Two nights later, Ranloo sat talking with Felisei and Listarl in the dining room. They had been out the entire previous night on Jackal's orders, breaking in and stealing information from both criminals and respected citizens. They worked well together and when Ranloo was in control, they needn't worry too much about accidents.

Felisei sat beside Ranloo, leaning against him as they talked with Listarl. She played with his hair sometimes, letting it run through her fingers. Mildly amused by it, Ranloo let her, enjoying the warmth and her smell even as guilt pained him. He felt like he was cheating on his wife simply by being close to the rogue. He missed his family, and to distract himself he let his eyes sweep the room.

Gesald leaned back against the wall by the doorway, keeping a lazy eye on them.

Sern entered, his brows coming together in a slight frown as he fixed on Felisei. Ranloo smiled and stood to Felisei's disappointment.

´Shall we go?` Sern asked, his expression brightening as his attention turned to Ranloo.

Ranloo nodded.

´Where are you going?` Listarl asked, his eyes shifting between them.

´Out to experiment,` Ranloo said with a glint in his amber eyes.

Sern's smile widened and he nodded enthusiastically.

´Experiment?` Felisei sat upright. ´What're you gonna do?`

´Why do –` Sern began but was cut off by Ranloo.

´I'm going to show him how I can transform and then we'll practice some things.`

´Transform? Into fog, like you told me?` Felisei clapped her hands in excitement.

Listarl looked at him with interest. ´Can we come and see as well?` he asked and stood with a grunt, not waiting for an answer. ´You haven't shown any of us yet!`

Ranloo laughed and agreed, getting a disgruntled look from Sern. He crossed his arms and glowered as Felisei and Listarl readied to follow them.

´We're going to a park some way off,` Ranloo explained as they passed Gesald. Ranloo glanced at him in passing, but said nothing. Gesald followed at a distance, not daring to get too close. A slight smile tugged on Ranloo's lips at his obvious fear.

´Should we tell the twins?` Felisei asked. ´And Diquarl? They'd be interested in seeing too, I'm sure,` she pointed out needlessly.

They stopped and looked at Ranloo.

´I guess,` he said slowly, noting how Sern fidgeted and fingered his knives impatiently.

´I'll go tell them,` Felisei said, oblivious to Sern's irritation, and ran off smiling.

Ranloo continued towards the entrance, the others trailing behind him. ´Let's wait outside.`

A chill wind blew thick fog across the cobbled yard, obscuring the well in its centre. Ranloo inhaled the cool air and looked up into the sky. The moons were half full, sometimes peeking out between the moving clouds.

´Lovely night,` Listarl laughed. ´You can't see more than a few feet ahead of you.`

´That's the point,` Sern commented and waved a hand through the humid air.

Ranloo briefly focused his thoughts on the fog, trying to get in touch with it and his feelings and powers. He knew how to do, but a slight flutter of anxiousness touched him at the thought of showing his friends. He'd never done it in front of anyone. What if he failed? The plan had been to show Sern first, the others later. He looked at the boy and Listarl, waiting patiently for the others. A touch of affection curved his mouth into a soft smile.

The Hasvien twins and Diquarl came out the door, closely followed by Felisei. Everyone wore expectant expressions.

´So, where are we going?` Aedil asked.

´A nearby park,` Sern answered and pulled his cloak tighter against the chill air.

´Let's move,` Diquarl prompted. ´It's cold.` He folded his hands inside the hems of his grey tunic and shuddered. The friends filed out of the courtyard.

Felisei moved up beside Ranloo and hooked her arm around his. ´I'm so lookin' forward to see this,` she exclaimed excitedly.

´Me too,` Sern added in a neutral tone.

´You're making me nervous,` Ranloo laughed at their expectant faces.

´Why would you be nervous?` Pei arched his eyebrows, glancing back over his shoulder.

´I've never done it in front of anyone before.`

Sern cleared his throat and nudged him in the side with his elbow.

´What?` Ranloo asked, looking down on the boy, a blank look on his face.

´That's not entirely true now, is it?` Sern said with a mischievous smile, his eyes glittering.

Ranloo blinked, then he realized what he meant and huffed indignantly. The memory still haunted him. He tried to force the image of the young pair out of his mind even as the memory caused a guilty tingle of excitement to run through him.

´What d'you mean?` Felisei asked. ´Did he show you?` she asked Sern, her brows knitted.

He shook his head and smirked.

´I didn't,` Ranloo said and she looked up with an admiring gaze. He tried to ignore the look and focused on walking. Why did they look at him like that? He didn't deserve it. Yet, both she and Sern seemed to see him like some hero. He felt like a traitor. Betraying them, and betraying his family. How dare he walk around here, having fun and being with friends when they were at home, mourning his loss? ´Forgive me,` he breathed into the night.

The friends walked quietly for a while, their footsteps muffled by the thick fog. It was hard to see ahead and the streets seemed unreal, shrouded in mystery. Everything was damp and gleamed in the light of the moons and widely spaced lanterns. The yellowing trees spilled leaves onto the ground that rustled along in the wind.

They entered a dark empty park, trees and bushes lining the gravel paths.

