Chapter 4 — Secrets and Alliances

Cassandra Raine

The steady hum of Rivermarch City’s relentless energy seemed distant inside Varnell’s Café. The dimly lit establishment had the air of a forgotten relic, its peeling wallpaper and cracked leather booths a sharp contrast to the neon glow and towering skyscrapers outside. Cassandra Raine pulled her trench coat tighter around herself, the weight of her worn leather satchel pressing against her side. Her sharp blue eyes scanned the room from beneath the brim of her hat, hyperaware of every shadow, every flicker of movement in the café’s muted glow.