Chapter Twenty Six

Raphael spoke as simple as he could while the trio continued walking towards Sister Wendy's church, repeating what Sam had disclosed about the Unknown Royals.

Maria voiced her discomfort, "So they could be anywhere?"

"And are more powerful than the Royal Family…" Anita's mutters only emphasised how much she believed this was true.

Raphael sighed and nodded. "Sam seemed genuinely frightened at the mere mention of the Unknown Royals. I doubt any of these facts are lies." Instinctively, Raphael dropped his arm to take Anita's hand, "We've seen what they can do." Anita took his hand. "And we've seen what they're after." Maria tilted the pendent to face her, a dull throb of green reflecting back.

"The only question is why?"

"Why what?" Anita asked.

Raphael turned around, facing the two girls. "Why the pendent? Why the necklace? Why Claude Albrecht or the Unknown Royal or whatever he calls himself? Why don't they just steal it from us? It's not hard to take a pendant or a ring, especially if they wanted them as desperately as they seem, so why not make contact? Why not just violently rob us or kidnap us even?" He waved his arms about in frustration during his list of questions.

"Don't give them any ideas," Anita breathed looking up and down the empty street.

"But they did try to rob us," Maria reminded, "Last night?"

"Yes. Yes, they did, but if they're as violent as reputation proceeds them, why didn't they kill us? They had you at knifepoint, and it was luck that I overpowered that man. If they were so desperate, why all the showmanship? Why not just kill us and get it over with? It seems simpler, it seems easier even." Raphael's outrage was almost comical as he leaned against a wall and slid down until he sat on the ground.

Anita looked from Maria back to Raphael as she approached, plonking herself on a barrel next to him.

"There's also a how," Anita remarked, "How does your Father tie into all of this?"

Raphael sighed, hitting his head on the brick wall he leant on. His hat jumped off his head and rolled to a halt on the ground.

Maria adjusted her dress before squatting before Raphael, scooping his hat to clear the dirt and dust. "You're really invested in all this."

"Of course I am! Look at what they've put you guys through, we need to see this until the end." Raphael took off his hat to smooth his hair, "But moreover I want to know why. Why anything, why now? Why haven't they come after us? Why is my Father associated with them? Just why?!"

There was a long pause amongst the trio.

"I've got a why," Anita decided, "Why knights?"

Maria chuckled, "Indeed. They do seem rather silly, I'm quite surprised more people don't know about them if they dress like that."

Raphael smirked, but it quickly faded. "Why do those people blindly follow the concept of a man who has been dead for centuries?" He pushed himself to his feet.

"Be careful Raphael, you're being doubtful," Anita cooed kicking her feet back and forth on the barrel.

Raphael's smirk returned, a little wider, as he twirled around, holding a hand out to Anita.

"Doubtful, me? I barely know the term." Anita took his hand and hopped off the barrel.

Maria slowly rose to her feet and scoffed, "What a strange pairing you two are."

Raphael shrugged off her statement and stretched, "In all seriousness, Anita, you need to stay close to me. Like glue. No, something stickier than glue. Until further notice, we must be in each other's sight until further notice."

"Except going to the bathroom," Anita reminded.

"Except for going to the bathroom!" Raphael clarified.

*

"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Raphael asked as they approached the front door of the apartment, "I'd imagine the nuns are hysterical, probably praying for your safe return."

Maria rolled her eyes and nodded. "I sense lectures and scolding and maybe a hint of worry upon my arrival home." She shook her head and sighed, "I don't know if I'm ready for all that yet."

Anita unlocked the door and walked in, the pair close behind. "You're welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to."

Maria nodded, walking through the door Raphael held open for her. She heard the gentle tinkle of a music box upon entering. "I won't be in your hair for much longer, promise." She saw Anita in the living room, sitting before the coffee table and listening to the dancing ballerina. The apartment was still in shambles. "Besides, you two are doing a lot for me, the least I can do help you clean up this place."

Aside from clearing broken glass, the three hadn't tried to clean up the rest of the house. Paper still carpeted the living room and bits of decoration had yet to be replaced.

Raphael nodded as he popped his fedora on a table and took off his coat. "Indeed, we can't work under these conditions. Anita!"

She laid on her back and looked up to him. "We can't work like this! We must organise!"

Anita saluted Raphael before getting to her feet, "I call the paper!" She raised her hand.

He laughed, "Fine. You can clear all the paper."

For the afternoon the three organised the apartment back to its original state. Anita primarily staying in the living room to sort through the book pages, Maria and Raphael went about fixing the furniture in the dining room. She noticed something immediately when the two were alone; Raphael wasn't as animated.

He had a look of downplayed focus as he lifted entire cabinets back on their feet, bits of loose glass falling to the floor.

Where did all the energy go? Maria mused watching as he continued in silence. Perhaps he's only energetic when he needs to be…

She looked through the archway at Anita, who appeared in a similar state of focus.

She found the pair strange; Raphael, a moody gentleman, and Anita, a bright but meek little girl. Both were brilliant, each was kind in their own way, but equally awkward, despite how well they hid it. But what Maria found most strange was how easily they forgave or seemed to ignore what had happened the previous night.

Raphael didn't seem fazed by their argument or the attack in the church, while Anita no longer seemed bothered by whatever she had endured in the same night.

Maria found them almost inhuman.

"Maria?" She blinked away her thoughts as she looked to Raphael, she hadn't noticed he had spoken to her.

"Pardon?"

Raphael picked up stray plates, "When do you think you'll go home?"

