Bloodstains and Betrayal

February 22nd, 1850: Igarka, Russia

I didn't sleep that night, but I found it. I can't believe I actually found it. I don't even know why I thought it'd be there. But it was. The location of the Imperial demon palace. And it'd made so much sense. Because its where I'd fell for the bastard. Igarka.

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I held the small crushed bottle in my hand, still in disbelief about finding it.

"Arkadi, we need to talk." I whispered, as Vlad was slowly coming into consciousness. I didn't have much time to explain this to him. "Does this mean anything to you?" I asked, holding the silver figure up for him to see. It was a small statue of a bat, wings fanned out, holding a single word.

"Имперский." (Imperial)

"Mother of Russia, don't get that too close to me!" He hissed, noticing the ruby flecks in it. "...It's the imperial insignia."

"Leo gave it to me." I explained, stuffing the broken glass of the bottle into my cloak pocket. "In Igarka. And the building we stayed in had the same logo on just about everything there."

"Igarka eh?" Sabrina commented, rounding the corner. She shot a glare at Arkadi, peering down at the bat. "I don't think we could miss a giant building with the imperial insignia plastered all over it, nor do I think they'd be that stupid. It'd be like stamping 'Hey, I'm a demon!' on their foreheads."

"That's the thing... I couldn't see them, not until he put the necklace on me."

"But why would it be silver?" Arkadi asked. "Especially with ruby dust..."

"...To burn the demons who didn't use it properly. Serviles most likely." Sabrina whispered, taking the insignia into her hands. Arkadi restrained from saying anything, but he held a steady glare of hatred in his eyes.

"Well it's not of any use now, now is it?" Arkadi asked, noticing my cut hands. "You smashed the damn thing."

"I can still put it on the chain without the bottle... it won't burn me."

I looped it through the chain, clipping it around my neck. I hated wearing it. It made me feel like Leo was watching me, but it was most likely paranoia. Either way, I didn't like it.

"Vlad's up." Roman grunted, looking at me with a disapproving glare. "We can go now."

I sighed, apologizing to him for the forth time, even though I didn't really mean it. Sabrina wasn't mad at me anymore though, to my surprise. She claimed that 'The damned Servile made me do it.'

Lukas walked into the room with Vlad, who looked a lot better. He gave me a small smile, flicking the hood of his cloak atop of his raven hair.

He obviously noticed the tension in the room, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"If we're gonna get this done, we can't be mad at each other."

I looked to Roman, apologizing once again, but this time actually meaning it.

"It's fine... My little sunflower~ I couldn't possible stay mad at you!" He laughed, hugging me tightly.

"Too far..." I mumbled. I pushed away from him, suppressing a laugh. Arkadi still held his glare at Sabrina, showing no sign of forgiving her anytime soon. He growled something under his breath, pushing past us and storming out the door.

"Let's go."

-TIMESKIP

I had grown uneasy the deeper we got into Igarka, trying to push back my fear to no avail. I felt exposed without my cloak, which we weren't allowed to wear, due to the fact that, well, the city was swarmed by imperials that gladly snap an assassin's neck at sight of their cloak. They we're all imprinted with bat tattoos on their necks, that also could be seen only with the necklace.