Page 22 of Wicked Enemy

This was the worldwalker.

As if the universe truly wanted to seal my fate, the pale-eyed man smiled like an absolute villain before speaking a single sentence that made fear rake its icy fingers down my spine.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

Chapter11

Impatience flickered through my soul as I brushed my palms together and created a long metal plank between the buildings. I just wanted this to be over. I just wanted my people out of that damn prison and across the river so that I could finally start focusing on my true goal. Wiping out the other Houses and becoming the sole ruler of the entire south side.

But there were too many things that could go wrong. Too many things that were outside of my control. And I truly despised not being in control.

Cool winds tugged at my hair as I ran across the plank and then the next rooftop. Since I couldn’t exactly walk up to Justice Street and the constable force’s headquarters, I’d had to come up with another solution. This one put me at a disadvantage since I couldn’t intervene as much if things went to hell on the ground, but at least it allowed me to move across the city almost undetected.

Though I would have preferred it if the weather had been a bit gloomier. It was early fall, after all. I shot another scowl up at the still cheerfully bright sun above as I reached the other end of the roof.

Touching my hands together, I summoned yet another stream of metal that I shaped into a plank between the buildings. Once it was in place, I hardened it and then started across it.

This was the same method I had used to escape the horde of white boots at the watchtower last week. They had thought they’d had me surrounded, so they had taken their time waiting for the rest of their reinforcements and setting up a proper assault. Little did they know that I could justcreateanother way out.

After I had pushed Eve out the window, I had darted up to the roof and formed a plank between the watchtower and the next building. Since it was the middle of the night, they hadn’t been able to spot me against the dark sky when I snuck across. Then all I’d had to do was hop over another few roofs before climbing down and making my way to the shore where Ferry came and picked me up.

I glanced back at the plank as I reached the final roof. Then I released my grip on the magic and let the metal fade into nothingness. Crouching down, I made my way towards the opposite edge.

Even through my clothes, I could feel the warmth radiating off the sunbaked stones as I lay down on my stomach and peered over the edge.

Justice Street, the grand road that ran outside the constables’ headquarters, was more or less empty. But that was soon about to change.

I glanced towards the clock tower a few streets over. Two minutes to two. Any time now.

That terrible restlessness tore through my soul, and I had to suppress the urge to drum my fingers against the edge of the roof. Forcing out a long breath, I adjusted my position, making the large sword along my spine shift slightly. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need it today.

Metallic clanging split the silence.

I snapped my gaze towards the east as the clock at last struck two.

Come on, Shinji.

Dark orange flames burst into the sky.

A satisfied smirk spread across my mouth.Good man.

“FIRE!” someone bellowed so loudly that I could hear it from several streets over.

“Dark mages! We’re under attack!”

Shouts of alarm and calls for help mingled with terrified screams as another massive wave of fire tore between the buildings, high enough to lick the sky.

I raised my eyebrows. It had been a while since last time I saw Shinji fight at full power. I had almost forgotten just how destructive his magic could be when he went all out. But this just reconfirmed why he was one of my top people.

Doors banged open on the street below.

Tearing my gaze from the inferno in the east, I watched as row upon row of white boots welled out of the front doors.

Right on time.

Their white and gold leather armor shone in the bright sunlight as they quickly formed up in squads and took off towards the scene of the crime. Just like we had predicted, it looked to be most of their forces. They probably thought that I was there too, exacting revenge for what they had done in that warehouse. To be fair, it was a reasonable assumption. Iwasplanning to take revenge. Just not today.

Their gold-trimmed boots thudded against the cobblestones as they ran between the pristine white buildings before disappearing around the corner. From up here, and in that mass of people, it was impossible to tell, but I couldn’t help but wonder if Eve was among them. Or if she had been forced to stay behind since she had already failed to capture me twice now.

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