- Vesna -

"Vee! Vee! Vee! Vee!" They are chanting my name as I stand in position. The spotlights are suddenly switched off and the stage is plunged into darkness. The audience gasped in anticipation. Slowly, the platform rose upwards as I stood above it. A lone figure in the darkness.

They are holding electronic sign boards with my stage name. I smiled as they bated their breaths waiting for the spotlights to switch back. I gazed out at the sea of faces before me, trying to burn this moment of silence, filled to the brim with thick anticipation, into my brain. This is my favourite part of my entire stage life and I would never trade any second of this for anything else. They can't see me because I always hid my face under a mask.

But now as I stood here without my mask, basking in these few precious seconds, I took my time to study their expectant faces. My appearance doesn't deter them. Even when I decided to hold an impromptu concert, they came all the way to Velin to see my concert. To watch me perform. I slipped on my stage mask onto my face and gave the thumbs-up signal. A single spotlight focused onto me as the crowd begins to roar.

Pride swells in me as I felt their eyes fix upon me. This is it. This is what I've dreamed of everyday. I belong here, on this stage and no one else can take it from me.

As the first chords of the music started playing from the stereo speakers, I opened my mouth to sing the first verse of the song. It's my latest album and my favourite. The songs I wrote for this album particularly contain my hidden feelings, things I've kept pent up in my chest. Even my squad mates never knew the extent of these feelings.

As an emotional person, I express myself through singing. Singing is my escape, my coping mechanism for all the crazy things that's happening in my life. So I sang my heart out in front of my loyal fans who deserved my very best performance.

Too soon, I'm reaching the ending notes of the song and as my husky voice reaches the climax, the stage erupted into flames. Too bad I won't be able to sing for quite awhile. With one last glance at the surprised and awed expressions of my fans, I turned from the flames and walked through the stage curtains.

***

Time check, 11.01 pm.

One minute late but the guys can wait a little longer. As the stage crew were busy putting out the fire, no one saw me slipping out of the concert hall. As I was hurrying through the empty parking lot, my heels making loud clicking noises, a thought crashed into me.

They shouldn't have much of an issue extinguishing that right? I already told them that I was going to pull another fire stunt so they should have at least made the necessary preparations?

As I was pondering whether I should turn back and help them out or continue down the parking lot, a black sports car slid up beside me smoothly. Despite the poor lighting, I could easily make out the French logo etched at the boot. The door to the passenger side opened and a male voice urged.

"Hurry up. We're late."

Rolling my eyes I sat onto the passenger seat as gracefully as I can so as not to ruin my designer dress. Qas only made an impatient sound that sounded like a cross between a huff and a snort, before he reached over to help me to close the door. My eyes widened.

"Hey watch the Jimmy Choos!" I said as I pulled my feet up into the car just in time before the car door slammed closed. I shot Qas a glare but he only looked sheepishly to the front. The tyres squealed through the parking lot as the car begins to reverse.

"Seriously a Bugatti?" I said raising my brows as I stared into a pair of amused violet eyes reflected in the mirror.

The driver chuckled. "Ves, it isn't your first time knowing me. I don't do it plainly." Through the rear mirror, he winked at me. I shook my head grinning. "I'll be damned Raziel. You and your bar antics have gotten into that head of yours."

I meant it as a joke but there's still a shot of guilt when Raziel averted his gaze. Oops. I shouldn't make fun of others when I also take my hobbies seriously.

"So... I can see your influence growing. Should we congratulate you on getting famous day by day?" Raziel asked me as he pushed the gear to D and drove off. I breathed a sigh of relief. He may be a tad sensitive when it comes to his passion for bartending, but he wasn't that overly sensitive. Dismissing my joke, he's now teasing me about my hobby as well.

"I thought your fans would scream when you used your fire but the effect was stunning. Once you disappeared, they've been screaming and chanting your name." Qas said ruefully as he combed his blonde hair with his long elegant fingers. He looked at me with his gentle blue eyes, which crinkled a little as he smiled.

"Ahaha, thanks. I wouldn't have done it without you guys, you know?" I said looking out at the tinted windows.

I hear Raziel snort from the front.

"Hey! Serious okay? After they found out that I was a halfling and I got recruited, it wasn't possible for me to chase after my dreams. It wasn't until I met Damien and you guys." I said glancing at each of them meaningfully.

Understanding shone in their eyes, they've both been through similar experiences as well. No further explanations are needed. If it wasn't because of our leader recruiting us into his personal squad, we wouldn't be able to enjoy the privilege of chasing after errant hobbies. Not everyone is as nice as Damien.

"So what's the mission this time? Why are we in Velin?" Raziel asked me.

Qas and Raziel have been told the location and timing but not the exact details of our mission. Damien made sure that information is passed down at the spot or to only me and his second-in-command. Because it's highly classified and any leak will cost us our necks.

