The fog thickened until it swallowed the place whole. Shadows vanished, shapes smeared into gray. Rocco clung to Renny's arm, trembling as the first shrieks split the haze, cracks of whips, cries of pain, voices begging and breaking.
"They are here…" Rocco whispered, his grip tightening on Renny's sleeve. "Madonna mia… they are here. We must run!"
Renny's eyes hardened. "No. We're not going anywhere."
The mist parted with a rush of motion, three pitters burst through, gaunt and snarling, their whips cracking as they unfurled, lashing at the air. Their hollow eyes locked on Rocco, and they charged.
"Stop," Renny commanded, his voice firm and low. "I am a demon. This limbomite is with me for good reason. Move along."
The pitters hissed, their voices layered, scraping like rusted metal. "Fate of limbomite… never free. Must lash. Must suffer."
Renny's eye narrowed. "I understand. And I do not aim to change his fate. But I have business with this one. For now, you will let him be."
