The charity dinner was being held at Duke Marlowe's estate – a neutral venue that wouldn't favor either Church or nobility in the ongoing political tensions. Damien should have been there, playing the role of dutiful heir, making appropriate conversations, maintaining his carefully constructed social position.
Instead, he stood on a rooftop overlooking the eastern district with Captain Seria, both of them studying the darkness with tactical intensity.
"Three confirmed sightings," Seria said, pointing to marked locations on her map. "Here, here, and here. All within the past two hours. Different demon types, but all moving with clear purpose."
"Not random hunting." Damien's enhanced senses tracked the shadows below. "They're searching for something specific."
"Or someone." Seria's voice was grim. "The pattern suggests coordinated reconnaissance. They're bypassing easy targets – lone travelers, unguarded shops – and moving systematically through specific districts."
