The Shadow Wolf

I lean against the statue, the cold of the metal seeping through the thin, rough material of my top. I check my watch, scowling. They’re late. Probably sniffing out the area. Something they should have done hours ago, when it was still light. For the hounds of the city, they’re not the smartest people I’ve ever encountered. I feel my muscles tense as three shadows detach themselves from the rest of the darkness. I force myself to relax. I’m in a place I know well, somewhere I can escape from with ease if need be. I push off from the statue as the shadows step into the light. The men wear various items of poorly matched black clothing and masks you’d expect to see at a masquerade ball. One is a bear, another a lion, and the last, the leader, I assume, wears a simple, but effective rendering of a blackbird. The leader cocks his head like the bird he depicts. It throws me for a second as I see not just a man standing in front of me, but a combination of a bird and a man in the same person. The others prowl around, unable to stand still. I watch them.

My face is also covered by a mask, but it is a simple matte black thing that covers my face until it stops at my nose. The hood of my top covers my long, dark hair, concealing more evidence that I am female. Though it didn’t take a genius to figure out I was a girl, based on my feminine face shape and body, I didn’t particularly want to scream it to the world. The leader studies me, his brown eyes so dark they are almost black. I stare back, meeting his brown eyes with my blue ones. “You’re a girl. A young, naïve girl.” My jaw tenses in anger, but I force my face to stay impassive and my body to stay relaxed. I won’t get anywhere if he thinks I am quick tempered. The man nods, clearly approving. “Good. Patience and self-control. Who taught you?” My lips remain sealed, not giving him any information past what he needs. “And loyalty, it seems. Good. Means you won’t say anything of your mission to anyone. Beta, give her the file.” The leader motions to the lion and he sidles over, pulling a dark green file out of his jacket. He holds it out to me. I take it, open it and flick through the mission outline. It seems easy enough, something that I’ve done hundreds of times before. I nod, then melt back into the darkness.

After the men have left, I turn to the last page of the file, and freeze. I didn’t look at this page. It’s my target. It’s a man in his late thirties, a small amount of stubble dusting his face. Mousy brown hair cut short, bright green eyes set in a tanned face. The man isn’t smiling in the photo, but I can see him smirking darkly at me, watching as I beat opponent after opponent. I take a deep, calming breath in and out. I have to take this mission. I have no choice. I glance once more at the file, then close it, flipping my lighter out and watching as the paper burns in my hand. I turn away from the statue of the genie. I chose this spot for a reason. My father’s mission name is The Genie. I walk away, ready for the coming battle of my life. I curse the three men, I curse the man that I am to fight to the death, I curse the stars themselves. I am The Shadow Wolf, and I will kill The Genie.