The next night
Chapter 10

     All was silent outside of the innocent-looking house in the calm of a Venetian night. Two men were standing outside in the moonlight. Neither was armed, but it was evident that weapons were unnecessary when one of them yawned, revealing devastatingly sharp fangs. The other hissed at him and warned him to stay diligent. Meanwhile, three shadows were gliding quietly onto the roof.

     Zain took Riley first, so that carrying Reeku afterwards would be easier. There was a small window on the top floor, and complete silence was required, or else they’d be easily discovered by the vampires’ sensitive ears. Riley hung upside-down by his feet, and carefully opened the window, slipping easily inside. After checking that the hallway was clear, he stuck his hands out of the window, waiting to help his boys.

     Reeku was lowered down, needing Zain’s help to hang like Riley had. Once he was in, Zain jumped and let himself be caught by Riley, who thanked God that Zain’s weight was disproportionate to his size. The place was mostly wood, and was completely lit by oil lamps. Riley thought this was foolish, considering both parchment and vampires are flammable.

     As he moved slowly through the house, Riley thought it strange that he’d only seen two vampires outside. He got even more suspicious when they got to the room with the book, and found no one inside. Zain went to grab it, but Riley held him back.

     Riley heard the door close downstairs, and he shoved the young boys against the wall, making a gesture to be silent. He quickly thought things to Reeku, who relayed them to Zain in a frightened tone.

     They aren’t Nathanial’s guards, Riley says we’ve come into a trap… he’s going to set them on fire and then we’re going to run! Zain was shivering, but was horrified to find himself smiling. The situation was serious, their lives were in danger, so why was it so fun?

     A voice came from the stairs. “There’s no use hiding, human, I know you’re in here…” Riley carefully grabbed the small torch from the wall, and when the door opened he flung the flaming thing at the vampire. The poor creature lit instantly and fell writhing to the floor in agony. Riley slipped an arm around both boys and leapt over the flames, but crashed to the floor on the other side. The flaming vampire had one of his legs in its crushing grip and Riley yelled in pain as his shin was pierced by its red-hot claws. Zain stepped on the vampire’s arm just as the flames reduced him to ashes.

     It was clear that the Prince could no longer run. Zain and Reeku helped him to another window, and Riley looked despairingly at his children.

     “… Lads, there’s another vampire downstairs tha’s going to come up here as soon as he notices the house is on fire. We ‘ave to get out. Zain, it’ll be too obvious if ya fly, so dive inta the water.” The door slammed downstairs and Riley shared a meaningful look with Reeku. Reeku hugged him for some reason, but neither would tell Zain why.

     Reeku dove out of the window and splashed into the canal. Zain hesitated, looking at Riley with frightened eyes. “What’s going on?” Riley pulled the dragon boy into a tight embrace.

     “I’m sorry… I love ya, lad.” Riley threw him out of the window so fast that Zain didn’t have time to catch the air with his wings before he hit the water. Realizing what Riley was doing, Zain clawed his way back to the surface, only to be caught in Reeku’s grasp. Zain struggled and yelled, no matter what reasoning Reeku tried to put into his head. He didn’t care that Riley had told him that he would only slow them down, and that it was better just him than all three of them. He didn’t care that Reeku was crying, too. Riley was his father.

***

     Two nights later, all of the Shadows stood atop the roofs of houses that lined an enclosed courtyard, still as black gargoyles. The air was the grey color that appears before sunrise. At the center of the courtyard, there stood a gallows. Many vampires poured into the courtyard, one of them escorting a familiar face.

     Riley walked as best he could up the stairs, then stood as proudly as if he were about address his kingdom. Zain arrived late, using an old cloak to cover his wings and hide his face. All of the vampires but two retreated to the shadows at the edge of the courtyard. The ones that remained were completely concealed within black shrouds to protect their skin from the rising sun. One of them slipped the noose around Riley’s neck while the other spoke.

     “Riley Jameson, for your crimes of thievery, treachery, arson, larceny, perjury, forgery-“ He was cut off by the Irishman.

     “God Almighty, I didn’ know there was gonna be torture involved. Get on with it!” In spite of the situation, several Shadows grinned at their Prince’s spirit.

     “…Very well,” replied the speaker. “It has been ordered that you are to hang until dead. Do you have any last words?”

     “Ordered by who?! The Vampire King would never order my death!”

     “By me.” The speaking vampire lifted the hood of his shroud enough so that Riley could see his face. The Prince must have recognized him. “The King knows nothing of this, nor will he ever. With the security of the vampire guard, no message will ever reach his ears of your death, nor will it reach the ears of anyone else within the castle.” Riley tried to jump at the vampire then, suddenly livid. He was held back by the other one while he said something in so low a voice that those on the rooftops couldn’t hear it.

     “Would you like those to be your last words, Mr. Jameson?”

     “…No.” He regained his composure and became the Prince again.

     “Then what would you like to say to your brethren?”

     “I was able to protect me brothers an’ sons from the carabiniri fer near 20 years, but it’s not long enough. I refuse ta believe tha’ this is my end. I’ll be back one day, somehow, and I’ll kill you.” His voice rang out clear and strong in the morning light, and even some of the vampires were shaken.

     “But in the meantime, another will take my place an’ continue the work of the Shadows. Zain Malvagio will be my successor.” He looked up at his winged prodigy with fire in his eyes. “’Cause I’ve seen what he can become, an’ you can’ stop it.”

     The vampire speaking to him backed away and snapped his fingers. The Prince of Shadows stood tall. He looked up at his sons with the reassuring smirk that was always on his kind face. The lever was pulled and the beloved Prince fell.