The Missing Ace

Chapter 13

Camille peeked through the curtains, scanning the crowd. There were a lot of friends and families. Suddenly amongst the crowd, she spotted Matthew. He was on his phone. Sitting on either sides of him were Arthur and Flavio, with his dyed brown hair. "So they came back huh?" She muttered to herself. Then, Flavio seemed to have noticed her gaze and looked away from his compact mirror and enthusiastically waved. She waved back.

"Ah, it's Flavi," Camille heard Camellia mumble. Looking down, she saw the brunette. "Who?" The former quizzed, wondering if she was referring to someone else. "That fake brunette over there, with the red scarf," she pointed. Apparently, Flavio was wearing the said article of clothing. "You know him?" The former questioned. The brunette nodded. "Since childhood. Père knows Uncle Toni, so yea-" she added.

"Camille! Camellia! We're going to start in five!" Someone called from behind. Then, the emcees walked out to the front to start the play. "Do you know him?" Camellia questioned the blonde. "No," she lied, "but he looks like much fun to be around him," she didn't deny that. Flavio was often entertaining to have as company because he acts and behaves like a woman. Then, someone called her phone. Camille hurried to backstage where there wasn't anyone.

"Oh hi babycakes~! How are you?" It was Flavio. "I saw you just now with the sweetcakes!" Camille chuckled. "How did you know Camellia?" She asked. "Oh, we knew each other since young." He explained. She nodded. "How was she like then?" She quizzed, curious to know. "She was a shy and cute one then, but somehow after she met Luci she became a sour plum~!" He giggled. "Oh? Mr. Kirkland?" She overheard Angelina. The Russia quickly hung up just as one of the Drama Club members approached her. "We're starting soon." He alerted. "Phones off,"

———

Soon, it was the trial scene, where the Jew Shylock was about to have his revenge. Camille watched from the side when she heard a dull thud behind her. She turned around to see Camellia yanking a knife out from the wall, picking up two playing cards. But what had surprised the Russian more was that the knife in which the brunette held was the same knife Allen used in his jobs.

"Cam, what did you find?" She asked, pretending to only care about the cards. "A gay ship." She held up the King and Queen of Clubs, with Jordan's and Haruka's names written respectively. Camille raised a brow with curiosity. "Why gay?" She quizzed. "It's fun to think it that way," she replied, sheathing the knife in her handmade sheath.

"What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave, which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, you use in abject and in slavish parts, because you bought them!" Feliciano, as Shylock, recited. "Shall I say to you: Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? Why sweat they under burthens?

Let their beds be made as soft as yours and let their palates be season'd with such viands?" Camille and Camellia peeked, seeing the Italian on stage, shouting at another student who was playing the act of the Duke. "You will answer 'The slaves are ours:' so do I answer you: The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it.

If you deny me, fie upon your law! There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?" Feliciano drew a throwing knife. Camille could tell that Luciano was hating it, after all, the latter was a Roman Catholic and not a Jew. Still, she wondered why he would bring his throwing knife onto stage. "Upon my power I may dismiss this court, unless Bellario, a learned doctor, whom I have sent for to determine this, come here today." The Duke recited.

"My lord, here stays without a messenger with letters from the doctor, new come from Padua." Jordan, as Salerio, recited. "Bring us the letter; call the messenger." The girls saw Magnolia tucked her hair into the black cap before coming onto stage. "Came you from Padua, from Bellario?" The Duke questioned. "From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace." She lowered her voice by a pitch before showing a folded piece of paper.

"Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?" Myers, as Bassanio, recited a few moments after Feliciano was sharpening the knife. "To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there." He replied. Camille turned to the audience, searching for Arthur and Flavio. The British was engrossed in the Shakespearean play whereas the Italian seemed to be entranced by his brother's acting. "Was Flavi ever this into Shakespeare?" She pondered, before watching the play for a little while more, before it was the scene where Antonio was going to die.

"A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine: The court awards it, and the law doth give it." Magnolia. "Most rightful judge!" Feliciano exclaimed. "And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it." She continued, as Feliciano approached Ethan, who was tied to a chair. "Most learned judge. A sentence. Come, prepare." He lowered his voice as he approached the Russian. As soon as he was close enough, Feliciano leaned over and whispered, "This, is for making Bella upset," Ethan furrowed his brows. "Stargazer? What did I do?" He hissed. Luciano chuckled lightly. "Not Camellia. Camille." He pointed the knife at his torso.

"The Underworld is a place children aren't allowed to mess with." He whispered, just inches from reaching Ethan when Magnolia shouted. "Tarry a little!" Feliciano dropped his knife as Ethan jumped, the knife missing him by half a centimeter. "There is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh'." She walked over to Feliciano. "Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate unto the state of Venice."

"What happened on stage? Something doesn't seem to be right." Camille heard Arthur over the earpiece. "Venice tried to kill Vasyl for real." She whispered. "That asshole, we're not supposed to have him killed, it'll cost me my reward and the final Act." She hissed.

———

"What was that?" Camille hissed at Luciano, slapping his head, after the play had ended, and families and friends were meeting one another outside of the theatre. "Do you want my identity to be exposed? CtR will be a laughing stock in the Underworld!" She snapped. Luciano scowled. "How was the job?" She turned to Arthur. "We managed to get information 'Father'. It seems that he is currently hunting down a Braginski, but we're still not sure which one." He answered.

"But how many cards left, by the way?" The British quizzed. "Most of the clubs, the entire diamond set and the jokers." She replied. "Camellia has the rest, but I doubt she knows what to do with them." She sighed. "Maybe the robin doesn't remember the Illumin. Afterall, the entire world has most likely forgotten about them." He suggested.

"No, Bella remembers the Illumin. But whether she knows what to do, I don't know." Luciano answered. "Anyways," Camille glanced around. "Where's Flavi?" She quizzed. The younger Italian thumb-pointed to his brother a distance away. He was hovering around Camellia like a persistent fly, but the teenager didn't look too much bothered.

Then, Flavio noticed the Russian's gaze. He quickly gave the American a quick peck before he sashayed over. "Nice to see you again, babycakes." He smiled as he clung onto her arm. "We've got a surprise for you~" he chirped, pulling her along when they heard Ethan calling out to her. "Hey Cricket Bat!" He shouted. Arthur nodded to her before hurrying out of the school with Luciano. "Cricket Bat?" Ethan slowed down when he saw the older Italian clinging onto her arm.

"Yes?" She asked, not even worried whether he was stunned to see another man that close to her. "I was wondering if... you would be free...-" he asked when Flavio cut him off. "Babycakes is very busy, so I suggest you keep your schedules to yourself." He interrupted, unlatching from her before flipping his scarf over his shoulder.

"I know why you're asking. It's about your birthday party on the 30th, Ethan." Camille growled. "You're too much of an open book; easily read without difficulty. Also, you shouldn't get too involved in your father's work with the Underworld." She hissed, jabbing his shoulder. "My work here is done. And don't even think of inviting me to your party." Camille muttered before turning her back on him.