the last Nightspire

Isaac’s Game

The streets were busy with the hum of late afternoon activity. Shops were closing for the day, and a golden hue blanketed the town as the sun began its slow descent. I stood near the corner of a coffee shop, leaning casually against the wall, waiting. I knew her routine by now. Bonny Emberwing always stopped by this street on her way home, weaving through the crowd with that light, confident step of hers.

I had studied her long enough to know the timing had to be perfect.

And there she was.

I moved quickly, stepping into her path just as she turned the corner. Our shoulders collided, and she stumbled, letting out a small gasp as she dropped the books she was carrying.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, flustered, crouching to pick up her things.

I crouched with her, a practiced look of surprise and concern on my face. “No, no, that was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.” I offered her a charming smile, one that I’d perfected over the years. “Let me help you with that.”

She glanced up, and for a moment, her blue eyes widened slightly. Good. That meant she noticed.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft as she tucked a strand of golden blonde hair behind her ear.

We stood up together, and I handed her the last of her books. She looked at me then, really looked, and I knew I had her attention.

“I’m Isaac,” I said smoothly, offering my hand.

She hesitated for a moment before shaking it. “Bonny,” she replied.

“Bonny,” I repeated, letting her name roll off my tongue like a secret. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

She laughed nervously, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you to say.”

“Not sweet. Honest,” I countered, my smile widening. “But I have to say, I feel terrible about bumping into you. Can I make it up to you? Maybe buy you a coffee?”

She blinked, clearly caught off guard. For a moment, I thought she might say no, but then she smiled. “I suppose I could use a coffee.”

The date was set for the following evening. It wasn’t difficult to charm her into agreeing. Bonny was exactly as I expected—bright, warm, and easily disarmed by a little flattery. The hard part would come later, but for now, everything was going according to plan.

When we met at the cafe, she was wearing a light blue dress that brought out the color of her eyes. She looked radiant, and I made sure to tell her so.

“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?” she teased, her smile infectious.

I shrugged, leaning back in my chair. “Only when I meet someone worth charming.”

She laughed, and I watched her closely, noting every detail—the way her eyes lit up, the way she tilted her head slightly when she was amused. She was easy to read, and that made her easy to manipulate.

We talked for hours, and I made sure to steer the conversation toward topics I knew she was passionate about. Books, music, the future she dreamed of. It was easy to find common ground—or at least pretend we had common ground. She was enchanted by the idea that we shared so many interests.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to her personal life, and she began talking about her best friend.

“Selena is… well, she’s my rock,” Bonny said, her expression softening. “She’s been through so much, and I just want her to be happy, you know?”

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral even as my mind raced. I leaned forward slightly, feigning interest. “She sounds amazing. What’s she like?”

Bonny hesitated, but only for a moment. “She’s… strong, but she doesn’t see it in herself. She’s had a hard life, but she doesn’t talk about it much. I just wish she’d let me in more. Sometimes I feel like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.”

My lips curved into a small, sympathetic smile. “It sounds like she’s lucky to have a friend like you. Someone who cares enough to see through her walls.”

Bonny smiled, a little shyly. “Thanks. I try.”

We talked more about her life, and I let her paint herself as the devoted best friend, the one who would do anything for the people she loved. It was endearing, really. And useful.

By the end of the evening, she was looking at me with stars in her eyes, completely unaware of the strings I was pulling. As I walked her home, I made sure to brush my hand against hers just enough to leave her wanting more.

When we reached her door, she turned to me, her cheeks pink. “Thank you for tonight, Isaac. I had a really good time.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” I said, my voice low and sincere. “I hope we can do this again sometime.”

She nodded, smiling brightly. “I’d like that.”

As she disappeared inside, I stood on the porch for a moment, letting the mask slip just enough for a cold smile to take its place.

Bonny was exactly where I needed her to be. And through her, I would finally get to Selena.