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  “If I complete whatever work he asks of me, he’s a ticket out of Caracta. And he gave me this.” Nero held up the shiny, golden watch.

  Neryssa reached for it, but he pulled it back and shoved it into his pocket.

  “I’m going to sell it,” he said.

  “That alone is enough to buy us passage out of the city,” Neryssa said, reaching for it again. “We don’t have to wait around for you to pass some… vampire’s tests. We can leave today.”

  Nero considered that, then shook his head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to cross him— not until we know what we’re dealing with.”

  “But we have that,” Neryssa said, pointing again at his pocket. “How will he find us if we’re all the way in Opus?”

  “This watch will only get us so far. We’ll hang onto the money from this so we can get away from him later. But until I know more about him, I think we should play along.”

  “And what if you’re not willing to do what he asks?” she said. “What if he asks too much of you?”

  “Then… we’ll find a way out. We always do.”

  Chapter 3

  A bell chimed as Nero pushed open the door to the pawn shop. The familiar scent of musty books and unwanted belongings greeted him. He weaved around the display cases and rang the bell on the counter.

  A few minutes later, the shopkeeper emerged from the back room, wiping down a silver bell. He set the bell and the cloth down on the counter and grunted out a greeting.

  “What can I do for you today?”

  Nero set the gold-plated watch on the counter. "I'd like three hundred gold for it."

  The shopkeeper looked it over, his practiced expression perfectly neutral, then threw his head back and laughed. "Keep dreaming, kid. I can give you ten."

  "It's made with real gold and has tiny leyline crystals beneath the hands, so it lights up in the dark. It’s a one of a kind creation by Luca Fiero," Nero insisted. He turned it over to show the inscription on the back— tiny initials that would verify his claim that it was made by the famous watchmaker. "I know what it's worth."

  "And you stole it from a rich man's wrist," the shopkeeper said, drumming the counter with his fingertips. "I'm sure the guards would love to hear the tale."

  "You insult my honor, sir."

  "The son of a traitor has no honor." The shopkeeper leaned forward to rest his arms on the counter top and fixed his beady, black eyes on Nero.

  For all the times Nero had come to this shop to sell stolen items, the shopkeeper had never acknowledged who he was. Nero had always suspected he knew, but before this, the owner had always been happy to take whatever Nero brought him. No questions, no fuss. But he’d never brought in anything as expensive as the watch, and that seemed to change things between them.

  "It's a family heirloom." Nero scowled. "Even if it was true that I stole it, that doesn't change its value. It certainly doesn't change what you can sell it for."

  "No, but it makes it more dangerous for me. As I recall, the guards just tore through this city searching all over for you. I could get in a lot of trouble for not reporting that you came in here today. It's quite a risk for me to accept this watch from you, as I’m sure you understand. Ten is all I can offer."

  "Not good enough." Nero reached for the stolen watch and palmed it into his pocket. He turned toward the door.

  "A hundred," the shopkeeper called after him.

  Without turning around, Nero smirked. "One-fifty."

  After a long silence, the shopkeeper sighed. "Deal. Bring it here."

  Nero gripped the watch in one fist and held out his other hand. "Money first."

  The shopkeeper disappeared into the back, then returned with a purse filled nearly to bursting with coins. Nero opened it up and stacked the coins on the counter in piles of ten. Once he was satisfied with the fifteen piles, he scooped them back into the bag and handed over the watch.

  "And the substantial discount from the watch's worth will pay for your discretion, in case any questions are asked?" Nero raised a brow.

  "So, it's not a family heirloom?"

  "I didn't say that. I'd just prefer if the guards didn't know I was here."

  "I suppose I'd go out of business quickly if I was too forthcoming about the identity of my patrons." The shopkeeper placed the watch on a glass shelf below the counter. "Nero Cineris was never here."

  Nero nodded his thanks. "Pleasure doing business with you."

