Fitz

Fitz stood first, revealing himself to Wraith- or Kenric. The new knowledge was still trying to find somewhere to fit into Fitz's mind as he walked towards the supposed-to-be-dead councillor.

"Kenric..." he said. Kenric turned to Fitz, and gave a sheepish smile.

"I... didn't know you were in here..." he said, giving an awkward chuckle.

"You're not dead?" Fitz asked, and Kenric shook his head.

"It was hard, juggling two different lives. One as a councillor, and the other as a member of the Black Swan. I needed to be free. But, I couldn't just leave. The scorn I would get after joining the Black Swan? No thank you."

Behind him, Fitz heard Keefe stand up as well.

"Hello, Keefe," Kenric smiled, and Keefe gave a very confused wave as he stepped closer.

"Not to be rude," Keefe said, "But aren't you supposed to be... dead?" Keefe asked, and Kenric laughed.

"Yes. I'm supposed to be dead. But I'm not."

Fitz's eyes watered, though if anyone asked, they were allergies. Kenric was alive.

Kenric was back.

But Keefe, however, was still shaken. In fact, he was staring at Kenric as if he were a gorgodon.

"Keefe?" Fitz asked, but Keefe just shook his head.

"Get back, Fitz. That is not Kenric."

//

"Wha-what do you mean 'it's not Kenric'?" Fitz chuckled, trying to see what Keefe saw. But nothing. Kenric was the same red headed, cheerful man Fitz remembered.

"I mean," Keefe repeated, "That is not Kenric. I don't know what it is but I don't think it's even elf."

Fitz opened his mouth to protest when Keefe added, "Or ogre, troll, alicorn, gnome, imp, gorgodon, and whatever other species live in this too-big-world."

Fitz wanted to ask Keefe something else, but instead, he came up with, "Alicorn?"

Keefe shrugged.

"I dunno, Man! This creature's freaky and weird and I'm just listing species from the top of my head! Wait... can't you see it?"

Fitz made his way to where Keefe stood, trying to see Kenric from the same light as his friend. But he saw nothing but the now concerned, redhead before them.

"What are you talking about, Keefe?" Kenric asked, "I'm me! I'm Wraith!"

"You are not!" Keefe said, meanwhile Fitz strained to see what it was Keefe saw in the man before them. Or... beast. Monster. Whatever it was.

The door burst open again, and this time, a hooded figure stepped into the room. A white eye stitched onto her shoulders. The Neverseen symbol. Both Keefe and Fitz shared a look of realization as they said, "Illusion."

The woman laughed, but said nothing more as she neared them. Fitz watched in horror, finally learning exactly what Keefe had been so afraid of.

It wasn't like any other beast Fitz had seen. And it was much, much creepier than a gorgodon.

"What the heck is that thing?" he asked as Kenric shifted from a normal-looking elf into a black, slippery creature of claws and trash with gnarling yellow teeth and dilated arrows for pupils.

It looked like something straight from a human horror movie, complete with strings connected to a wooden X floating above it's head.

"A... puppet?" Fitz asked, and the woman laughed again.

"It's no illusion," the woman grinned, "It is very real. See, I'm Puppeteer."

The name sent shivers down Fitz's spine. Seriously, where the heck was Lady Gisela getting all these freaky allies?

"What kind of ability can do that?" Keefe asked, pointing to the monster with disgust carved into his features. Puppeteer smiled.

"I'm a shade. I control the shadows. And the shadows in this beast are alive. And very hungry."

Fitz and Keefe shared another look. What had happened to Biana and the real Wraith? What had happened to their captive friends? What had happened to Sophie?

We need to find an escape. Fitz transmitted to Keefe.

Obviously. Keefe agreed, and Fitz wondered how he could be sarcastic in a situation like this.

"I'm here to finish the job. See, I like it when I have a complete collection before I sell my toys."

Fitz sighed with relief. That meant there was hope. His friends, the Black Swan, Mr. Forkle. They weren't gone. Not yet.

Another voice interrupted Fitz's thoughts. And both boys, the puppet, and the Puppeteer turned to the doorway.

"I see you beat me here, Puppeteer," the voice laughed. Fitz straightened as the man entered the room.

Keefe burst into laughter  at the rhyme, and Fitz sent his friend a scowl, before turning back to the man.  

"Hello, Brother," Alvar grinned as his eyes met Fitz's.

"I thought you died," he growled, his nails digging into his palms as his fists clenched.

"Nope, I guess the Neverseen decided to show me mercy."

"What did you do to earn their sympathy?" Fitz snapped, crossing his arms as he glared into his brother's traitorous eyes. Alvar grinned.

"I kidnapped the Moonlark."