The private flight over was long, but not as long as it could have been if flown commercially. The small plane touched down on a tiny landing strip before Cesare and Nikki began the boat rides. One followed the next, but neither minded a bit. The views were simply amazing.

By the time they'd boarded the last one, the gondolier let them enjoy the experience, humming an Italian tune under his breath as he guided them slowly through the canals. The deep green waters lapped the buildings that looked as though they'd risen from a private Atlantis. The people were dressed colorfully and seemed absurdly cheerful, despite the fact that it looked as if they were losing their beloved city to the sea.

Drifting around a curve, the pair were brought to the outside of the discreet hotel Nikki had selected. Cesare assisted Nikki out of the boat as the gondolier retrieved their bags and took them up the stairs. He made another trip to retrieve the rest, leaving the pair to take in their surroundings. Nikki had seen sketches, but Cesare had not. She watched his face as he looked upon the suite she'd selected for their stay.

"What do you think? I mean, it's not a castle with servants but...what do you think??" She asked, hardly able to contain her excitement.

It was beautiful gliding past the water-lapped buildings of Venice in the ancient canals that had transported men since before the Renaissance. Cesare was lucky that Nikki loved travel so much as he did. She'd taken on the plans for Venice since their trip to Ireland had been cut short. The colors of the city reflected into the water and bounced around them as they arrived at the hotel Nikki had seen.

Inside, was a supremely elegant and simple bed chamber that made Cesare feel as if he was the Serene Doge himself; Master of the Grand Republic. She'd done remarkably well planning the whole thing entirely in secret. He turned to her as she stood by the top of the stairs and picked her up by wrapping his arms around both her thighs, "It's absolutely wonderful." he admitted before playfully tossing her on the bed; crumpling the pristine blankets beneath her. "Though, everything looks better with you added to it." he smiled looking down at her.

The gondolier returned and set the last of their bags on the top of the stairs.

"Grazie mille, signore," Cesare said, surprisingly fluently, "venire di nuovo domani." He gave the man a handsome tip before he returned down the stairs.

Cesare gave his attention again to Nikki elegantly sprawled on the bed. "My God, do you do anything and not look beautiful?" he teased.

"Yes. Let's not go there. What shall we do? We've timed up perfectly to something called 'Masquerade'. I guess...there's masks? It sounds like fun though; lots of drinking and debauchery. Right up our alley," she said, winking at him and bounding off the bed to open the double doors overlooking the canal below. The sun was setting, and the lights beginning to glow across the city created a reverse universe reflected on the water below. A hundred stars, just out of reach.

"Come look, Love. It's gorgeous. I dare say I like it more than Ireland," she said; a faint smile, the newly crooked one, appearing as Cesare approached behind her. She reached back with her hands instinctively, pulling his arms around her as she leaned back and rested her head against his chest. 

"Whatever we didn't get done in Ireland...let's do that here. Make a list," she laughed, tilting her head up and back to meet his gaze. All the lights reflected in those eyes of his, and he looked like a beautifully possessed thing.

She was like a postcard you send to the people back home to make them jealous they can't see the same thing you're seeing. Her figure lined up against the buildings and swift sunset of Venice was the stuff of dreams. He had been doing his homework ever since he found out where it was they were headed and had thought he'd dug up something interesting for them to do...

"Nikki, how would you feel about making a score while we're here?" he asked her as she turned her head to look up at him.

He knew her well enough to know she'd never turn down the idea of a job, even on a vacation like this. Nikki loved him, and taking money from other people.

He continued, "I know about a old fancy church called Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo where the wealthiest Doges in the old Republic of Venice are entombed. I've heard people say that an old Doge, Marco Cornaro, was a wealthy man who's family traced their line back to the Romans. He loved his wealth so much he had them bury sacks of gold with him to spite the relatives who were looking to get at his fortune when he was gone."

He could see the flicker of interest in her eyes which urged him on, "Luckily the church sits directly in front of the canals, which means it would be easy to drag those bags out of the church and deposit them in a waiting gondola. On top of that, the city masquerade means that we won't draw attention to ourselves walking to and from the church in masks and robes. Everyone would think we're partaking in the festivities. Of course there's sure to be somebody in the Basilica we'd have to take care of before we could begin risking our immortal souls for some gold, but I've seen you handle worse than a few altar boys."

He smiled down at her and waited for her response to his proposed entertainment for the evening...

"We have the best 'date nights' ever," Nikki replied, already excited. "Does this mean we get to dress up?" She asked, the idea of it all entirely too enticing. 

***

An hour later, the two had made their way out of the suite and across the canals into the town proper. The shops were open late today; revelers were bustling through the shops acquiring their garb and masks for the festivities to come. Nikki and Cesare stepped inside one and stopped short.

