Chiaroscuro

1 - The Crown of the Night

"When you embrace me

Close to my chest

I hear blazing flames inside of you

A fire I will never fear

This way together we will scorch the Earth

This way together we will scorch the Earth"

From Fire, Shireen

The night was cold at the center of Rome; uncharacteristically so, for that time of the year. Perhaps it was due to the two presences now entering the piazza one right after the other. The taller, leading figure shone like a beacon of confidence. His power and position were denounced by his richly embroidered robes of deep violet, the heavy golden cross hanging from his neck like a crown, and the opulent, singular ring on his finger like a scepter. For that was a time when the church ruled the world; even the most powerful of kings bowed before the pope. Those who would not do so by true faith would yield to pressure in fear of ostracization, and with that, the men of God were among the most powerful to walk those lands.

That particular bishop roaming the night knew that well. He wore that power like a cape, thrived in it at every second.

The bishop was followed closely by another figure buried within a heavy black travel attire perfectly suitable for either a monk or a nun. Their face was almost entirely hidden beneath the hood, their stance humble as to become nearly invisible, especially in comparison to the much prouder-looking one ahead.

Heads turned to the bishop as he walked, many cowing respectfully before making way. Few tried to approach them only to be stopped by a mere flicker of the clergyman's hand.

He could not afford any deviations to the plan. He would only stop to greet very specific names.

Surely no simple human, however noble, however influential.

For that was the night in which the fate of the supernatural world would be decided once and for all.

Pale faces nodded at him from a distance, the corner of their lips lifted in the subtlest of smiles. Allies. Vampires who had, like himself, managed to secretly infiltrate the power of Nyx within the orders of catholicism.

As he strolled among the statues of saints, angels and candles, he could feel their plan unfold in the dark corners of that sumptuous temple.

-Blessed night, Bishop.

-Blessed night indeed.

-I hear our newest acquisition has arrived. A new image of the Holy Virgin, sculpted in the east, beyond the Black Sea.

-You heard correctly. The Holy Maiden has indeed arrived, and is now safe and sound within our holy mother church.

- Duly shielded, I assume? It would be a tragedy if she were to be stolen and carried under the power of vandals and mercenaries.

- She will not - the bishop nearly spat the words, his eyes piercing through the other vampire's face - I made sure of that myself.

-It brings great peace to my heart, knowing that. May the Lord be with you.

-Oh, He is among us.

The smirk on the other vampire's face widened as he now knew everything was going as planned.

Their leader, Cardinal Torquemada - The Bishop's very own Maker -, was already within the heart of the Vatican, waiting for them.

And the second information , the most unlikely to happen, was that he had just snuck in their secret weapon, walking sheepishly behind him, her true identity veiled under heavy black cloaks.