After returning from The Wyrding, Cassio wanted nothing more than to spend a few days relaxing but his aunt and uncle were adamant that he should meet his new bride as soon as possible. Seeing no way out he had sullenly accepted and had ordered Sal to set up a party at his mansion outside the capital city Leoden.

And as protest he had told Sal to make sure his aunt’s and uncle’s invitations had been lost in the mail.

At the very least he could host the party at home. A brooding mansion by the ocean that gave him much needed privacy. He had always liked the place and moved there the moment he had become old enough that living in his uncle’s house would be seen as unmanly. Sal being his usual self, had pointed out that Cassio was still living in his uncle’s house considering who had paid for the place. Cassio had chosen to ignore him.

But even in his own home, Cassio found himself troubled on the eve of the party.

“I have been thinking…” Cassio said.

“I thought that was my job.” Sal said while tying Cassio’s bowtie.

“Very funny, Sal.”

“One of my many fine qualities.” Sal said before finishing up the bowtie: “So… what were you thinking?”

“That you were running the same protection racket with the goblins that you’re now pulling on me.”

Sal thought about it and then smirked.

“Let it be known that I am consistent.” Sal said.

“Charming.” Cassio said and studied his reflection.

For the evening Sal had picked him a tuxedo with a red handkerchief tucked into the breast pocket. Sal had enough tact not to try upstage him on the night to celebrate his engagement and had gone with a blue waistcoat and a simple tie.

“Sal?”

“Yeah?”

“About the vampire that goblin told you about…”

“Old Badger.” Sal said.

“Yeah. Her. Could the vampire control you?”

He studied Sal’s face in the mirror. There was a moment of hesitation to him that lasted only for a second, but Cassio noticed it all the same.

“In Garuccia? Probably. Vampires have hypnotic powers. But in The Wyrding? No.”

“Hypnotic powers? Sounds bad.” Cassio said.

“It is but there hasn’t been a master vampire since House Stradheim, and I am not entirely sold that a new one has popped up.” Sal said.

“What if you’re wrong?”

“Well… won’t I look silly then but to be fair, the vampire isn’t our problem… if there even is one. The second Oberon hears someone has been fucking with the Wyrd Stones… let’s just say he will fuck the guilty party right back.” Sal said.

“You sure have a way with words.” Cassio said.

“I’m a talented fellow.”

“If you say so. Now, how do I look?”

Sal gave his tuxedo a judging eye and then smirked.

“We could just elope. Right now.”

“I’ll think about it.” Cassio said.

There was a knocking on Cassio’s door.

“My lords? Are you ready?” A woman asked from other side of the door.

“As ready as we’ll ever be, Francesca. Come on in.” Sal said.

Francesca was tall woman with a long face and crooked teeth who kept her hair in a thick braid. As the head maid in charge of running his household, she was dressed for the part, a black skirt, and a white apron. When he had moved to the villa, Sal had personally recommended that they bring Francesca with them, and Cassio hadn’t found anything to complain about the decision. Under Francesca, his home ran like a finely tuned clock.

“Everything ready?” Sal said.

“Yes. I had to hire extra hands. I will deliver you a calculation on the costs after the party is over, lord Torrini.” Francesca said.

“Excellent work as always.” Sal said and then smirked: “Now… how does our lord viscount look?”

Francesca gave a polite smile and bowed her head.

“Like the lady of the evening will love him.”

“Well… she better if she wants that noble title.” Sal said.

“As you say, lord Torrini.” Francesca said and looked at Cassio: “Would you like some brandy before the party, my lord? To calm the nerves?”

“It’s just marriage.” Cassio said.

“Another fine man lost to those wily women.” Sal said and winked at Francesca: “Now… did you get the striped fish? And hopefully a chef who can prepare it?”

Cassio stroked his freshly shaved chin and wondered how many of his guests would dare to try the striped fish. Unless the chef knew how to separate the meat from the poisonous sacks, his engagement celebration would be followed by plenty of funerals.

“It wasn’t easy, but I did. He even agreed to sample it himself before serving it.” Francesca said.

“Brave man. Now… how many people do you think we lost before we figured out a safe way to prepare it? Because… the number had to be in the hundreds.” Sal said.

Francesca gave a polite chuckle and started telling them about the rest of the night’s food and entertainment, but Cassio couldn’t bring himself to listen. His mind had been wandering ever since he had returned from The Wyrding. The idea of marriage felt so alien to him. A chore he had been putting off but now it was here, and he just felt resigned.

What I wouldn’t give for another adventure, Cassio thought.

His train of thought was thrown off the rail when he heard the roar of an engine. No. Two engines and they were approaching the mansion fast. When he opened the curtains, he could see two sets of headlights approaching his villa in the night.

“Holy shit! Are those cars?!” Sal yelled.

Francesca took out her pocket watch, and a crease appeared between her eyes.

“They are early. The party won’t start for another hour.”

“Doesn’t matter now. Francesca, be a dear and take our lord to welcome the guests.” Sal said.

Sal stayed behind so as not to freak out the guests. Not everyone was prepared to see a Romani as a viscount’s advisor. Francesca led him to the lobby and opened him the door to the yard.

The two cars were parked in front of the villa’s main door. Just to make sure every guest who walked in would see and envy them. The two vehicles were sleek as bullets and looked even more powerful. After tonight, Cassio suspected that a lot more automobiles would appear on Leoden’s streets. Nobles did not like being upstaged by each other. They always had to have shinier, more expensive toys than their peers.

A handsome man rose from the driver’s seat. His dark hair was slicked back, and he had a well-groomed goatee. A black cape fluttered behind him when he helped a young woman out of the backseat. The resemblance between them was too great for them to be anything but father and daughter.

The young man who had been driving the second car looked like a gender-bent mirror image of the young woman. Both had thick, brown hair, dark, sharp eyes with a beauty spot under them and heart-shaped mouths.

Francesca summoned two more servants with a snap of her fingers, and they hurried to help their guests to remove their outerwear.

“You’re a bit earlier than we expected.” Cassio said.

“I believe in sneak attacks.” The caped man said and threw the car keys at Cassio.

Thanks to the reflexes honed to perfection in the boxing ring, Cassio was able to snatch the keys from the air.

“The car is my gift to you. Call it a wedding present.” The caped man said.

For a moment Cassio could only stare at the keys that were worth a king’s ransom. Then he passed them on to Francesca, who accepted them with a bow.

“I don’t believe we have been formally introduced.” Cassio said.

“True.” The caped man said and gave a light bow: “Pietro Capello and these are my children, Elysa and Nuncio. It is a pleasure to meet you, viscount Cassio de Rossi. Now, why don’t you invite me in?”