Chapter 11
The train was quiet now. Only the deep hum of the engine and the soft rattle of the floor filled the air. Most passengers had gone to sleep, their doors closed and lights dimmed. A faint smell of perfume and iron drifted through the hallway.
Ark sat by the wall near the end of the corridor. The dim yellow light above flickered every few seconds. He kept his eyes on the far door—the one leading to Cale's compartment. Tina sat across from him, her tail swaying slowly from side to side.
"How long do you think we'll have to wait?" Ark whispered.
Tina tilted her head, her ears twitching. "Until greed wins."
Ark smirked. "That doesn't take long."
The air was warm, but there was a sharp chill that came and went, like a breath down his neck. He felt it again and frowned. "Do you feel that?"
Tina sniffed the air. "Shadow magic," she said quietly. "Someone's masking their presence."
They both went still.
The light flickered once more, and in that blink of darkness, something moved. A blur of black slipped through the far end of the corridor, smooth and quiet like smoke. It stopped near Cale's door.
Ark's heart kicked. "That's our guest," he whispered.
The figure pressed a hand against the door, and the metal handle turned without a sound. Cale was inside, pretending to sleep, his eyes open just a little. The moment the door opened, he gasped.
The shadow moved fast, gliding into the room.
"Now," Tina hissed.
Ark pushed off the wall and ran. The floor shook beneath his boots. Tina darted beside him, faster, claws out and eyes glowing gold.
The assassin turned just as they reached the door. The figure shimmered, the dark cloak falling away to reveal a woman's shape—the same one the harpy had described earlier. A red dress, black lace veil.
Tina swung her clawed hand, catching the edge of the veil. It tore, revealing pale skin and silver hair underneath.
Ark froze. "The ticket clerk?"
The woman smiled, calm and cold. "You should've stayed in your seat."
The air shifted. Water gathered from nowhere, forming a blade in her hand, smooth and sharp like glass. It glowed blue in the dim light.
Ark grabbed Cale and pulled him back while Tina rushed in. The clash of claw and water filled the room, wet slaps and sparks of mana lighting the walls. The smell of ozone and metal thickened in the air.
The woman moved like liquid. Every strike flowed into another. Tina blocked one slash, ducked the next, and kicked forward, forcing the assassin to stumble.
Ark looked around. The glass walls of the compartment shook from the force of their fight. Outside, clouds rolled past the glowing tracks. He saw the stars scattered like dust across the night.
The assassin spun again, her form flickering between shapes—a tall man, a horned woman, a child, then back to her true face. A shapeshifter, just as Tina guessed.
"Stop changing faces!" Ark shouted, shooting his pistol. The bullet struck her shoulder. She hissed and stumbled.
Tina didn't hesitate. She slammed her elbow into the woman's ribs and drove her back toward the window. The glass cracked with a sharp, painful sound.
"End of the line," Tina growled.
The assassin raised her hand, but Ark stepped forward, aiming his Desert Eagle at the woman. "Don't," he said. "You're outnumbered."
For the first time, the woman's calm slipped. Her eyes darted to the door, to the window, to the floor. Then, in one sudden move, she lunged for Tina with the fading blade.
Tina caught her wrist. The blade flickered and broke apart into drops of glowing water. The sound of hissing steam filled the room as the assassin's spell died out.
The conductor burst in with two guards. They saw the fight end—the assassin pinned against the wall, Tina's claws pressed against her shoulder.
"Stand down!" the conductor shouted.
Ark stepped back, breathing hard. "We got her."
The guards moved in fast, binding the woman's wrists with glowing cuffs. The light from them pulsed faintly with each heartbeat.
The assassin didn't struggle now. She looked at Ark with tired eyes and said softly, "You shouldn't have interfered. You have no idea who you're dealing with."
Ark shrugged. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
The conductor looked shaken. "Who is she?"
"The real ticket clerk," Tina said. "And a hired killer. Probably working for Lady Seraphina."
The woman didn't deny it. She just smiled—a small, knowing smile that said worse things were waiting beyond this train.
The guards took her away, the sound of their boots fading down the hall. The door closed behind them.
Cale sank onto the seat, hands trembling. "Is it over?"
Ark rubbed the back of his neck. "For now."
Tina sat down across from him, breathing slowly. "The Syndicate won't let this go. Valerius was one of them. They'll want someone to blame."
Ark looked out the window. The train was starting to slow down. Ahead, a small floating platform came into view, lit by pale lanterns.
The conductor entered again, his voice quieter now. "We're making an unscheduled stop. The prisoner will be handed over to the local watch. After that, the train continues to MetroCenter."
Ark nodded but didn't move. He could already feel what Tina was thinking.
"We can't go there," she said softly. "The Syndicate has eyes everywhere."
He met her gaze. "Then we must get off at the next stop."
The train hissed as it slowed. The air shifted again, filled with the scent of dust and rain. The platform looked small and forgotten, a simple wooden dock floating in the sky.
When the doors opened, Ark and Tina slipped out with quiet steps. No one stopped them. The guards were too busy with the prisoner.
The wind was cool. The sound of the train's engine faded behind them. They stood on the empty platform, watching the lights of the train stretch away into the clouds.
Tina crossed her arms. "So," she said, "what now?"
Ark looked at the distant sky. "We find out what's next. Preferably something without murder."
They started walking toward the small path that led off the platform, the hum of the train fading into the distance. The stars above were bright and close, like they were watching.
Whatever waited beyond this place, Ark knew one thing for sure—this was only the start of a longer, stranger road.