  As he stepped outside into the cool air of twilight, Nero grinned. The heavy sack banged against his hip as he walked. The sum was far less than what the piece was worth, but it was still more than he'd expected to receive. It would be more than enough to escape to wherever they wanted to go.

  The idea of taking the money now and fleeing the city was a tempting one, but they had to be patient. The body Adrius had sucked dry was warning enough of what the vampire would do to them if Nero wasn’t careful. He didn’t want to make a move until he knew what Adrius was capable of… and what weaknesses he had.

  Nero slowed his pace as another thought occurred to him.

  Did Lord Ellery know that there was a vampire in Caracta? Would that information be enough for Nero and Neryssa to be forgiven for their parents’ crimes and clear their family name?

  Maybe if they turned over a greater threat, they could go back to living a normal life.

  Those were questions for later, when he knew more about Adrius. For now, Nero just had to keep his head down and survive.

  He pulled the jacket tighter around himself as he began the trek back to the bridge he and Neryssa called home. Dusk was quickly turning to night, and workers were beginning to light the oil lamps on the streets. He hurried through alleyways, avoiding the main streets the guards most often frequented.

  Ever since they came looking for him, Nero and Neryssa had taken shifts sleeping while the other kept watch. He had another long, exhausting night ahead of him.

  Just as the bridge came into view, something slammed into Nero and pressed him against a wall. The purse slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. Metal clattered as the gold coins rolled out of the bag and scattered across the cobblestones.

  “You are a difficult man to find, Nero Cineris.”

  As Nero’s vision cleared from the sudden blow to his head, the flash of a pearly white pair of fangs came into view.

  “Were you hoping to take the money and run?” the vampire asked.

  Nero met his steely gaze. “I considered it.”

  Adrius tutted his disapproval. “How dishonorable of you.”

  “I’ve never been accused of having any honor.”

  “From what I’ve heard, that’s a family tradition.”

  Nero pursed his lips, refusing to confirm the truth in that statement. It wouldn’t have been hard for the vampire to learn more about him if he’d asked around. And of course, he’d done exactly that in the nights since they’d first met.

  “What about your sister? Neryssa, right?”

  “Leave her out of this,” Nero snarled.

  “If you were going to run away with her, you should have done so the day we met— before I had an opportunity to find you. You’ve lost your chance now.”

  “I said I considered running— not that I was planning on it,” Nero said. If he’d intended to leave, he would have disappeared that day, before the vampire had a chance to find him. “What do you want me to do?”

  The vampire released him and took a few steps back. “I have work for you. Tomorrow night, there will be a parade to celebrate the coming harvest season. You’re familiar with it, I assume?”

  Nero nodded. Of course he’d heard of it— the parade brought in visitors from across the continent every year. It was one of the largest events in all of Nymphera.

  “Good. The noble Ellery family will make an appearance during the celebration. You will steal for me a tiara— plucked straight from the head of Lord Ellery’s daughter, Morgana.”

  A snicker escaped
before Nero could contain it. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Perhaps. But you will do this for me or die trying,” Adrius said.

  “Why do you want Morgana Ellery’s tiara?”

  “I don’t.” The vampire shrugged. “I just want to know that you’re skilled enough to obtain it.”

  Nero kicked the bag of coins toward Adrius. “Take this back— I don’t want it. I don’t want anything to do with this. You’re insane.”

  “Perhaps you didn’t hear me earlier. Your opportunity to run has already passed. You chose not to take it.” Adrius nudged the purse back toward Nero with the toe of his boot. “This money is yours. I have no intention of reclaiming it. Returning it does not save you from your obligation.”

  With a scowl, Nero bent down to pick up the coins that had fallen out of the bag. “Listen, they’re still searching for me for a recent crime. Most of the guards know what I look like. And even if I hadn’t just gotten their attention recently, there’s no way they would let me get that close to the Ellery family. Not with my family’s history.”

  “You will find a way.”