All four walls of the shoppe were hung ceiling to floor with colorful and extravagantly adorned robes, accessories, and facial accoutrements. Nikki's mouth dropped open.

"Love, I can't...my God, the selection. Pick something for me or we'll be here all night," she said quietly, blinking stupidly at all the artwork. A thought passed through her mind...decorating an entire wall of their bedroom back home like this would serve as a better memoir than any trinket or photograph she could ever get her hands on.

Beyond the gold coins, that is. She intended to decorate all sorts of things with those coins.

Cesare browsed the shop quickly before eventually picking a pair of masks off the wall while Nikki was busy looking through the long colored fabrics along the racks. He quickly paid for the masks and presented them to Nikki.

"At least now no one will mistake you for being here by yourself..." Cesare joked. He'd fought off enough men on her account, and didn't want to have the job interrupted by an anonymous admirer...

With the addition of a couple dark flowing cloaks, Nikki and Cesare emerged from the shop appropriately costumed for the evening. They walked along the canal until the sun began to set and the revelry kicked into full gear. The square in front of the Basilica was a riotous collection of masked devils and fairies and jesters and lovers all vying for some grand debauched anonymity. A couple masked children ran between Nikki and Cesare as they walked the canal arm in arm, with the last one darting between Nikki's legs eliciting a shocked squeal from her as Cesare shooed them off with a fling of his arm and a couple choice words. Cesare made note of the empty gondolas in the canal by the light of the city lamps which were beginning to come alight.

The church itself did not seem to be participating, but that did not stop the revelers from making use of its steps and doors. Passing a vomiting drunk at the base of the stairs and a couple who were obviously very much in love, the two made their way to the large wooden doors of the church. Taking a final look around the square for any potential trouble, they opened the door slightly and slipped inside.

With the darkness arriving outside, it did not take long for their eyes to adjust to the ancient Basilica's lighting. Soon the two were on opposite sides of the church scouring for the crypts of the old Doges of Venice...

Nikki scanned the walls, eventually finding an alcove and dipping inside. 

Which brought her face-first with a church official. One of high standing, by the looks of his dress. His gaze coursed over her once, summing up something of distaste. 

"You don't belong in here. This is sanctimonious ground, not to be sullied by the likes of drunken harlots," he said evenly. Nikki turned to go, and he grabbed her roughly by the wrist.

"Not so fast. Pay your penance first," he said gruffly, jerking her forward with bruising force. Everything went wrong from that moment on, and it moved in a slowness that only the worst moments in life carry with them. Her mask was ripped off and the sheer cruelty she saw in his eyes had her stunned. This was religion?

Nikki started to yell, but he backhanded her hard enough to rattle teeth. Stunned, she watched the room spin as he reached forward and hiked up her robe. Her second attempt at a yell yielded her with a slap and a hand planted across her mouth. Instinctively, she bit down as hard as she could, hearing the satisfying snap of at least one finger giving way before she inhaled deeply and screamed.

"CESARRRRRE!!" His name echoed down the walls and across the ceiling, causing the votive candles to flicker inside their stained glass holders.

The shrill, panicked sound of his name echoing through the church halls sent chills down his spine. Cesare immediately abandoned his search and began an adrenaline-fueled sprint towards the sound. It was just one cry, silence followed it, which gave him a cold primal fear and powered his movement. He instinctively reached for his pistol but found it predictably missing in his new costume as he rounded a corner into a section of curtained enclaves.

He stopped for a moment as the echo of his steps died away and listened, praying for another sound. Then something drifted on the air. Some hushed voice and high whimper. He walked gingerly over to the enclave and listened again to be sure his selection was correct. The indiscernible voice came again. Cesare threw open the curtain and the sight there has been the kindling for his nightmares ever since.

Nikki lay with a new mask of red and purple splotches pinned face-down by an ogre of a clergyman with a hand pressing onto her head and her robe pulled up exposing her legs as he hovered behind her. Cesare didn't have time to process the scene completely before his body was thrown into action. The man's face darted towards him with defiant authoritarian eyes. Cesare took a two step lead and planted his foot into the bottom of the man's chin, physically lifting him off of the ground and sending him rolling across the floor. Cesare was upon him before he'd registered what had happened and spat rage-fueled curses at the man beneath his breath as he bounced his head against the marble floors with his fists. Soon the man's eyes rolled back in a concussed surrender.

