Arabian Nights

Chapter 7

This was a bad idea. This was a bad idea. This was a very bad idea.

Virgil hadn't been able to see the story-teller Janus had dragged him over to stare at. He'd rolled his eyes and crossed his arms but to no avail. Janus - the tall bastard - was completely captivated by whoever he was staring at.

Someone Virgil had noticed, however, was the person who'd bumped into him and Janus. Maybe it was just a trick of the light or a trick of luck but Virgil saw them slip something gold into their pocket. They disappeared into the crowd of people around the story-teller.

Virgil glanced down at Janus' wrist. The bangle he always wore was gone. Virgil's brow furrowed and he looked up again.

He'd seen a snatch of red disappear down an alley and decided to follow. If this person thought they could steal from his soon-to-be subjects - especially his best friend - and get away with it, they were sorely mistaken.

So, here he was. In a dark alley. Following someone he knew nothing about. Without telling anyone where he was going. Feeling like an idiot.

Idiot!

The person in red sped up slightly. Virgil tried his best to match their footsteps but he must've done so clumsily because they broke into a run.

"Damn," Virgil hissed before running after them.

They alley ended in a dead end. Virgil nearly sped smack into the house at the end but just managed to stop himself in time. He tipped his head back to stare up at the night sky and saw a hand disappear over the edge of the roof.

"Alright," he thought to himself. "You want to play that game?" He sighed. "It's on."

He took a few steps back and stared at the building. Maybe building was pushing it. Shack. Yeah, he stared at the shack.

There was a low-set window, it's shuttered bolted tight. As almost every house in Agrabah, the sill above the window jutted out further than the bottom one. If he stood on that, Virgil could probably just reach the roof.

It was worth a shot.

Virgil paused before he moved. Did he really want to do this? What was the point?

That person had Janus' bangle. They had the one thing Janus cared about more than himself in the world. If Virgil let them get away with it, Janus would hate him for ever.

Virgil sighed again and stepped up onto the window sill. It was a bit too thin for him and he had to balance on his tip toes. He grabbed onto the upper sill and pulled.

He could barely lift himself off his toes.

Virgil gritted his teeth and tried again. Nothing. He groaned and leaned his head against the shutters.

"I wouldn't do that." The voice made him jump so violently he nearly fell off the window sill. "Those things are rickety as Hell."

It was the person in the red waistcoat. They grinned at him lazily, looking a little like an angel with the starlight behind them, bouncing off their wavy hair.

Virgil shook his head. What the Hell? An angel? Grow up, Virgil.

"C'mon."

Virgil looked up again. It took him a few seconds to realise they were holding out a hand to him.

"C'mon," they said again. "I'll help ya pull yourself up."

"Why?" Virgil asked sceptically. They shrugged.

"You're cute," they replied and flashed him another smile. "I'm Roman."

"Introductions at the top, Princey," Virgil muttered, ignoring their comment about him. He could just about reach Roman's hand and, with his help, pulled himself up onto the roof.

"What d'you call me?" Roman asked.

"Hm?"

"What d'you call me?" Roman repeated. "Just then?"

Virgil shrugged and didn't repeat himself. Roman sighed and shook his head. He lifted his hand, as if admiring something, and Virgil saw he had Virgil's ring on his finger.

Virgil grabbed his own hand. The ring definitely wasn't there. Dread pooled in his gut. Damn him, now he'd lost Janus' bangle and his father's ring.

"Give that back!" He snapped before he realised what he was saying. Roman looked up at him.

"What? This little thing?" Roman flashed Virgil his ring. "I think it quite suits me, don't ya think?"

"Give it back, it was my father's," Virgil snapped over the top of him. He felt tears prick just behind his eyes and begged himself not to cry.

Roman raised an eyebrow. "This?" He asked. "This was your father's?"

"Yes- Yeah." Virgil corrected himself quickly.

"I doubt that, dear," Roman said. "See, this is the Ruling Ring. Gold with a fat piece of obsidian in? Kinda hard to miss. So either you're the prince or you're lying to me. And I'm not inclined to believe you're royalty."

Virgil blinked, a little offended. "Why not?"

Roman shrugged. "Why would the prince ever want to come out to Agrabah? Especially the slums? He's got a whole palace and gardens to himself."

Virgil didn't answer him. How could... How do you explain the feeling of being trapped without revealing who you are?

"Fine," he said. "You got me. It's not my father's." He shrugged and crossed his arms in what he hoped was a nonchalant way. "I... work at the palace, I got it from the prince."

"You mean he gave it to you?" Roman took the ring off his finger as he spoke. Virgil snatched it off him and pulled it back onto his finger.

"No, I stole it," he snapped. "Finders keepers."

Roman stared at him. He actually looked a little impressed. "You stole from the prince?" He asked in awe. Virgil nodded quickly.

"Damn," Roman breathed. "Cute and clever. Alright."

Virgil crossed his arms again and ignored the comment again. "Could you give me back my friend's bangle?" He asked, hating how posh he sounded. Hopefully, Roman wouldn't notice.

"If you give me a name, I will."

Virgil sighed through his nose and weighed up the options. On the one hand, giving a thief his name while he was stood alone above an alleyway with said thief screamed danger. On the other hand, Janus was his only friend.

"I'm Virge," he said eventually.

"Just 'Virge'?"

"Well, I could tell you I was called Virgil and the Prince of Agrabah but you'd never believe me," Virgil said. Roman laughed.

"Yeah, you've got a point there." He shrugged. "Dunno what your friend's bangle looks like, sorry to break it to ya." Virgil glared at him and he put his hands up. "But, if you'd care to accompany me for a roof-top walk to see the fireworks, I'd be happy to give it you. If I can find it."

Virgil shrugged. Really, what choice did he have?

I've finally done it. No longer are we bordering on 1,000 words. Prinxiety has sealed the 1,000 words deal for me. Congrats to them
Bye,
Blaize