Nico and Erik found Francesca and Gino waiting for them at the wall. They quickly told the couple about the little girl and the old man still in the village, and the four set out to find them. They found the old man easily enough, and after explaining that they were going to Venice to start a new life, he was more than willing to tag along, though he did need some help from Erik and Gino to walk. The little girl was found on the outskirts of the town sometime later, and began to tell them about the card game she had been playing with a red-cloaked man. The four glanced at each other; had the Red Death made sure she didn’t wander far so they could find her? But they didn’t ponder it for long as their attention turned to surviving the trip to Venice and finding shelter along the way, even possibly, preferably, getting a carriage ride. It took them a few days, but they arrived at the town where Nico and Erik had gotten their carriage ride to Prince Prospero’s castle. They rested there for a while before continuing on to Venice, getting to the City of Masks just as the sun was bathing the water in oranges and pinks. It took Nico and Erik another week to get the four Catanians situated, but when they finally left, there was another happy family calling Venice home.
Using their own gondola, Nico and Erik set off for their home, finally.
“Well, that was interesting, to say the least,” commented Erik as he poled the boat across the lagoon.
“To say the least,” mumbled Nico.
“A lira for your thoughts, my liege?”
There was a pause before Nico sighed, “I feel so old . . .”
“At the ripe age of thirteen? Starting a bit young, aren’t we?”
Nico let out a snort before replying with, “The younger the better, right?”
Erik snickered. “Ah-ha, there is a funny bone in you! Sounds like it needs some exercise though.”
“Hey! I get plenty of exercise!”
“Ah, but the funny bone needs a special kind of exercise.”
Nico groaned, “No, not more people!”
“Yes, more people, but not of Prospero’s kind. I think we’ve had enough to last us both a lifetime. I’d say you need more of Gino’s and Francesca’s kind. Strong but gentle, kind but firm.”
“But there’s so few of those in the world.”
“That is true, all the more reason to cherish them. They are like the rarest of diamonds, hard to find, but well worth the work.”
“But how do you know all of this? What with your history . . .”
Erik laid a hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Because you are one of those diamonds, and I couldn’t have asked for a better master.” Nico turned his head and glanced down, fighting to keep the tears from springing to his eyes. “However, not to dampen the mood, but I think I should tell you now.”
“Tell me what?”
Erik let out a sigh. “The Red Death said something else to me when I saw him.” He paused before continuing, “If what the son of Hades seeks is to be found, first you must rescue the grave cat and the ghost hound, give shelter to some thieves and save a friend. Only then will your loneliness truly end.”
“What? But . . . I . . . why . . .”
“Isn’t that what you are seeking, friends?” Nico nodded slowly. “Well, if there’s anything I know about prophecies that rhyme, they have a tendency of coming true.”
Nico sighed. “In other words, you’re going to get your wish; we’re going to get a couple of pets.”
Erik laughed. “Ah, yes, a guard dog to protect you and a cat to calm you. A good idea, don’t you think?”
“Alright, you can start getting everything prepared for their arrival, whenever we find them.”
“That I shall do. Now put your head down, my liege, and rest. You’ve had a trying past few days.”
Nico did as he asked and lay down in the gondola. Within a matter of minutes, the gentle rolling of the gondola had rocked him to sleep.
“Sleep well, my little angel,” whispered Erik as he rowed the young lord home.