I was born 7 April 1931 in the grand city of Torino in Italy. A city I was honored of proclaiming my home. Once the capital of the royal family and now the growing city which rides on the tides of a new revolution called industry. I lived through the Second World War and survived Mussolini. I watched as a 14-year-old girl how the Italian Partisans liberated my beloved city from its oppressors and watch the city grow to its former glory.

My father, Antonio Di Santis, remained a strong royalist and believed in the House of Savoy even after they abandoned all hope of reclaiming their throne 1946. He became a member of the Italian Monarchist Union and amassed great wealth by building trams in the city. I lived happily on the Hill of Superga with my parents, grandma and younger sister. We hosted parties and socialized with the wealthiest of Torino’s residents. Little did I know, that all good things must come to an end.

Thus it did. On 25 April 1950 during The Liberation day, my life changed forever as I looked upon the face of death itself. It took the shape of a woman, with hair like the sun, pearly skin, amber eyes with the likeness of the sun and a temper that could make soldiers chill in terror. She visited me the night before Liberation day. Forced me to drink her blood and told me I would die the day after along with my entire family, but I would not remember. Not until it was far too late.

And thus, I did, as our automobile went up in flame and I burned alive. I felt my skin melt and watched as the twisted figures of what I once called family slowly turned to ash. I remembered her face, her words and cursed her existence. Then… I woke up.

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I opened my eyes at home. Alas, I thought it was a dream. No, A horrible nightmare that haunted my sleep. I smiled weakly towards the sun of the morning and rose to greet my family. I went out to see the servants bestow me glances of melancholy. Though I did not comprehend why.

I went to my dining hall to find it empty. My Papá must be in his office. He always liked looking over last night’s work. I eased my steps so that I wouldn’t be perceived that I hasten as it wouldn’t be proper but I longed to behold the face of the man who nurtured me. The one that always soothed my nerves when I was frightened by an ill dream.

I walked over to his office, the papers still on his desk, and whiskey glass empty. I sighed as I removed the glass from the desk and put the papers in a neat pile before leaving the room. I couldn’t find them anywhere. I decided to search for my Noninna in the garden. She was too old to walk far but liked looking out over the green garden and to recall her youth. It didn’t take long before I saw her silhouette leaning against her rocking chair. Noninna seemed fast asleep as she didn’t move even when I called for her. I stalked closer and gently disturbed her, but she didn’t respond.

“Noninna?” I called out to my grandmother, but she still didn’t respond. Fright took hold of me as eery silence smothered me. Then she moved. I let out a scream when her head departed from her body and tumbled onto the ground. The body fell out of the chair. Her nightgown was covered in blood.

“What are you screaming for, bambina?” A female voice was heard from behind me. I turned around to stare at the shape of my nightmare. A fair-haired woman with scarlet lips, amber eyes, and white skin. Her eyes glowed with displeasure as she licked her fingers from the blood engulfing them.

“Diavola!” I gasped and tried to run away, but before I could even take a step she was in front of me and grasped me by the throat. I couldn’t breathe as she lifted me off the ground with her mere hand.

“I don’t appreciate slander, bambina. She threw me on the ground and as I gasped for air I let out an agonizing scream as she leaned down and broke my arm like it was a twig. The sickly sound of my arms breaking haunted my ears as I whimpered in terror. “I demand respect, little girl! Remember that next time.”

Tears streamed down my face as I looked up at my tormentor with disbelief. She looked mildly annoyed as she looked over the garden. “I loathe clutter, slaves!” she yelled at a close by servant who came running. The woman leaned towards the young girl and looked her into the eyes. ”Go to the Polizia, and turn yourself in. You were abused by the old lady and killed her.”

I watched as the girl’s nodded before her eyes went wide. “Dio Mio! I killed Signora Di Santis. I-I must turn myself in. What have I done?” the girl cried and ran away. “That’s better, the polizia should handle this mess. I didn’t like that girl anyway. Too gorgeous!”

The woman turned towards me while I tried to rise. She grimaced as she looked upon me. “I cannot depart from you here, the polizia will wonder, “ she said as she grabbed onto my hair and hauled me away. I pleaded for help as we walked past the servants. They stood there with doll-like eyes. Not even batting an eyelash. What has she done to them? She hurled me into my room, and I let out an agonizing scream as I landed on my shattered arm.

