Wild cries ripped from throats gone raw with screaming. Bodies hurtled through the air. A sickly sweet smell filled their nostrils while projectiles rained down from all sides. One came rocketing towards Parasoul, and immediately an Egret flung himself before her. "I've got this one!"
There came a splash, followed by excited laughter. The perpetrator stuck his tongue out at them and went racing off in search of another target.
Dripping wet, Adam Kapowski turned and saluted his leader with grave demeanor. "Commander, the situation has been resolved."
Princess Parasoul looked her dutiful follower up and down. "You really took one for the team there."
"Ma'am, I…"
At that moment a second water balloon struck him right in the back of the head, causing Adam to grimace.
"I mean, it was no…"
Followed by another…
"That is to say…"
… and three more one right after the other until he was completely drenched. Adam spun about, pale blue eyes raking the crowd madly. "Alright, who's doing that?! Step forward at once and identify yourself!"
SPLASH!
"Carry on." The red-headed military leader swept by her soaked underling in search of their target. He was here somewhere; shouldn't be too hard to spot him considering the makeup of this crowd…
All around them kids ran wild on the ground level of a convention center in New Meridian's business district. Boys and girls shouted and played with wild abandon as they partook of the cornucopia of delights available here. The sprawling arena was a child's dream come true. Huge baskets of candy were spaced out at regular intervals which they could dip into for free. A soda fountain in the shape of a big plastic clown distributed root beer floats and a variety of ice cream flavors. Entertainers in clown costumes performed with one another or painted faces of the happy participants. The center of the room had been converted into a small petting zoo with miniature ponies, puppies, kittens, and even baby ducks. There were swings to ride on, trampolines, an inflatable bouncy castle, even a silver fountain of apple cider right next to a golden one of liquid milk chocolate with fruit to dip into. And of course, water balloons.
"They've got a balloon tree!" The six-year-old princess Umbrella gasped beside her. Wearing a butter-cream colored Sunday school dress and polished black shoes with white stockings, she pointed excitedly at this source of merriment before squirming her hand out of Parasoul's and making a beeline for it.
"Umbrella!" her older sister snapped. "Don't run off on your own, it's–! Oh, that little…"
Too late. She had already vanished into the press.
"I'm on it, Commander!" So saying, Adam made his way carefully through a knee-deep sea of overstimulated adolescents. She caught a glimpse of a small pink head cresting the rise, demanding to know where another child had got a jump-rope-long length of licorice whip. When the source was pointed out Umbrella swiftly set off in pursuit. Adam spotted her at the same time and followed the tiny princess, for which Parasoul knew she would have to be content. Asking any child to show restraint here went against the very heart of this celebration.
She looked over at Egret #13, the other officer accompanying her. "Let's go." He nodded stiffly and took up step at her back to shadow the determined aristocrat as they traversed the floor.
For this evening's mission Parasoul had chosen a sleeveless evening gown with black sequins and a slit running up both legs. She wore elbow-length grey gloves, fiery hair pulled up at the back of her head by a clasp in the shape of the royal family's seal. The symbol of the Trinity still dangled from her neck as was her wont, however one other personal accessory she normally carried was conspicuously lacking. Namely, the Living Weapon Krieg, currently outside in the care of a platoon of Egrets for her to reclaim afterwards. Its absence left her feeling more exposed and vulnerable than she would ever care to admit. But the host of this event made one thing very clear when inviting them: no matter who you might be, weapons were not permitted. These poor souls didn't need any reminder of what violence had cost them.
On that much, Parasoul could agree with him.
The annual Survivor's Soiree in New Meridian had been held regularly for the past thirty years by the Capulet family. Alessandro Capulet, current head of the clan, was one of the richest men in the kingdom. His interests were varied, but the vast bulk of the family fortune derived from mining and property. The Capulets held deeds to a great deal of land within Canopolis and New Meridian, rivalling anyone besides the Renoir and the Medici. This enabled Alessandro to easily afford such a long-standing display of gracious charity as the Soiree. Most residents of New Meridian knew the rules. Children below the age of thirteen who had lost parents in the deadly wars of the Canopy Kingdom were welcome to attend, making it a cherished tradition amongst the city's young folk. Many of the kids here were from local orphanages. They more than anyone needed a reason to smile.
Keeping the people of this country together, and keeping those like the Medici from devouring them; this was Parasoul's goal as a member of the royal family. Of course the tragedy six years ago when her mother finally succumbed to the power of the Skull Heart had made that innumerably more difficult. The loss of public faith in the crown as a result was ruthlessly exploited by those eager to take advantage of any perceived weakness on their part. Many ties and old alliances were lost, and it was on this matter she had come here tonight.
"Highness," Egret 13 drew close and pointed off to one side. "There he is."
Parasoul quickly confirmed that Adam and Umbrella were in each other's company before heading in the direction indicated. As she approached, her intended target left off admiring chalk drawings on the floor which some youngsters had proudly exhibited to him. He rose with the aid of a cane as the young woman drew near. "Your Royal Highness. I'm pleased you accepted my invitation."
"No less pleased as I was to receive it," she responded warily.
By now he had reached his full height to tower over her. While of her grandfather's generation, Alessandro Capulet retained a robust carriage despite the injury to his leg. He wore black gentlemen's evening dress with onyx buttons and a black silk cravat. Age had turned his short curly hair mostly gray as well as carving deep furrows in the fleshy folds of his face. His eyebrows grew wild and wooly, but the black eyes beneath retained the keen alertness which had been his hallmark in many a financial dealing. They now focused on her in a way that felt eerily reminiscent to the start of a duel.
"Good evening, Princess." At Alessandro's right hand stood his eldest son Tiber wearing a white tuxedo. A bachelor in his forties, Tiber shared the Capulet's stocky build combined with crisp black ringlets and a handsome face that had supposedly conquered many a lady's heart. There had actually been talk of him being a potential suitor for her when she was younger, which prompted them to meet and speak on formal occasions. Despite his reputation, Parasoul found Tiber to be a courteous and intelligent man well invested in his family's business and the affairs of the kingdom. They might have been a good match, or at least remained friends. Sadly events outside their control precluded either from taking place.
Remembering this allowed a sad smile to work up Parasoul's face as she returned him an otherwise courtly nod. "Hello, Tiber. It's good to see you again."
"Likewise." There might have been an attempt at reciprocating her smile there, but his eyes held only grief. It reinforced her sense of the delicacy regarding this situation. Parasoul turned back to the elder Capulet. Best start with a side matter.
