I was even more confounded by her presentation and she chuckled. “I saw that you were new, but my sight failed to show me how new. Signor Borgia, you have a lot of introducing to do. I might be tolerant but other clans are not. What will you do if she meets a Monarch? They will not be as understanding,” Signora Ruzzo reprimanded Alessandro who ordered some blood for them which surprised me but as I further considered it, it really wasn’t surprising. Signora Ruzzo left us to be and I peered at Alessandro who sighed as he noticed my incoming question.
“I would rather you do not know of such a thing as our community is complicated. Clans have thousands of years history and summarizing it in a few sentences does it no credit. But if I have to, then the Monarch is one of the oldest clans among the Ascendants. They have a connection to the Roman Empire and later Christianity, but also Jews and the Muslims. They are the ones that control the human's kings and are sovereigns in most cities. You would recognize them as angels.”
My eyes went wide. Alessandro nodded when he saw my recognition. They were Heaven’s messengers? Alessandro chuckled as he seemed to know my thoughts. “ No angel is a messenger of a god if such a thing exist. But they are powerful and dangerously good at using humans.”
“I have heard that word before, Sovereign. The rulers of the ascendants.”
“A ruler. The Sovereignty was created in ancient times, in Rome if I’m not mistaken, as a way to bring order to the clans. We fought each other for territories and had done so for centuries. In the Sovereignty the sovereigns govern. They are chosen by the heralds, leaders of the different clans. In ancient times each empire had its own sovereign, but today we have a system more similar to the Italian Renaissance where each city has its own sovereign. I’m the Herald of the Sun clan.”
“Then the Sovereign in this city is-“
“A monarch. Though they are very important to the city and to Italy. For that matter, to your family.”
My face moved to face him and he studied me for a while before continuing by my urging eyes. “Have you heard of Umberto Biancamano?”
“My father told me he was the founder of House of Savoy. The royal family of Italy.”
“Signor Biancamano is also half Monarch. Something rare and among the Monarchs, he is considered an abomination as the Monarch believes strongly in pure blood. They only have children with other Monarchs. Not with other clans and certainly not with a human.”
“Signor Biancamano was never given a position as he was a mongrel but he had a deep-rooted plan. He had children with humans and created the House of Savoy which he helped gain the throne of Italy. Among his descendants, he turned his favorites into Monarch. Another thing that’s a taboo among the Monarch as they only allow Monarch to be natural born, not turned. But they were at least recognized as full-blooded Monarch as they already had Monarchs blood flowing through their veins. One of those who turned was Amedeo VII of Savoy, the red count, who became Torino’s Sovereign. “
“What has this to do with my family?”
“Your father was a member of the Italian Monarchist Union. It was a party created by humans to support the Savoy family. They knew, your father knew, that the Savoy was descendants of an angel. At least that what they thought. The current Sovereign, Amedeo, supported the party and sponsored them and they were very loyal to him. Your father had even met Amedeo and often was invited to the assemblies of the Ascendants.”
I bit my lip as I wanted to ask a further question but I’m starting to sense that I’m walking in forbidden territory. “If my father was so close to the current Sovereign, then what would this… Amedeo do when he finds out that Signor Borgia killed him and his family? Even turned his eldest daughter.”
Alessandro gave me a morose smile as he closed his eyes. “He would kill my sister and me.”
First I felt joy as I saw a path to get my revenge then sorrow as I heard the last part. “Why would he hurt you?”
“Because I’m the Herald of the Sun Clan. It’s my responsibility to keep my clan under control. I failed, as such, I would be punished by death along with my sister. You, and hopefully Carlo, would be spared.”
I slowly come to a realization. “Is that why you don’t want me to meet other clans. To be specific, the Monarch.”
“In part, you will meet the Sovereign. You will get your chance to choose my clans fate. I just wanted you to get a better understanding of your clan before you choose.”
“I know that you don’t owe me anything but I have a request. If you decide to seal our fate, then I would like you to continue my mission here. I was sent here by my maker Ardashir Babakan to try to spread our clan into Torino. If my fate will be to die with my sister, then you would most likely be alone as Carlo would go back to his maker. You would have a hard time as the only of your clan and maybe it would be better to go to other cities to look for the I Sole but I would ask you to try to establish our clan here in the city as that is my purpose here. If I die, I would like it to be yours.”
I merely looked at him with horror. I never wished him dead. He was my savior. Alessandro did not wait for an answer and received a wine bottle from Signora Ruzzo who winked at him before going to the next table. Alessandro opened the flask and I noticed at once that the content was a very familiar beverage. Blood.
Alessandro filled our wine glass and put the bottle away but it was quickly snagged away by a blond man with strange colored eyes. It took me a while to distinct that they were deep red. He held a cigarette as he drained the bottle before giving me a confident smirk which showed his fangs. He felt similar to us but his eyes were red instead of golden like the sun.