´How are we going to see what you do?` Listarl asked and combed his beard with his fingers.

´I brought a lantern,` Diquarl said, ´I can light it if you want?`

Ranloo nodded and looked around. The hedges and trees would shield them from prying eyes, and his hearing would warn him if anyone came too close. It was probably safe.

Diquarl set about to light the lantern as the others fanned out, watching and conversing in low voices. Ranloo smelled the air and closed his eyes, the scents, and the sounds of his friends' heartbeats tempting.

He was used to resisting the pull, but every now and then he felt the urge to attack them, even if he didn't want to. Even if he wasn't hungry. His thoughts made him gaze at Sern who spoke with Pei and Aedil and didn't notice the hungry look.

Turning around, he met Felisei's eyes. She looked away almost instantly, as if caught doing something wrong. What if she had misinterpreted the way he looked at Sern? It sent a spark of guilt through him. Uncomfortable, he pushed it aside. It shouldn't matter anyway. Focusing on his powers instead, Ranloo could almost feel the change in his fingertips.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

A light flared and Diquarl placed the candle in the small lantern. He set it down on the path as everyone quieted and turned their attention to Ranloo. Fear fluttered in his stomach as he met their expectant faces. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused on himself.

Their collective gasp made him open his eyes again, a grin spreading on his face in delight at their wide-eyed stares.

´Can you see me?` he asked and laughed as Diquarl jumped.

´Tis amazin'!` Sern exclaimed and stepped closer.

´I can see you,` Aedil said.

´But only because you know where he is,` Pei added breathlessly.

Ranloo swelled with pride, enjoying their amazement and undivided attention. He slowly walked around and they turned with his movements, only sometimes losing track of him.

´Can I touch you?` Felisei asked and went closer, carefully reaching out towards the thicker shape in the fog.

Ranloo smelled her excitement and heard the increased heartbeat in her chest. For a moment he wanted nothing more than to grab her and sink his teeth into her neck. Hurriedly taking a step back, he drew in a deep breath to calm himself. Then he stood still as she walked closer. Her hand brushed right through him, a faint tingle in his guts. His eyes widened in shock. He hadn't thought things could pass through him in this state. She gasped.

´Are you serious?` Aedil exclaimed.

Sern hastened to his side and tried to touch him too, his face flushed with excitement, his eyes sparkling. ´Amazin'!` he breathed as his hand went through too.

Ranloo wasn't sure he liked the strange feeling, but it certainly was interesting. They couldn't touch him in this state. He couldn't be harmed, he realized and laughed out loud. Then he focused on the gravel underfoot and stepped hard on the ground. He turned solid again, slightly disoriented from being in the fog shape. His friends talked excitedly as they surrounded him and poked him in the sides and back.

´How'd you do that?` Felisei asked in amazement.

Ranloo laughed and shook his head. ´I don't know. I discovered it by chance when I really needed to hide.`

´How fast can you do it?` Diquarl asked quietly. ´Can you dodge a weapon or an arrow by turning into mist?`

Ranloo regarded the chemist. He seemed small and grey and frozen, shuddering in the cool, humid air. But his blue eyes were intense and bright with interest.

Ranloo shrugged. ´I don't know. I haven't tried.`

´We were gonna test it tonight,` Sern announced and pulled out a small wooden knife, a child's toy. He tossed it from one hand to the other.

´You're just enjoying the thought of throwing things at me,` Ranloo huffed.

Sern's face lit up with a wide grin. ´Of course,` he laughed. ´Wanna try it?`

Ranloo shook his head with a lopsided smile. ´Sure, why not. Just a moment.` He stepped aside from his friends and focused on Sern, preparing himself.

Sern held the wooden knife aloft and aimed. ´Ready?`

Ranloo nodded.

The knife flew straight, Sern's aim excellent even with an unbalanced toy. Ranloo flinched as the knife bounced off his chest. Everyone looked at the toy for a moment before bursting out laughing.

´That wasn't very efficient,` Listarl roared.

´Your look of surprise was priceless,` Sern snorted and went to pick the knife back up.

´I haven't done this before,` Ranloo grumbled with a faint smile.

Grinning, Sern lifted the toy knife again. ´Ready up,` he said and threw the knife as soon as Ranloo looked up.

Again the toy connected and tumbled to the ground. Ranloo shook his head in frustration. ´I haven't managed to turn into mist without closing my eyes before,` he said. ´Maybe I need to practice that first?`

Sern nodded and hefted the wooden knife again. ´Prob'ly,` he said and tossed the knife, almost lazily, at Ranloo without waiting for him to be ready.

It hit him in the forehead and Ranloo yelped in surprise to everyone's amusement. ´Just you wait,` he threatened and waggled a fist at him.

Sern giggled and stepped back, holding his hands up. ´Don't kill me, please!`

The friends spent a long time in the park, practicing and pranking each other. Ranloo wasn't able to turn into mist fast enough but was certain he could learn. He practiced sneaking up on them in the fog shape, and they tested their weapons on him.

When Ranloo came up behind Aedil who startled and swung his sword through the fog, a faint gasp emitted from somewhere. Ranloo froze, materialized, and searched for the source. It hadn't come from the twin. The park and surrounding streets and rooftops lay empty in the dark.