"I'm grateful you saw fit to permit my sister to attend the Soiree for the first time. It means a great deal to both of us. I never felt comfortable explaining the reason behind why she was not allowed to before."
Alessandro stared at her for a few seconds, face devoid of any expression. It made her uncomfortable, and when he did finally speak his voice had turned cold. "Family exists to protect one another. In that regard I do not begrudge you sparing her from hearing the truth."
Neither of them appeared ready to openly discuss the reason behind their families' falling out. Parasoul didn't know whether to take this as encouraging or not. It was no secret that six years past, when Queen Renoir finally became a Skullgirl in her own right, one of the victims in the ensuing supernatural carnage was Alessandro's granddaughter Ruby. She was no older than Umbrella when she died, a fact that gave Parasoul chills to this day. But even worse, the power of the Skullgirl then reanimated the poor thing as a mindless corpse, whereupon she proceeded to kill her own mother Marta, the only daughter of Alessandro and apple of his eye. She too rose as an undead; attempting to save his daughter and grandchild left him with only a shattered leg to show for it.
Their grievous passing caused something to break in Alessandro's heart as well. Following the Queen's defeat he publicly renounced all ties with the Renoir and refused to do business with them in any capacity, even going so far as to move to New Meridian and ally himself with Lorenzo Medici, an old acquaintance from days gone by. The loss of raw goods in terms of steel and valuable metals had hurt the crown's ability to undertake any reconstruction process following the war. Even now previously bustling parts of the capitol remained derelict, and Lorenzo had been quick to seize upon these areas for his own purposes while his stronghold of New Meridian flourished. In this way the vicious Medici Mafia had profited from her own family's loss for the last six years.
But now something had happened. Her contacts within the underworld hinted to Parasoul that a rift had developed between Lorenzo and Alessandro quite suddenly. What it might be she couldn't say, but following soon after this came the request that Umbrella attend the Soiree for the first time ever.
Parasoul had seen this out-of-the-blue invitation for what it was: a plea for help from the Capulet patriarch. It presented an opportunity to weaken the Medici and restore valuable ties with a well-respected member of the community. Such a chance didn't come around every day. How could she pass it up? Parasoul knew as well as anyone the risk Alessandro was taking in turning his back on Lorenzo. Many who had dared to do the same in the past found Death followed shortly after, her face hidden behind a black veil. Even now, at this very moment, she might be waiting…
"Why, Princess Parasoul," a deep-throated rumble intruded upon her thoughts. "How delightful. What brings you here this evening?"
Recognition sent an immediate thrill of danger through every nerve. Regardless the princess managed to keep any distress from showing as she slowly turned to glare at the person who had spoken.
For his part, Vitale Medici maintained an easy smile as he strolled up to them with a relaxed gait. Children got out of his way without having to be told. Cold dead eyes like that proved intimidating at any age. Glasses lent this scion of the Medici a somewhat erudite air, and he wore a subdued brown coat and tailor-made trousers over a stout body running to fat. One might almost mistake him for a lawyer or even a politician; someone civilized and harmless. This was an impression he liked to cultivate. Any child of Lorenzo who had lived as long as him could not be taken lightly regardless of appearances.
"Who let you in here, Medici?" Tiber growled as the older man came to a halt several feet off. His father did not react in the slightest, only watched with hands folded over the ivory hilt of his cane. Egret 13 stepped closer to Parasoul, who had drawn back to stand protectively at the elder Capulet's elbow. Their precautions brought an amused snort from Vitale at this united front.
"No need for hostilities." The capo gave a smooth bow to the princess before nodding courteously to Alessandro. "I've come as a goodwill ambassador in demonstration of my family's commitment to its allies." He indicated over their shoulders. "I even brought a gift for the children."
Only then did the excited buzz of the crowd register to Parasoul. When she chanced a look behind, an explanation was not hard to find. The 'balloon tree' that had caught her sister's eye earlier had now risen ten feet into the air. Hoisting what must be several hundred pounds of carved wood overhead was a person she recognized as Hubrecht 'Hertz' Adelherdt, a member of the infamous Cirque des Cartes. The cheerful giant was laughing good-naturedly as children jumped and screamed at his prodigious display of strength. He wore only a wrestler's leotard with a long pink bow tied around one wrist. Bald for the most part, he sported a single lock of light pink hair twisted into a heart shape atop his head with a moustache of the same color.
When Hertz carefully crouched down to settle the tree back on solid ground, children came streaming forward to climb up his broad back or dangle from those enormous pinions. The older boys pounded on him with their fists and feet or pulled on his moustache, eager to test how durable he might be. While some of the adults present beseeched them to stop such bad behavior, the circus strongman only chuckled at their roughhousing like it was nothing.
POP!
Quick as a flash Parasoul reached for her weapons without thinking. A second later it dawned on her she was unarmed, while at that precise instant, numerous balloons tied to the prop tree's branches came down all at once in a waterfall of color, causing the startled children to go wild with delight. They left off examining the muscle miracle and set to bouncing and swimming through their new playthings.
Another series of pops caused every eye to return to the tree. Standing in a newly cleared spot within the boughs, a solitary figure stood with arms upraised as though demanding a spotlight. "Is everybody having fun?!" she cried aloud, at which the happy orphans screamed in agreement. Teal lips grinned at their adulation, and the young woman swept a bow with diamond-stockinged legs crossed. Her black eyes sparkled with excitement, caramel skin glowing under the bright lights, and Cerebella the Diamond Dynamo leapt down from her perch. Hertz caught her, his huge hands encasing the high-flying acrobat's shapely waist with ease. He set his partner down, and just like that the two circus performers had become the undisputed stars of the evening.
Alessandro Capulet came around to regard his other uninvited guest with obvious disfavor. "I gave you no permission to be here, or your thugs. You should know I will not overlook any act of violence that may occur."
"You have nothing to fear." The crime-lord pulled out a handkerchief and used it to clean his glasses, the very picture of casual nonchalance. "If you take a closer look, you'll find nothing in the way of weapons on my associates, whether Living or otherwise. We are not unmindful of the rules regarding these proceedings." He lifted the frames up and inspected them, looking right at Alessandro. "As if the Medici would stoop to hurting children."
