Claire moved swiftly through the shadows, the ring around her finger thumping like a heartbeat. The guards by the gate were her first problem. She took a deep breath and stepped into their line of sight, her shoes silent against the concrete.
One of them spotted her immediately, his hand moving towards his weapon. "Hey! Stop—"
She was already on him, her hand landing on his wrist before he could draw. The ring flared softly, golden light swirling just under the surface of her skin.
"You didn't see me," Claire whispered. "And you're going to walk away."
The man's face went blank, his hand falling uselessly by his side. "I didn't see you," he repeated, turning like a puppet and walking off into the night.
The second guard barely had time to look confused before Claire caught him too, using the same trick. She felt the ring hum in agreement, like it wanted this, like it fed on the control she had.