The clergyman had no time to cry out, and was too shocked to when Cesare paused and stood. Cesare walked backwards a couple steps in a sickened revulsion to the scene. He moved towards Nikki who had slid herself up against the wall, before awkwardly changing trajectory and taking an unorthodox step towards the opposite wall. The clergyman suddenly stirred, as if awoken from a frightening dream. Spinning around, Cesare latched onto a mounted crucifix on the enclave wall and tore it with otherworldly force from the stone. The large nail used to anchor the relic jutted from the back of it. Cesare loomed over the man and mercilessly met his head with the heavy wooden crucifix. A distinct grotesque cracking sound echoed through the chamber as the man's body slumped. Cesare brought down another blow as the tell-tale crimson flood began to spill onto the floor around the man's head. With one final motion over his head, Cesare planted the nail of the crucifix into the man's forehead, causing it to hang curiously to the side as if remounted.

Cesare slid back against the opposite wall seated on the floor opposite Nikki and buried his face in his hands. The evidence in her eyes of what had happened washed over him...

Nikki turned to the side suddenly and let loose the contents of her stomach. Everything that had happened in the last few minutes...quite literally punctuated by the crucifix now quivering out of the clergyman's head...had her disorientated almost as much as the knuckled blow to her face. She took several deep breaths, then began the slow crawl across the floor to her own salvation. Stopping short of simply depositing herself in his lap, she reached out with a shaking hand and lifted his chin so that their eyes met.

"Let's not make this all for nothing, My Love. The end of the rainbow is in this church. Help me find it?" She said, beginning the slow process of finding her feet. She nearly toppled over sideways while doing so, but quickly righted herself before Cesare caught it. As he himself stood, she silently reached for his hand, and the search continued. 

Cesare slid himself back into standing position spurred on by her voice. Taking her hand they noiselessly wandered the halls, never breaking the link of their fingers. The sounds of gaiety from outside made the whole church seem to ring with mocking laughter. Eventually they moved past a large opening and Cesare caught sight of large stone slabs.

"Nikki!" he said, hushed but firm as he pulled her hand to stop. She looked up at him and entered the room as he trailed her.

"Marco Cornaro." Cesare reminded as they moved past the entombed Doges. Nikki leaned over a nearby tomb to decipher a name as he passed further into the room. He passed several names with adorned crypts before finding a Marco...

The rest of the name was obscured. He brushed at the stone which was brittle and chipped slightly. Removing the cobwebs revealed the name they'd been hoping for, Marco Cornaro.

"Here!" He alerted before attempting to move the stone slab. There was no way. His strength had been sapped. Even with Nikki's assistance there was little hope for moving the stone cover.  He thrust himself away in frustration, pacing down the hall and back again as Nikki brooded over the possibilities left to them. Suddenly he had an idea. "Wait just a moment!" he said and then began to move out of the hall but stopped dead in his tracks and wheeled around to look at Nikki whose eyes caused him to return, take her hand, and lead her out of the hall with him.

They made their way to the main sanctuary where Cesare took hold of a large iron candelabra and started the return to the crypt. When they'd rediscovered their prize, Cesare waved for Nikki to step back. Raising the polearm above his head, he slammed it onto the old stone sending a scratching metallic noise screeching through the chamber. He attempted again and felt a shift as the candelabra bounced of the stone causing his hand to slip and gash itself into the rough iron. He cursed and looked at his bloodied hand before readying a third strike. The third time the stone gave way and caved into the space beneath. Cesare discarded the tool and peered into the sarcophagus.

There in the darkness was the withered remains of a long-dead Venetian noble...and with him, bags with hundreds upon hundreds of dusty Venetian ducats...

Nikki looked on as Cesare reached inside, his face showing the strain as he hefted the bags out, one by one. All told, four sacks. They spared a moment to gaze at each other, then soundlessly took a sack in each arm, carefully hidden beneath the robes, and fled the church. 

​​​​​​Outside, the merriment continued. Cesare and Nikki moved through the crowd, against the flow and towards the docked gondolas. Without preamble, Nikki dropped her bags into one at random and turned towards Cesare, who didn't hesitate to follow suit. Grabbing the oar, he pushed them away from the docks and sent them drifting back to their suite.

It wasn't far, but the thoughts each were lost in kept them from speaking, and the only noise as they left the carnival atmosphere behind was the sound of water displaced. As their hotel came into view, Nikki abruptly stood while they were still twenty yards out. 

"Nikki, sit down, you'll...NIKKI!" He yelled as she dove into the water, the robe drifting to the surface moments later, empty. He stared after it, completely stunned, when she resurfaced several feet ahead of him, swimming a fast breast stroke to the steps. Climbing out, she turned to him in her soaked undergarments and beamed. Whatever had happened earlier, she was cleansed of it now, that much was clear.

"Hurry up, Slow Poke. I'm freezing," she said with that lopsided smile.