The Ticking Clock

"I thought as much." Irene said with a faint smile. "Your concerns have been noted, Lord Ruthvic. Now, please alert the ruts to please remain indoors and near the purebloods after dark. The danger will pass soon."

Lord Ruthvic bowed. "As you wish, my lady." He bowed and turned around and left. Irene closed the door, waited for his footsteps to disappear, and only then breathed a sigh of relief. So annoying! She huffed, and headed back to the living room, where Irene lay on the couch.

"Aren't you supposed to deal with them?" She asked with an annoyed voice.

"Oh please, like that old guy would ever listen to me." Ivy said. "He only respects power, and you're the one with power."

Irene rolled her eyes. "He dared try to call me a liar."

"Well…" Ivy touched her lips. "You did say you would extend your protection to the half-bloods as well, and now they are being killed one by one."

"Hey!" Irene snarled. "You know how much I'm doing for them." She couldn't believe her own sister would say such a thing. So rude, she though as she glared at Ivy. "Besides, mom did warn them before she passed, it's on them for not listening to her."

Ivy sighed, she opened her mouth as is she was about to say something but changed her mind and just closed her eyes. "Whatever." She mumbled. "The thief said he needs to check the area around the cathedral before the theft. I'll let him out tomorrow."

Irene clenched her fists. "Do whatever you want. I don't care what he does as long as he gets me that blood."

Ivy furrowed her brows. "So…" She hesitated. "Are you sure the blood in the grail is accursed blood?"

Irene nodded. "Of course."

"How do you know?"

Irene smiled. "Because I can't smell it." She gently touched her nose. "Mom always said that accursed blood had a sweet, intoxicating smell. That it could drive any of the vile bats insane, and that even we would lose our sanity if we smelled it for too long. She also said that the smell didn't spread much. That we would only be able to smell it if we got close."

Ivy nodded with understanding. "And you never got the chance to smell the blood in the grail."

"Yes." Irene sighed. "I'm heading out."

"Bye." Ivy yawned.

Aoric was surprised to see Ivy actually fulfil her promise and let him out. His limping was gone, and he didn't feel much pain in his leg anymore. "Don't run off." Ivy warned him, gesturing at the sleeping wolfdog in the spacious garden. Aoric gulped and nodded. He did not intend to get mauled again any time soon.

As much as he hated to admit it, he didn't see much of a way to escape this god forsaken city. He was actually going to have to steal the damn thing.

But how?

That part, he wasn't quite sure yet.

"Oh, one more thing." He said before walking away. "Can people like me enter the cathedral normally?"

Ivy nodded. "Most commoners tend to visit about once a week. They spend a few hours praying, then leave. The wealthy sometimes leave offerings."

"Thanks." At least he had a way of seeing the interior of the damned building before the theft. He walked away, and quickly headed to the closest alleyway. First things first; how well could he climb?

He scaled the statues with ease, and quickly reached the tiled roof. Well enough, he answered his own question. He made his way to the cathedral via the rooftops, always checking his surroundings. Not long after, he was sitting cross legged on one of the roofs of the houses bordering the large plaza before the cathedral's entrance.

"The Cathedral of the Old Blood." He muttered. He wasn't even surprised by that awful name, considering the macabre statues and carvings surrounding the building. The entire structure looked like a homage to twisted art.

He shuddered with the cold breeze and directed his attention to the plaza. A handful of people were out and about so early in the morning. A few of them were rushing to work, while others seemed to be just killing some time before whatever. Aoric's eyes narrowed as he spotted the cathedral doors creak open. They needed to oil those hinges, he thought to himself.

His lips curled down with a frown. That creak was a problem. It meant he could only steal when the doors were open, lest he alert half of the city. He continued watching as a robed man stepped outside. He carried a thick, old looking tome with him as he headed to the lower city with hasty steps. Seeing as how the small group of people in the plaza moved away from him in a hurry, Aoric assumed that either he was an important person, or nobody liked him.

His gaze turned towards the cathedral again as some people started heading inside. He decided to give it a short while, then head inside himself too.

"Crazy woman." He muttered.