The next day I fled. At least, I tried to. I wanted to prove that monster wrong. That I was my own master. I was gravely mistaken. My body refused to leave the mansion and to make the matter worse, the servants notified the woman Borgia what I had sought to accomplish. Regret could scarcely express what I experienced when she grabbed my hair and hauled me into the cellar. There was no light, no warmth. Only my weeping sounds and my wails for help.

Neither did get me freedom. Just lonesome silence. I do not know how many days I laid there scratching the door. I was starving. Hungry for something I could not comprehend. My body had caved in, and I could hardly stand. Hardly breathe. That was how I discovered that my breathing was not necessary for my survival. If I possessed the strength to claw my eyes out, I would do it for I have only now grasped that I did not escape my families fate. I perished along with them, I just didn’t have the privilege to be united with them by the pearly gates of Heaven.

On a day like so many, the entrance to the basement finally opened. Illumination engulfed my body and for the first time in days, I was able to move. I could sense my skin siphoning the light and bring life back into my wilting body. But it was not the light I craved. Fangs sprouted in my mouth as the female servant walked past me to get some wine. I could discern her heartbeat. It was beating so loud.

When she turned around to leave, I grasped her hand and pulled her violently into my arms. With one forceful bite, I received what I desire. The warmth of her blood filled my mouth as I drank and spread power throughout my body. She let out a muffled cry for help, but I did not hearken her words. They were lost to me, as was my humanity. For at that moment, she was merely substance to keep me alive.

I let her go with a sigh as I was appeased. She whimpered in front of me, and I felt disdain for the pitiful creature crawling in front of me apologizing. I looked over at the door. Should I leave? Can I leave?

No, I could only gain liberty by ending the existence of that beast. To avenge my family. I grabbed onto the girl and our eyes met. Mine must have been much similar to that beast. Saffron eyes which blazed like the sun. The servant’s eyes were hazel and aghast. “You shall not inform her about this.”

“But Signora-“

“You shall not even recall this incident!” My words were like a whisper. I felt myself in her mind. Nudging it. Finding what I searched for, and wrecking it. She stared at me blankly. I did not know how or what I did but I knew she wouldn’t remember. I laid down on the cold floor like a predator waiting for its prey. I listened as the servant left me behind as she barred the door after her. It was not yet time to slay the beast. I needed to be forbearing for this was not something to hasten. My time will come and then I will strike.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I panted under the parasol. I sat in the patio as Signora Borgia cherished the sunlight while servants pandered her. I wanted to rip her heart out, but my body was too weak. The feeding on the girl had not gone well as Borgia had discovered the bite marks on the servant. The punishment had been gruesome as she had entered the basement with a filthy looking man with torturous tools. He ripped my fangs out while Signora Borgia gleefully bore witness.

My body had healed but I was so fatigued. The power I had received from the blood had perished, and what was left was seething wrath. Signora Borgia’s laughter echoed in the garden as she coquetted a young servant boy. I grimaced at her trying to keep my composure, but I suffered from a grave illness.

Signora Borgia noticed my quiet aversion and was about to comment when I looked upon her eyes following something behind me. Her gracious expression faded into a sullen grimace. I wanted to look at what had made my tormentor in such a foul mood if only to praise it but I wasn’t able to turn. I merely tried to keep my eyes opened for the spectacle.

A man entered my vision. His posture was of a gentleman, with dark slick hair, sharp but youthful face and a fancy suit. His eyes were cold and ancient. They beheld everything and comprehended the world in a way that the youths do not.

“Brother, what a surprise!” Signora Borgia exclaimed with false joy. She smiled rigid at him, and he gave her one just as frigid. His amber eyes fell onto me, and I felt a peculiar sensation run through me. Just as I had known her, I knew this man. I was of this man. He was a part of me.

“Lucretzia, I was devasted when you departed from my side. You shouldn’t depart from your brother’s side,” the man replied nonchalantly as he wandered over the to them. Lucretzia emitted a pitch chuckle. The man's eyes turned to me. He stalked closer, and I could feel his finger going down my cheek. It was somewhat comforting. “And why is my kin in such a shape?”

For the first time since I encountered her, Lucretzia looked frightened. It was gratifying to witness.

