The Missing Ace

Chapter 1

4 years later...

"And I'm walking on a wire, trying to go higher. Feels like I'm surrounded by clowns and liars. Even when I give it all away, I want it all, hmm, hmm..." Camille hummed to herself as she made her way down a hallway. She was ready to leave the apartment, wearing a layer of thermal under her turquoise blouse and khaki jeans. The Russian walked past a room with a door left ajar. Curious, she peeked and saw Matthew. The man, in his early 30s, was busying vigorously typing away on his laptop in his room; with headphones to block out all kinds of distractions. Nodding to herself, she pulled away and made her way downstairs to the kitchen.

"We can keep them running.. running.." she continued as she walked to a kidney counter where she saw the coffee maker, with a half full jug of americano coffee. Camille poured half a mug for herself before she set the coffee aside. She set her mug on the dining table and made her way to the refrigerator. On the left door, there was a photo of 4 blondes and one albino. She was very young then, and just before the oldest albino brother moved away. The second brother moved not too long after the first.

-"Just like fire, burnin' up the way. If I could light the world up for just one day. Watch this madness, colorful charade. No one can be just like me anyway "-

On the other door, was another photo. There were 3 blondes, 3 brunettes and one raven haired. It was taken not long after the Illumin started their first performance. Camille pulled the door opened and took out a small jar of condensed milk. She took a spoonful of the condiment and stirred it into her coffee. After returning the condensed milk to its original position, she finally sat down in the living room to drink.

After long and tranquil moments of drinking her warm coffee, she was satisfied and headed to the sink in the kitchen where she left the mug to soak. She headed to the coat rack and threw a leather fur-trimmed capelet over her shoulders. She left her apartment and walked down the empty street. Outside, she felt the gentle wind kissing her cheeks as tiny snowflakes gently glided throw the air. She headed down the street.

Children ran past her. Couples strolled past her. Distinctive Russian accents were heard as adults were whispering about another heist and murder. Camille stopped by a magazine stall and read the front page. "Another Bank Robbed! CtR Suspected" was in bold as the headline news. Near the bottom on the article was another. "Crux is STILL On the Kill!" was the second article on the same page. Camille picked up the paper and tossed a dollar bill to the busy store owner and hurried off to her destination.

Before long, she reached the same and familiar pub. Since her foster father is an old man now, Siegfried (the youngest brother) took over him. So the pub was now named Sieg's Liquor. She walked into the empty bar. The doorbell jingled, announcing her arrival. She saw the familiar blonde son on the other side of the counter, cleaning an empty bottle. He wore a white long sleeved shirt, rolled up to his elbows under an old black vest. Around his neck was a Knights Cross of the Iron Cross as a necklace.

"Güten morgen, Avery." He smiled, looking up from his work. "Güten morgen." She replied, sitting down as she set the papers next to her on the table. "And didn't I tell you that my name now is Camille?" She asked. "Vodka?" Siegfried asked, changing the subject. She sighed, and nodded. She pulled out a deck of cards to play with. "How are the boys? You remember my Bruder." He asked. The Russian nodded, knowing which brother he was referring to.

The second brother, Ludwig. If her memory served her well, Siegfried and Ludwig looked similar if not close to identical. Blonde hair, cerulean blue eyes and with a bodyguard look. As compared to the oldest son. "About a year back, he told me that while in Milan, he met some weird guy." Siegfried told Camille, who was cutting the deck.