☆Chapter 3☆

Maya leaned casually against the bar, her finger tracing the rim of her drink. The bartender, a grizzled man with graying hair and tired eyes, approached cautiously, his gaze flicking to the wreckage she had left in the far corner of the tavern. He leaned in close, keeping his voice low.

"You'll want to keep a low profile, lass," he warned, his eyes scanning the room to make sure no one overheard. "If word gets out about what you did to those men, the Crimson Twilight gang'll come sniffing around. They don't take kindly to people stirring up trouble in their territory."

Maya raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Crimson Twilight? Who are they?"

The bartender frowned, wiping down the counter as if the very mention of the gang left a stain on the place. "Mercenaries, cutthroats, and thugs. But their leader… he's different. A vampire. Vicious, cunning. Calls himself Lord Elric. He's got a stranglehold on the town. Folks who cross him tend to disappear, and not the kind that show up later."

Maya couldn't help but smile. "A vampire, you say?"

The bartender nodded, glancing nervously toward the door. "Aye, and powerful, too. If you've got sense, you'll keep your head down and leave town before you catch their attention. You don't want them coming after you."

Maya chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Perhaps I do. Thank you for the warning."

The bartender looked like he wanted to say more, but Maya had already lost interest in his words. She tossed a few coins on the counter, more than enough to cover her drink and the damages she'd caused, and stood up. The idea of a band of mercenaries led by a vampire was intriguing. It had been a while since she had encountered one of their kind, and the thought of testing her powers against him sent a thrill down her spine.

But first, she needed to blend in. She wasn't quite ready to reveal her true form just yet.

Maya headed upstairs to the small room the bartender had given her, the wooden floor creaking beneath her boots. Once inside, she locked the door and took a moment to study her surroundings. The room was simple, with a single bed, a wooden chair, and a large floor-length mirror propped against the far wall. It would do.

Standing in front of the mirror, she raised her hand and snapped her fingers. Instantly, her fiery red hair darkened, shifting into a sleek silver, with soft blue and pink tips. Her molten gold eyes cooled to a deep, shimmering blue, and the horns that curled from her head faded into what appeared to be a decorative headband, blending seamlessly with her new appearance.

Maya smiled as she admired her reflection. In this form, she looked every bit like an ordinary human, albeit a stunning one. Her new appearance would certainly turn heads, but no one would suspect her true identity. "Perfect," she murmured, running her fingers through her transformed hair.

Satisfied with her disguise, she turned from the mirror and stretched lazily, already making plans to stir up enough trouble to draw out this Crimson Twilight gang. If they were as dangerous as the bartender claimed, they'd be drawn to her soon enough.

But as she felt the weight of fatigue settle over her, Maya decided the chaos could wait until tomorrow. Even a goddess needed rest from time to time. She slipped into the bed, letting her eyes drift closed, her thoughts lingering on the excitement to come.

The room fell into an eerie silence, the sounds of the tavern below fading as the night deepened.

Moments later, the door to her room creaked open, slow and silent, as a shadowy figure slipped inside. The figure moved with practiced stealth, pulling a knife from their belt, the blade glinting faintly in the dim moonlight. They approached the bed with deliberate steps, their intent clear.

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