“Well, she was utterly bewildered after her transformation.”

“Bewildered enough to rip her own fangs out.” The man’s eyes had begun to glow as he inspected my mouth. My gum was still bleeding after my fangs had grown back and it still was agonizing to even speak.

“Sì… You know how some newborn can-“

“Save me,” I forced myself to say. The words were merely a whisper in the wind but the man heard it and he turned and grasped his own sister by her throat. With an inhuman force, he hoisted her up into the air. “Then why is she inquiring me to help?”

“She is merely confounded!”

“She harmed me. She tortured me. Hurled me into the basement.” I said with a strained voice which shivered in both anger and fear. This was a gamble. I did not know this man or if he was any better than my tormentor. I just had to have faith.

“I did it to protect her, Alessandro!” Lucretzia panted as she clawed at her brother’s arms. The garden went silent for a mere second as Alessandro seemed to contemplate on his sister fate. He let her go, and she glared angrily at him. I wanted to shout out my rage and disappointment as I had thought my gamble had failed.

“Leave, Lucretzia!” Alessandro said while he grabbed a close by handkerchief as to clean himself from the filth that was his sister.

“What?!”

“Leave. This is my kin’s mansion, and your presence is not required. I will take this lady on as mine.”

“You cannot do such a thing. I made her. She and everything she owns belongs to me!”

“Carlo? Please be so kind as to escort my sister to our home. Don’t allow her to leave. She has caused enough harm for a couple of months.” Alessandro said into the shadows and another man came into the garden with a callous look on his face. I could merely glare at her in glee when she was dragged off under objections.

My attention turned to Alessandro, whose eyes had moved to meet mine. “Are you fangs healed?”

“They still hurt, signor.”

Alessandro nodded and pulled up his sleeve.” Might I know the name of my kin?”

I surveyed him for a while before I replied. “My name is Valeria Di Santis, signor.”

“A lovely name for a beautiful signora,” Alessandro bit his own wrist and gave it to me. I could feel my hunger growing. “Feed, Parente. I bestow you the source of my power and return you will be my kin.”

I leaned in to drink the red fluid which I knew was luscious. It had been when I drank from the girl. Alessandro’s blood filled my mouth, my teeth ached but the pain faded as I was filled with bliss. I could feel his blood inside. I could sense his presence. His blood was far more potent than that girl and I recognized that this was a sign of trust between us. A sign of affection which few will ever experience.

“Enough, bambina!” Alessandro said and before I knew it, I let go. His words were like a command which I could not contend with. I looked up at him as his eyes had turned gentle even if he didn’t display it on the surface.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, bambina. But you are one of Antonio Di Santis’s daughters, are you not?” Alessandro cleaned the wound with the handkerchief and I discovered to my astonishment that the wound had vanished. It must be another thing we shared as my wounds sometimes healed rapidly as well. He pulled down his sleeve and waited patiently for a reply.

My mouth had healed and I could feel my strength returning to me as the sun gave me exceptional vigor.

“Sì, signor! I’m Signor Di Santis’s oldest daughter.”

I could detect a slight shift on Alessandro’s face but other than that, he remained a gentleman. He gave a soothing smile as he sat down beside me and gestured for a servant to come closer. The young boy signora Borgia had taken an interest in earlier came hesitantly closer. Alessandro’s eyes started to glow and the servant looked placate.

“You are to forget anything signora Di Santis's ask you to and listen to her every command. Oh, be a dear and find her something to feast on,” the boy nodded eagerly before running of under Alessandro watchful gaze.

“What did you do? Signora Borgia had the staff under some kind of control. Is that what you did?”

Alessandro’s eyes turned to me and for a moment I beheld what I assumed was rage but it faded as quickly as I noticed it. “What do you know about our powers? What we are?”

I gazed after the servant as I recalled the time in the cellar. “She told me that I, we, are ascendants. She also mentioned that we are I Soli. She did not explain much other than that.”

Alessandro watched me with a perusing gaze before he gave me a slight smile. “And what have you discovered by yourself, Signora. Your eyes speak of acumen.”

I carefully returned his gaze. “I noticed that my wellbeing seems connected to light. I’m stronger in the light. In the dark, my body weakens. My healing ability seems connected to me drinking blood and once when I fed upon one of the servants I erased her memory of the incident. I assume I did whatever you just did to that servant.

