I leaned against the elaborate wrought-iron railing that prevented me from tumbling down onto the sharp dungeon floor below. I shoved a small device into my mouth, subduing a gag as it hit the back of my throat. This small metal square would warp my voice to hide my identity from prying ears. This was just as necessary as the heavy black cloak that covered my whole body and the red-eyed dragon mask to match.

The buzzer underneath my hand grew warm and began to vibrate, signaling that someone was waiting at the door of my lair. I squeezed it and waited for the thick metal doors to slide open. My visitor entered, but they stood under my balcony, out of view.

"Reveal yourself!" My voice bounced around the room, sounding nothing like me.

"As you wish, Madame."

This person sounded oddly familiar. They reminded me of things that I thought I had left behind, of a previous life filled with dancing in the rain, telling stories around a fire, and dreaming about the person I wanted to become. That was all gone now. It was lost on the same night that I heard my parents calling for me in the distance. I never came home.

They stepped into my line of sight, trying to appear confident, but I could tell that it was all just an act. Their shoulders were squared, but their head was hung.

"What brings you into my presence this afternoon?"

"I'm looking for a job, My Lady."

"Is that so?" I enjoyed the way that they squirmed at my question. "And how are you qualified for this position?"

"I have recommendations, Your Excellency." They retrieved a small scroll from their pocket, thrusting it up to me without even glancing in my direction.

I bent down and accepted the paper. I held it closer to my face to be able to read through the small peep holes in the front of my mask. I could see larger things just fine, but the print on the scroll was nearly microscopic.

"Very nice," I remarked. They had given me a long list of previous employers, and it seemed almost too good to be true. The earliest date was about a year ago. Most beginners didn't have this kind of resume. "Have you really completed this many jobs?"

"Yes, Madame. You can call on every boss that is listed, and they will confirm my honesty."
"And how might I name you when I ask them?"

"Blaize Bex."

"Well Blaize, come back in forty-eight hours, and I will let you know if you're hired."

"Thank you, Madame."

They scurried away without even a second thought, and I took a closer look at their recommendations. I was already acquainted with many of their previous employers, so I set to work contacting them.

I removed my mask, letting my face soak in the not-so-fresh dungeon air. I withdrew a quill from my cloak pocket as I walked down the spiral staircase that led to my office. I found a piece of paper and scribbled a message to leave on the door of the lair. It read, "Out of office, will be back shortly."

I nailed it to the door on my way out. I wanted to approve my potential employee as soon as possible, because if they were telling the truth, they would be an extremely valuable asset. Because of that, I had to set to work immediately.

I stopped first at the post office, offering the mailman a bribe to get him to deliver a couple urgent messages. They were sent to two of my most trusted workers, asking them each to go pay a visit to three of the people on Blaize's list. I saved the last three for myself, because they were all personal friends.

I set off again, now starting to feel more wary of this whole ordeal. Blaize could easily be a fake, or worse, a double agent. I hoped that I hadn't made a bad decision by considering them for a job.

---

Just a day later, I had already checked off over half of the people that I needed to cover. So far, they all seemed legit, but I was still waiting for one of my envoys to report back with his findings.

I was reclining in my wingback office chair when I heard a series of knocks on my door. Five quick beats with four smaller ones following after echoed through the dungeon. It was the signal that I gave out to my entrusted agents.

I sat up and reached for the buzzer that was shaking on my desk. I pressed the button, allowing my proxy to enter the room that Blaize Bex had stood in the day before. I pulled my mask off its hook and placed it over my face adjusting the horns so that they were not crooked. I gulped as I stuck my voice changer in my throat.

I ascended the staircase and stepped out onto the balcony to converse with the person who had just come in.

"I have the confirmations that you asked for, Your Excellency."

"And what did you discover?"

"Blaize Bex appears to be telling the truth, Madame."

"Thank you." I smiled to myself, pleased that I would be able to hire someone with Blaize's skill and quick wit. "You are dismissed."

"Thank you, My Lady." He exited without another word.

I went back to my study to figure out what my plans would be for Blaize once I hired them.

---

I paced back and forth on my small platform, waiting for Blaize to show up for our meeting. In my hand, I held instructions for their trial assignment. If it went well, then I would officially add them to my team. I now trusted their resume, but I wasn't in the business of taking gambles. Like all of my employees, Blaize would have to prove their worth to me.

They arrived a few minutes later, entering the same way that they did before. They stopped underneath me and awaited my approval before moving to the center of the room.

"Please state your name so that I can confirm your identity." I instructed.

"My name is Blaize Bex, My Lady."

"Thank you! And who was the third person on the list that you gave me?"

"Sir Moonspoke, Madame."

"Very good." Now that I was confident that this was the same person whom I had met with two days prior, I was able to proceed with the meeting. "Bex, I would like to offer you a job."

"Thank you so much!"

"But, before you can be officially hired, you need to complete a little trial to prove yourself. Succeed, and consider yourself employed. Fail, and there will be consequences."

They nodded, and I continued to explain the details of their assignment. I could feel them growing more anxious with my next demands, but I assumed that they could face the challenge that I was presenting to them. They would have to, for this was the point of no return.