While Formaggio was walking to Illuso’s room, he could’ve sworn he saw someone who cloaked themselves in invisibility. He tried to focus on their shape, but whoever it was, they blended too well and slipped away. Concerned, he ran to the brunet’s room.
“Illuso,” he called out, “was someone here?”
“No,” he replied. “It doesn’t matter. But Formaggio, there’s one more contract for you, but I have a question to ask. Before you depart, do you want to be a vampire?”
“I remember you asked me this before, and I said no. Formaggio looked at the extra cup on the table. Then there was a green light. He was sure about his answer to him. “But I’ve changed my mind. Yes, bite me.” Did Illuso cast a spell on him?
“Alright, expose your neck for me. It might hurt for a few seconds, but the quicker, the faster. Yes, that’s right. Wow, you have a lovely neck.”
The redhead blushed at that comment. “Could you quit breathing down my neck already and bite?”
Illuso got annoyed at that comment and sunk his fangs deep into his neck, sucking in his blood. He almost tasted as sweet as a sweet roll, and his blood was so addicting. Once he took his fangs out, he began licking him.
“Ah, Illuso, stop!” Formaggio responded, making it sound sexual.
The large metal door opened.
“I’m back!” Pesci said and then stared at the two. Gelato was next to him and staring as well, causing both Formaggio and Illuso to step away from each other. Before anyone could say anything, Gelato slipped away somewhere.
“Ah, Pesci, I wasn’t expecting you here,” Illuso said. “I thought you were resting somewhere or—”
“You have some blood near your mouth,” the green-haired Imperial interrupted.
The vampire licked it off.
“I have a contract for Formaggio, but Pesci, you’re coming along with him. You’re to kill a girl named Anne. She is only a small child, and her birthday party is starting soon. Actually, I don’t think you have enough time to reach her. Whoever ordered this assassination did so at the last minute. You best hurry.”
“Shit, we don’t have enough time!” Formaggio yelled. “Can we get another contract?”
“Just a second!” Illuso replied. “Even if you arrive late, you still have to kill her. The bonus will be forfeited, however. And before you go, there was this root I found in a ship in Anvil. Be careful of this root. It is highly poisonous and can instantly kill you if ingested. I’ve heard that Anne’s parents are looking for some chefs, but none nearby could be found. Perhaps you two could disguise yourselves and put the root in the cake. Go and hurry before the party starts without you.”
Before Pesci could say anything, Formaggio grabbed him by the hand, taking him outside and into the stables.
“Why’s the hurry?” Pesci questioned.
“Are you serious? We’ll lose that bonus!” Formaggio answered.
The redhead was bartering with someone to get a horse.
“Come on, Pesci!” said Formaggio.
“Is it from the bite?” he asked. “It only takes three days for you to become a vampire.”
“Exactly, and Anvil is on the other side of the country. Come on, hop on. Careful, don’t fall off. Have you ever been on a horse?”
“No.”
“Well, hold on tight. We’re not stopping for any breaks.”
---
They’d arrived at Anvil at night, rented a room at one of the inns, and slept. Pesci slept soundly in his warm and cozy bed. He could sleep for as long as he wanted to until someone was banging at his door.
“Wake up, Pesci,” Formaggio said. It was morning. “Open the door.”
Tired and slightly annoyed, the Imperial slowly got out of bed and walked to the door. Once he opened it, he looked at Formaggio’s face, noticing a tired look on his face.
“Are you okay?” Pesci worried.
“I was restless. Although, I think this bite has exhausted me. I even poked the bite mark, and I don’t feel anything.”
“Come on in. Have a seat.” Pesci pulled a chair for him. “Will eating make you feel better?”
“Sure, can I have that piece of bread?”
“Here you go. I can survive on an apple.”
“I don’t trust apples after M’raaj-Dar showed me a poisonous apple. It looks exactly like a non-poisonous one.”
They ate their small breakfast and stood silently.
“So,” Pesci spoke, breaking the silence, “how are we doing this?”
“We pose as chefs. You’ll be my assistant. I even managed to steal some aprons and a chef’s hat.”
“I don’t even know how to bake.”
Formaggio slightly giggled. “Don’t worry. Me too. We’ll just cover it with frosting. We just have to make sure everything is pretty for the birthday girl.”
“Why did you let Illuso bite you? Couldn’t you have just waited?”
“I don’t know,” he said quickly. “Let’s focus on this contract, please. After we bake the cake, we flee. Before that happens, do you know any life-detection spells?
“You might be surprised, but yes. However, I’m just a novice. A roommate taught me so I could catch fish faster, but I can never tell the species of fish with the purple aura in the way. It lasts for ten seconds and can detect life within 60 feet. Why’d you ask?”
“We’re putting the root in there, but we have to make sure only Anne eats it. If anyone else eats before her, we’re screwed. Come on, we’ve chatted enough already. We probably have to make a big, fancy cake for this brat. Let’s change clothes.”
Formaggio tossed the disguise on the table and then stripped, making Pesci blush.
“Ah, Formaggio!” the green-haired Imperial replied. “Couldn’t you do this in your room?”
“Relax, we’re both guys,” he said as he put on the brown pants. “Oh! We should come up with fake names, just in case. I got a perfect name for you. How does Pierre sound?”
“Sounds too Breton. How about Bob?”
