A Missed Kill

The room was dimly lit, only the flickering light from the fireplace casting long shadows on the walls. I stood by the window, staring out into the cold night, deep in thought. Sofia's disappearance was beginning to gnaw at me. She had vanished without a trace just when I had planned to deal with her—permanently.

But now, she was gone, and there were too many loose threads for my liking.

Seraphina sat elegantly in her chair, her gaze fixed on me, waiting for me to speak. There was a coldness in her eyes tonight, though whether it was from suspicion or simple calculation, I couldn't tell. I knew I couldn't let her in on everything, but I also needed to know if she had played a part in Sofia's escape.

"I was planning to deal with Sofia," I began, my voice calm and measured. "Framing her death as suicide would have wrapped things up nicely—no more meddling, no more loose ends. But she disappeared. And now I can't find her."

Seraphina arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing at her lips. "And you think I had something to do with her vanishing?"

"I'm not sure what to think yet," I replied, turning from the window to face her. "You've always been two steps ahead, Seraphina. If anyone could pull off a disappearance this clean, it would be you."

She chuckled softly, rising from her chair with her usual grace. "I'd love to take credit, but no, Cedric. Sofia's escape wasn't my doing. If I wanted her out of the way, I'd have simply handed her to you myself."

Her denial seemed genuine, but Seraphina was a master at hiding her true intentions. Still, something in her tone told me she wasn't lying—at least not about this.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "If it wasn't you, then I might have made a mistake."

Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly. "What mistake?"

I turned back toward the window, my mind racing. "I may have underestimated her. I thought I had her cornered, no options left. But it seems Sofia was more resourceful than I gave her credit for."

Seraphina walked closer, her heels clicking softly against the stone floor. "And what now, Cedric? She's gone. Do you plan to chase her down?"

"I can't leave her free," I said, my voice hardening. "She knows too much, and if she decides to turn on me, it could unravel everything. I need to know where she is—and who helped her."

That's when Matilda's name surfaced in my thoughts. If anyone could have provided Sofia with the means to disappear so completely, it would be her.

"I'll need to speak with Matilda," I muttered, already heading toward the door.

---

I found Matilda in her workshop, surrounded by shelves of strange concoctions and mysterious artifacts. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and burning incense, and the dim light barely cut through the haze.

She looked up as I entered, her usual calm and unbothered demeanor in place. "Cedric. What brings you here so late?"

I didn't waste any time. "Sofia Delacroix. She's disappeared, and I have reason to believe you had a hand in it."

Matilda's expression didn't change, but I saw the flicker of acknowledgment in her eyes. She sighed, setting down a small vial she had been inspecting. "I did give her something, yes. But only because she asked for it, and she paid handsomely."

I stepped closer, my voice low and dangerous. "What did you give her?"

Matilda raised her gaze to meet mine, unflinching. "An item that allows her to hide—somewhere no one can find her. It's a rare artifact, one I acquired long ago. She'll be safe, Cedric, unless she chooses to reveal herself."

My jaw tightened. "Why didn't you come to me first?"

She shrugged, unfazed by my frustration. "Because, Cedric, not everything revolves around you. Sofia needed a way out, and she sought me out. I'm a businesswoman—I provide what is asked for."

I clenched my fists, my patience wearing thin. "And now she's gone, with who knows what kind of information. If she's planning to use it against me—"

"She won't," Matilda interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "At least, not yet. She came to me to hide, not to fight back. If she wanted to expose you, she would have already done so."

I paused, considering her words. Sofia's disappearance wasn't an act of aggression—it was a retreat. But that didn't make her any less dangerous.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

Matilda shook her head. "I don't know. The artifact I gave her creates a sanctuary—a place she can escape to. Even I don't know where it is."

"The Sanctuary Disguise."

"How do you know so much?"

"The item is not just an item but a bunch of items. It helps you disguise yourself for an escape. No wonder my men lose sight of her. She disguised herself. Even if I get her first appearance right. She must have changed her appearance a lot of time if she's smart and knows how to use it."

"Part of the deal is to tell how to use it atleast once."

"Ofcourse you did. Now she would either hiding in Arcadia or may have fled."

"I told you she was not looking for a fight yet but rather just escape."

"I would know that in couple of days. The disguise has limits. If she's in Arcadia I will know it. But she isn't then I would figure out that too."

"I think you already know She's not in Arcadia anymore."

"She left. But even if she did she must have set a trap for me to fall."

I cursed under my breath, pacing the room. I had miscalculated. Sofia was more clever than I had thought, and now she was out there, hidden, waiting. For what, I didn't know.

Matilda watched me silently for a moment before speaking again. "You've lost control of this piece, Cedric. But you haven't lost the game."

Her words stopped me in my tracks. She was right. Sofia's escape was a setback, but it wasn't the end. I still had the upper hand in many ways. But now, I had to be even more careful. Sofia was out there, watching, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down.

"I'll find her," I said, more to myself than to Matilda. "And when I do, she won't get away again."

Matilda smiled faintly, her expression unreadable. "Good luck, Cedric. You'll need it."

As I left the workshop, the weight of the situation settled over me. Sofia was out there, hidden in a place I couldn't reach—yet. But she wasn't invincible. I would find her, and when I did, she would pay for crossing me.

For now, I would turn my focus back to the court. There were still moves to be made, alliances to forge, and enemies to crush. But Sofia… she was a loose end I couldn't afford to ignore for long.

And sooner or later, she would have to come out of hiding.

When that day came, I would be ready.