Legacy's Wake

Finnovare walked over to the door and opened it, letting Yipsiv step out and leave Aurelio's office.

Feeling triumphant after striking the deal, Yipsiv gave a final nod and left. Finnovare, deep in thought, spoke quietly to himself.

"Nathaniel... I'm not sure what went down between those two old friends, but maybe it's time to pay her a visit."

Aurelio, observing Finnovare, raised an eyebrow as Finnovare approached and bowed respectfully. "Mr. Aurelio, may I request permission to meet with someone? I'll return to your side when the time is right."

Aurelio hesitated, the hint of doubt crossing his features, but then gave a slight nod. "Go, but don't forget your duty."

Finnovare nodded in return and left the room as the door clicked shut. Aurelio snapped his fingers and whistled sharply.

"Sable! Come here."

The playful jester skipped forward, her movements sweet and full of energy. "Yesss, bossy-wossy! What's up? Did you need something from me?" Her voice was high and bubbly, with a hint of playful mischief.

Aurelio's eyes darkened with intent. "Follow Finnovare. Stay unseen and report back everything you find."

Sable's eyes sparkled as she twirled on her toes, hands clapping together excitedly. "Omg, like, a spy mission? That's soooo cool! Don't worry, big boss, I'll make sure to do a super-duper job! Promise!"

Aurelio's face soured as he watched Sable's over-the-top enthusiasm. He let out a heavy sigh, muttering under his breath, "Sometimes... I wish I'd never met her."

Sable bounced out of the office, her eyes wide with excitement as she passed the two door keepers. One of them called out, "Hey! Sable! Close the—" but she didn't so much as glance back, already lost in her own world.

Aurelio's hand met his forehead with a thud. "Like a headless chicken," he muttered. "Door keeper, shut the door behind her!"

Finnovare moved with the quiet precision of a shadow, his steps silent as he descended the stone staircase outside the casino, a calculated glint in his eye. The night was cool, with a light breeze that whispered through the streets of Casinova Island. He was focused, unaware of the small, bouncing figure trailing behind him.

Sable, now several meters back, tried to keep her distance, but the darkness only made her attempts at stealth more comical. She tiptoed dramatically, her eyes darting side to side as if expecting the shadows to come alive. When Finnovare paused at the bottom of the stairs to scan the streets, Sable, in her exaggerated effort to remain unseen, accidentally kicked over an empty metal bucket. It clanged against the stone with an echo that seemed to laugh in the night.

"Eep!" Sable squeaked, slapping both hands over her mouth as Finnovare's head snapped in her direction. He narrowed his eyes, but before he could say anything, Sable launched into a series of awkward dance moves, hoping to pass off the noise as part of an impromptu performance.

"Oh, what a fine evening! A twirl, a spin, and a peek-a-boo!" she chirped with forced cheer, her grin stretched a little too wide.

Finnovare's lips twitched, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his eyes before he turned away, resuming his walk with that same calculated, unhurried pace. Sable, realizing she'd been spared, let out a dramatic sigh of relief before scuttling after him, taking two steps at a time, her pigtails bobbing with each movement.

"Almost caught me there, mister shadow man," she muttered, only half-joking as she whispered into the night. "I'll just have to be extra sneaky now... or, you know, just be adorably loud."

The dark, fog-draped alley seemed to close in around them, as if the city itself were watching this peculiar chase unfold—part shadow game, part clownish performance, all in the depths of Casinova Island's underbelly.

Since the close call when Finnovare nearly caught her, Sable had become uncharacteristically silent and cautious, her playful demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. "Alright, Mr. Fin, let's see where you're headed…" she whispered, her voice barely audible as she crept to the edge of the nearest wall. Peering around the corner, she spotted Finnovare turning right into a narrow, shadow-drenched street.

With her heart thudding, she darted behind the wall, pressing her back against the cold stone as she waited for the right moment. Finnovare moved with calculated precision, his silhouette just out of reach, moving deeper into the alley where the night seemed to swallow all light.

Sable's eyes shone with determination as she slipped from her hiding spot, careful not to make a sound. She stayed low, stepping softly and glancing around every corner. The street grew darker, the only illumination coming from flickering lamplight that cast long, eerie shadows.

But just as she thought she had the distance she needed, a pair of scraggly cats, startled by her movement, screeched and bolted past her, nearly making her stumble.

"Ah! No, no, no, not now!" she hissed, waving her arms frantically to steady herself. Finnovare paused, his sharp eyes narrowing as he turned slightly, sensing something but seeing nothing.

Sable flattened herself against the stone, holding her breath as he stood motionless, "Eep! I hope my boobs aren't poking out..." the tension pulling tighter than the strings of a bow.

"Whew, that was close," she whispered, exhaling slowly as he resumed his walk, unaware of her near slip. With renewed focus, she pushed herself forward, eyes locked on Finnovare's retreating figure. Tonight, the game was on, and Sable was determined to play it till the end.

Sable's footsteps were as light as whispers on the cobblestone, her eyes darting around like a cat's. The street seemed to twist and stretch under the night's weight, the darkness pressing in around her like a shroud. Finnovare led her deeper into the maze of alleyways, each step a careful test of his senses. He didn't stop to look back, but every time he turned a corner, Sable's pulse quickened, the thrill of the chase mingled with the weight of her mission.

Finally, Finnovare paused, a shadow in the moonlight, his figure tall and rigid as he scanned the street. The silence hung heavy, almost deafening, and Sable's heart seemed to pound loud enough for him to hear. She held herself still, praying that the wind wouldn't shift and give her away.

"Something feels off," Finnovare muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness. He took a single step forward, the leather of his boots creaking softly. Sable's breath caught in her throat, a bead of sweat tracing the line of her jaw. He's close enough to see me, she thought. A heartbeat later, he moved on, eyes still scanning but not catching the flicker of her shadow against the wall.

Relief was fleeting as Finnovare entered an even narrower alleyway, the stone buildings towering on either side. Sable knew this path; it was a dead end, the kind of place where secrets and blood found their way to a final conclusion. The stakes were higher now.

As Finnovare reached the dead end, the silence around him thickened. He glanced over his shoulder, the faint sound of footsteps caught on the edge of his senses. Just as he started to turn fully, a high-pitched squeak shattered the quiet, followed by a chaotic flurry of movement. Sable, in a panic, launched herself from behind him, arms flailing like an overexcited marionette. She hit the cobblestone with a thud, then bounced up as if she'd been shot from a cannon.

"Gah! Oof!" she yelped, landing on her feet in an ungraceful, almost comical pose with her arms still flailing. Finnovare's eyes widened for a split second as he turned around, only to find nothing but an empty street and the echo of her surprised squeal fading into the night.

"What in tarnation...?" Finnovare muttered, brows furrowing as he searched the gloom. A breeze ruffled the loose strands of his hair, and in the distance, the faint sound of Sable's giggles slipped through the cracks in the alley.

"Ha! You almost had me, Mr. Fin! Almost!" Sable called out from the shadows, peeking around the corner with a cheeky grin. Her wide eyes sparkled with mischief, and for a moment, Finnovare could have sworn he saw her do a little dance move before vanishing into the dark again.

Finnovare sighed, a reluctant smirk forming on his lips. "This is gonna be one hell of a night…" He stepped forward, his shadow lengthening behind him as he followed the sound of her giggles, already knowing this game was far from over.

To be continued...