The first gunshot cracked like thunder, and the tavern erupted into chaos. Men dove under tables, chairs toppled over, and lanterns flickered in the dim confines of the wooden establishment. A figure, cloaked in shadows, rose with lethal elegance amidst the pandemonium. She moved like a predator—smooth, deliberate, unstoppable—a panther in human skin.
Her outfit caught the flickering firelight. A long, black leather overcoat with red silk lining swayed as she walked. Beneath it, a fitted black corset with crimson embroidery accentuated her taut silhouette. Her trousers were high-waisted and cinched with a complex series of silver chains that glinted with every purposeful step. Black boots, strapped and reinforced for danger, made no sound on the tavern floor. Her hair—a cascade of fiery red—fell in loose waves over her shoulders, as wild as the shadows playing upon the wall.
She pulled a pistol from her side holster, a sleek, ominous piece of craftsmanship with etched runes along the barrel. The trembling man cornered before her, a portly merchant with sweat pooling at his temple, raised his hands in a futile gesture of surrender.
“You have two choices, Montgomery,” she said, her voice low and edged in steel. “Give me the map or give me a reason to make you irrelevant.”
His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Finally, with trembling hands, he reached into his coat and produced a weathered scroll tied with a blue ribbon. “Take it,” he croaked. “Just don’t kill me.”
Her green eyes narrowed. The corners of her lips curled into a predatory smirk that sent a shiver through the dying tavern noise. She took the scroll, tucking it away inside her coat. Without another word, she turned and strode through the wreckage, leaving the smell of gunpowder and fear in her wake.
One Week Earlier
The city of Eltora was a patchwork of grandeur and grime—a metropolis built on ambition, betrayal, and the whispers of revolution. The Red Market, an underground network of thieves, assassins, and smugglers, pulsed at the heart of it all like a parasite’s lifeblood. It was here that Irina Voss, known infamously as “The Crimson Whisper,” first heard about the Treasures of Vaelor.
“A map,” said the grizzled informant to Irina, sliding her a paper with rough coordinates hastily scribbled. “It leads to a vault from ancient times. Gold, jewels… power beyond imagining.” His voice fell to a reverent whisper. “Hidden magic.”
She sat perched atop a barstool, her black halter-style top reimagined into something both lethal and timeless—a high-collared, sleeveless jerkin crafted from supple black leather, with intricate lace trim around the deep neckline and a subtle cut-out over her collarbone. The leather pants she wore were sleek and buckled tightly around her hips, a perfect accessorization for the twin daggers holstered at her sides. The ambient tavern firelight outlined the soft curve of muscle beneath her skin.
She tucked her wavy red hair behind one ear, revealing an elegant set of piercings. “And who else knows about it?” she asked, her tone like the blade of a knife.
The man hesitated, a flicker of doubt passing across his face. “Others have heard whispers, but no one dares to claim they’ve found it. The Mapkeeper…” He cleared his throat. “He’s the only one who has it.”
Irina’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And ‘The Mapkeeper’ is…?”
“A merchant in the eastern quarter. Montgomery. But he’s guarded. He’s…” The informant stopped when Irina rose to her feet, determination blazing in her emerald eyes.
“I’ll take it from here.”
The Chase Through Eltora
The streets of Eltora were alive with activity: street vendors hawked exotic wares, street urchins dodged through the crowd, and whispers of rebellion hung in the air. Irina wove through it all effortlessly, like a specter unseen by the bustling masses. Cloaked in her long coat, she moved toward Montgomery’s warehouse, her mind a storm of calculations.
Nightfall came swiftly, the moon casting silver streaks where the city lamps failed. Irina scaled the side of Montgomery’s fortress-like establishment, her hands finding purchase on protruding stones. By the time she reached an open window, she was a shadow among shadows.
Inside, the merchant was alone, counting his coins under the flickering light of an ornate chandelier. Irina wasted no time. She dropped from the window ledge, landing silently on the polished floor. In a flash, her pistol was drawn and aimed squarely at him. For a moment, her crimson locks caught the light, giving the impression of fire wreathing her head.
“The map,” she demanded.
And the events of the tavern transpired. But what Montgomery didn’t know, what no one in Eltora knew, was that the map was only the first piece of a puzzle—a puzzle Irina intended to solve no matter the cost.
A Hidden Truth
Now, standing atop the cliffs of Darnath, Irina unrolled the map for the first time. The paper was delicate, its edges frayed from centuries of whispers. Markings not just of lands but celestial patterns filled its surface. At the center glowed an icon—a crimson starburst, eerily reflective in the moonlight.
A shiver ran down her spine. For the first time in her life, Irina Voss wondered if she wasn’t the hunter… but the hunted.
Far below, in the midnight-dark ocean, something colossal rose to the surface, its silhouette breaking the waves in defiance of nature itself. A roar pierced the night, shaking the ground beneath her feet. Whatever this treasure was, it was alive—and it knew she was coming.
Irina grinned, her hand tightening on the hilt of one of her daggers. “Let’s see who wins,” she whispered into the void.
And with that, she descended into the unknown.
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Adventure
The Source…check out the great article that inspired this amazing short story: Black Halter Cut-Out Top and High-Waisted Bikini in Monochrome Style for Bold Minimalist Beachwear
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations and reviews are always independent and objective, aiming to provide you with the best information and resources.
Get Exclusive Stories, Photos, Art & Offers - Subscribe Today!
2 comments