Crimson veil

ter

heavier in the city

hts into hazy gold smudges. The storm muffled the usual sounds of the city-tires rolling over wet pavement in near silence, foot

lorence, chasing another impulsive purchase, leaving Aria to manage things alone. Not that she minded. The quiet of the sh

toni

hen movement flickered at the edge of her vision. Across the street, tucked in the

thing else. Too f

gh, guttural noise tha

y, to call for help, to act like she hadn't seen a thin

As she neared the alley, the shape resolved into a man-barefoot, bruised, and slumped aga

she asked, voice nearly

hin

ngers grazed his shoulder, his hand snapped up and clamp

brimming with something wild. For a breathle

ragged whisper. "You were

ent slack again

y nerve in her body told her to b

pull, as if the storm itself had chosen this

n at him, ques

*was

l like nothing wou