Running Chance 1. Sun

“I am sorry,” Vladimir whispered. “I should have come sooner, but I’ve been promoted and brother believes it would be good for me to ‘not lollygag’.” He paused and pushed a stray hair from his father’s face. “It’s alright though, I’ve managed to finish all the work that had backed up and I’m now free to do what I please! If anything I have Guard duty twice.” The small smile he succeeded in giving waned with lack of response.

The silence rang in his ears until he could no longer bear it. “Why, father?! Why give him what he wants?! Why punish yourself with this slow meaningless death when you know he will never forgive you?!” He slammed his fist on the coffin’s balancing lid to annunciate each heartfelt statement. “Do you not see that this is Vasska’s plan?! He does not care for our people nor: our city!! If you do not do something, anything, he will surely destroy us all!!”

“Enough!!”

Vladimir froze at the pulsating sting of a silver dagger at his neck. “Hello, Gilroy…”

“I ask that you please refrain from speaking ill of My Lord and your older brother, the current King Vasska, in any presence Prince Vladimir. I do not wish to kill you, especially in such a sacred place, but if you continue on in this manner I will have no choice.”

“Alright then,” Vladimir refrained and had to bite his lip to stifle the comment that arose in him. “Would you put up your weapon now?” His eyes turned as far as they could to get a better view of his attacker.

Gilroy was a very tall and lanky man as old as Valdemar if not a few days younger. He had the raven’s dark locks that he was constantly slicking back save for a clutch of defiant bangs that formed themselves into a feathery twist above his solemn eyes, turned grey over the recent decades. His garb mirrored Vladimir’s with the exception of the protective cloak. Gilroy was far too powerful too need one any longer.

“Yes,” He confirmed doing just that then extended the same hand to help him up. His other arm was always occupied by a book or some other reading material.

“Thank you. Now, what is it that made you seek me out?”

“Well actually, I have found some more files for you to organize and- …are you listening?” Gilroy watched as Vladimir respectfully kissed Valdemar’s middle right finger, muttered a few words, and closed the coffin as orderly as he could. “May I go on?”

“Yes, as you were,” Vladimir sighed and took the lead back to the staircase.

“Very well then, there is the business of the files and there was another brawl this afternoon-”

“A brawl?! Again?! Why this would never have happened when our fa- …continue.” He faltered but quickened his pace when he felt the pulsating sting near his nerve base again.

“As I was saying, again, there has been another brawl and you will have to document it. I would say that we are lucky.”

“Really, how so?” Vladimir inquired.

“Two of our Guard, Sir Caine and Lady Minna were in the vicinity when the incident occurred so the havoc was stopped shortly after it began. You will need to get a full damage report, figure all of the repair costs and tally any injuries and how severe they were and how much it is going to cost medically. Record any complaints. And any and all statements from the Guard, both of the afflicting parties, the victims and any usable witnesses, first hand only. I have also been informed that you are to mollify the people and promise what you have to in order to avoid any unnecessary feedback. I will need a total of seven copies-”

“Seven copies?! That’s ridiculous!!” Vladimir stormed. “On whose order will I-”

“On The King’s order,” Gilroy frowned. “Seven copies will be needed for all the other departments to fulfill their roles in this mess. And you should know I have taken the liberty of sending a Medica down ahead of you to do an examination of his own and fetching these for you,” He opened one of his books and handed Vladimir a neatly stacked folder with all the files he would need inside.

“Thanks.” Vladimir sighed and kneaded his writing palm. It was turning out to be a long evening.

“Not at all,” Gilroy replied. “I will require everything I have mentioned by the twenty-eighth hour this evening.”

“You do realize I’m on Guard this evening right?” He asked as they proceeded up the already open staircase.

“I have been informed of this,” Gilroy paused. “I however have my own deadline I am sorry to say and it is at the same time. You will just have to make due.”

They exited the staircase and stood alone in the vast main hall. Vladimir immediately pulled on his hood and dark spectacles to shield his pale face from the evening sun’s light invading from the East wing. Gilroy merely flinched as if bitten by an unruly insect.

“Don’t worry you will grow used to it as you get older, if your blood permits.” He punctuated.

“Hopefully sooner than later…” He answered ignoring the add-on. “I suppose we must go our separate ways now?”

