60Chapter

Cloudsdriftedlazilyacrossthesky,an**intscentofincensewaftedthroughtheair.Thedimlightingcastlongshadowsacrosstheroom,makingitseemasthoughthenightitselfwasaliveandwatching.Cloud‘sheartflutteredwitheverybeat,herpulsepoundingintimewiththerhythmofthecity.

Shestoodoutsidetheoldtavern,hereyesfixedonthedoor.Itwasasmall,unassumingplace,thekindofestablishmentwhereonlythemostdesperateanddowntroddencametoseekrefuge.ButitwasherethatCloudhadmethim-theonewhohadchangedeverything.

Agentlebreezecarriedthesoundoflaughterandmusicfromwithin.Cloud‘sstomachtwistedintoaknotasshepushedopenthedoor.Theroomeruptedintochaos,patronsscramblingtogetoutofherwayasshemadeherwaytothebar.

Thebartender,agruffoldmanwithathickbeard,lookedupatherandnoddedcurtly.“WhatcanIgetyou,miss?“

Cloud‘seyesscannedtheroom,searchingforaglimpseofhisfamiliarhairorthecurveofhislips.Shespottedhiminthecorner,sittingaloneonastoolandnursingamugofale.

Assheapproached,helookedupandtheireyesmet.Theconnectionwasinstant,theairbetweenthemcracklingwithtension.Cloud‘sheartskippedabeatashesmiled,hiseyescrinklingatthecorners.

“You‘relate,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky.

Cloudfeltaflushrisetohercheeksassheslidontothestoolbesidehim.“Ihadtodealwithsome...business.“

Heraisedaneyebrow,butdidn‘tpressfordetails.Instead,hetookasipofhisale,hiseyesneverleavinghers.

Thenightworeon,andCloudfoundherselfdrawnintohisworld-aworldofdarknessanddanger,wherethelinesbetweengoodandevilwereblurredbeyondrecognition.Shewasbothfascinatedandrepelledbyit,herheartpoundinginherchestasshenavigatedthetreacherouslandscape.

Asthehourstickedby,Cloudbegantorealizethatshehadstumbleduponsomethingmuchbiggerthanherself-aconflictthatwoulddeterminethefateofentirerealms.Andatthecenterofitallwashe-theonepersonwhoseemedtobeconnectedtoeverythingandeveryone.

“You‘reinvolvedinthis?“Cloudasked,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.

Thebartenderleanedin,hiseyesdartingbackandforthbetweenthembeforehespokeinalowtone.“Youcouldsaythat.Yousee,thiscity...it‘snotwhatitseems.Thereareforcesatworkhere,forcesthatwouldteartheveryfabricofrealityapartifleftunchecked.“

Cloud‘smindreeledasshetriedtoprocesstheimplications.Shehadalwaysknownthattherewassomethingstrangeaboutthisplace-afeelingthatlingeredjustbeneaththesurface,waitingtopounce.

Butshehadneversuspectedanythinglikethis.Awaronthehorizon,onethatwouldpitgoodagainstevilanddeterminethecourseofhistory.

Andinthemidstofitall,Cloudfoundherselfatthecenterofthestorm-astormthatthreatenedtoconsumeherverysoul.

“ThenwhatdoIdo?“Cloudasked,hervoicefirmwithdetermination.

Thebartender‘seyeslockedontohers,hisgazeburningwithanintensitythatmadehershiver.“Youhaveachoicetomake,“hesaid.“Youcaneithergetinvolved,oryoucanwalkaway.Butknowthis-onceyou‘rein,there‘snogoingback.“

Cloudtookadeepbreath,herheartpoundinginherchest.Sheknewwhatshehadtodo.

“I‘min,“shesaid,hervoicesteadyandfirm.

Thebartendernodded,asmallsmileplayingonhislips.“Ithoughtyou‘dsaythat.“

Asthenightworeon,Cloudfoundherselfdrawndeeperintotheheartofthecity-aworldofdarknessanddanger,wherethestakeswerehighandtheconsequencesweredire.Butshewasready.Shehadalwaysbeenready.

Forthiswashermoment,herchancetoproveherselfandmakeanameforherselfinaworldthatseemeddeterminedtocrushher.

Andatthecenterofitallwashe-theonepersonwhoseemedtobeconnectedtoeverythingandeveryone.