Formaggio laughed a little. “Too basic. How about Gallubo? As for me, call me Caesar– No! Call me Lucas. Yeah, Lucas sounds like a good name. Pesci– I mean, Gallubo! Hurry up and take off your clothes. Don’t be shy, your body looks fine. There we go. Don’t touch my hat! I’m the chef here.”
They went outside to look for the house. All of them looked identical, but Anne’s house stood out due to the ribbons decorated around her home. That, and someone hired a musician who was playing on the lute. From where they were standing, they could hear an argument going on, but Formaggio knocked on the door, causing them to be silent. A Wood Elf man opened the door.
“I assume you’re here because we need a chef,” he responded.
“Yes,” Formaggio answered. “We’ve heard about the birthday. “I’m Lucas and this is my assistant, Gallubo.”
“Alright, the kitchen is to the left. There is plenty of spices and flour in the pantry. We’ll pay you after the party.”
Inside the kitchen, it was clean and organized, and the aroma was pleasant. Plenty of herbs hung above the table. Formaggio checked the cabinets and brought out a bowl and spoon.
“Gallubo, try bringing me some ingredients for me. It doesn’t matter what. We’re putting the root in there, anyways,” Formaggio said.
Pesci ventured into the pantry, and there were plenty of ingredients to choose from; some of them were even poisonous if a large amount was consumed. To ensure that Anne would die, he picked the nightshade, nirnroot, alcohol, and the ingredients to make a cake. He placed them on the table.
“This is fine and all,” Formaggio whispered, “but these ingredients are kind of–” He couldn’t say poisonous and struggled to find what was a safer word. “Unedible. Could you try and get normal ingredients?”
Pesci walked back into the pantry again. This time he got strawberries, some lavender, and some vanilla extract.
“This will do,” the redhead commented. “This looks fine. We might mix this in the cake. You know, to make it smell nice. Prepare the oven for me.”
Next to the oven, there were some logs. Pesci placed them in the oven and set them on fire with a simple fire spell. Meanwhile, Formaggio grabbed anything that was near him, which was the nightshade and strawberries, and mixed them. Of course, he did add the root.
After slaving away in front of a hot oven, the cake was finally finished. Formaggio covered it in pink frosting, which he made sure was poisoned as well.
“Think she’ll like it?” Formaggio asked.
“Could be better,” Pesci critiqued.
“Hold on, I haven’t put on the other layer.”
“It needs another layer?”
“Yeah, it’s like onions. Onions have layers. Cakes have layers.”
“You’re really into this.”
“Maybe my true calling was baking.”
“But does it taste good?”
Formaggio was silent for a few seconds. “Perhaps when I have time, I’ll make us some cake without the root.”
The redhead focused on decorating the cake. Pesci looked out the window, watching the kids arrive with their parents. The green-haired man sighed. He was never invited to parties.
“Hey, Gallu— No, Pesci,” Formaggio said, grabbing his attention, “get a little closer to me, please.”
“Lucas!” he panicked, but the redhead got closer and closer. Their lips were close to touching, and Pesci was blushing. And then the other closed his eyes, kissing the green-haired man. He didn’t push him back, but he was shocked. Nobody kissed him before.
“Your lips are chapped,” he commented.
“Why did you do that?”
“I thought you deserved a reward.”
“What if someone saw?” Pesci whispered. “What if someone heard my name?”
He whispered back, “We probably shouldn’t be in Anvil for a while even after all this.”
The two of them then heard footsteps.
“Excuse me,” said an Imperial woman, “but is my daughter’s cake ready?”
“Yes, it is,” Formaggio answered. “It is ready.”
Formaggio then fainted, but Pesci managed to catch him.
“Forgive Lucas,” Pesci said, “he’s been working all day, slaving over this oven and decorating the cake to please your daughter. This cake is his masterpiece.”
‘That cake is looking quite scrumptious,” she commented. “Let me taste.”
She approached the cake, and then Formaggio awoke.
“My cake! Only for her!” He fainted once more.
Anne’s mother paused.
“Your chef is dramatic,” she said. “Very well, I’ll pay you now. The cake will be saved for my daughter. I think my husband was going to pay you, but knowing him, he’d hardly pay you. Here’s for your troubles.”
“Thank you for your kindness,” Pesci replied.
“Alright, well, it’s time to bring the cake outside. Anne is outside, playing with her friends.”
Pesci left Formaggio to rest on the kitchen floor. He then followed Anne’s mother, carrying the cake. He was worried about the cake falling, but he managed to carry it safely to Anne’s table. The Wood Elf that greeted them stood near her along with her mother. He seemed annoyed.
“I’ve seen more impressive cakes,” commented Anne. “Very well, I suppose I should eat this.”
Angered, Pesci could see why someone would want this spoiled brat dead. He watched as her mother placed candles on the cake.
“Come on, make a wish, my dear,” she said.
“Give me a few moments. I’m thinking here.”
And before anything could happen, Pesci quickly walked back inside to the kitchen. Formaggio was still resting, and he didn’t look like he’d wake up soon. Pesci then used his detect life spell. If he remembered correctly, Anne was sitting in the far back. He cast the detect life spell once again and watched as a purple line faded, which meant that Anne ate the cake.
Pesci carried Formaggio to the stables. As they headed out, he heard a woman scream, “My daughter! She’s dead! Get the green-haired man and the other man with him!”
However, he and Formaggio were already at the gates and had left on their dark horse, kissing this place goodbye.
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