by Riley Tune
The Keeper turned to me. “We have much work to do in the future. For now, you must be there for Jolin and for Thera. Changes are coming that even I can’t see, but you will have Vida, Remy, and others to help you.”
“I’m not a hero,” I said. And I wasn’t. I was trained to be a killer, born to be a killer. Cursed to be a killer.
“You’re right—you’re not a hero. I see that now. That’s why you are needed. Some things that must be done are not heroic. Now go.” He nodded his head to the street again, and then warped away.
I turned and looked to the street again. Finally, I was able to see something. It was a person. This guest the Keeper spoke of. I walked over to the ledge and waited for the person to come into view.
I could barely make out the face, but I knew that hat. I knew the tune he was whistling, and I knew the cane he swung around. The cane that housed a blade on the inside.
It was Ashland. My first true contract. The same man who liked to cut women for fun. He had escaped death.
The Keeper had known he was coming here. Ashland continued to walk, carefree, as he swung his cane. A woman walked by him, and he turned to watch her walk away before he continued. He didn’t know that this would be his last day in this world. That this would be his last time seeing snowfall.
I put my hood up and drew my dagger. As he walked, I felt the power brewing inside me. A raging fire ready to be set free, and I let it loose.
I warped.
