“Let go of me, you freak,” she said.
I could feel her hands trembling despite her tough words. Usually, the fear fed me, gave my magic more power. This time, it was sending me into a mild panic. I hated that she was afraid of me.
“Look at me,” I said, my voice calm and steady.
Her eyes snapped to mine and her breathing quickened. She was trying to fight me, but failing.
“What are you?” she asked again.
“You will leave this place and you’ll go home. You will not ever speak of this case again or tell anyone where you were or what you did tonight. You will not tell anyone that we’ve met or that you ever saw me.”
Her lower lip quivered but her eyes didn’t release from mine while my magic seeped into her.
“Tell me you understand. Not a word about any of it. Give me your word.”
She nodded. “I understand. I give you my word.”
With her answer, the magic snapped into place, binding her to my commands. I released my grip on her and for the first time in my life, guilt swam through me. I’d commanded hundreds of people. Taking away free will, memories, identities, livelihoods… I’d done more terrible things than I could count. But I’d never felt guilty until now.
This woman was dangerous. She was making me weak. I didn’t know why or how, but she was.
“What did you do to me?” she asked.
“What I had to,” I said as I pressed the money into her hands.
“I hope I never see you again.” She took the money and threw it at me. “Keep your money, asshole.” She walked away from me, her whole body tense. She probably wanted to scream at me more, but I’d commanded her to leave and go home. There was nothing she could do.
It was the right choice to send her away, but a pang of regret flickered through my gut. There was something about her. I continued to watch her until she turned around the building and I lost sight.
Then it hit me just how badly I fucked up. I let her walk away without making her forget my face or my powers. It was a moment of weakness. A mistake. I hadn’t fucked up like that since I was in training. And that was a very, very, long time ago.
It was too late to change it now. Besides, soon enough, it would be like a bad dream to her. It wasn’t common for me to run into hunters in my work.
I turned back to the destroyed room and shook my head. I should be questioning this piece of shit right now. Instead, I was staring at his pieces. What a waste. After years of dead ends, trying to find the leader of this crime ring, this was supposed to be my break in the case. Now it was nothing. I’d have to start over. Again.
Quickly, I picked up my phone and texted my clean up guy. Then I left the room, closing the door behind me.
There was nothing left to do but find a new lead and keep going.