“Yes indeed my Prince.” Gilroy bowed gracefully and waited for Vladimir to nod his head in consent before turning to request another floor. “U-3 please.” A new door reappeared and he disappeared into the darkness.

Vladimir was about to make his way outside when Caine and Minna waltzed up together. “I’m glad to see you two back.” He grinned.

“Yeah,” Caine replied gruffly. “It’s this way,” He paused to give Vladimir a chance to get out a writing stick then continued. “Lady Minna and I were conversing by the tanner’s stand in the fourteenth South ring when we heard raised voices followed by the crashing of clay and wood.”

“Mm hmmm,” Vladimir muttered scribbling on multiple pages. Minna continued.

“We made our way quickly over to the scene of the accident. Apparently a man named Wenden had purchased this faulty clay set from lady Palira and when he demanded reprimand she refused. A heated argument ensued until her son appeared, Karolos.”

“Carolos??” He repeated surprised.

“No, no. Not our Carolos.” Minna waved her hand. “This Karolos is spelt with a ‘K’.”

“Oh, alright then. If you will…”

“Karolos claims he heard Wenden call his mother a ‘good for nothing, lying, cheating wretch’ and that he could not let her take such an insult.” Caine exhaled through his nose and nodded his head as if he would’ve done the same thing if it were his own mother. “Things moved pretty fast from there. Wenden had had friends in the audience just incase this sort of thing came about and lady Palira has three other sons and a daughter. All of them surprisingly good scrappers.”

“Caine!” Minna exclaimed.

“It’s the truth! Anyways, they managed to damage several other stands before we could cut through the crowd. And to make things worse there’s at least six pints of blood splattered about the area.”

“You’re kidding!!”

“No. And one of the fighters is a Vampire,” Minna frowned when Vladimir smacked his forehead. “It’s one of Wenden’s men. After sustaining him he admitted to having a criminal record back in his home city.”

“And where is he from?” Vladimir had to ask.

“Katone…”

“The demon’s den, huh? How appropriate…” He grimaced. It was obvious this report would consume the rest of the night.

“Radley, as he claims to be, stated that it was an accident and that he hadn’t gone to the blood council and was overcome when the first drops were spilt. His victim, the daughter, begs to differ.”

“How is she doing?”

“Well, the Medica got there in time to prevent her from bleeding out after Caine had separated them. They’ve all been chained and are awaiting your judgment.”

“You’re here!” Vladimir looked up in time to see the Medica team’s Captain rush them. His four staff members clad in sand colored uniforms worked on behind him. “I’ve quarantined the area, no Vampires are allowed within a five road radius.”

“Balint!! It’s wonderful to see you. We haven’t talked in a while.” Vladimir and his apparent acquaintance greeted each other formally before continuing. “I’m here to take you and your men’s statements before you leave. Have you anything I shouldn’t miss?”

“Better yet I have these.” Balint held out a folder almost a centimeter thick.

“Wonderful…just, wonderful. Thank you very much.” Vladimir slouched as he thought of how much more work he’d received.

“Yes, sorry. We’re taking the girl with us, she’ll need a transfusion. Her mother’s in shock over there,” Balint waved his hand towards a hunched elderly woman who was surrounded by four sturdy looking young men and a junior medica. “Triage, the fifth of my crew had gone to get some sterilizing equipment when you arrived, she’ll return shortly. I’ll leave her and Marcel, the one over there, to clean up after you’ve finished your evaluation.”

“Thank you,” Vladimir sighed rounding off the captain’s last sentence. “Now, the fun part,” He saw the corners of Balint’s mouth twitch at his sarcasm. “Radley, I presume?” He asked sauntering up to the one with two pairs of silver restraints on his hands and feet and the last two medicas holding him down.

“Get these damn bracers offa me!!” He growled kicking out violently.

“Now, now, calm down. I need to ask you some questions. You don’t have to answer them now but you should know you’re going to be taken into custody then to court where I am positive they will have you answer every last question.”

“Like hell I will! I know my rights!”

“Yes, rights you forfeited when you almost killed that young girl over there.” Vladimir pointed to the stretcher that was now being rushed back to the castle. Radley’s struggling only increased.