Not like it's ever stopped you before. Despite thinking this, Parasoul took note of the truth behind his words. Cerebella was a well-known favorite enforcer of Vitale's. Just as famous was her arsenal of choice, the two-fisted headwear called Vice-Versa. And one look at that spiky ponytail of minty-green hair proved the Living Weapon was nowhere to be seen. She was a solo act tonight, as it were. The only extra-strong arms in attendance belonged to Hertz, and official intel pegged him as being unaware of the dark side to the Cirque des Cartes and its fellow members. Judging by the wide grin he was sporting, ignorance must certainly be bliss.
Her heart clenched when Parasoul saw a familiar pink head surging forward. Umbrella laughed and jumped heartily as any other youngster her age around the two entertainers, oblivious to the threat they represented. Even the sight of Adam hovering not a foot away couldn't dispel her unease. More than ever she missed the reassuring presence of Krieg close at hand. Cerebella was bad enough. Could Vitale have brought more?
Hold on… how did she bring down all those balloons so fast?
"Magnificent, don't you agree?" Vitale Medici came up at her back, crossing his arms with the same comfortless smile as before. "No one brings them in like Cerebella."
"She's certainly…" Parasoul thought for a moment before choosing an appropriate adjective, "…limber."
"Of course," he replied. "After all, she was trained by Black Dahlia."
Unconsciously her eyes flicked around to search for any telltale sign of the bearer of that title. No black veil presented itself, though. It was disturbing how relieved that made her feel. An accusing glance from the princess caused Vitale to give a hollow chuckle. "You have nothing to fear, my dear. Dahlia won't be joining us this evening. In fact, she's accompanying my father at the opera as we speak. I'm sure you can confirm this for yourself with little effort."
Parasoul relaxed somewhat. While having the Dahlia nowhere near here did not assure the Capulets' safety, it certainly went a long way towards putting her own mind at ease. At the very least it meant they wouldn't have to worry about an outright bloodbath. Black Dahlia had a reputation for indiscriminate casualties. Parasoul liked to think even that woman would draw the line at opening fire in a crowd of children, but if anyone could… it was her.
The commander of the Egrets threw a look at her bodyguard, who nodded and moved a few paces off to begin speaking urgently into a radio attached to his chest. While #13 sought to confirm the situation she turned back to Alessandro. "Mr. Capulet, will you excuse me for a moment?"
He regarded her intently, but at length his head dipped in acquiescence. With a final warning look at Vitale she moved to rejoin Egret 13. At the same time Parasoul scanned the whole room. From a defensive standpoint, it was a nightmare. The main force of her guard waited at the front of the building. There were children everywhere, and more unconfirmed adults than she would like. If it weren't for how badly she wanted this alliance to happen she would never have consented to come, much less bring Umbrella along with her. Now her worst fears seemed to be coming true. An attack right now could easily prove a disaster.
With sudden certainty she knew this had been a mistake. What was I thinking? I've put myself and my sister in danger. If Lorenzo wanted Alessandro dead he'd never let a few children get in the way of that. Maybe he wouldn't condone slaughtering kids outright, but the Medici would find a solution. Murder was their business. Although come to think of it, if that was their intent, this selection of talent seemed off. Hertz was a non-combatant and Cerebella, for all her physical prowess, did not have a reputation as a killer. Why would Vitale bring them?
Egret 13 drew up close to her. "Ma'am, I've communicated with our units stationed outside and informed them of the situation. They did not see Vitale and company enter the building, but we have visual confirmation that Black Dahlia is across town at the opera house. Our agents saw her enter the booth with Lorenzo and they haven't left since the performance started twenty minutes ago."
Parasoul made no response. Despite hearing this she felt no reassurance. Something was troubling her and she couldn't say what. Off to one side Tiber had begun to speak heatedly with an unruffled Vitale while his father looked on. In this little island of relative isolation made by their presence she examined the crowd. Noise everywhere. People moving constantly. Much attention was still being paid to the stars of the Cirque des Cartes, and now they had been joined by a few of the clowns.
She focused on her sister. Umbrella appeared to be arguing with another little girl over who would get to ride on Hertz's shoulders next as he crouched beside them patiently. Cerebella balanced atop his bald pate on only one hand doing pushups with legs spread straight out to either side. Adam unsuccessfully strove to defuse this altercation before it got ugly.
While his back was turned, a clown juggling three bowling pins drew up behind him.
An alarm went off in her brain. Already Parasoul was moving forward, about to shout a warning. Holy Trinity, please let me be wrong…
Between one flip and the next the clown caught a pin by the neck and brought it crashing down on the back of Kapowski's skull.
He crumpled instantly. At the same time his attacker grasped the body of the pin and twisted. It came off in his hand, revealing a blade which he now brandished aloft. And then there was nothing between him and Umbrella. The little princess looked down at her fallen protector in confusion, then up at the painted face looming over her. Several children screamed. Parasoul was crying, howling and half-mad with fury as she fought frantically through the uncomprehending mob of kids.
"DEATH TO THE MONSTER!" the clown roared as he brought the knife up.
A huge fist caught his wrist with ease. Before he could even attempt to free himself two powerful legs wrapped around his head, followed by a flurry of punches straight to the grease-painted face. Moments later the would-be assassin slammed back against the ground in a limp heap.
Cerebella vaulted off him with limbs raised in readiness for combat. Behind her, Hertz had crouched down and wrapped an arm around the stunned Umbrella to cradle her securely against his broad chest. His enormous frame seemed to envelop the tiny royal within a canopy of warding muscle. Meanwhile the belligerent acrobat had taken up position before them. Two more clowns rushed forward, each armed with wickedly sharp knives and nightsticks which they had produced from their baggy clothes.
A third was attempting to push his way past the flood of shrieking children when a hand grabbed his shoulder and roughly spun him about. Parasoul's elbow collided with his brightly colored jaw so hard it cracked bone. He fell without a sound. Intending to retrieve one of his weapons, she was precluded from doing so by a stampede of tiny feet over the body.
Another clown, this one a woman, had noticed her and moved onto the assault. While her face was daubed with a big happy smile, the angry snarl she wore proved far more telling as to her temperament, to say nothing of twin daggers held in both overhand and underhand positions. Unarmed, Parasoul prepared to face this challenger. A quick glance behind found Egret 13 occupied with his own opponent. Farther back Alessandro had crumpled to the ground clutching his chest and struggling feebly. A frantic Tiber held him upright while calling for help as Vitale knelt nearby.