The last comment earned me a chuckle from Alessandro. “I can assure you that it was not. The ability I used is called Enthrallment. A powerful mental technique that allows you to turn people into thralls. They have to listen to your every command. It’s an ability which you must learn in order to use and only those of greater age are allowed to learn it.”

“What you used is an inborn ability among many clans which are called Mastery. It allows you to erase a person’s memory. If you master the ability you will even be able to plant memories or change existing ones. Your personal power determines how far you can change peoples memory. As a newborn, you might be able to change a minute or two of their most recent memory. I can change memories from ages ago.”

“Inborn abilities?”

“Yes, all clans have a different ability. Some we share, others are unique to that clan. We also have weaknesses and strengths depending on our clan. This is all something we elders must teach our kin before we let them out into the world which is far too dangerous to walk without this knowledge.”

“She didn’t teach me,” I said with bitterness in my voice. “She didn’t do anything other than cause me pain.”

Alessandro peered at me before facing the incoming servants who had trays with food and drink. “For which I’m remorseful. I should not have let my sister go. She is a menace.”

“Then why did you?” I said coldly. I did not speak off she ran away from him but just a few moments ago when he had her be dragged back to his mansion.

“She is my sister. I have taken care of her for over four hundred years. She shall not die by my hand. Though she will most likely die by her action, that I’m sure.”

“Four hundred year? Who are you?” I paled as he spoke. Alessandro waved the servants away.

“My name is Alessandro Borgia. I am, was, the son of Cesare Borgia. A rather unique man who lived and died in tumult.” Alessandro gave me a knowing smile as I recognized the name. “My sister and I are one of many illegitimate children of Cesare Borgia. We were turned by Ardashir Babakan, the founder of the Sasanian Empire in the year of 180–242 and one of the eldest of our sun clan, I Soli.”

“And the man who dragged signora Borgia away?”

“Ah, an old friend close to my own age. His name is He was turned by Carlo Orsini, the illegitimate child of Virginio Orsini. He was once turned by Matteo II Visconti, ruler of Milan a long time ago. Who in turn was transformed by Ankhsenamun, one of the first of the sun clan.” Alessandro gave me an amused smile. “And know you know of all our clan's members in Torino.”

“All of-“

“Yes, there is only four of us in Torino. Me, my sister, Carlo and now you. A small amount to be sure as the other clans have around a thousand members each.”

My body shook as I realized the scope of these monsters in my beloved city. “How many clans are there?”

“In the world? fifteen. In Torino, I’m not sure. Many live here in secret and in smaller numbers but there are at least five larger clans in this city.”

“And those are?”

“Not relevant, at least not now. You first need to learn about your own clan. Firstly, I beseech you not to leave the house. I will not hinder you but the outside is as I mentioned dangerously. The 700 000 humans may not seem dangerous but they have the numbers on their side. Not to mention other clans. We are a small clan which makes us a target.”

Alessandro pulled something out of his pocket. “But if you leave, then this will come in handy.” He gave me a peculiar card. It looked like a tarot card with a sun on it. I grasped it and noticed that the material of the card felt very strange and familiar. My eyes widen as the smell hit my face. I know it. Alessandro chuckled at my reaction. “Yes, it’s made from my skin. A rather painful but necessary experience. These cards are important to us. You will be able to enter certain areas only meant for our kind and other clans will recognize you if you show this card.”

“But why is it made in such an egregious way?”

“Some humans have noticed our existence and tried to copy our cards. But this way, they cannot as they don’t have the necessary material to make them. They can, of course, steal one but that might be rather fatal for them.”

“What are these places? Can I go there?”

Alessandro watched me with interest. “Are you interested in knowing us?”

“Yes, I would like to know of the world I have entered.”

He nodded in a distant manner. “Yes, if you would allow me, I wouldn’t mind taking you somewhere more pleasant than the place which you have been trapped in the last couple of days. I will go to enthrall the rest of the staff. I would like you to eat something and do await my return as I have yet to tell you everything.”

He left me behind with my thoughts and most of all, relief, as for the first time in many days I wasn’t afraid.