Hey everyone! I'm finaly back from my writers block phase! Sorry i took so long, but school really puts progress on hold. So anyway i hope you enjoy this chapter and i'll start working on the next one!

Chapter Five

I watched from my chair as the rest of my men exited our underground home. I had told them that I was too sick to go out on patrol tonight; none had questioned it they had all simply agreed and went out to do their job. And once they had left I stood up to do mine.

Dropping my wool blanket onto my chair I pulled the special thick jacket that Carlo had gotten me years ago over my regular 'Cloak' cloths. Then I braided my hair back and adjusted the necklace at my throat to assure myself that the mark was still hidden.

Then I turned to the door leading to the corridor beyond our quarters.

Once outside I glanced back in the direction of the stairs leading to the main floor then I crept through the passage that we normally used to get out of the mansion. There was silence and I was glad, hopefully not a soul would notice me slipping out into the city.

Tonight I was taking things into my own hands. I was heading straight for the mansion and this time I would succeed in finding Felicita then—if I was lucky—I would be reassured that she hadn't told a soul, after all if she had I would have heard about it by now…probably anyway.

Getting to the mansion without being seen was a simple task and I had accomplished it in under ten minutes. It was at times like these that I appreciated better the agility that roof climbing had granted me.

For a moment I considered taking the easy route and walking to the front entrance, but that was nothing more than just a fleeting wish that it was that easy; so I was about to walk around the side of the mansion to find an open window to take advantage of when I heard the murmur of voices almost completely disguised by the gentle gurgling flow of the fountain water approaching and instead of risking it I ducked into the thick bush that stood before the tree I had been crouched beside.

The talking continued to grow closer until I could hear the words they were speaking, which turned out to be nothing more than senseless arguing. I would have ignored it if I had not recognized one of the two voices.

Liberta was walking in the courtyard towards the mansions entrance with another boy. He seemed to be playfully (or rudely...it was hard to tell) insulting his companion by calling him strange things like "chickpea". The things he said were extremely humorous though the person they were directed at did not seem the least bit amused.

I noticed as well that the boy accompanying him had a strikingly familiar voice though because Liberta blocked my already limited view from my place in the bush I did not catch a single look at his face so it was impossible to be sure.

Before I knew it the two had moved on into the mansion and I was once again left alone in the courtyard.

Only…I didn't feel as if I was alone anymore.

A cold presence surrounded me and though it did not make me shiver outwardly the sensation made me a tad more than wary.

I tried to ignore it as I skirted around the side of the mansion walls, but I appeared to me that the feeling followed me and in fact it only got stronger when I landed lightly on the wooden floor of the house in one of the darker hallways. Now it brought with it a powerful feeling of dread and I couldn't help, but look over my shoulder as I made my way down the hall.

But I had no time to be worrying about the invisible when I needed to be as such. Before long two Arcana members were turning around the corner to walk down the hall towards me.

I took a deep breath when I realized what I needed to do.

Then I felt the darkness around me. It was cold, yet it held hidden warmth that though not comforting offered an escape from the sight of others.

L'Ombra, the Shadow card.

Put simply it allowed me to become "one" with the shadows around me, move with them, and become a part of them.

This is what I did. I'd done it a thousand times before then, yet this time a strange thing happened. Instead of merging with the shadows I was surrounded by it almost as if it sought to consume me within it.

"How are you enjoying the mansion Eileen?"

I spun around shocked to see who had spoken, but I was greeted by no human figure my eyes could only see a shifting form in the darkness that seemed to be the source of the voice.

"Who are you?" I demanded my voice not showing even the slightest hint of the surprise and confusion I felt.

"Aren't we in a hurry?" The voice laughed and the shifting darkness drew nearer, "I did ask you a question my dear. Or have all those days in the dark disturbed your sense of mannerisms?"

The fact that he knew of my home under the mansion was even more unsettling than him knowing my real name. Few of the family were allowed to know of the Cloak, most of even the serie leaders were in the dark, how could he know of it and speak so casually?

"Well if you already know my name I think we should skip the part where you tell me who you are. That's only polite. Am I correct?" I thought carefully on what I should say, I refused to give this jerk any more information than he might already know.

"I do agree. I proper introduction is in order."

The shifting darkness took shape before my eyes and it seemed before very long as if a light had been turned on and stood shining on the tall form of the man before me.

He wore a blue suit with an untied tie around his neck and a hat over his long brown hair; he had blue eyes that seemed to glow with a refined air. He was looking at me with a small respectful smile and I was staring back at him with a frown.

"My name is Regale Petiole." He bent over in a short bow.

"What is it that you want?" I bit back the bitterness in my voice.

"Nothing short of your demise my dear sister."