Midnight Crusade

Chapter 19

Kit's back was uncomfortably stiff. He had to dress formally for this ball, and that meant wearing some suit from the 1700's, ruffles included. He was tucked into some back corner of the room, watching the ball in front of him. It was a very lively event, everyone wearing the same style clothing as him, the women in brilliant ball gowns that looked like they were from some historical documentary. A small band sat upon a circular stage in the far end of the ballroom, guests dancing around it, music filling the air. It was a marvelous sight, something Kit had never experienced before. He only knew how to waltz, as he was taught by Ezra, but that was about the only dance he knew.

Tables lined the back walls with trays of glasses filled with blood, off setting the wonderful sight. This was a vampire ball after all, of course there would be blood.

Kit's crimson eyes scanned the ground, keeping an eye out for one vampire in particular. Vincenzo hadn't shown his face yet and it was already two hours into the ball. Kit wondered for a moment how Vivian was doing, locked in the room. He wished he hadn't had to attend this ball, but Niccolo claimed that he needed him. Kit wasn't going to be much of a match against Vincenzo, given the uncle was a pureblood vampire and Kit just a human turned vampire. The vampire just didn't understand why Niccolo had wanted him there.

"Enjoying yourself?" A voice said to his right, eyes landing on Niccolo. "You look like you are."

"I am doing my job." Kit replied to the elder vampire. "My enjoyment is not a part of that."

"Touche." Niccolo commented, raising his glass of blood before taking a sip. "Have you seen anything?"

"Nothing to report."

"Hmm." That was all Niccolo said before stepping back towards the crowd, absorbing him. Kit simply went back to watching the ball, keeping his eye out for the uncle.

More time had passed and nothing. Kit was beginning to wonder if this uncle was actually going to show up. Did he somehow figure out their plan? Did Vincenzo know that they knew about the rabids? Kit began to feel his chest tighten as his brain thought of the worse case scenarios.

Then through one of the doors, Kit spots Vincenzo walk into the ballroom. The vampire instantly recognized the pureblood from the portrait Niccolo had shown him. He still had the same beard and mustache as in the portrait. Kit felt his senses go off them, and he had to resist moving from where he stood. This was the man causing all the harm to Lake Ashton, the one that is responsible for Vivian's suffering. Kit immediately wanted to stride towards the vampire and punch him right in his face, but he couldn't. They had a plan, and Kit just had to let it play out.

Instead, Kit moved from the wall to find Niccolo. He pressed past dancing bodies and towards where he had seen the elder vampire march off to. After looking around for a moment, he finally spotted Niccolo chatting amongst a bunch of vampires. They stood in a half circle, all with glasses of blood in their hands.

Kit moved to step up behind Niccolo, tapping the vampire on the shoulder. When Niccolo acknowledged him, he gestured towards the wall where they could speak.

"If you'll excuse me." Niccolo said to the group, bowing politely and then stepped towards Kit. "What is it?"

"I saw Vincenzo arrive." Kit said, looking around the room.

Niccolo froze up for a moment, before taking in a deep breath and seeming to shake whatever emotion he felt from his body. "It's showtime. Meet me in the office."

Kit immediately left to go to the office, glad to be away from the stifling crowd that was in the ballroom. He thought about going to check on Vivian for a moment, as it would take a minute for Niccolo to get Vincenzo to the office, but then he thought better of it. He would see her tonight once this was all done.