<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #80BF80">“Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear.”  ― Edgar Allan Poe <br/><br/>"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  -Isaiah, 41:10</span></span></span></span><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://cdn3.vtourist.com/4/4286741-St_Vitus_cathedral_Prague.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #80BF80">Prague skyline with St. Vitius Cathedral in the background.</span></span></div><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>"Someone stole the Czech Crown Jewels from St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. It is believed the thief or thieves have been planning this crime for some time now. They left evidence that suggests the supernatural." Cardinal Calderon was uneasy about this situation. He needed the pair to exercise discretion. "The emperor Franz Joseph himself has contacted the Holy Father personally. He believes this crime is of the direst emergencies and should be handled promptly with the utmost urgency.<br/><br/>"As you may or may not be aware, the population of Bohemia,which was at one time at parity between the Germans and ethnic Czechs has now reached a Czech majority. The Emperor believes the Czech population is closer to 90% of the region and his people sense a growing nationalist fervor amongst the Bohemian Czechs, Moravians and Silesian Czechs. With the larceny of the Czech crown jewels, the people may be incensed to revolt against the Hapsburgs in Vienna. I believe you can understand the consequence of this very volatile situation."<br/><br/>Max listened intently, understanding the Czech desire to no longer be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and to form their own nation in what he heard some refer to as Czecholsovakia. "Excuse me, father but what indication do we have of a supernatural being behind this theft." Max thought about his question as he listened to the Cardinal. "If it is a supernatural, why would he care about Czech independence or the Hapsburg Empire?"<br/><br/>Cardinal Calderon looked at the French Count, focused on his eyes and detailed the report from Emperor Franz Joseph. "The crown jewels are guarded by soldiers of the Austrian Kaiserlich und Königlich Guards Foot Regiment. They are tasked with guarding the royal family and many places of importance within the empire. These are Austrian soldiers, not Bohemians or Moravians. Many Czechs despise their existence in Prague, but what really tells the tales is that seven of the eight Austrian Guards were found with two small puncture wounds to their neck and the lack of lividity in their lower extremities indicating an apparent lack of sanguinity. There were no blood pools. Often times when a person dies of a stabbing or puncture, they bleed out and leave several pints of blood on the floor. These soldiers did not. If they did, then where is the blood?" The Cardinal paused to allow that to sink in to the Centurions. "I don't believe I need to go into much more detail than that. Now, with the amount of apparent blood loss from seven human males, have you ever seen one vampire draw that much for their own consumption?"<br/><br/>Max thought that one over. "One vampire need only draw off one victim which typicallyl hold them for at least a week or some cases a whole month. This is serious. We could be talking a new cult of vampires, father.  Any idea who the first vampire is for this group?" Max was wondering who started this group in Prague.<br/><br/>"Dušan Prochazka has been a butcher in Prague for the past 12 years. He is a man of modest wealth who keeps to himself. He has never taken a wife, has no children and no one knows of his past before coming to Bohemia in 1884. It is believed he traveled from Romania; Transylvania to be exact. The peculiar thing is, he appears to be in his early 30s. He came to Bohemia 12 years ago and folks who have lived in the area and identify him say he hasn't changed a bit in this time. He has neither gained weight nor lost weight. His hair remains black in color and he looks just as old as he did in 1884 when he first showed up. We believe he may be a vampire. We also believe he may be an descendant from Count Vlad Dracul himself. When you get to Prague look up Prochazka's butcher shop. It is located down the street from St. Vitus' Cathedral."<br/><br/>"Any idea how many vampires we are talking about here?" Max was now getting a clearer picture of what they were up against. Were he and Francesca about to walk into a literal army of blood sucking demons in Prague? "Why would a vampire from Transylvania want with the Czech Crown Jewels?" Max slowly asked the question aloud as if he were thinking of each word before uttering them.<br/><br/>"An ancient Czech legend says that any usurper who places the crown on his head is doomed to die within a year," Cardinal Calderon interjected. "There have been several examples of this in history. A pauper places the crown on his head and within a year, he dies of some strange death or is killed off by a highwayman or vagrant."<br/><br/>Max nodded, "maybe Monsieur Prochazka is hoping the legend will kill him? But he wouldn't need to steal them to prove that theory would he?"<br/><br/>"There is definitely more to it. The Holy Father appreciates your discretion and expedient handling of this situation. When you arrive in Prague seek out Herr Hauptman Klein of the Kaiserlich und Königlich Guards. He will be your liaison with the Hapsburg family." Cardinal Calderon looked at both Max and Francesca. He was confident they were the proper people to deal with this situation, but couldn't help but feel concerned for their welfare. It was a natural feeling, even if unfounded. "May God bless you both," the Cardinal made the sign of the cross over both while bowing his head slightly.<br/><br/>Max looked at Francesca, "what do you think?" He wanted her input. Otherwise, they would pack their bags and leave first thing in the morning.