  Once all of the coins were back in the bag, Nero closed it and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting Adrius to ask of him, but stealing Lady Morgana’s tiara was insanity. It would be impossible.

  Not that he would stick around to attempt it. The parade wasn’t until the next day, which gave him plenty of time to get Neryssa and leave the city before Adrius was able to come for him.

  “Yeah. I’ll find a way. I’ll see you tomorrow night, then.”

  “Ah, I nearly forgot to tell you. I’ve got a room set aside for you and your lovely sister at a nearby inn. You will both stay there, and Neryssa will remain safely in my care until your task is complete.”

  Nero clenched his fists. “And if I don’t show you where she is?”

  “Then I’ll kill you, and I’ll tear this city apart until I find your sister and do worse to her.” He said it so casually, as though the entire conversation were a pointless, boring exercise.

  And perhaps to Adrius, it was exactly that.

  He had Nero— and they both knew it.

  Chapter 4

  Neryssa sat huddled against the stone wall with her jacket draped over her legs like a blanket as she read a tattered novel. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she glanced up and smiled. She turned in the top corner of the page she was on and set the book aside.

  “I didn’t know we were expecting company tonight. I would’ve tidied the place up,” she said, gesturing to the rocky ground beneath the bridge.

  “This is the man I was telling you about a few nights ago,” he said, gesturing toward him. “Lord Adrius.”

  Neryssa stood up to do her best impression of a curtsy. Perhaps she had once been good at them, back when they lived at the palace with their parents. Now, she only looked clunky and awkward as she crouched down and fanned out her skirts. “My brother says you’re the lord of another town. And I’ve heard some other… interesting things about you. I can’t imagine what business you could possibly have with the two of us, but I’m pleased to meet you.”

  Adrius took her hand and kissed it. “The pleasure is all mine, I’m sure.”

  The vampire’s lips lingered several moments too long. If Nero hadn’t seen the blood dripping from this man’s lips only a few nights ago, he might think him charming.

  Nero shifted his weight uncomfortably before clearing his throat. “Adrius found us a room at an inn so we can stay somewhere more comfortable while I do some work for him.”

  Neryssa’s eyes lit up, and she looked from Adrius to Nero, then back again. “Does that mean we can stay in a warm room with a bed?”

  Nero stuffed his hands in his pockets and fingered the bag of coins. It would be nice to sleep at an inn. It would be much nicer to hop on the next caravan out of town and find an inn in a different city, far from the vampire’s reach. He silently cursed himself for not taking the chance to run.

  Had he really expected working for a vampire to be easy?

  They followed Adrius through the streets to a nicer part of town, where the city’s residents were busy preparing the city for the upcoming parade. The annual harvest parade had never once been canceled, and the city’s leadership seemed determined not to let this year be the first. Some folks hung wreaths and other decorations made of sticks, colorful leaves, and sea shells to represent the upcoming season. Others were still working to clean up the lingering damage. They scrubbed down buildings and hauled away debris from the storm that had raged through the city only days ago.

  As they walked through the city, it became clear that only the main streets and public areas were getting such attention. On the side of town where Nero and Neryssa had been staying, no such efforts had been made.

  Adrius stopped in front of a two-story brick building. Whatever the inn’s name was, a wooden board had been nailed on top to cover it. In thick red letters the sign declared that there was ABSOLUTELY NO VACANCY.

  “You said you already have this room set aside for us?” Nero asked. “Because you might have trouble finding an open room this time of year.”

  “Of course,” Adrius said, sounding almost amused at the question. He pushed open the door and strode inside.

  Nero followed behind him and came to an abrupt stop in the entryway.

  The air in the building was thick with a rotten stench, and Nero covered his face with his shirt to stifle it.

  “Apologies for the smell down here,” Adrius called in from the next room as he lit a fire in the hearth. “The inn has very recently found itself under new management, and I’m afraid there hasn’t been a chance to clean things up just yet. Not to worry— the smell doesn’t carry upstairs. You can take any room you’d like up there.”

