Head on, like against the Undead

I borrowed a knife from Nadia, and had Kali assumed the guise of a beaten and broken form. My plan was simple, but one I'd found effective; no one ever seems to expect sudden and **** ****. If I could get this presence to sit and talk, then maybe I could attack when their guard was lowest; take them by surprise.

I thought it was a good plan, elegant in it's simplicity.

Plans never seem to survive contact with the enemy.

The presence was a beautiful woman, true-red hair and doll-like face, marred only by an odd tattoo over one eye. She entered and nodded at Nadia, and then turned her attention to me. Another woman followed her into the inn, a plump woman with a familiar face. I fought not to gape like an idiot, it was 'Ma' from the farm, seemingly with her mind intact. Something red flashed in the corner of my vision.

I was taken by surprise, and I realized that I probably should have killed her; she complicated things.

But she might not recognize me; I had appeared to her as my true form when she was lucid.

"Are you the adventurer? Ikarus Vhalnich?"

I tried for a smile. I pitched my voice a bit higher, the last thing I needed was for Ma to recognize my voice. "Who's asking?"

"I am Exciser Alva, here seeking judgment for this woman." She indicated Ma. "Are you human?"

"Of course I am." I lied easily. I turned to Ma. "I'm sorry for whatever grieves you. How can I help?"

"This is the witch?" Alva asked, looking down at Kali. My hand inched towards the knife at my belt. "You captured her?"

"I did." I was a bit thrown by Alva's manner, utterly monotone and switching tangents on a breeze.

"Then why isn't she chained?"

I looked down to the beaten illusion, tied and submissive and I realized two things at once.

First, this Exciser could see more than I ever imagined.

And secondly, my vision was spinning; flying through the air in a spiral of shades and hues. It all came to a sudden stop, blood pooling beneath the stump of my neck. I saw my body slump, a silver blade flourishing and coming down on my witch.