"Why didn't you knock?" a voice came as Rosacer stepped inside.
Rosacer paused only for a fraction before closing the door behind him. The lock slid into place with a muted click. His eyes adjusted to the dim lighting quickly.
Three candles sat unevenly on a round table near the center of the room, their low flames casting more shadow than light. The curtains were pulled tight, yet the fabric quivered faintly, as though stirred by a breeze that had never crossed the threshold.
A woman sat beside the table.
She leaned back lazily, one arm resting over the chair while the other held a thin cigarette between her fingers. Smoke curled upward in slow spirals, dissolving into the ceiling darkness. Her attire was formal but worn. A deep green coat hung loosely over a white shirt, its collar slightly unbuttoned. A silver chain rested across her vest, connected to a pocket watch that glinted whenever the candlelight caught it.
