The Knights of the Vulture's Claw

The First Vulture

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent and Rachel Artolius lived on 26 Rider Lane, in a normal looking house. They had lived there for five years, ever since their daughter Ginevra was born. Everything about the Artolius's looked perfectly normal, but in truth they were nothing close to normal. Their house, very bright on the outside, was dark enough on the inside to remind 5 year old Ginevra of a bat's cave. Ominous shadows seemed to spring in every direction, as Vincent liked it to be. There was no questioning his air of authority, for Vincent Artolius had a history like no other man.Every night, Vincent took a different route home, snaking through alleyways, always careful to hide himself. He was suspecting a flicker from the past, so slight it had become naught but a shadow.

For years he had thought it was over, yet recently he had gained news enough t be suspicious. He suspected something amiss, and missed dinner oftentimes in planning new routes that took him clear into the next county. How could it be that his past had caught up with him, while he had been so careful to leave it behind?

One bleak May night, Vincent had let down his guard. He walked in a straight clear path to the tiny, neat house in the middle of the lane. He had walked two meters before he stopped and doubled back, then turned on to the adjoining road. He continued like this, eventually straying ten miles off course.

Then he stopped. He was certain of it, he was being followed. He doubled back, turned down a side street and was gone.

His follower caught up with him at Frontage Lane. He lost him on Legacy Drive. The follower caught up on Greenwich Boulevard. Vincent slid out the door of the hardware store, into the grocery, out the small bar, right to the intersection between Ashwood and Rider lane.

Vincent backed against a flickering lamp post. This was what he had been avoiding for six years, and it had caught up with him. The follower stepped out of the shadows, from the right. He was of average height, dressed in a travelling cloak of deep jet black. He threw back his hood with a flourish, as Vincent's hand tightened around something in his pocket. How foolish he had been. Of course his past would have caught up. No matter the circumstances, what you most want to forget always comes back.

The man stepped forward, his features barely recognizable in the fading light. He had cornered Vincent where Vincent himself had been leading him away from. Now he was standing on eye level. He had twinkling dark eyes that flashed when he spoke. Now Vincent knew.

He thrust his hand deeper, clutching whatever was in his pocket.

"Oh, Vincent, you're exactly the same. Take your hand off that dagger, It's not like that."

"Hunter," breathed Vincent. "How do I know it's not?"

The man called Hunter ran his hand through his short hair, which stuck up in bristles, the top a slight longer than the sides, the same color as his cloak. He had a pencil thin mustache, and a neat beard. Under his cloak he was wearing an ordinary red and black warm-up jacket and black shorts.

He smiled lightly. "How? That's a very good question. Alas, it is a sorry reminder that you have mistook me for him. Haven't you heard my calls? The summonings? I have had Colin Lighter under close surveillance for three months, and only Wolverine, his daughter barely three, and you haven't honored your promise? Vincent, we have not disbanded! Or have we?" His voice dropped to a threatening level.

Vincent shook his head. "I cannot believe this. You of all people, is behind this? I thought this was over. I thought this was over when the Unquestionable list was finished."

"Vincent, they had written a new list when it was finished. We have not disbanded, Vincent. Though I as the first Vulture am the only one to see it like this. You always were a stubborn bunch, and I thought we needed that. But you were a bunch of cowards, it seems as though they are done with one list and you all just back out. Honor your promise, Vincent, if we are to survive."

"Hunter," snarled Vincent. "This better not be about Ginevra."

"Oh, relax." said Hunter. "It will only be a couple of years, though." He studied the elegance of 26 rider lane. "Nice place you got there, Vincent."

"What do you mean?" gasped Vincent. "Is it happening again?"

Hunter smiled sadly. "Vincent, it is not happening again. It has still happened, don't you see? We have been out of the way, but it has still been happening. In a few years they will realize it, and you must send Ginevra for the ring." He looked straight at Vincent. "As a Vulture, you must honor your promise."

"But there is so much to explain! If only—"

"Oh, Vincent, you're not helping. I've got to see the Blacks, and if you are already like this, well..." He trailed off, looking into the darkness.

"Hunter, this time we cannot make any mistakes!" shouted Vincent. "This time, Hunter, as the first Vulture you should know what you are doing!" He gestured at Hunter's right leg, which had been replaced by a silver metal prosthetic.

Hunter looked down at his metal leg, tapping it on the ground. "You speak the truth, Vincent. We were lucky that no one since Aranslov and Olivia, well, we are lucky to be here still."

"Hunter, we are not ready for this!" Vincent protested. Maybe, if Aranslov was still around—"

"Vincent, please calm down." Hunter's voice sounded strained. "You swore that you would see this through. You swore it, and the fact that can't be hidden is that you know as well as I do, Jaron knows."

"And what of Jaron?" Vincent's voice had a snarl of defiance this time.

"I do not know, nor do I wish to at this moment. I really must be going, the Blacks will be expecting me."

"You haven't told them anything! You didn't even answer my questions!" Vincent snorted. "How can I do anything like this?"

"Vincent, you know what I mean. Denying it makes it worse." He reached into the folds of his cloak. "Some mints, for Ginevra. Say hello to Rachel from me. From all of us."

He stepped out into the pitch black, leaving behind one word, "wait."

Inside the house, Ginevra slept on, not knowing that tomorrow she would be awakened by yells coming from downstairs, last night being reenacted with Vincent as Hunter and her mother as Vincent. She did not know she was being talked about in the house of Sebastian and Angelina Black.

She slept on, in a dreamless sleep.