In the Dark

Chapter 12

Riccardo wanted to spend time with his brother, but from the time he woke up that next night in his own bed, he was busy. He envied Leon who no doubt got to spend tonight quietly getting to read while Arthur and the nurses doted on him. As Riccardo walked down the hall from his bedroom in his ceremonial gray coat with his military medals clinking together where they were pinned to his chest, he found himself considering how nice it would be to sit with Leon and his brother instead of the mass of people awaiting him. It amused him how he barely knew the fae and still he would have preferred Leon's company to any of the guests who'd been invited for his coming of age party.

This wasn't actually his party. Yes, technically he'd come of age and the invitations that had been sent out had marketed this as a party for him and celebrating his birthday. However, this was purely a political ploy by his parents. As far as Riccardo knew, that was typically what these coming of age parties were in their world. It happened so rarely that a royal child in their world came of age, and even rarer that it was a first born. It was the perfect excuse for his parents to make contact with the other vampire covens around the world and to get them to actually show up.

There were few vampire covens around the world whose leaders had such prestigious titles as king, queen, empress, or otherwise. The ones who did would have been invited, though. Like Mahvash, they would not have traveled alone. Their spouses, children, guards, servants and more would have all come with them. Despite there being few vampire leaders around the world, the palace would, of course, be packed with their guests.

With every step on the polished marble floors of the halls as Riccardo headed in the direction of the great hall where he was being waited on, he kept thinking more and more to Leon and that jealousy that he did not have to be a part of any of this. It didn't help that his chest seemed to grow tighter and his stomach fluttered disagreeably the closer and closer he got.

"Riccardo!"

Erik's voice shook Riccardo out of his growing trepidation, and he turned with a small smile at his brother who bounced along towards him. Like Riccardo, Erik was dressed well in a navy-blue suit. The boy was far too young for any military ranking or honors, however, and so he bore only a pin of a fanged elk in silver with a crown above its head on his left breast.

"Your hair is a mess," Riccardo said, fondly, as Erik caught up to him. He reached out to try to brush the unruly strands back off of Erik's forehead.

"I like it better this way," Erik said, swatting Riccardo's hand away. "I look like I just got out of battle!"

Riccardo shook his head. "Mm," he hummed, disapprovingly. "You look like you went and played soldier after your hair was done is what you look like."

Erik puffed up his chest. "I don't see why that's a problem."

"Just remember I tried to warn you when Mother or Father see you and disapprove." His own black hair was meticulously brushed back neat and orderly for the night. It was more important that he looked well-polished and groomed for the night than Erik, though. He didn't mind looking the part of a well-groomed prince, however. His ceremonial outfit wasn't his favorite considering he associated it with the stress of the events he wore it to. He knew he cut a nice figure in the well-tailored outfit, however. Though he wished he carried more muscle on his frame at the moment, he had stopped to admire himself in the mirror before he'd stepped out of his quarters.

"Other kids came for your party, you know," Erik seemed ready to move on from being scolded and fussed over.

"That doesn't surprise me," Riccardo said. "Or that you already discovered this. Are they your age?"