“…SHE HAD IT COMMIN’!! Tryin’ ta knock Aden’s head off with that metal stall pole!” The more he shouted the cockier he became. Soon he was pulling at the medicas holding him down on his backside. Wenden and the others hissed at him to be quiet but Radley ignored them all. “I don’t care, I’m glad I did it! I shoulda finished her off!!” There was an odd gasping noise as Palira seemed to wither and pass out.

“Really?” Vladimir asked wryly. The crazed Vampire was almost to his feet.

“SHUDDUP!! Don’t act better than me when you’re just th’ same,” He smirked at Vladimir like he had said some joke only he would find funny. “I know you. You’re that Prince, I’ve heard stories but I didn’t think you’d be this puny in person.” Radley was standing now but he wouldn’t be able to take a step without going face first into the ground, the two medicas were putting all their force on his shoulders. He spit blood at Vladimir’s feet in defiance. “Who’d a thunk th’ scrawny excuse of a Vampire Royal in front of me would be the one who almost killed the King!! Then again what kinda King would fall to a little-” His words were cut off when Vladimir’s fist landed directly on his nose. The strength behind Vladimir’s fist was so powerful both medicas let Radley go to prevent themselves from being dragged along for the ride. He sailed for the complete width of three buildings then skidded for another five meters when he hit the ground, hard.

No one spoke. The few spectators that had decided to stick around backed up close to the walls as Vladimir walked purposefully towards the fallen enemy. The hot summer air around him went cold and his translucent orange eyes were glowing. Balint, Caine and Minna followed cautiously behind. A dark blood, almost purple in color, flowed freely from Radley’s nose and the corners of his mouth as he struggled to lift his head and even breathe. Vladimir stood over him for a few moments, then grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up to his knees and bent down to one of his own. Their noses were close enough to touch.

“Would you care to say that again? I didn’t quite hear you,” Vladimir whispered. Radley made a pitiful gurgling noise in his throat and coughed more blood that ended up on Vladimir’s face and front. “You must be new to this whole ‘being a Vampire’ thing aren’t you? I’ll take your silence as a ‘yes my Prince’. In every society there is some sort of rank, whether it is calling by title, interest in income and status or saying things about someone to someone else or to that actual person’s face. You, my fairly stupid adversary, fall into that last category by insulting me, Prince Vladimir, third heir in line to receive the throne of King Valdemar, my sire. I could kill you for such a thing, right here and now,” He watched Radley’s eyes grow wide and pupils shrink with horror. “Or, I could have you sent to the court where you may just be sentenced to the day tower.”

“M-my Prince, I think he understands the taboo of the-”

“I don’t remember asking for your input Medica Captain.” Balint quickly retracted the hand he intended to place on Vladimir’s shoulder, it was covered in a thin layer of frost.

“Yes, my Prince…”

“The day tower, if you’ve never heard of it, is a very nice and toasty area in the detention center reserved for our more, complicated criminals. Who knows? They may even give you the End Room closest to the sky and with plenty of windows. What a magnificent view of the sky at night, if you think you could last that long…”

“Puh-puh-puh-puh…” Clear tears streamed down the man’s face as he tried in vain to choke out what he wanted so desperately to say.

“Hmm? Didn’t quite get that,” He moved the hair from his left ear with his free hand and put it next to his bloody face.

“Puh-pulease… please no… I-I-…I’m s-sorry!”

“Well…since you asked so nicely, I guess I’ll let you off with a warning this time around,” Vladimir let go of Radley’s collar and let him fall back into the dirt. “Balint, help him up. Then get him ready to go to the council for his hearing.” The Medica Captain rushed past him to give much needed aid. “Minna, my papers please,”

“Oh! Y-yes.” It never occurred to her that he’d handed off the stack when he’d punched Radley.

“Ok, where was I? Oh yes, I was going to interview Wenden next, where is he?”

“Over there, my Prince.” Caine pointed in the obvious direction of which they came.

“Very well, let’s go,” He took several steps when a small ball rolled in his path. “What’s this?” Vladimir looked to his left. In the small alleyway a small girl was clutched in the arms of her brother. Their eyes contained the same terror as Radley’s. “…” He turned his head back down to the ball and picked it up. He was going to throw it in their direction, but when his sight refocused they were already gone.

Vladimir walked on, still holding the ball.