The darkness bubbled and hissed, until it took another shape - not that of a vicious beast, but a person made of shadows. The creature had no defining features outside of red burning eyes, but despite their passing resemblance it felt completely different from the Shadow.
"When did you find out?" Its voice was cold and inhuman.
"I suspected something was off from the moment you offered to receive the guests. Harold wasn't a bad man, but he also never went out of his way to help people - when they told me you 'wanted' to free Nickolas I became certain you weren't him."
Leon gripped his sword tighter.
"Now tell me what the hell you are, and what do you want before I kill you!"
The shadow chuckled.
"Why should I tell you? I'll just kill you all and report back to master, he'll come up with an excuse for your death."
"No need to ask that thing." Calen interjected. "It's a blood mimic, or at least a variation of it."
