but the material was thicker. Smooth masks covered their faces, padded hoods concealed their dual horns, and dark clasps rested against their chests.

The clasps were marked with one and two silver lines.

Simon’s eyes flickered when he heard the conversation around these three demons. He also got to know their titles in the process.

A containment captain and two Hazard Officers.

Simon understood immediately.

Their garments protected them from unknown poisons and curses. They also concealed almost everything about the demons wearing them.

Faces.

Horns.

Bodies.

Even most of their auras.

And the moment Simon saw this, he knew it was his chance.

He moved.

He crossed the roof and descended into the narrow side passage before the containment team reached the apothecary. The Sword Daemon’s mask changed his face into that of the assistant he had just seen, while a thin wind current copied the scent coming from the younger demon’s clothes.

Simon crouched beside the rear wall and waited.

The containment team arrived moments later, and the captain approached the front entrance with the First Hazard Officer.

He pointed toward the side passage.

”Second, secure the backyard wall. Check for escape traces before entering.”

The demon with two silver lines nodded.

”Understood.”

Simon heard the voice clearly.

The Second Officer entered the narrow passage alone.

He moved carefully, carrying a short detection staff in one hand. When he reached the rear wall, Simon stepped out from behind a pile of empty containers.

The Officer raised the staff immediately.

”What are you doing outside?”

Simon allowed fear to enter the assistant’s copied face.

”There’s another needle behind the repair shed. Master told me to show you before anybody stepped on it.”

The Officer’s posture remained guarded.

”He was ordered to keep every worker inside.”

”He sent me out before the message came.”

The answer was plausible, but not enough, and Simon could see that the demon was still suspicious through the Officer’s eyes and guarded posture.

’What a hassle.’

Simon inwardly rolled his eyes, then the broken black ring around his pupils rotated.

He activated HollowSkyEye, but he did not create a false needle or change the passage around them. He inserted one simple interpretation into the Officer’s mind.

The frightened assistant had disobeyed because he genuinely wanted to help. In the Officer’s eyes, the frightened assistant looked more frightened than before.

The Officer’s suspicion did not vanish, but it lost its edge.

”Show me the needle.”

Simon turned toward the rear wall, and the Officer followed while keeping the detection staff between them.

After three steps, Simon stopped and pointed in front of him.

”Behind there.”

The Officer looked past him, and Simon instantly moved like a ghost.

His right hand covered the demon’s mouth while his left struck the side of his neck. The first blow disrupted his balance, but Simon did not trust it to render a Black Horn operative unconscious.

He shifted behind him, locked one arm beneath his chin, and drove two fingers into the narrow gap beneath the back of his skull.

The Officer’s body convulsed.

And Simon twisted.

Crack!

The demon went limp without releasing a sound.