“Stay here and if you so much let out a sigh or if you try to escape, I will kill you. I will rip off the skin from your charming face and allow the servant to make a mask out of it. Understand, little girl?” she whispered to me with a cold gaze fitting for such a heinous woman. I nodded quietly as I was too frightened to speak. She didn’t seem to mind as she rose and abandoned me to my sorrow.

The memory came back as I remember my parents and younger sister. I wept for them and could only hope that it was all a nightmare. A thing easily imagined as my arm slowly put itself together in a mere hour. It must be a dream for no reality could be this twisted. That was my last thoughts as I fell into a deep slumber when the sunset came and went.

I dreamt of nothing. Tranquil slumber haunted me as the morn came to awaken me. I did not know if it were a blessing or it should cause me grief as I felt mortified for being able to sleep so peacefully. A servant entered my quarters with the same lifeless eyes like the others.

“Signora Borgia has commanded your presence,” I was about to request more information when I realized like through some inborn memories, who it was. It was the woman from yesterday. Her frosty, amber eyes followed me in my mind as she preyed upon me. I could only nod as I got up and walked past my mirror. I halted when I discerned something wrong. Instead of my dusky eyes, the ones I inherited from my mother, there was only two amber eyes staring back at me. Her eyes were currently mine. I shakily inhaled as I suppressed a gasp. The amber eyes were currently brimming with horror, but I could only disregard my feelings as I heard the servant call again.

I followed her through the halls I knew so well but seemed foreign to me now. We walked into the lounge, and I looked upon my families murderess as she drank my father’s whiskey.

“Your father may have been a feeble mortal, but he had good taste,” she said gleefully as she sipped the drink. She looked up at me and her gleeful expression turned to displeasure. “Why are you still clothed in the same attire? It’s dirty but then again, I guess it suits your arcadian demeanor. If you aren’t going to dress properly then, I guess you won’t need your clothes.”

“Servant, remove her clothes and bestow her some of yours. I’m sure they will suit her properly. Pick something black. She will need to look like a grieving heir.”

“What do you want, signora?” I stuttered with a dignified facial expression as I tried to appear gallant. An action I soon regretted as the woman's hand hit my cheek with such a force I flew into the wall.

“Did I grant you permission to speak, bambina?”

I shook my head as I tried to recollect myself. I rose with the support of the wall while staring at the woman. Her strike didn’t hurt as much as it did yesterday but it was still far too much strength for a mere human.

“What are you?” I whispered and received another slap as an answer.

“You sure are dull. Maybe I should have selected your sister instead. But she was lovelier than you and I desire no rival in my household,” the woman muttered.

“You murdered her!”

“Yes, I did. At least you could comprehend as much.”

“Why?”

“What could a beautiful lady like me want? Money and status, of course. I wanted to leave… My dear brother to his own devices. But I didn’t have any way to support myself. I refuse to marry some mammal, so I needed a rich heiress under my thrall. I choose you, turning you into my kin. Now you are mine, body, and soul,” the woman said with a smirk as she sat down and took another sip on the whiskey.

“I’m no kin of yours. I don’t belong to you!”

“Silly girl, of course, you are mine. Remember yesterday, when I told you that you weren’t allowed to escape. Have you even tried? Has it occurred to you that you could? Of course, you haven’t tried as I commanded you not to. You must listen to your maker. Until my death or I release you.”

I tried to deny it. Tried to run but my body wouldn't move. It wouldn’t listen to me.

“What are you?”

She set the glass down and smiled sultrily at me. “I am an Ascendant of the I Soli, the sun clan.”

I frowned at her as I had no idea what she was insinuating. She rolled her eyes and rose from her seat again. She lifted my face with her finger and leaned closer. “Every little tale in your books, every little myth in your religions. They come from us. Twisted as they may be. Come now, I know you like to read. You studied literature, did you not? Divulge to me what you think I am.”

“ Vampire…” I breathed as I didn’t want to utter it loudly.

“Very close, Our twin clan the Le Lune are the origin from that little tale but we are related so we are similar. Though we don’t cover under the sun. When the sun is high, we are immortal!”

“We?”

The woman offered an ominous smile which displayed her sharp fangs. “You and me. We are I Soli. We are Ascendants.”