Dancing with the Devil

The second group of killers

The rain subsided, the clouds dissipated a little, and the dark sky became a little brighter. Two blocks from the hotel, Kalista dared not relax for a moment, the palms of her hands clenching the handle of the knife oozing cold sweat.

Losing the cover of the rain, the footsteps behind her became more distinct.

Not daring to stop, Kalista hurriedly turned down the next alley and started running. But the people behind her sprinted after her. The distance was closing, and she could almost hear the puddles splashing behind her.

She gritted her teeth and pulled out the dagger, then made a sudden U-turn, sprinted a few steps, and thrust the dagger forward.

The silver-glistening dagger froze in the slightly cold air.

The last thing Kalista's pupils caught was a vestigial image that sped past her eyes before disappearing into the mouth of the alley.

The rain had stopped completely, and a few mewling whimpers were faintly heard in the alley. She didn't have the courage to go down the alley and run all the way back to the hotel.

Tomorrow is the last delivery of the medicine, after which she will avoid going out at night.

Kalista didn't sleep all night.

The next evening, she changed into slightly more expensive clothes and went to the black market to pick up the goods. Thankfully, it was a fine night, and there were lights along the way, as well as many residents out for a stroll after dinner.

Since escaping the castle, Kalista has also learned about this era.

Many years ago, the abyss gate was opened, and countless devils came out of the door and came into the world to burn and plunder. The priests led the Knights against it for years.

Soon after, it is said that the gods sent seven angels down to the earth to help humanity repel the invading devils and seal the gate of the abyss, and this year was also designated as the first year of the New calendar.

As more believers practiced prayer, the divine power succeeded in subduing the devils that remained on earth. These devils were gradually domesticated and became popular pets among the nobility, and later there were even a group of merchants specializing in breeding demons.

The reason for this was that Kalista was on her way to the black market when she saw a small devil with a collar around its neck. It had a single horn in the middle of its forehead, was the size of a normal dog, and it was held in the hand of a woman. The little devil looked at Kalista from a distance, seemed frightened, and screamed several steps back.

It was rare to see rich people raising devils on the streets of the Lena region, and many people stopped to watch, but Kalista didn't like to join the crowd and walked around the pharmacy. Many passers-by heard the news were coming. She had to dodge again and again, but still almost hit two younger teenagers.

Stealing was most likely to happen in crowded areas. Kalista, keeping a wary eye on her backpack containing coins, saw a splash of red turn around the corner. She blinked, thinking what a coincidence.

But she soon realized something was wrong.

After the red figures hurried around the corner, two more men in dark green robes looked around as if they were searching for someone. Their armbands were embroidered with antlers - they were from the Holy See.

Kalista clutched her backpack for a moment, then bumped her head into the two men wearing it. "Are you blind?" 'She shouted angrily, taking a few exaggerated steps back.

One of the men, with a visible frown but restrained by good breeding, said coldly: "I'm sorry."

However, another person asked casually: "Little brother, have you ever seen a woman who looks panicked?"

'A woman?' Kalista touched her chin. 'What does it look like? Is it beautiful?'

"Red hair, brown cape, taller than the average girl."

Kalista thought for a moment, then pointed to where she had come. 'Maybe she got mixed up with the crowd. Someone had a little demon on a leash and a lot of people were watching.'

The two men looked at each other and walked in the direction she pointed.

Kalista watched them walk away, whistling to the drugstore.

There was already a customer in the pharmacy. The redheaded woman had just finished talking to the pharmacy owner. Kalista greeted her boss, who went to the storeroom to pick up her order.

The redhead was Evelyn, an old acquaintance. She stared at Kalista for a moment and then said thank you. She's referring to the diversion of two men.

Evelyn didn't seem to recognize Kalista in her teenage costume, and Kalista didn't want to reveal himself to her. "You're welcome."

Before the boss came out, they looked at each other in silence for a long time, and Kalista took the lead in not looking away. Evelyn squinted at her, then leaned in and said, "It's you."

Kalista smiled at Evelyn. After all, she didn't try to hide it, and Evelyn was a woman of principle.

"Thank you this time, the p*****t will be credited to your account, and it will be collected in the same way as before." Evelyn said.

As she turned to leave, Kalista grabbed her arm, smelled very little blood, and wondered, "Are they going to catch you or kill you?"

Kalista did not get a positive answer. Evelyn took off her brown robe in front of her, pulled out the dark gray fabric on the inside, and put it on backwards. "You don't have to worry about me. It's you -- you need to be more careful these days. The killer has arrived."

'The assassin your sister sent?

Evelyn stopped answering and left.

The boss smiled and hugged the packed medicine bottle, "Little brother, unfortunately, the quick-acting medicine is going to leave the Miss just now." She was a regular customer of mine, paid triple the price, and I gave her the medicine... So, I need you to come back tomorrow, Brother. Or do you leave an address, and I'll have it delivered to you?"

Kalista didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble by revealing her address. She shook her head and answered absently, "It doesn't matter, I'll come and get it."

What bothered her was another question -- had the man who followed her yesterday been a targeted killer rather than a momentary mugger?

So who helped her take out the killer?

An answer came to her mind. The weight of the word stiffened her face, so much so that the hand that pulled the silver coin out of her purse trembled with the instant loss of warmth.

The Count of Vladimir of Avaloria Castle is dead, the announced cause of death being stabbed by a maid. Distraught, the Countess offered a bounty to kill the blonde handmaiden, who went by the pseudonym "Kalista." And three days later, the Count's dead son was born, a boy. As the only child of an earl, the wailing baby was a natural heir to the title.

Kalista was sipping hot vegetable soup at the hotel when she read the morning paper.

Evelyn's warning kept her on her toes. But the good news was that Evelyn did not reveal Kalista's new identity to her sister, and she had cut off her long hair and pretended to be a boy. Now her image was so different from the portrait in the wanted poster that at first glance there was no suspicion that the unkempt teenager was actually a girl.

It was interesting why Evelyn was being pursued by fellow Curia. Did she get in trouble because she helped her? Or are they punished for failing to capture the devil?

Kalista had a headache thinking about it.