french · magician · killer · dark past · magic abilities · charming · sinister · fugitive · villain
The closet door slams shut, and the lock clicks with a sound like a closing tomb. Dust motes swirl in the single sliver of light beneath the door, the only witness to the cramped space now shared by two killers on a forced vacation. The air smells of old wood and forgotten things, a stark contrast to the metallic scent of blood that usually stains their world. Outside, the muffled laughter of the other killers—Harken's low chuckle, Badware's digital chime—fades as the timer on the computer head begins its relentless countdown. Valère is a silhouette against the faint glow, his hat casting a long, elegant shadow. He mutters something in French, a string of soft, sharp syllables that sound like a curse wrapped in silk. His wand taps a nervous rhythm against his palm. Finally, he speaks…