A Shadow Across the Plaza

Irene sighed as she put on her black dress. It was a simple, woollen dress, with no embroidery, no jewels, nothing. She removed the necklace she usually wore and placed it in her drawer, then walked out of her room.

"Ready?" Ivy asked. She was wearing clothes very similar to Irene's. "Yeah, let's go."

As much as she didn't like the idea of leaving the thief alone, this was something they both needed to attend to. It was Ava's funeral.

They made their way to the cathedral, and joined the small, crowd of people there. They were all people Irene knew, and people she would have preferred to avoid. Ava's friends and family, other purebloods, even a few half-bloods were there.

"They will ask for answers." Ivy muttered. "They are all scared now."

Irene nodded. "I know. And they should be." She added. Accursed blood and a silver blade were being used to kill her people one by one, and she still had no proof, no new information. Nothing she could share with them to ease their minds.

"I'll try to help you as much as I can." Ivy offered. Irene was quick to shake her head. "No, I can handle this." She gestured towards the few people standing in the shadows. The vile bats. "I want you to keep an eye on them." She said.

Ivy's lips formed a thin line. "Have they no shame?" She snarled. "Coming to a funeral to mock with us." She clenched her fists and took a deep breath. "I'll watch them."

Irene nodded. They truly had no shame, coming here at this time, showing themselves… Of course, she didn't really expect them to have any tact, but it was still quite rage inducing to see them here. And knowing the sorcerer wouldn't do a think about them only made her blood boil more.

That man was just as vile as them, just in a different way. His unwavering loyalty to the Old Gods who had already abandoned this world was nothing but poison to the people. It was because of him the people refused to acknowledge change, and it was because of him the power balance could never shift in her favour.

The sorcerer stepped up as the people filled the cathedral. "We have come here today because of a tragedy that took a beautiful and kind-hearted woman from us." He spoke. "My condolences to her family and friends. Let us pray for her soul, and for those left behind."

The prayers were silent as they always were. The man gave people enough time to pray and mourn, then continued speaking.

"As tragic her passing is, please do not let that be the first thing that you remember when her name is spoken. Remember her smile, her kindness. Remember how she brought joy to your life and cherish those memories."

Irene bit her lips. As much as she disliked the man, he was good at calming and reassuring the crowds. Perhaps it was that ability of his that allowed him to stay in power for such a long time. Irene sighed inwardly. She had lost count of the years by now. She longed for the day this man was knocked down his pedestal.

The funeral went on calmly, and the solemn air in the cathedral wasn't disturbed by anyone. Not even those vile, shameless bats dared do something. Death was final, and everyone deserved to mourn in piece, even if only for a short while.

Aoric sighed. They had been in there for hours. At Irene's behest, he was keeping his eye out around the cathedral. Perched on the rooftops as usual, he shivered as the unusually strong winds tugged and his clothes and ruffled his hair.

Keep an eye on the bats, the woman told him before leaving. What the hell did she mean by bats? If he didn't know better, he would be looking around for actual bats, the animals. But they were hidden in their little shelters beneath the overhangs of the roofs. They would only come out during the night.

He sighed and turned his attention on the cathedral again. The gates were closed, and a small crowd was waiting outside. Believers who were locked out because of the funeral. Aoric bit his lower lip. The little girl's crying was still fresh in his mind, as was the lifeless body of Ava.

He gulped. Death was not a thing he was too familiar with. And he wanted to keep it that way.

A sudden wind pulled his hood off. He quickly pulled it back up and covered his head and some of his face. He was about to try to make himself more comfortable on the tiled rooftop when he noticed a cloak figure run across the rooftops on the opposite side of the plaza.

He didn't even think before rushing down the roofs, across the plaza and towards where he saw the figure.