=Vicis=

I took a deep breath, trying to keep the energy that coursed through me under control. Exhaling, I release the death grip I had on the back of his and pick myself up off his inert body. Picking up his dropped knif-no a dirk I realize on closer inspection.

Vaguely through the haze that seemed to envelope my mind I realized I would need to get a sheath for it. In this dreamlike state I surveyed the situation.

Sparing a glance at the child, a girl her hair short and ragged, as if the man had hacked some of with his blade. Seeing she's relatively unharmed I turn around intending to leave. I didn't trust myself fully when the energy ran through me at its strongest and...... I just wanted to be alone for awhile, let my mind clear.

Not wanting her to see my marks or face I tug at the shadows, obscuring my features. Stepping over the body of the would be kidnapper I'm stopped, feeling a slight pull on the back of my shirt.

I glance behind me to see the girl grabbing on to my what's left of my shirt. I can see her mouth moving but with the crowds persistent cheering I'm unable to hear.

Not realizing that I can't hear her she kept tugging at me, trying to elicit some kind of response. Looking at her red rimmed eyes and the way her feet shuffled, as if she wanted to move but couldn't, it didn't take much imagination to guess what she wanted.

*.........She wants me to lead her back?*

I gestured to her that I would follow, heaving a silent sigh once she'd turned around. Looking at her she  looked about my age, maybe a cycle or two younger. Younger than my body at least.

Soon we reached where the alley ended and where the square began. I stopped before the light of the numerous torches letting her pull ahead. Before she noticed I leapt up onto a nearby roof and started scoping out the area.

About a dozen rows into the crowd I saw woman and man who seemed to be searching desperately for something. Taking a stone that I'd grabbed while in the alley I cocked my arm back and launched it at the man.

Well, attempted to.

It took a couple more tries than that to actually hit him. Finally getting his attention I stood up, waving my arms around.

Once I was sure he had his eyes fixed firmly on me I pointed below me with exaggerated movements.

Seeing him start to make his way over here I bled back into the shadows and watched. Seeing the way she gripped onto him and his relief I was assured that I had guessed right and loosened my grip on the dirk. Sitting here watching their exchange I felt strangely lethargic.

The way he held her while she cried.

[Envy]

His soft words and caresses as he comforted her.

[Anger]

How he held her hand as he lead her into the crowd, back to the rest of their family.

[Regret]

Each action seemed spurn my thoughts on, blasting away the haze in my mind that had given this whole exchange a dreamlike quality, leaving me to endure the maelstrom of emotions that shook me. Finally, I lost sight of them as they disappeared into the crowd.

I fled.

==

Watching the moon cross the night from a roof with hooded eyes, I did nothing. Simply letting my mind drift. Did that man have to die? No, not him specifically.

*But I had to feed, someone had to. Better him than others. In fact, I should be happy an opportunity presented itself like that. What about next time though? When there's no convenient criminal around?*

Who? Who would I feed on than?

*Maybe…… maybe I shouldn’t if it comes to that.*

Wouldn’t that be better for all? To just die off quietly somewhere?

*No, I can’t, What about those that I’ve already killed, willingly and unwillingly? Would I simply waste what I killed them to obtain?*

No, I wouldn’t, even if it meant killing others. I stood, continuing to watch the moon. Slowly though I felt it. I pull in my jaw, a twitch in my cheek.

A smile.

*Who am I kidding?*

A laugh bubbled up, exploding past my lips into the dark. I allowed myself to fall backwards onto the roof. Spread eagle I continued to giggle madly.

*I just want to live, and I’ll kill to do so.*

==

*This will be harder than I originally thought.*

I currently was on a roof overlooking busy street. My original plan had been to sneak into and steal some clothes, maps and other necessities from stores that should be closed at this time of night.

That’s not going to happen.

All the stores are open and thriving right now no matter where I went. No shortage of buyers during a festival like this. Tailors were selling the colorful clothing that everyone seemed to be buying.

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Lamenting my bad luck, I watched the mob flow beneath me.

*Wait, why am I so fixated on stores? I can just steal from peoples homes instead. Hard to imagine anybody closing themselves up inside their home right now. Be a bit more of a hassle finding the right stuff, but it's  my only choice at this point.*

From then on it took about two hours of searching in peoples houses to come up with the correct gear. A couple of shirts that hung off my small frame, pants, underwear, boots, soap, a cloak, a sheathe for the dirk, a pack to carry it all, and a couple of maps that outlined the surrounding area.

At least I think they did as I still have no idea where we are. I also grabbed a couple food items that would last a while, wouldn’t want someone to check in my bag and get suspicious over the lack of food. Luckily I also managed to scrounge up a couple of copper bits and a silver one.

Checking the moon's progress across the sky, I realized I still had a couple of hours before dawn.

*No harm in looking around some more I suppose.*

I started to make my way back to the square where I'd seen the performance, but getting closer I realized something was wrong.

*It's quiet?*

The steady roar that had been emanating from the square all night had fallen silent. Worried I sped up, pulling my gray cloak tighter around me. Coming once again to edge of the square I thickened the darkness around me.

The square that had been a boiling mess of humanity earlier was now almost entirely still, all of them watching the stage, with only a few people shouting intermittently.

"Four gold bits!"

"Four gold and twenty silver bits!"

Like that they kept shouting, each person naming a higher price than the last. My gaze naturally gravitated to the stage where everybody's gaze was focused.

*An auction? What are they bidding for that's so expensive?*

From here I was able to see that on stage there were 5 people. One extravagantly dressed man parroting the shouted prices. Four were behind him, three of them bound. From so far I was unable to make out their exact features.

*Slaves then? I don't know the usual price but four gold?!*

Intrigued, I dropped down into a nearby alley and made sure my cloak's hood was up. Satisfied, I made my way into the country crowd, people pressing in from all around me. For once my small size came in handy, allowing me to slip through the crowd almost effortlessly.

The shouting started dying down as the price was driven higher above what most would be able to pay. Eventually only two voices rang out repeatedly.

"Fifteen gold!"

"....... Sixteen."

The second voices responses came slower and slower as the bidding went on until it stopped completely.

"30!"

"..............."

I reach the front just in time for the bidding to end, closer now I examine the slaves. When I do I swear I can feel my eyes dilating. A man, women and a little boy about five or six and they all share the same trait.

Eyes and hair as blue as the sky, a slight glow evident in the darkness. All of them are chained together in a single line. I push my senses to the utmost, focusing only on them.

*They feel like Wraiths, and even glow the same way. Dimmer, but they definitely do. I don't see any spirits though and I doubt they would make a six cycle old child one, So… what are they?*

“Sold! The  female Banshee shall go to Duke Frun!”

*Banshees?* I was hard pressed to find a connection between the cowering family onstage and the horrific legends I’ve heard. Watching a second richly dressed man with a dignified gait ascend the stage while surrounded by his entourage my mind was filled with nothing besides questions. After the man who was apparently “Duke Frun” took her off the stage the betting restarted.

The boy sold for 25 gold to a woman called “Count Darlin” and the man for 20 to a “Count Sarc”. With the bidding done and the main attractions being taken away the square started to slowly empty out, everyone having lost interest. Taking advantage of the now moving crowd I followed Count Sarc’s entourage, my eyes glued to the so called “Banshee”.

*Perhaps I can garner a few answers from them, First though…..* Looking upwards I watched the sun and its gentle rays break past the horizon.

*Iszith’s going to be pissed.*

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Done! Thanks again to Leon Das for PR and just general help!

I'll try and get another chapter out there by Monday but no promises.