Chapter One
It was located at the very bottom of the Arcana Mansion, where not even the rats and roaches desired to go, where the only soul who visited often was the family's unsocial adviser, and alchemical master, Jolly. Yet even he, the most secluded of the family, never ventured further that going to his lab required. He never walked the long grim corridor; never smelt the thick looming scent of musk.
It was the rooms and living spaces of the Cloak.
My sigh echoed through the empty living room. I was sitting in the heavily cushioned seat in front of the only fireplace this grim basement had. Our home had very little light, as we preferred to be in darkness. The fireplace and the candles in our rooms served as our only sources of light.
The glow of the fireplace illuminated a small portion of the room before it. Our living room was a rather simple space with expensive furniture such as velvet couches and polished wooden tables, and the expensive throne like seat that I sat upon, all gifts from the distinguished leader of the family, the Mondo.
To the left of the room was a door that led to the ever-winding corridors of the basement, the musky scent drifted under the door and into the room even now. Then at the very back of the room there was a dark hallway that led back to the bedrooms belonging to the members of Cloak.
I took a deep breath and inhaled the fire's crisp cherry wood scent. The scent and the warmth the fire shed, soothed both my aching lungs and my cold skin.
The members of Cloak had just returned from a hard night of work. One of the many buildings of Regalo had been accidentally set ablaze and most of Cloak had spent the whole night assisting in putting it out, though neither townspeople nor Arcana Family members saw them.
Behind me slept all of my men, exhausted from the long night of work. I felt sorry for them, especially the ones that had been burned by the flames.
I glanced at my badly burned left palm. The green salve that covered it glistened in the orange glow of the fireplace. The burn hadn't seemed so bad when I had gotten it early in the night, but as I continued to use my left hand it had gotten worse.
Ignoring the incessant stinging from the burn, I took another deep breath and closed my eyes. I would need to rest if I wanted to lead again at dusk.
The sunlight was blinding.
It was as if I had never seen it in my life, which I very well may have not.
The mansion courtyard was empty aside from me, as it always was when I went out for night patrol. The only difference? It was broad daylight. My eyes slowly adjusted to the sharp white light.
The very first thing I noticed was the bright green grass that covered the garden like a carpet. Its color burst out at me along with the rainbow of flowers that grew above it.
The courtyard was beautiful! More beautiful than I had ever realized!
I walked over to the garden and slowly reached down to touch one of the flowers. Its soft petals were a rich dark purple that smelled sweet, almost like the caramel that I so often fanaticized about eating when my night patrols led me to the baker's roof. I sat among the flowers and inhaled the fresh smell that differed so much from the scent of burning cherry wood.
It seemed like I was there for ages just enjoying basking in the sunlight and smelling the colorful flowers. I fell onto my back on the cushiony grass and allowed my eyes to drift closed.
"Eileen?"
The courtyard echoed with the voice that seemed familiar to me.
"It's almost time Mistress."
The second voice was not as familiar as the first, but I had heard it before. I refused to open my eyes and let my peaceful nap in the sun to be interrupted.
Suddenly someone touched my shoulder.
My eyes snapped open and my hand jerked up in a reflex to slap away the person who had touched me.
I was back in the living room of our serie-in the basement of the mansion.
With a quiet sigh I glanced down at the fire in the hearth that was slowly extinguishing itself. Behind me the members of Cloak had gathered, all wide awake after their restful day of sleep. I could feel them, each one tense and ready. I knew what time it was, I knew what was coming.
Night was falling over Regalo, night was falling and the members of the Holy Grail serie were returning to the mansion for the night. The Holy Grail, the serie responsible for the defense of Regalo, allowed for only a single two member night patrol, as ordered by the Mondo. That made room for the Cloak members to cover their territory and not be disturbed.
As the clock tower in Regalo struck the nine O'clock mark and began to chime, its sound just barley reaching our ears, I stood up from my chair and turned to my men.
Night had fallen over Regalo, and now Cloak would protect the citizens, and never allow them to see their silent protectors.