Ashley Jacobs paid the cab driver and looked around.  He'd heard about the villa for years but this was the first time he'd ever visited.  He'd also lately heard that there were dragons.  The thought of Carmine with a dragon made him smile as Damon worked the knocker.  "It's enough to make me wish I had one," he said.

"A villa?" Damon said.

"No, I thinking about the rumors of dragons."

"Then cultivate the Awakened.  They're the ones who have them."

"Good point," he said as the door opened.

A vampire looked them over assessingly. "Si?" He listened to the aether for a moment then stood aside. "Please to come in. My Prince awaits you in the gardens."  He stood aside as Ash and Damon entered the villa. They looked around at the place, all cool marble and stuccoed walls. Priceless things hung on them, as well as sat on even more priceless furniture from the Italian Renaissance.

The hallway debouched onto a spacious room which had one wall made entirely of window doors, floor to ceiling doors that were all open to the fragrant night breeze. Their escort led them outside onto a flagstone patio, then down a cloister of great age to a series of gardens which fell in steps each of them overlooking a vista of Firenza far below.

Carmine had been, apparently, gardening. His hands were dirty and the knees of his jeans were equally so. He was barefoot.  He smiled at them. "Welcome to Villa Medici. I'd lost track of the time. I love this time of the year. Come, sit, help yourselves to wine while I clean up."

Ash laughed.  "I understand perfectly.  I do the same at my house.  Your gardens are magnificent, Carmine.  I'm sorry to drag you from them," he said as he and Damon sat.

A court functionary brought Carmine a bowl of water and a cloth which the prince used to clean the dirt off his hands. "Do not be, caro," Carmine replied. Once he'd dried his hands he sat with them, pouring each of them wine. "Now, tell me what it is you need from me."

Ashley drew a sketch out of his jacket pocket and passed it across the table.  "I've traced him here to Italy.  So I would have been in touch regardless before doing anything here in your country.  But," he said, sharing a second sketch, "he seems to be involved with this woman who I understand is well known to you."

"Ah. Louisa Castelletti. Have I mentioned I hate Sicily?  The bane of my too long existence. Her family has long been, shall we say, on the questionable side of the law. Her father is a member of the government, but I suppose that is only to be expected, and for Italy, alas, right and proper.

"Tell me what they have done."

Ashley folded his sketches.  "He was developing a taste for indiscriminate killing, sending the New York City police into a frenzy over a new serial killer.  Then he branched out to very young teenagers, who were fascinated by the vampire fantasy, and began turning them and leaving them to fend for themselves.  As for her, I don't know for sure that she shares his tastes, shall I say.  Only that she was with him in New York and returned here with him."

"I see. Well, let me contact my people in Sicily and see if they know of her whereabouts. Do you know his name?" One of Carmine's court was already hurrying toward his prince.

"Ricardo Tomasi is the name I have," Ash said.

"Vitorio, this is Ashley Jacobs and his mage, Damon Birch. Gentlemen, my Chief of Security, Vitorio.  If you would be so kind as to give him the sketches, Ash. Vitorio, you will recognize the one as Louisa Castelletti. Do please contact our people in Sicily and see if she and this fellow Ricardo are in Italia, and where they might be."

Vitorio bowed to each of them and added a smile. He took the sketches offered and said, "I'll fax this down to Tony, my Prince. He should have an answer soon."

"Thank you, caro mio."

With another slight bow Vitorio hurried off.

Carmine sipped his wine and said, "Mi dispiace. We have been a little busy here in Europe. I do hope things are quieter in the U.S."

"Well relatively," Ash said.

"It's a matter of how you define quiet," Damon interjected.  "He's got the other regions in a tizzy over the idea of organizing."

Carmine smiled at the thought. "Ah, I see. Princes in the New World. How droll."

"We don't call ourselves that, though for some it might be an inducement," Ash said.  "Principals, usually."

"I always thought the use of Prince was a bit pretentious," Carmine replied. "But at the time..." he shrugged.

Vitorio was hurrying back to them then. He bowed to Ash. "Signore, they were seen in Messina and are thought to be in Palermo. The lady has a house there."

"Grazie, Vitorio. Have either of you ever traveled by dragon?" Carmine asked, looking at the two Americans.

"Ah, no," Ashley said, his eyes gleaming.  Damon just laughed and shook his head.

"Let us request of Briony a trip to Sicily.  Come with me."  Carmine led them down into the deeper part of the gardens and then down a set of steps carved into the cliff-face. They led to a large cave which they entered, Carmine in front of them. "Signorina Briony?"  Carmine called.

"Caro," she said, looking up from where Nicki and Carmie were playing.  Nicki immediately abandoned the game and waddled over to Carmine, her eyes glowing.   "Signore, you have come to play?" she asked, shoving her nose in his hand.

"Alas no, little one. But I have brought you visitors. Mr. Ashley Jacobs and Mr. Damon Birch. The beautiful lady is Briony, and these are her children, Nicki and Carmie."

Carmie joined his sister, examining the visitors carefully.  Briony inclined her head.  "An honor."