With a glance at Ranloo, Aedil scanned the area too, sword at the ready. After a short time of silence, he asked, ´What spooked you?`

Ranloo raised a hand, his gaze focused in the distance.

Pei and Felisei came around a shrub, talking and laughing. Upon spotting the tense pair, they too stopped, instantly alert.

´What happened?` Felisei whispered after a while.

Aedil shrugged.

Ranloo straightened and glanced to his friends. ´I heard something,` he explained. ´Sounded like someone...` his voice trailed off.

´Maybe we should head back to the guild?` Listarl asked quietly. ´Before we get any unpleasant surprises.`

Looking around uneasily, the friends agreed, gathered everyone and headed back.

Ranloo went between Sern and Felisei as usual. Tired from all the practicing, his hunger tugged sharply at him. His friends were a great temptation, but he tried to keep his eyes and ears open in case anyone trailed them. But he didn't see or hear anything suspicious the entire way back. Unsettled and wary, he wondered if his master had changed his mind and decided to come and kill everyone. He wouldn't be able to stop him. Ranloo shuddered. Or the vampire clan. What if they were still after him? He eyed the rooftops suspiciously but again, saw nothing but the black silhouettes of buildings rising out of the fog against a dark sky.

* * * * *

Across the narrow street from the park, Glissai crouched on a sloped roof, obscured by the shadow of a wide chimney. She leaned forward and watched intently, a breeze ruffling her yellow veil. A light flickered among the trees and her sensitive ears cought faint voices and the occational whoop drifting on the wind. She frowned at their obvious excitement. What were they up to now?

One of the rogue's friends came out from behind a nearby tree, sword drawn. Curious. The fog swirled around his feet, thickened, and slid to the side. The man twisted around and slashed his sword through the fog. An involuntary gasp escaped her. The rogue had learned how to transform. Almost instantly, the darkelf appeared beside the man, amber eyes staring in her direction. She slid behind the chimney without a sound, shifted, and fluttered off on silent wings. How had he learned to transform so fast? He was just a few months old! A literal baby. That usually took a few years. If he kept learning new skills and mastering his powers at this rate, he'd soon become an actual problem. He had to be stopped. Sneering, she hurried to get her friends. They'd wipe his sorry ass from the surface of the world.

´You'll regret messing with us, you low-life,` she breathed into the foggy air. ´It's your fault Brandal died.` She sent out a mental message to Ysilen and Ertil to meet with her.

Glissai raised a hand in greeting as the two vampires approched across the roof tiles. Ertil raised his chin in a silent greeting and Ysilen smiled.

´What's the plan?` she asked.

Glissai smirked and threw a glance towards the thieves' guild nearby. ´We move towards the park. We'll intercept them on their way here. It's time to take that troublesome rogue out, before he causes more trouble.`

´My pleasure.` Ertil sauntered past, impatient as always.

´His friends are with him,` Glissai pointed out. ´They're seven in total.`

Ertil shrugged. ´They're just simple humans, right?`

She nodded and followed beside Ysilen. Glancing sideways, Glissai spotted a still figure on a roof across the street. Who was that? A statue? No. She narrowed her eyes as they approached. The figure, a pale man in black, stared at them. She stopped, an uncomfortable chill seeping through her. Ertil and Ysilen raised their eyebrows, halting. The man on the roof observed them with a calculating look. He made her uncomfortable. She didn't like it.

´Who's that?` Ysilen whispered, drawing her attention away.

´I'm not s–`

´The question is what you think you are doing here,` a pleasant male voice answered behind them.

Startled, Glissai spun about, coming face to face with the man. When had he moved? He grinned, white teeth and dark eyes glittering, promising swift death. She sucked in a breath and skipped back as she recognized him. ´Stay back!`

He laughed.

´Who's this jester?` Ertil sniffed. The ring of steel as he drew his sword grated on Glissai's ears.

´Ertil, don't,` she warned, keeping her eyes on the rogue's master. Her blood rushed in her ears as her heart jumpstarted from battle-readyness. This bastard had murdered Brandal. ´What are you doing here? I thought you left.`

He grinned, seemingly unconcerned with their numbers. ´I did not. But you will. And stay away from my property.`

´You mean the elf,` she stated. His grin widened. ´You don't even care about him. What's it to you what we do with him?`

´He's mine.` A simple statement. Yet, it sent a chill through her spine.

´Let's get rid of this fool,` Ertil snorted and pointed with the sword.

Something in the man's expression shifted and Glissai knew their lives hung on a thin thread.

´Stay!` she barked, making Ertil stiffen, casting an annoyed glance her way. ´He'll kill you,` she said mentally. She was certain of it. She hadn't tasted fear this acute in over a century.

The man laughed and spread his hands, almost as if excusing himself. ´She's clever, this one. You should listen to her.` He gave them all a once-over. ´Run.` His tone had dropped an octave, becoming hostile even as his smile vanished.

Glissai bolted, mentally screaming at the others to follow or die. She'd seen how efficient he could be at killing. A loud sharp laugh resounded behind them, on the verge of madness.