“Pruvit, miy ledi”
The man's voice was charming but the language was unknown to me. I had assumed he was a foreigner and this confirmed it.
“Italian, signor Zahara. Govorit’ po-otal’yanski.”
I looked in bewilderment between them. Was it the same language? it sounded the same.
“Well, that is just rude. I spoke in Ukrainian and you answered in Russian. Are you trying to rile me.”
“It wasn’t the same language?” I asked as I processed what he had spoken.
“I forgive you for not knowing the difference, as you are such a lovely lady. But such a claim is rather insensitive as my homeland has tried to get rid of the Russian for a long time. Comparing us to them is an insult.”
The man gave me another smile and leaned closer as Alessandro put his glass down on the table and gave him a cold glare which made the man lean back with a chuckle.
“I would ask you to be respectful to my kin. She is a lady and not one of the local harlots.”
The man’s eyes turned to Alessandro and I could see caution moved behind them. “Kin? Did you turn her?”
“No, my sister did.”
“Oh, she is still alive? Then what is this wonderful lady’s name?” the man asked as he took a whiff of his cigarette.
“My name is Valeria Di Santis, daughter of Antonio Di Santis!” I said proudly and the man replied with a cough.
“Di Santis? The one that was killed in an automobile accident?” The man turned to Alessandro.
“Bud’laska, tell me your sister didn’t do it. Di Santis was a member of the Italian Monarchist Union!”
“I know and I have no good news to tell you. She did it.”
The man leaned back with a sigh. “Well, this was good as long as it lasted. I guess it’s time to move on.”
I frowned at him. “I beg your pardon but who are you.”
“My name is Leonide Zahara. I’m from the moon clan, what do you call us. La Luna?”
“That’s Spanish. We call you Le Lune.”
“Well, if you aren’t going to take notice of the difference between Ukrainian and Russian why should I do the same for your language. Either way, we are damned to hell so might as well skip town. Care to run away with me, my lady?”
Alessandro sighed and rubbed his temples as he found Leonide to be far too melodramatic. To me, he seemed like one of those dashing heroes my sister always admired in cinema.
“We are not doomed yet as our fate lies in my young kin’s hands.”
“So it is this lady I should pander if I want a future.”
Alessandro groaned but turned his gaze toward me. “I meant to introduce you two as if you decide to be a part of my clan then you will most likely be working with signor Zahara. He is of the Moon clan that has similar powers as us merely the opposite as they are immortal in darkness. As you would stride in it. It would be proper to have suitable protection.”
“Oh, are you the Herald of the Le Lune then?”
Leonide laughed out loud as he heard my question. “I should look into that!”
“He is the only one of his clan in Torino. He has no clan to be Herald of. “ Alessandro explained as he drank from his glass.
“I have been trying to rectify that but my clan is ambitious and think there is no opportunity for us here.”
“Aren’t all clans ambitious?” I asked as I recall the different time clans have been mentioned. They appear to be ambitious at least.
Leonide laughed at that before putting out his cigarette. “Most are, some are more. The sun clan is not. They prefer to stay out of politics. Especially human ones. There is a reason why they sometimes are called the Hermits.”
“We don’t?” I asked as I searched for answers in Alessandro's eyes. He nodded. “We don’t. My sister wants to become Sovereign but such a desire is frowned upon among our clan. We don’t support any side and stay out of the clan's struggle for power. We sponsor humans in order to gain wealth so that we can live comfortably, as we also do among the Ascendants but never to we crave the throne. Though, we have become more aggressive lately as we are one of the smallest clans and risk of going extinct if we do not push forward.”
“We truly are different sides of the same coin. The sun and moon clan had always had conflicts as they are so different but when they work together they are at their strongest. Unfortunately, we have a quiet agreement were we of the Moon clan keep to the northern parts of the world while the Sun clan keeps to the southern parts of the world. Only in the middle do we sometimes unite, “ Leonide pondered as he swiped Alessandro’s glass and drank all the blood. Alessandro gave him a sharp glare and I offered mine to keep the peace but Alessandro declined with a gentle smile.
“Either way, why don’t I take you for a ride? I can show you the town, my lady.”
I held back a giggle at Leonide’s attempt to court me. I must admit that I was not used to it as my sister always got all the attention. I was not dreadful to look at but she had been radiant. It was only natural that I paled compared to her. It did make me bitter to think that I only had this opportunity because she was not here.
Alessandro answered in my stead. “She is only a few days old and has not adjusted to her new condition. Not to mention, my sister’s vile treatment of her. She should be resting. Not frolicking with men during late hours. We should go home.”
I agreed with a smile and let Alessandro help me up. I felt the floor move as I was more fatigued than I had first been aware of. We took our goodbyes and made a promise to meet up again before we left. As we left the building, we were engulfed in darkness. I felt my body drain from power and Alessandro had to carry me to the automobile as my consciousness had left me along with the light.
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