Ashley gathered his wits at that and grinned back, his face suddenly boyish.  "For me, Signorina.  I shall treasure this moment forever."

"As shall I," Damon averred.   "And your children are beautiful," he added, giving into Carmie's demand to have his nose rubbed.

"Are they not?  Briony is rightfully proud of them."

"Where's Nicco?" Carmie demanded, once he achieved that goal.

"Alas, Carmie, Nicco is in bed. Without his gelato. He was very bad today," Carmine reported.

"He was?" Carmie breathed.  "He didn't tell me he was going to be."

"I do not believe he planned it, caro," Carmine shrugged. "He is a typical boy."

"Oh," Carmie said, relieved.  "I thought maybe he'd forgotten me."

Briony gave a dragon snort and shook her head.  "And so is he, caro.  But tell me, how may I assist you?"

"Where, cara, is the wretched Malachi hiding?  I wondered if you might like to stretch your wings and carry us to Sicily."

"He was in his room," she said. "And is now on his way to join us.  It is a lovely day and Sicily sounds like it will be just the thing."

"Carrying all four of us will not be too much for you?" Carmine asked.

"I shall manage," she said as Malachi ran into the room.

"My apologies," Malachi said, bowing slightly.  "I did not know you needed me, my prince."

Carmine waved away his apology. "My friends here - do you know them?  Ashley Jacobs and his mage Damon Birch. They are in pursuit of a rogue who is, we believe, in Palermo on Sicily. I have asked Briony if she might carry us there."

Malachi bowed again, more slightly than he had to Carmine.  "It is an honor to meet you, signore.  Briony and I are at you service."

"Thank you," Ash said.  "So she is yours?"

"It is more accurate to say we are each other's," Malachi said.  "But even with that I do not own her.  She is with me because she chooses to be."

"The dragon chooses, is, I believe, the proper form, neh?" Carmine explained. "Although not all dragons choose. Some never choose a human and are pleased to remain so."

"I see," Ash said.   "Fascinating.  And lucky the human so chosen."

Briony glanced at Carmine, still rubbing Nicki's nose.  "Not all would agree, signore."

"Not at all, signorina, not at all. So, do you two have need of anything before we go rogue hunting?" Carmine asked, looking at his guests.

"No," Ashley said.  "We are at your disposal.  And deeply grateful," he added as Malachi showed him and Damon how to mount.

"Malachi, Vitorio tells me he has fairly good intel that our prey is at Louisa Castelletti's town house. I will direct you and Briony as to where to set down. Briony there are mountains aplenty for you to play in if you wish to remain near to await us. But we may need to overday there. I have a safe house for our use so we will be quite safe."

"I shall manage then," she promised.  "Simply let me know when you need me."

"Si," Carmine said as they leapt into the air. The baby dragons calling goodbye.

 

 

Carmine directed Briony to a landing in a lush park, closed now that it was well past midnight. "Her house is not far from here," Carmine said quietly to his companions. Carmine had an earphone in his ear and listened for a moment. "I am told the house is quiet. We should be able to approach quite closely but there is security, as her father is someone of considerable importance here."

Then to Briony, "I thank you, cara. We shall call to you the moment we need you."

She grinned, a dragonish grin and her teeth gleamed in the night as she leapt aloft again.

"Magnificant," Ashley murmured, watching her go.  Then he was all business.  "We shall follow you to the house then, Carmine," he said.

Carmine led the way through back alleyways, crossing main roadways as seldom as possible. No need to bring more attention on themselves. Of course two vampires can move silently, but the two mages were at some disadvantage.  Then finally Carmine brought them all to a halt near a stucco wall.

"The house is on the other side of this garden wall. Vitorio is checking their security, in hopes of disrupting it for us, so that we can get near to your rogue before he realizes he is in danger."

Ashley barely nodded.  "Good.   We'll wait for you signal then."

Carmine checked his watch and replied "Si" to Vitorio on his earphone. "Five minutes. We should spread out and go over the wall at various points and at the same time."

The other three were already moving into position as he spoke, circling the house.  Carmine gave the signal just as the power flickered throughout the neighborhood and then went out, plunging the house into darkness.  Ash slipped over the wall soundlessly and made for the side door into the house.  He opened it slowly, his senses extended and found nothing in what turned out to be, as he expected, the kitchen.  Then crossed the tile floor and opened a door into the dining room, which was as dark as the kitchen.  Beyond it he could hear voices discussing the power outage.  He isolated three voices coming from outside the other side of the dining room.  Not human.  Vampire.  One female and two males.  So, he thought, most likely Ricardo, Louisa and someone else.  He knew nothing though about what was beyond them.

He moved again, his eyes glowing red, and his lips pulling back, until he had an ear against the wall between him and the other vampires.   He listened as one of the men announced he would call the power company and then walked away.  He was probably looking for the phone book he thought as he ran through his options swiftly.  Then he pulled a coin from his pocket and tossed it, letting it clatter to the floor.

The three vampires in the room whirled toward where the sound had come from. Their eyes, even with night vision, straining when they saw nothing that might have caused the sound. It was then that two windows behind them burst in a flash of glass fragments and two figures came through them feet first, to land, on balance and ready for attack in the room with them. Their retreat was cut off.