A feint with a knife followed by a quick slash forced Parasoul to concentrate on her own safety. Her attacker followed in pursuit. Despite that ridiculous costume, it was clear this person had significant combat experience. Military training? Most likely. There were no longer any kids left in the vicinity, but she couldn't reach the fallen assassin's weapons since this one stood in her path. By now the Egrets outside were bound to have been alerted to something going wrong. Still, it could take upwards of five minutes for them to make it past the fleeing crowd and into the building where they might make a difference.
All of this was secondary in her brain. At the forefront was a simple instinctive command: Protect Umbrella!
The clown prowled slowly towards her. Suddenly Parasoul kicked one high-heeled shoe at her face, followed by its mate. The woman knocked them both out of the air, a testament to her reflexes, but by then the princess was already darting around in a bid to make it through to Umbrella.
Quick as a flash the assassin sped to intervene between them. Parasoul could have screamed in fury. She closed the gap to immediately go on the offensive. A sweep of the leg failed to connect as the clown danced nimbly aside, yet when she moved to take advantage of this, the woman launched two quick stabs at her face that caused her to flinch away. At this point the princess resolved to stay her ground. She stepped into a combat stance, one bare foot behind the other and body angled sideways facing her opponent, presenting less of a target. Her golden eyes blazed coldly at the painted wretch as she waited to take advantage of the next move. But to her surprise, the assassin only crouched in one spot with daggers raised.
"I don't want to hurt you," the clown hissed. "For your own good, just let us do this!"
Before she could respond, a scream sounded. Parasoul's throat clenched. Both she and the woman looked over in time to see a figure tumble to their knees clutching its stomach. Blood spilled out to besmirch the white marble.
Relief overtook the princess as she realized it was one of the two fighting Cerebella. The Diamond Dynamo now turned her attention to the remaining assailant, who drew away in sudden consternation. Smiling, the sultry girl slipped backwards, crooking a finger invitingly while she did, as if to say, 'Come and get it!' One of her heels left a smear of blood with each step. Hertz still crouched behind her sheltering Umbrella with his whole body, who despite her squirming attempts to escape could not slip through that gentle but powerful hold.
Cerebella's black eyes drifted over to lock with Parasoul's. She seemed to take note of the dagger-wielding clown. Lifting one foot quickly behind her, the trapeze star flicked a catch to draw something small out of her boot like a magician producing a rabbit from a hat. Flashing a wink at the princess, Cerebella then lobbed this item in her direction. "Heads up, Your Highness!"
The female clown jumped to intercept it, a quick-thinking move that nonetheless proved costly. Before she could reach her target Parasoul sprang into the air and planted a kick right in the small of her back. The clown grunted and fell to land as well as she could, still clutching both weapons securely. Before she could right herself Parasoul had caught the thrown object.
For a moment she stared mystified. It looked for all the world like the slim handle of a sword, but no blade was evident. As her fingers closed around the hilt, however, there came a sharp click. From out of the crossguard shot a finger's-length of sharpened steel, followed by another from within it, and yet another. In under three seconds Parasoul found herself holding a tapered sword that measured just over two feet long. She took a practice swing to gauge its mettle, finding it to be remarkably well-balanced and light for what amounted to a prop sword. Nevertheless its edge was undoubtedly keen.
Her body came alive with joy at finding a weapon so well suited to her. Not wasting a second Parasoul leapt to the attack. Her newfound blade lashed out with blinding speed. The clown responded quickly in turn, twin knives moving as one to block every strike. Yet now the advantage was clearly not in her favor, and she gave ground rapidly before the furious royal's relentless assault. Parasoul swept across the floor as though dancing. She almost caught herself shouting, "Cry, Krieg!" so intoxicated was she by outrage and bloodthirsty resolve. There was no fear in her enemy's face, only anger at finding herself so outmatched. But it was nothing compared to the howling beast now encased in the breast of the princess, begging to be let loose and tear into their victim's flesh. You filth! You came after my family! How DARE YOU!
Still managing to ward off the swordswoman's blows, the clown took a step back that landed directly on a bright pink balloon. It bunched before popping to send the woman teetering off balance. Parasoul's saber licked out to smack sharply into one hand and send its dagger flying. With a cry the clown fell onto her backside, raising the remaining knife in defense as she did. Her scream of thwarted despair as a follow-up backhand slash knocked the short blade away was music to Parasoul's ears. With both hands clasped around the hilt she raised her sword overhead and brought it down.
My sister… my people! UMBRELLA!
At the last second her grip shifted so that only the flat of the blade slammed into her opponent's forehead. The clown's body went limp and she slumped heavily to lie senseless.
For a moment Parasoul stood gasping with chilly sweat dripping down her face. Why did I…?
Never mind! Got to save Umbrella! Where is she?! Off to one side she noticed Egret 13 twist the other clown's arm behind his back with an audible snap. A kick to the knee sent them both pitching forward, with that painted face slamming into the cold unforgiving floor. #13 punched him once more in the back of the head for good measure, then snatched up club and knife and came sprinting to aid his mistress.
Parasoul looked over in time to see Cerebella bend backwards at the waist to avoid a swipe from a nightstick. Her upper body then continued in this motion, spine contorting with ease into a perfect bow until her palms touched the floor. In counterpoint one diamond-patterned leg snapped up like a switchblade to kick her assailant squarely in the groin. He gave a grunt, some manner of armor clearly defending that vulnerable spot by the way he remained upright. But even this could not diminish the force of that blow in full, as his nightstick dropped from spasming fingers. Before he could recover Cerebella pushed off the floor and twisted in midair, her free leg windmilling up to slam into the side of the clown's face. His own body spun in a complete circle as this side kick lifted him clear off the ground. When he landed it was clear there was no more fight left in him. The circus showgirl somersaulted backwards and found her feet, eagerly casting around for the next opponent.
"Yay!" Umbrella clapped exuberantly while still being held by the strongman. "That was awesome!"
Cerebella rounded on her audience with a grin. She bowed to the little princess in true showman's style.
Running to rejoin her sibling, Parasoul saw movement off to one side. The first man laid low by Cerebella had regained his senses. Still on the floor, he slipped a hand into his baggy trousers. To her horror it emerged holding a pistol. The click as he cocked it rang clear as a bell.
She didn't shout a warning, or even point out the danger. Instead Parasoul hefted her blade over one shoulder and flung it. The sword went scything through the air end over end with a whispering sound. Holy Trinity, please! She noticed Hertz's head turn as the clown pointed his gun at an unsuspecting Umbrella. That great body surged in response.