"Back to my little town?" Raphael nodded. "I imagine in the next couple of days. There's no reason for me to be here anymore, and Paris is beautiful, but it's not home."

Raphael nodded, "Fair enough." He placed a small stack of uncracked plates back in the cabinet. "Can I ask something big from you though? Before you leave?"

Maria nodded, picking up some stray books found under the dining table. Raphael walked to her and took her hand, his hands warm against hers. She suddenly felt short of breath, "I was hoping you could leave the pendent behind," he requested.

Maria suddenly felt very cold. She took her hand from his, "Raphael…" She shook her head in disbelief, "This pendant was-"

"Given to you by your friend, I understand. But if the Unknown Royals are after your pendent and my ring, do you really think they're going to stop just because you leave Paris?"

Maria frowned, tilting the necklace to her face. She shook her head, "No. Raphael, I won't part with this. I'm sorry."

Raphael pursed his lips but nodded, "How about this? I'll send it back to you. We can exchange letters and keep in touch even when you leave." He took her hand again, his desperation surfacing through his eyes again, "Maria, please. The Unknown Royals are the closest I've come to find my Dad and if you leave..." Raphael paused, he had realised how tightly he was holding her hand, "I fear I won't be able to find him. Or that something may happen to you." He released her hand.

Maria flexed her hand as she had run her fingers over the beetle insignia.

"Raphael," Anita's voice had drifted into the dining room.

"Yes? What's wrong, Ann?" Raphael walked past the stairwell, leaving Maria alone in the dining hall.

Raphael found her kneeling on an armchair looking out the window, having parted the curtains. "I think Sam found us," she announced.

He went wide-eyed, approaching the window and leaning next to Anita's head. Sam stood in front of the door of the picket fence, rigid, staring unblinkingly at the house. Maria approached a different window and peered out, noticing Sam immediately standing alone.

Raphael had not felt panicked, as he expected when someone eventually found out where he lived, but he was shocked to know Sam had found him so quickly from his name alone. Sam had mere hours.

"Something is wrong," Anita declared.

Raphael silently agreed. Sam was looking too high, almost staring at the sky. Their arms were pinned to their side and after a minute, Sam hadn't moved. Raphael sighed through his nose as he backed away from the window, Anita keeping watch. He rested his hands against the back of his head and clicked his tongue.

"Sam's saying something," Anita informed.

Maria saw Sam's lips twitch, barely parting as if muttering through gritted teeth.

Raphael's sigh became louder and strained, eventually turning into an uncomfortable grunt. He swore.

"Raphael!" Anita threw a pillow at him.

He apologised, gripping the pillow as he continued breathing through his teeth. "What's wrong?" Maria asked, "Should we hide? Pretend no one's here?"

"They know we're here," Raphael informed, "Sam's not here alone."

Maria pulled away from the window, the curtains falling closed. "The Unknown Royals? Here?" She stepped away from the window, walking in front of the door to be out of view. "How do they know where you live?"

"This place isn't hidden, Maria. Anyone can find it," Raphael took another peek beside Anita, "Sam told me they were everywhere, they could control everything. Not surprising they would know where I live."

"And they knew my name. Someone took me home," Anita reminded.

"And now they've gone after Sam," Raphael pulled away from the window again. He cursed again, Anita didn't throw anything at him this time.

Maria heard a muffled argument. She darted back to the window and looked out, Sam was arguing with a tall man in a trench coat, their coat buttoned up to their throat and perched the hide their face from the sides. She watched as he attempted to leave, only to be wrenched back by the arm. She had never seen Sam smaller. He was pulled violently about while appearing to get yelled at, the man's deep voice bellowing through the thin walls of the apartment.

"Raphael, he's hurting Sam," Anita informed.

Raphael disappeared out of the small hall for the living room, he approached the fireplace and returned with a fire poker.

"If things get violent, look away," he instructed to Anita, who's eyes remained attentively staring outside.

He took a steady breath before opening the door and walking out.

"Hey!" His voice caused both Sam and the stranger to stop mid-scuffle. Raphael still couldn't see the man's face.

"Phantom, run!" Sam's words were muffled by the man's arm wrapping around their face. The stranger held their head up, causing Sam to frantically kick about.

"Let Sam go," Raphael commanded slowly, taking deliberate steps forwards, the poker leading the way.

The stranger laughed, an eerie, unnerving laugh that staggered Raphael's composure. He felt his façade falter. He prayed the man hadn't seen, but the laugh developed to a deep throat cackle.

"I suggest you follow me, Phantom," the nickname rolled off his tongue sourly, "Would hate for something to happen to little Sam here."

His arm draped over Sam's shoulders, their face screwed to disgust and fright. Raphael saw a glint of silver, seeing the dagger pressed against Sam's side, hidden by the man's coat. With a quick shove, the pair started walking down the street. Sam's eyes stayed planted forwards, their posture still rigid, even their legs walked stiffly.

Raphael's hand became white as he gripped the poker. His breathing became laboured but forced his body to relax. He stabbed the dirt by the pathway with the poker and approached the picket fence to follow. He heard the loud tapping of glass as Anita knocked frantically to get his attention. She looked worried.

Raphael gave a 'don't fret' gesture, and continued out the fencing. He took a quick glance over his shoulder to see two men, dressed similarly to the stranger, leaning on the fencing. Raphael coughed as he turned to face Sam and the man, running two fingers through the left side of his head, hoping Anita would notice the hint.

Raphael could see the man's large black coat at the end of the street, still walking idly with a struggling Sam. It was too late in the afternoon for patrons of the apartments to notice the scene, however, Raphael doubted any of the elderly tenants would have been any help.