Louisa put her hand to her mouth, stiffling a cry.  She whirled around just as Ash came through the doorway cutting off another route to safety.

Carmine, who'd come through one of the windows, walked the length of the room like a caged cat, his eyes never leaving Ricardo.  "Caro Ash, is this the man you seek?"

"Indeed," Ashley said, his smile feral

"Look what I found," Damon said from the top of the stairs, holding a half naked woman struggling to get loose by the forearm.

"Who are the other two?" Ashley asked Ricardo.

Ricardo's eyes glowed red and his fangs appeared.

Ashley drew a sword out from under his coat and put the tip at the top of Ricard's adam's apple, forcing his chin up.  "Don't make me ask again."  When he still didn't speak, Ash pushed the tip into his throat, drawing blood.

"Stop it," Louisa yelled.  "Stop it!"

"She worries for you Ricky.  Does that mean she doesn't know the sort of games you like to play?"

Ricardo sneered and Ashley forced his chin higher.

"They are my brother and his wife," Louisa screamed as Ricardo's blood flowed faster.

"Carmine Abrizzi, Prince of Italy, at your service," Carmine said with a flourish. "My friend here," he said, motioning to Ash, "reports that your friend Richardo here, has slain innocents. Of this you know nothing?" Carmine asked, examining Louisa and her brother and his wife.

Antonio Castelletti looked at Ricardo, his eyes narrowing. His wife looked fearfully at Ash's sword. Louisa began crying her eyes going from Ash to Carmine and back again.  "You are wrong!" Louisa cried, but there was doubt in her voice.

Ricardo sneered again, his eyes on the top of the stairs.

Damon headed down the stairs, pulling Louisa's sister in law along behind him like a jack-knifing trailer.  He flicked her off to her husband like he was playing whiplash and reached for Ricardo at the same time.  But she tripped and crashed into Antonio, sending them both to the floor and distracting all of the others except Ricardo for a fleeting instant.  Ricardo lifted his chin even higher, contorted into a backflip and broke for the windows, somersaulting through them.

A sword leapt into Carmine's hand from somewhere no one saw and he was off after Ricardo, Ash hard on his heels. "Keep them safe, Malachi," he called to his mage. "And out of the way, " he added more softly so only Ash could hear.

Carmine was grinning, obviously delighted in the chase. The two vamps slid to a halt in the centre of the garden. Only silence greeted them.  Carmine smelled the air, then said, "This way!"  They raced off into the night, leaping the garden wall with ease.  They caught a glimpse of Ricardo who was running for his life.

"It is excellent that you wounded him, caro Ash. We will not lose him so long as we can smell his blood."

Ash laughed.  "Tactics," he said as he ran alongside Carmine.  Ricardo, ahead, took a corner at speed and they veered, angling to cut the distance.  By the time they cleared the corner, they'd gained a hundred yards and were closing on him.

Ricardo glanced over his shoulder and accelerated, heading downhill towards the sea, heedless of the uneven cobblestones.

Ash and Carmine split then intent on backing Ricardo up to the sea and cutting off retreat in any other direction.  Carmine reached for Nicki and asked her to have Briony fly down to the shore.

As the three of them reached the beach a dark shape was spearing downward from the starry sky.  She landed lightly, touching down about fifty feet in front of Ricardo, lowering her neck so that her face was level with his.  Ricardo tried to brake, screaming in terror at the sight when she opened her mouth, showing her teeth, and went down, face first at her feet.  "Is he who you wanted, caro?" she asked Carmine as he reached them, the claws of one front foot holding Ricardo in place.  "Or do I need to apologize?"

"Caro Briony. This is exactly who we wanted. I thank you most humbly for your assistance."  Carmine turned to Ash. "If you wish, I can package him up and send him home for a trial or ... or whatever else, or if you feel justified, especially given his attempted escape, do feel free to take his head here."

"I wouldn't want to put you to so much trouble, my friend," he said as Ricardo was trying to scramble to his knees.  "And he seems to concur," Ash added watching his struggles.  "Signorina, if you would lift your foot..."

Briony did so and Ricardo made a last desperate try for escape that ended with his head hitting the sand.

Carmine knelt down and touched a finger to the blood and tasted it. "Ah," he said.   He stood back up. "I will be sure to have Louisa and her family seen to. Ash.  It is light in New York so if you will, overday with us at the villa. Then Damon can return you home the moment we arise at sunset."

"You are most kind," Ash said, wiping a cloth along his blade.  "I am grateful.  And to you as well, Signorina Briony.  Carmine is a very lucky man to have an ally such as yourself."  He grinned.  "I've no doubt she makes you the envy of the council."

Carmine laughed, relaxed by the hunt. He clapped Ash on the back. ""Briony, if you would, tell Malachi and Damon they may leave the moment my local people reach them. Vitorio tells me that should be in mere minutes. They can either transport here to fly back aboard you, or go directly to the villa, as it suits them. This," he added, grabbing hold of the body and tossing it easily into the surf, "can feed the fish until the sun rises when it will merely be gone."