Chapter 5: The White Viper’s Strike

The night was thick with tension, as if the very air in Belovar knew that blood would soon be spilled. The city, though still bustling with the late-night energy of tavern-goers and merchants, carried an undercurrent of unease. For those in the know—the hidden players in the empire's darkest games—rumors of the White Viper’s arrival spread like wildfire.

And Cassian Valen was waiting for her.

Two days had passed since his encounter with Karel, and Cassian had been meticulously preparing for the inevitable confrontation. He knew the Circle wouldn’t let Voss’s assassination go unanswered for long, and that Lira, the White Viper, would be sent to clean up their mess.

Cassian had spent those days gathering what little information he could about her. What he learned confirmed his suspicions—Lira was more than just an assassin. She was a ghost, a phantom. No one had ever survived once she’d marked them, and her signature was unmistakable: death delivered by the finest poisons, silent and invisible.

But Cassian wasn’t afraid. He had been living in the shadows for too long to fear what might be lurking in them. If the White Viper was coming for him, he would turn the tables. This time, he would strike first.

He stood on the roof of a crumbling building in the Lower Quarter, the wind biting at his face. His black cloak blended seamlessly with the night, making him just another shadow in the city. From his vantage point, he had a clear view of the Eastern Courtyard, a small, walled-off area where the city's wealthy conducted their private affairs. It was a well-known meeting point for those who operated in the empire's underbelly.

Cassian had chosen this location for a reason. He had baited Lira—set up a false trail of rumors that would draw her here. The information had been planted subtly enough that only someone as skilled as Lira would have followed it. It was a trap, one that he had carefully laid out, though whether it would succeed was another question entirely.

He crouched low, watching the courtyard below. The buildings around it were silent, their windows dark. But Cassian knew better. Lira would not approach like a normal assassin. She wouldn’t make a sound, wouldn’t disturb the slightest breeze. She was a master of subtlety, and that was what made her so deadly.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area again. There—barely visible against the shadows of the far wall—was a faint movement. A whisper of fabric, a glimmer of moonlight reflecting off something metallic.

She had arrived.

Lira, the White Viper, was everything the rumors had said. From his position, Cassian could see the deadly grace with which she moved, her body a shadow among shadows. She was dressed in tight, dark leather armor that clung to her form, her face concealed beneath a hood. Her movements were slow, deliberate, as if she were savoring the hunt. In her hand, she carried a small, intricately designed vial—a vial that Cassian knew contained the deadliest poison in the empire.

Cassian’s heart beat steadily as he watched her approach the courtyard. She moved like water, her body flowing effortlessly from one shadow to the next. There was no doubt in his mind now—this was the woman the Circle had sent to kill him.

But tonight, she would fail.

Cassian waited until she was close, her attention fully focused on the courtyard below. He adjusted his position on the rooftop, silently drawing his blade from its sheath. The weight of the steel in his hand felt reassuring, familiar. His entire body tensed, every muscle primed for action.

Lira reached the edge of the courtyard, her eyes scanning the area, searching for any signs of a trap. But Cassian had been careful—too careful. She would find nothing out of place, nothing that would give her pause.

She moved closer, her hand reaching for the door that led into one of the abandoned buildings that bordered the courtyard.

Now.

Cassian leaped from the rooftop, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. He landed behind her, silent as a shadow, his dagger aimed for her throat.

But Lira was faster than he expected.

In an instant, she spun around, her body twisting out of the way with the grace of a dancer. Her hand shot out, a small throwing knife flying toward him with blinding speed. Cassian barely had time to deflect it with his blade, the sharp edge grazing his shoulder as it flew past.

They circled each other, eyes locked. Lira’s hood had fallen back, revealing a sharp, angular face with pale skin and icy blue eyes that glinted with dangerous intelligence. Her lips curled into a small, amused smile.

“You’ve been expecting me,” she said, her voice low and silky.

Cassian said nothing, his grip tightening on his blade.

“You’re better than most,” she continued, taking a step closer, her movements as fluid as water. “But you won’t survive this.”

Cassian lunged at her, his blade flashing in the moonlight. Lira dodged with ease, her movements a blur as she twisted out of his reach and countered with a slash of her own. Cassian deflected the blow, stepping back just in time to avoid her next strike—a poisoned needle aimed for his heart.

She was fast. Faster than anyone he had faced before. Every move she made was precise, calculated. There was no wasted effort, no hesitation. And yet, Cassian could see the thrill of the fight in her eyes.

They clashed again, steel meeting steel in a series of rapid, deadly strikes. Cassian’s body moved on instinct, his training taking over as he matched her blow for blow. But for every attack he landed, Lira was there to meet him with equal force. Her strikes were like a snake’s—quick and lethal, designed to disable him with a single hit.

Cassian’s heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had to stay one step ahead, had to anticipate her every move. Lira was testing him, pushing him to see how far he could go before she delivered the killing blow.

But Cassian wasn’t about to let her win.

He feinted to the left, drawing her in, and then struck low, aiming for her legs. Lira dodged, but this time she wasn’t fast enough. Cassian’s blade caught the edge of her thigh, drawing blood.

She hissed in pain, her eyes flashing with fury.

“You’ll pay for that,” she growled, her voice losing its calm edge.

Cassian didn’t respond. Instead, he pressed the attack, his blade moving in a flurry of strikes that forced Lira to retreat. For the first time in the fight, she was on the defensive.

But then, in a blur of motion, Lira threw something to the ground—a small vial, which shattered on impact. A cloud of pale smoke erupted from the glass, spreading through the air like a poisonous mist.

Cassian’s instincts screamed at him to retreat, but he had already breathed in some of the fumes. His vision blurred, his limbs feeling heavy as the poison began to take effect. He stumbled back, struggling to clear his mind, to focus.

Lira’s laugh echoed in his ears, cold and mocking. “I told you, didn’t I? You can’t win this.”

Cassian’s head swam, his vision darkening as the poison worked its way through his system. But even as his body weakened, his mind remained sharp.

He could still fight. He had to.

With the last of his strength, he threw a small smoke bomb at his feet, enveloping the area in a thick, choking cloud of darkness. Lira’s laugh cut off abruptly as the smoke blinded her, obscuring her vision.

Cassian used the distraction to retreat, his mind racing as he fought to control his breathing. He needed to find a way to counter the poison before it was too late. His hand fumbled at his belt, searching for the antidote he had prepared for just such an occasion.

He found it—small, bitter-tasting, and cold against his lips. He swallowed it down in one gulp, feeling the immediate, albeit slight, relief as the antidote began to slow the poison’s effects.

But he couldn’t afford to rest. Not yet.

Lira emerged from the smoke, her eyes narrowing as she realized he had escaped her trap. She advanced toward him, her body a deadly blur, but this time Cassian was ready.

His movements were slower now, but more deliberate. He could feel the poison still coursing through him, weakening him, but he fought through the pain. Every step he took was calculated, every strike aimed at exploiting the small gaps in Lira’s defenses.

The fight was brutal, both of them moving with the deadly grace of seasoned killers. Lira was faster, but Cassian had trained for moments like this—moments when everything came down to precision, to outthinking your opponent.

And finally, after what felt like an eternity, Cassian saw his opening.

Lira lunged at him with a quick, deadly strike aimed at his throat, but Cassian was faster this time. He sidestepped her attack and drove his blade into her side, burying it deep between her ribs.

Lira gasped, her body stiffening as the pain hit her. She staggered back, her hand clutching the wound, blood seeping through her fingers.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Lira looked up at Cassian, her eyes burning with a mixture of fury and admiration.