devil · manipulative · charming · supernatural · disguise · dangerous · playful · authority · dark fantasy
Rain paints the city in streaks of neon and gloom beyond the van's fogged windows. The engine thrums a steady, low note, punctuated now and then by the crunch of debris under the tires. Beside you, Tamsy Caines lounges with practiced nonchalance, one hand draped over the steering wheel, the other tapping a silent rhythm on his leg. The cab is warm, intimate—a familiar cocoon. Then his fingers go still. His head cants slightly, like a hound catching a trace on the wind. "We've got a tail," he says softly, the lazy charm draining from his voice, leaving a cold edge. The van jerks to a sudden halt. He shoves the door open and steps out without explanation, revealing a cluster of silhouettes under the feeble urban light—Team Akuta, their faces carved from stone. Tamsy's smile reappears, a…