A shot rang out.
The clown gaped as the sword severed his hand at the wrist before spinning by trailing drops of blood. He made a grab for the gun with his remaining limb, only for a second sharp blade to nail that arm to the floor. Then the pain set in, and he started screaming. Cerebella lifted her foot away, a knife returning to its hiding place inside her heel. She dropped down to straddle the prostrate amputee, gripped his hair with both hands and bashed his face against the ground until he lay unmoving.
Her head came up, face filled with concern. "Hertz?!"
Parasoul reached him at the same time as Egret 13. She knelt swiftly before the big man. He had curled in on himself so that his broad back faced the ceiling, a solid ball of pink muscle. Blood pooled visibly beneath him.
"Is it over? What happened?! I can't breathe! Will you let go of me already?"
Hertz gave a shudder then and slowly came up. Parasoul felt her heart lurch at the sight of more blood. A moment later she realized that none of it belonged to Umbrella. The little girl crawled forth unharmed. She got up and dusted off her knees perfunctorily. "Sis?"
Strong arms wrapped around her frame as Princess Parasoul dropped down and hugged her cherished sibling. She was shaking in triumph. "You're safe," she whispered, dizzy and joyful so that she had to close her eyes or risk collapsing. "Thank the Trinity!"
The sound of trooping feet heralded the entrance of more Egrets. They came pouring into the convention center past a ring of frightened youngsters who still lingered pressed up against the walls uncertain of what to do. The air was filled with juvenile screams and sobs as their caretakers strove to console them. By this point Officer Kapowski had been brought back around with the help of Egret 13. After a brief discussion they moved to address their fellows as both princesses were too busy attending to one another. The fallen hitmen were rounded up and bound securely.
After assuring herself no harm had come to Umbrella, Parasoul turned her attention to the bleeding Hertz. The bullet had entered his shoulder right above the collarbone. There didn't look to be an exit wound of any kind, which meant it was still in there. Cerebella had rushed up and torn off one of her long sleeves, wadding it up to press securely against the wound. Hubrecht seemed largely disinterested in any injury done to himself. His partner looked wildly about for aid. "Vitale! He's been shot!"
Immediately Parasoul beckoned to her men. "Egrets!" she barked. "Get a medical team in here pronto! This man protected your princess and he needs help!"
"That won't be necessary." Vitale Medici came strolling up, ignoring the hostile impression many of the masked soldiers gave off upon recognizing him. "We shall tend to our own. Do not trouble yourselves on our account." He drew closer to stand beside Cerebella. The teal-haired powerhouse supported the big wrestler while looking to her employer beseechingly.
"Mr. Muscle?" Umbrella wriggled free and came trotting over, concern now written large on her face. She clasped one of Hertz's cantaloupe-sized mitts. "Are you gonna be okay?"
"Ja wohl, little Alpenrose," the bulky entertainer beamed at her. He patted the girl's head with utmost gentleness. "I am strong, you see. Come watch me perform, ja? Pink hair, we stand together, no one can tell us apart! If I shave my moustache, that is." He wiggled the small pink push broom adorning his upper lip, and Umbrella giggled in delight before returning to join hands with her older sibling. Parasoul felt proud to see the normally bratty girl expressing compassion for another. Will wonders never cease?
Right then Alessandro Capulet emerged through the crowd of Egrets supported by his son. In all the excitement she had completely forgotten about him. He seemed to have recovered from his episode and now stood bent but tall once more. "Princess, are you hurt?" Tiber asked with concern.
"No." She looked down at Umbrella, who grinned giddily back. It made her smile without reservation. "We're both fine."
With a brusque motion Alessandro pulled his arm away from Tiber and tottered forward, cane tapping with every other footstep until he stood before the two princesses. Parasoul glanced up at him. The old man didn't seem to notice. Instead his oddly distracted gaze lingered on her little sister, who regarded him curiously back.
A spasm twisted the elder Capulet's face. Without warning the arm holding the cane swung up to hang trembling in midair.
She reacted immediately. Her sword rose to ward Umbrella before the blow could fall. A flurry of clicks preceded several Egrets drawing pistols to aim at Alessandro, and Cerebella bounced upright ready to leap in once more.
"FATHER!"
Tiber caught his sire by the arm and pulled him roughly back so that they almost toppled over together. Alessandro spun about, teeth clenched and eyes bulging with wrath. He sought to yank free, but the younger man held on without giving ground, preventing him from moving with his own face pale but no less determined. "What are you doing?!" he demanded.
Alessandro stopped struggling. Slowly his quivering head turned until he confronted Parasoul once more. Sheer grief was evident in every line of his face.
"You let that thing live."
One gnarled finger thrust forth to point at Umbrella, who flinched and blinked bright red eyes. "That… spawn of a Skullgirl!" Alessandro snarled."Born of the demon who killed my Marta and her little Ruby! She was only six years old. And this monster…!" His ragged voice ascended to a shrieking pitch, "… should not be allowed to survive any longer than that! You have betrayed this country and its people by letting it live! Look! Look around, all of you!"
He indicated about the brightly colored room with his chin where children wailed in panic or sat on the floor sobbing.
"Do you see all this pain? DO YOU?! How can you MOCK their suffering by parading that FREAK around in fine clothes catering to its every whim? As though it has a greater right to happiness than they do! Have you no sense of decency?! Where is your shame! And you claim to be our protectors? Our rulers?!" He spit contemptuously at Adam Kapowski, who drew away with blue eyes blazing in fury. "You are all TRAITORS!"
As he railed and wept, Princess Parasoul rose with a host of Black Egrets clustered at her back ready to attack. She glared menacingly at the vengeful old maniac, then around at the wondrous garden of delights he had built. This whole evening, everything… all orchestrated so he could murder a child. My sister. And I almost let him get away with it.
Her fingers clenched around the hilt of her borrowed sword. She could almost hear her father's voice whispering in her ear. Outrageous! Kill him and be done with it. Let all see what becomes of those who dare strike against a member of the Renoir royal family! It is your right! It is your DUTY! KILL HIM!
"Sis?"
She looked down to find Umbrella clutching her dress in a beseeching manner. "What's going on?" the little girl whispered. "Why'd he call me a monster? What'd I do?"
Parasoul studied that innocent little face. Blood-red eyes beseeched an answer from her big sister. And she knew what to say in response.