"The Velin department reached out to the HQ for assistance in dealing with a nest of goblins in their central district. By the time they discovered it, it was already infested with too many goblins. They can't handle it without external help." I said, keeping my explanation short and sweet.

The concert hall is near the central district so there's not much time to spare for lengthy explanations. The details will have to wait.

Raziel nodded a grim expression set on his jaws. Qas on the other hand didn't look so well.

I don't blame Qas at all. If a nest has been infested with this many goblins, it means they have settled down there. That means there's bound to be goblin children. Even though they are harmless and pure with innocence, they will grow into vicious fae creatures that terrorize the streets.

The sleek sports car drove into an empty space, and the GPS signal disappeared. "We're here." Raziel said. In the dark gloominess, we made out several other large vehicles. Around ten agents from the Velin department were waiting for us when we clambered off the car.

"My name is Wesley. I'm the leader for Velin's scout team." A boy clad in full gear walked up to me. He eyed my clothes and his brows creased in confusion. Before he could question anything else, I took his outstretched hand. "Hi. I'm Vesna, third-in-command of the S.P.A.D.." I gave him a toothy grin.

The Velin agent, Wesley whistled. "Wow. Didn't know we would get aid from the most elite team in Soren. We really appreciate you guys coming down to help us." He spoke sincerely, offering me a small smile. His other members nodded in agreement. The situation is that dire huh?

"Lead the way." I said taking command. If it's that bad, we don't have the time to spend on niceties.

I expected them to move immediately, but Wesley hesitated. "Don't you need to change or something?" He said looking pointedly at my dress and heels. I shrugged as Raziel chuckled behind me. "Hey, if she says she wants to slay some goblins with her Jimmy Choos, you better let her. Before she decides to burn your clothes."

I swallowed the grin that's threatening to spill as I raised my brow at Wesley, who finally took the hint. "This way then." He said pointing to the abandoned subway station.

It is derelict. The subway signs flickered dimly in the musty lighting and dust swirls thickly in the air. Instinctively, the three of us covered our noses as we felt the slight tickle of a sneeze. I'm the only one not wearing the proper attire. Raziel and Qas are wearing their combat gears and thick leather boots to muffle their footsteps. I took off my heels, knowing the clacking sounds will immediately give us away.

We crouched in the shadows of the platform station and Wesley signalled to us. His fingers pointed to the bottom of the subway track. Velin's transportation network is still advancing unlike Soren, and some subway stations still exist. I peered down at the dark shadows, and my eyes adjusted easily. At first there was nothing, then I saw the flash of something. It came again as my delicate nose picked up on the smell of animal flesh.

I glanced at Raziel who was crouched beside me and we both knew what was unfurling below us. He shook his head subtly. I nodded and looked at Wesley who was waiting for us from his hiding spot. I raised my hand pointed backwards with my thumb. We retreated back as silently as we could.

"We can't approach this carelessly." My lips were already opening and whispering.

"Exactly. The reason why we could only wait for weeks." Wesley said his expression grim.

"Weeks? That long?" I was shocked.

"We don't understand why. It seems the gateways are opening more frequently or the barriers have weakened. More creatures are pouring from them." He said as he ran a hand frustratedly down his face. "Some of our squads were wiped clean off our radar."

Qas and Raziel both frowned, their expressions showing that not much hope is left for those missing agents.

"Our condolences. But we still have to settle the matter at hand." I said stirring the topic gently back. It's difficult to survive in our jobs, being a demi-fae decreases the odds, and communication for back-up is our ace up our sleeves if all else fails. However, squads whose communication with the HQ is lost are as good as dead.

"You're right." Wesley says, steeling himself against the loss of his fellow friends.

"I have a plan." Qas said as we headed nearer to the entrance of the subway station. The cool night breeze stirs, bringing my hairs on stand. The other agents rejoined with us, forming a protective circle. I raised my brows at Qas and Wesley looked at him in surprise.

"It's stunt 22. We did it before in one of our previous mission, remember?" Qas is looking at me with clarity in his eyes. I knew what he was referring to, I can still remember it vividly.

"Wait. But that requires them to come out of their hiding place. Not to mention the exits." I said. Wesley looked at each of us in confusion.

"Easy. We block the exits. You lure them out then Qas and you will pull it off." Raziel said catching on quick. With that, understanding dawn in Wesley's eyes. "I don't know what stunt you guys are talking about but I'm sure our part is to block the entrance."

"Yes." I said as the idea forms in my head. Both Qas and Raziel, they're brilliant alright. "I'll be the prey and lure them out. You and your men will block the entrance and finish off those that managed to escape. Raziel and Qas will stay with me in the station and we will create a trap and try to finish them here."

"How? What trap?" Wesley said. He's following along nicely.

I smile. "We will make this place a burning hell hole."