Weeks had gone by since we last saw Zarin on our first patrol. Every other patrol had been unsuccessful.
"Let's just give it up. The last time he showed up was weeks ago. Maybe he got bored and left."
"Think about it, brother... If he's truly gone, wouldn't it reflect on the walls and barriers like it did when he first showed up?"
Cody spoke my mind. At this point, it was hard to believe Zarin was still in town.
"Enough talk. Let's head out," I said, grabbing my jacket and gesturing to Jace—my partner for tonight. He did the same before we headed out.
"Stay safe!" Katara called after us, waving goodbye.
Once outside, we began walking down the hill toward the center of town. The streetlights glowed softly, and the town was just as alive at night as it was during the day.
"It's cold. Good thing we wore jackets," Jace muttered, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
My eyes drifted to the stone hanging from his neck, admiring the way the two colors swirled together.
"You'll get yours soon—and it'll be beautiful too," Jace said, catching me looking.
"I wasn't staring at your Element," I replied, embarrassed to be caught.
"Really? Then it must've been this broad, muscular chest you were admiring," he teased, striking a ridiculous pose to flex his chest.
"Disgusting, bro… utterly disgusting," I said, giving him my best look of horror.
He just laughed it off.
We reached the town center and slowed our pace. If Zarin was still here, he'd want to blend in with people. Even if we spotted him, he could easily vanish into the crowd. Besides, what better way to gather information than by hiding in plain sight?
After half an hour of walking—nothing. We decided to grab a few snacks to stay motivated.
"Do you think Zayn's right? It's getting really hard to believe he's still around," Jace said between bites.
"He's here, Jace. He's just blending in perfectly."
Demons could take human form, though they could also transform back whenever they pleased.
We sat on a bench by the roadside, munching quietly while our eyes scanned every passerby.
"Ahh, man. I forgot to grab a drink to help this all go down," Jace said, stretching.
"We have to stay alert, Jace," I reminded him.
"Want one?" He smirked, completely ignoring my warning.
I sighed. "Fine. I'll take whatever you're having." My eyes never left the street.
"Be right back," he said, hopping up and heading toward the nearest shop.
My gaze wandered across the street and landed on a familiar little shop—Amanda's Blossoms. I couldn't help but laugh at myself for buying something I didn't even need last time.
Taking another bite of my snack, I muttered, "Ugh... I'll be done before Jace gets back."
Then, a movement caught my eye.
Who was that?
A cloaked man had just entered the flower shop. My heart skipped. I sensed it—magic.
Zarin? No, this aura felt weaker and no chills.
I dropped the remaining snacks and hurried across the street.
The bell above the door chimed softly as I entered. Two faces turned toward me instantly—one was the young woman from last time, the other a man hidden beneath a dark hood.
My sudden entry seemed to have interrupted something.
"Umm..." I stammered, trying to think of what to say.
"Oh! I remember you! You bought some flowers a few weeks back, right?" she said brightly, her face lighting up with recognition.
"Uh… yeah," I replied, but my gaze was fixed on the hooded man. Could he be the reason I'd sensed magic from her last time? Who was he—and how was he connected to her?
"Daffodils or tulips?" she asked, cheerful as ever.
There was no way I was buying another bunch of flowers—Zayn would never let me live it down.
The man suddenly pulled down his hood. He was middle-aged, with a deep scar running across his left cheek. His expression was unreadable as he studied me, and I realized something strange—if he truly had magic, he'd know I did too. But he said nothing.
"I see you're busy," he finally said, turning to the girl. "I'll leave you to it—but don't stay out too late, okay?"
"Don't worry, Papa. I'll be home soon."
He handed her a small package before walking out.
A father and daughter?
I couldn't sense even a trace of magic from her. Maybe it skipped her generation... or came from her mother's side.
I needed to know more.
I approached the counter.
"What can I get for you today, mister?" she asked kindly.
I couldn't risk exposing who I was, but I needed her to trust me.
"Mister? Please, call me Hunter. After all, I'll be a regular from now on."
Her eyes brightened instantly. The word regular seemed to make her day.
"Nice to meet you, Hunter. I'm Amanda."
Yeah, I'd figured that much from the sign outside.
"Your dad?" I gestured toward the door.
"Yup," she said with a small smile.
"What a beautiful relationship you both have."
She chuckled softly.
Then the door swung open again, the bell ringing sharply.
"Welcome to Amanda's Blossoms!" she greeted cheerfully.
But my smile faded when I turned around.
Jace stood there—arms crossed, face stormy.
"Jace? How did you find me?" I tried smiling, but his glare could burn through steel.
"A friend of yours? Now I've got two regulars!" Amanda said happily, walking toward him. "What can I get for you?"
Jace exhaled slowly, clearly trying to calm himself down.
"We're leaving. Now."
I looked at him for a moment, then turned back to Amanda.
"Amanda, I'm sorry. I'll buy some from you next time, I promise. I have to go."
"Oh, it's fine. Good evening," she said, waving goodbye—though I caught the faint sadness in her eyes.
We walked in silence for a while.
I could feel the tension burning in the air between us. Jace hadn't said a word since we left Amanda's shop, and that wasn't a good sign.
Finally, he spoke.
"I saw him."
I stopped walking. "Who?"
"The man that came out of the shop before I got in," he said quietly. "He looked suspicious, so I followed his aura. That's how I found you."
My chest tightened. "You felt his aura too?"
"Barely," Jace replied. "He's hiding it well—too well. That kind of concealment doesn't come from an ordinary human."
The streets were thinning now. Fewer lights. Fewer people. Just the two of us walking into the darker part of town.
"Where did he go?" I asked.
"Down that way," Jace pointed toward a narrow alley, its walls coated in shadow. "But I lost track of him when I reached the edge. It's like he vanished."
"Zarin?" I whispered.
Jace hesitated. "I'm not sure. His energy was... faint. But there's something familiar about it. Cold. Heavy. Like it's watching you even when it's gone."
We both looked down the alley. The darkness there didn't feel empty—it breathed.
"Hunter," Jace said, lowering his voice. "If he's really here, we need to call the others."
We immediately contacted the others telepathically, giving them our location. We heard a faint clang echo from the alley. We both froze.
Jace reached for the charm around his neck, his hand glowing faintly Crimson. "He's here," he muttered.
"Then let's make sure he doesn't slip away this time."
We crept closer, every footstep deliberate, the sound of our boots barely brushing the ground. The air was colder here—dense with static, like the aftermath of a storm.
"Jace…" I murmured. "You feel that?"
He nodded. "Yeah. It's him. Definitely him."