"You are no monster."
Bending down, she cupped those soft pink cheeks between her hands.
"You're my sister. You can be a pain and sometimes even cause trouble, but this… you are in no way responsible for this. You are not to blame for any of the grief brought forth tonight, nor is anyone alive today. What's done is done. The tragedies of the past, whether six years gone or occurring as we speak, must not be allowed to overrule our judgment. We have to let go of all that if we are to make one another and our kingdom truly happy."
It was true. The Canopy kingdom came first, and the people were the kingdom. Maybe for this reason she had refrained from killing anyone tonight even in the midst of battle. After everything her father's pride and mother's fall had cost the public, she could not see them as her enemy. Because Parasoul especially respected life, and conversely, death. The Renoir must never sink to the level of the Medici. I will not become another faceless executioner whom my people must fear.
And if I want that to remain true, she thought to herself, I'll have to stand as an example. For my people… and for you, sister.
With that Parasoul drew herself up with regal grace to regard the panting Alessandro. A brief vengeful impulse was suppressed. Just as Tiber was about to speak she said, "I forgive you, Alessandro Capulet. You are both free to leave. Do so before you cause any more harm to your good name than you already have."
Tiber didn't seem quite sure what to make of this. He glanced back and forth between her and his father. However when nothing more happened he leaned in to whisper in the old man's ear. Still not taking his eyes off of Parasoul, the shivering head of the Capulet clan allowed himself to be led away. Obeying their leader, the Black Egrets opened a path to allow them to reach the exit, whereupon both men departed without further altercation.
"Well," Vitale Medici mused from a few paces off, examining her thoughtfully. "You certainly have the air of sang-froid down pat, Highness."
His voice caused a resurgence of hot-blooded anger in her heart. Several things were now abundantly clear, and she rounded on him with golden eyes flashing. "You knew!" the red-headed military leader accused the blithely smiling gangster. "You knew exactly what Alessandro was planning to do! That's the reason behind the falling out between him and your father. And you didn't even try to warn us!"
Vitale's smile vanished. He regarded the outraged royal with a flat, calculating look that made her feel unaccountably juvenile. "I provided you with a mighty sword and shield," he responded coolly. "What more could you ask for?"
Parasoul paused as the truth of his statement dawned. She looked over at the wounded wrestler, who had regained his feet with help from Cerebella. Noblesse oblige had to be respected whatever their affiliation. To Hertz she said, "You have my thanks." She then turned to the high-flying fighter, proffering the sword hilt first. "And you as well."
The younger woman accepted it back gingerly, retracting the blade and returning it to its resting spot in the sole of her boot. "Just doing my job," she murmured before returning her attention to her comrade. At a nod from Vitale, the three of them marched off, Cerebella still supporting Hertz as well as she could. He swayed a little on the way out but otherwise gave no indication of weakness. "Take it easy, big guy," they heard her encourage him faintly. "Don't worry. We'll take you to see the Architect, he'll patch you up in a jiffy!"
"NO! Not him!" Hubrecht responded in alarm. "He will turn me into roboter!
"No, Hertz, he won't turn you into a robot, I promise. Hertz, he won't turn you into a robot!" she insisted when he started blubbering like a big baby. The argument faded as the Medici representatives disappeared.
"Commander." Adam had quietly spoken to some of the guards around the captured clowns and now returned to deliver his report. "They insist they acted alone, or rather all those who have regained consciousness. At least two are former Canopy Kingdom soldiers by their admission. Most claim to be motivated by the loss of parents or loved ones during the… incident a few years back." He coughed self-consciously while studiously avoiding Umbrella's eye. "No mention of Capulet being involved."
She digested this information for a while. For all that she had shown him mercy, Alessandro would not get off scot-free after this. Parasoul resolved to see him brought to justice. In the meantime they would have to make certain he didn't leave the city.
But first thing's first. She knelt by her sister once more. "Sis, are you feeling alright now?"
"Yeah, I'm good," Umbrella responded distractedly. Her eyes lit up, and she began to hop in one place. "OH! A petting zoo! I didn't see it before! C'mon, let's go check it out!"
Before she could stop her the six-year-old was racing over to investigate the pens holding sleepy puppies and prancing ponies. As if it were a signal, more children drifted over to follow her lead. Soon they were all once again laughing and screaming delightedly like the last few minutes never happened.
Parasoul watched her royal sibling play with children her own age. She allowed herself a fond smile as she turned to begin discussing the situation with the hovering Egrets. There was still much to do this night.
A limo streaked through the streets of New Meridian. Sitting inside, Alessandro Capulet kept both hands clasped over the head of his cane. Across from him Tiber sat watching with eyes that demanded an explanation which was not forthcoming. Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
At length the elderly businessman stirred. Without looking at his heir he finally whispered, "I told them… no guns."
Tiber's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
"No guns," Alessandro insisted, staring at the wedding band he still wore even after all these years. "I didn't want any of the children to get hurt. Knives if they must but no guns. I was very clear. They should have listened to me. It would have been different if they had."
The other Capulet leaned forward. "Are you mad?" he demanded in a soft voice. "Did I hear you say that you did not want to see any children hurt, when you just tried to murder a child?!"
Alessandro's black eyes flicked up to regard him. "Have a care how you address me, boy. I am your father. You will treat me with respect or you will no longer be a part of this family."
"You utter and complete fool!" Tiber gasped. "Can you not see what you have done? Our family is finished! Our reputation, our pride… you have sacrificed all of it! To satisfy your insane grudge! The Renoir will be coming for you now. No one will stand to defend us after this. I cannot believe you would do something so despicable!"
As he spoke a radio set into the seat cushions began to beep. Without hesitation Alessandro reached over and picked up the receiver.
"Don't you DARE answer that! I am not finished speaking!"
"Do not presume to order me, you faithless pup," his father answered back. "I am not beholden to you or anyone alive." He pressed a button on the handheld device. "Yes?"
"Good evening, my old friend," a merry voice emerged from the speaker.
Both Capulets tensed. Alessandro blinked in surprise before clutching the receiver in his broad fist, teeth gritted with fury. "Lorenzo! You traitor! You betrayed my trust! How dare you approach me after what your brood cost me this night!"
"Ah, Alessandro. I am very disappointed in you. We have known each other since we were children. Yet when you came to me for counsel, I warned you that the enterprise you proposed to engage in was not worthy of a gentleman of your stature. The very idea, slaughtering a child… tsk-tsk. I am deeply troubled by your lack of character."