  Nero held his breath and took another step. The room next to the entryway was a common area with chairs and couches surrounding a fireplace. An older woman slouched motionless in a chair next to the fireplace. Her body drooped over the side, and her neck dangled at an unnatural angle. A dark brownish-red stain ran down the side of the chair onto the floor next to her. Her skin was a horrid grey color, and her half-lidded eyes stared at nothing.

  Nero covered his mouth and swallowed back the lurching of his stomach. Beside him, Neryssa stood, seemingly unaffected by the woman’s body. She stared at it, head tilted to the side, her mouth hung open slightly as if she was in awe. Or perhaps just in shock. Nero grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the steps.

  As Adrius had promised, the smell was much duller upstairs. Inside one of the rooms, with the door closed behind them, it was hardly noticeable. Still, the putrid odor of the dead woman lingered in his nostrils and clawed its way to his uneasy stomach.

  Nero avoided Neryssa’s gaze as he walked over to the window. He heaved it open and breathed in gulps of fresh air.

  “I’m sorry,” he said once his stomach settled.

  “Sorry for what?”

  “Dragging you into this mess. We should’ve taken the money and left the city, like you said.”

  “This isn’t so bad. We’ve got a roof over our head. Beds to sleep on.” She flopped down on the clumpy, straw mattress and grinned. “Real beds! How long has it been since we could say that?”

  “And that woman downstairs?” Nero asked. “Is that not so bad?”

  “We wouldn’t be allowed in here if she was alive. You know that.” Neryssa crawled under the sheets and nestled into bed. “Do you know what he’ll have you do?”

  “No,” Nero lied, too exhausted to listen to another of Neryssa’s furious rants about the Ellery family. He flopped into the bed across from hers and rolled to face the wall. The old wallpaper had peeled in spots, leaving the grimy wall beneath it exposed. He traced his fingers along names that had been carved into the wall, imagining stories for each of them until an uneasy sleep claimed him.

  After all the time they’d spent sleeping on the rocky river b
ank, a night with the run-down hotel’s rough sheets, straw mattresses, and flat, worn pillows felt like the luxury of royalty. Across the room, morning light streamed in through the open window.

  Nero sat up and stretched his aching back. One night in a bed hadn’t been enough to undo all the time he’d spent sleeping outside, but at least there was less pain than usual.

  “Good morning,” Neryssa said. She hummed to herself as she fixed the sheets on her bed, making it exactly as it had been when they arrived.

  “Morning,” Nero said.

  “There’s a washroom down the hall, if you’d like to clean yourself off. You can warm the water before getting in, so it’s much more pleasant than the river water.”

  Nero shook his head. “You need to stay in here. Don’t go out there again.”

  “Why?”

  “You have to keep your distance from Adrius. He’s dangerous.”

  “Well, of course he is. But so what? If working for him means we can finally stay somewhere with warm beds, then I’d be happy to work for him as well.” She stretched out on top of the sheets. “I’d do anything he wanted, really.”

  “No,” Nero said. He hated the thought of his sister working for a vampire in any capacity, let alone doing anything he wanted. “Don’t get any more involved than you already are. I’ll handle this.”

  “Whatever you say,” Neryssa said. She reached into her bag at the foot of her bed and pulled out her book.

  Nero shut the door behind him as he stepped out into the dark hallway. He didn’t understand how Neryssa could be so cheerful after the horrific sight they’d seen last night. It wasn’t like her.

  I’d gladly watch them all burn.

  Nero shrugged off her words from the other day. She hadn’t meant it like that, had she? She was just grateful to have a bed to sleep in and a roof over her head, and she hadn’t yet considered the cost. She wouldn’t be so callous about an innocent woman being murdered.

  He hadn’t noticed when they’d arrived the previous night, but the windows at the end of the hallway were boarded up with thick planks of wood, preventing any sunlight from making its way inside.