Listening to this, Tiber could not help but feel a weight of fear in his stomach. He glanced around uneasily as if expecting to find armed killers surrounding them.
"So you know, Dahlia too expressed distaste when I relayed your request to her. She seemed to feel such a task was beneath the skills of an operative such as herself. 'Child's play', she termed it, and not in a flattering vein. I could not help but agree. One does not murder an innocent babe, and a princess to boot. Not without good reason, at least. And you have clearly lost all trace of reason if this night serves as any indication."
So unnerved by this recitation was he that Tiber failed to notice the car was slowing until it actually came to a halt. He tapped on the tinted window separating them and the driver. "Hey, what's going on?"
The chauffeur in the front seat did not reply. A single cold eye regarded him in the rearview mirror. A press of a button, and from the doors all around, there came a click.
Now Alessandro too had taken notice. He peered out the window. Neither of them had been paying any attention to their route, and now they found themselves parked in an empty warehouse on the docks. Through the open cargo doors they could clearly see the bay of Little Innsmouth, its waters gleaming black under a full moon.
"HEY!" Tiber grabbed a door handle, only to find it was locked. He tried to lower the windows but they too would not respond.
While he was engaged in this, the driver doffed her chauffeur's cap and placed it on the seat beside her. She then picked up another hat that lay close at hand to settle it securely upon her head.
As she opened the door and stepped out, a black veil fluttered in the salty breeze blowing off the bay.
Tiber was beating against the glass shouting in hoarse frightened tones. Meanwhile Alessandro stared in shock at his frantic offspring. With dreadful certainty he knew what this meant, and he grasped the receiver in trembling hands. "Lorenzo… please. My son had nothing to do with this. He was not involved, he is innocent! Please… I beg you… let him go. He is not to blame. It was me, all me! I will answer for my actions, only please–!"
"We all are subject to the sins of our fathers, eh? I fear I must be going now, old friend. There are other matters that demand my attention. Perhaps in the future you will learn to heed my counsel. But then again, it might be true what they say… you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Regrettable."
A group of women wearing bunny-girl outfits and skull-themed masks waited silently in the center of the warehouse. Military-grade machine guns rested with ease in their hands or on their shoulders. As the driver approached, one of them stepped forward bearing a huge modified arm cannon. Their leader removed her coat as she walked to reveal a mechanical right arm emerging from a torn shirt sleeve. She grasped this artificial limb at the elbow with her remaining hand and detached it. Upon reaching the group she handed over the arm while accepting the customized cannon in turn, attaching it securely to her missing limb.
After giving a few practice shakes to check the balance, the woman in the veil nodded to her party. As one, they all turned and took aim at the sealed limo.
Alessandro shook uncontrollably as he watched this. "Lorenzo…" he managed to croak. "You go to hell."
"Do take care, Alessandro. My best to your sweet daughter and grandchild."
The radio clicked off. As it did, Tiber sprang forward to grab his father. With manic strength he threw the old man to the floor of the vehicle and flung himself atop him.
"TIBER, NO!"
A volley of automatic weapons opened fire. In seconds every window of the car had shattered into shards of glass. With an almost musical noise like hail falling on a tin roof, the doors were perforated by hundreds of bullets. All four tires blew out with loud pops. Despite this they made sure not to aim for the gas tank. In the meantime the relentless fusillade proceeded to reduce the remainder of the vehicle to a bullet-riddled wreck.
When it was over the firing squad approached the ventilated mess. Their mistress removed her deadly attachment and once again substituted the mechanical limb from before. Without any hesitation she pulled off one of the rear doors with the same ease one might rip away a butterfly's wing and looked inside.
Tiber's white tuxedo had turned crimson. He lay spread out unmoving on the floor, face covered in blood but eyes still open. Beneath him, Alessandro had been spared the worst of the assault. Despite being shot over ten times they could clearly see him breathing. Whether Tiber still lived was not so clear. His bloody cheek was pressed against the old man's, who stared up at the ceiling with tears pouring from his eyes.
The one-armed woman climbed in beside them. Through her veil she gazed down at the gasping Alessandro. He could hear her smile when she spoke next.
"That's a loving son you've got there, Capulet. I hope you appreciate him now."
The dying patriarch looked up at her as though she were a devil. She reached down to grasp Tiber's head by the hair, lifting it up slightly so that Alessandro could see his face. The eyes stared down at him, mouth hanging open slightly. They were nose to nose. The killer then pulled a 9mm Luger from her waistband. Slowly and deliberately she pointed it at the back of Tiber's skull.
Alessandro drew in a deep breath. A prolonged gasping moan came from his throat, like a distant scream.
Upon hearing this, she smiled and pulled the trigger. Once, twice, three times. Both bodies jumped, but she didn't stop until she had emptied the clip.
Black Dahlia stepped out of the car and took a moment to appreciate her handiwork. She tossed the empty pistol off to one of her girls. Soon afterwards the executioners melted away into the night.
Word came before dawn. For a time Parasoul felt certain she must have misheard. At length she insisted on going to the scene herself. When she arrived, forensic specialists from the Egrets were already hard at work. As she stood on the dock overseeing their labors with both hands resting on the hilt of Krieg, the red-haired officer imagined she could smell the blood all the way from here. She tried to assure herself it was just the tang of the ocean, without success.
"Commander." Adam saluted with strict efficiency as he came up to her, although clearly these proceedings left him ill at ease. "We have some initial findings but…"
"Report."
"Yes, sir. Our investigation has led us to believe the attack occurred early in the evening, perhaps half an hour at most following the incident at the Soiree." He swallowed before holding up a plastic bag holding several shell casings. "In addition, a preliminary examination confirms that these are military issue. The same type used by the Egrets. Also, we found… that is…"
Two Egrets trooped by hoisting a gurney covered in a white shroud between them. There didn't look to be much by way of a head under that blood-spattered sheet.
"Proceed, soldier," Parasoul ordered tersely as she watched the body on its way to the ambulance.
At this Adam drew forth another bag with a different set of casings. "These were in the limo. We believe they were used to confirm the kill. We won't know for certain until the Lab reports its findings, but they're clearly 9mm shells."
The princess reached a hand down to her thigh where a Luger P08 equipped with 9mm cartridges rested securely in its holster. It was her signature firearm. Pretty much everyone knew that. Next thing you know she'd probably hear there was evidence of an umbrella-shaped weapon being used on the bodies. Didn't feel like taking it that far, Lorenzo? "Was there any change in the recon report we received last night?"
Kapowski dropped his gaze, clearly troubled. "No, sir. Our agents confirmed that Lorenzo and Black Dahlia stayed for the entirety of the performance, lasting until 1 AM. Neither of them left the opera house before then, not even during the intermission. Their alibi is air-tight, although Lorenzo did place a call around what we estimate to be the time of the shooting."
Might as well ask; you never know. "I don't suppose you came across any dahlia flowers in the vicinity?"
His head rose, sky-blue eyes narrowed in frustration. "No, Commander."
Parasoul turned and looked out to sea where the sun had just started to peak above the horizon. Bravo, Lorenzo. Doubtless every single bit of 'evidence' we find here will point straight back to me and the Egrets. Certainly won't make it in my best interests to see this taken to court. Even if that wasn't the case, by now the story of what happened has gotten around. If anyone had a reason to see Alessandro dead, it was me. Which means I'm just cleaning up your mess while you congratulate yourself on another victory.
Laugh while you can, Medici. One day I will bury you and all your monsters. Count on it.
So resolved, Parasoul headed back to Canopolis to get some rest before proceeding to address her kingdom's future.
Cerebella carried a newspaper under one arm as she jogged through the halls of Medici Tower. She was feeling keyed up and couldn't wait to tell Vitale the news. After racing up a flight of stairs she came to a landing where an oak-paneled door was guarded by two familiar faces. "Morning, ladies!"
"Hey, Bella." One of the two armed Skull Bunnies lifted her mask and winked. "Vitale's inside, he said you can go right in."
"You alright, Clover?" the circus star asked in concern. "You look pretty beat."
"Don't mind me, I just had a late night. The boss lady needed somebody to fill in for her and it was my turn." Clover reached down to rub her stockinged thighs vigorously. "Gotta admit, those metal leg covers really chafe after a while."
The other Skull Bunny chimed in. "That's the price you pay for being one of the few who can pass for Dahlia from a distance. Not like anybody's gonna try to check under the veil, right?"
"Maybe if you gained a few pounds you might have the chance to find out yourself."
Cerebella left them to their discussion as she grasped the door handle and let herself in. A small conference room was kept mostly dark except for a desk lamp burning on the table. On one side sat a stout young guy with curly hair in a nice suit. He was signing his name time and again on what looked to be a small hill of paperwork, looking extremely ill at ease. The reason for this might be because Black Dahlia stood directly behind his chair with one arm draped over the backboard. She looked up as Cerebella approached and nodded her head in greeting. The girl grinned and waved excitedly at her combat instructor before spotting her real target and skipping over to join him.
Vitale Medici leaned against a wall as she came up. "Did you see the news, Vitale?" his ward whispered excitedly so as not to disturb their guest. She opened up the paper for him to view.
"Hmm." The mafioso's heavy-lidded eyes traveled briefly over the banner headline: 'CAPULET HEAD AND HEIR APPARENT SLAIN!'
"Talk about a showstopper!" Cerebella exclaimed, turning the paper around to examine the story again. "Boy, that princess didn't waste any time, huh?"
"Nor would we if someone dared attempt to assassinate a member of our family," he pointed out to her crisply. "I for one do not begrudge her actions, violent and lawless though they may have been. Seeking to murder a child on account of something her mother did…" Vitale shook his head in grave disapproval. "Such a disgrace."
"I kinda think she might have gone a little overboard," the beautiful teen admitted. "I mean, that younger guy didn't seem to be in on it from what I could tell. It doesn't seem fair that she killed him too."
"In fact, that is precisely what this meeting is about." He indicated over to where their unnamed guest continued to affix his signature to numerous legal documents. "To defend himself from the Renoir's lingering wrath, Old Man Capulet's youngest son, Amulius, has approached us to ask for protection."
"Oh, I get it!" Cerebella placed a thoughtful finger to her diamond-painted cheek. "The Medici are the only ones who can possibly hold off the Renoir. He'd be a sitting duck without us!"
"Precisely. In honor of their long friendship, my father has decided to look after Alessandro's last living heir. Actually, it was Amulius who informed us of his parent's disastrous decision to try and assassinate the princess on his own. In gratitude for our aid, he has generously agreed to sign the Medici on as full partners to Capulet Inc. Now his future is secure, and we will safeguard him from the vengeful Renoir so he need not suffer the terrible fate of his father and brother."
The Diamond Dynamo beamed, twirling her partner Vice-Versa on one finger. "If they do come after him, I'll make sure to bring down the house! They'll find it won't be so easy with us on the case!" She hugged Vitale's arm in eager euphoria.
"Do not presume too much, Cerebella," the crime boss warned sternly as he disengaged himself from her. Vitale started walking towards the door leading out, and a disheartened Cerebella hurried to catch him. "I am still disappointed in your performance last night. Thanks to your careless grandstanding, Hubrecht was hurt. It was only due to the grace of fortune even worse did not befall him. You must never lose sight of your mission again, understand?"
Her high spirits plummeted at his admonition. "Yes, Vitale. I'm sorry." The girl's head drooped and she bit her lip, twisting her cap in between both hands. "But I forgot to tell you! Archie finished patching up Hertz. He said the bullet didn't do any serious damage, so a few days rest and he'll be good as new! I took him home an hour ago. Feng's looking after him, she should be on top of things."
"I'm pleased to hear it." Her benefactor paused with his hand on the doorknob, noting how the orphan enforcer still appeared dejected. "Tell me, did you enjoy being able to attend the Soiree one more time?"
Her colorful cockscomb rose and she nodded eagerly, face alight once again. "Absolutely! It was just as great as I remembered! And this time there was fighting too, which is even better!"
"Yes," he nodded. "Good. Well, you did save the young princess and even her sister. The family has benefited from your efforts once again, my dear. Now I think it's best if you should head back and check up on Hertz to make sure he is doing well."
Vitale opened the door and gestured for her to proceed him. Feeling hopeful once again, Cerebella danced contentedly from the room.
On the way out, the Medici capo paused and looked back over his shoulder. He caught Dahlia's eye, then glanced briefly at the nervous new Capulet patriarch before giving her a nod. In turn she smiled and leaned hungrily over the back of Amulius' seat, watching him sign away more of his family's profits with every flick of the pen.
Satisfied, Vitale closed the door and went on his way.
To be continued…