June 19, 1612
My story starts with a prick of blood, flowing endlessly down, past the second story window of the crowded city streets, behind the castle walls. The blood, so light that it drifts down as a feather, falls right in front of my father’s eye. His eyes dilate, and I stare at him, seeing his monstrous being. He snatches and grasps it with his tongue. His tongue licks the swirling, pearly red droplet. He smiles satisfied at looks up. We both see the maiden. Her eyes are pale blue with flecks of gold. Se sits on her windowsill holding a spindle. Her eyes have the mark of one who’s blood has been drawn. I gasp and sit sullenly, knowing that she has been enchanted by my father, for one who’s blood a vampire tastes, can not resist, and is bound forever. The vampire in turn is bound to the one who’s blood they draw. She is to be my new stepmother. They are to be married in a fortnight .
May 8, 1622
10 years has passed since I was six years old and much has changed. My stepmother had brought with her two daughters. They have tormented me and called me “iglia della notte” or “daughter of the night”. They are not vampires. They do not understand the suffering of being one for the four hundred, one of the fallen angels. They do not feel the hunger, the torture of succumbing, not being able to reach paradise. My father still calls me his beloved Cantarella. I do not speak of him lightly for he and his new wife are shunned from my life. His daughters have taken over the house hold and I am but a serving maid. The prince holds a ball tomorrow and I am unable to attend. My sisters laugh and gossip while they dress for the ball. They both hope that the prince will choose them to marry. I stand in the shadows with my spindles, watching them. They are too happy for their own good, but they are only mortal.
May 9, 1622
The day of the ball has come and my sisters have left. I am alone at home at last. I cannot stay for long. The prince I found out, is a vampire. He was in a procession for the ball and I watched out my window. He had the blue sheen, I am sure of it. My sisters will be hurt if I stay home. I cannot risk their corruption. I must disguise myself and save them from the night, the endless torture of false love, and the listless sleep of death.
Later
I arrived at the ball. The room smells of roses. I wore my mother’s wedding gown and her porcelain mask. I spotted the prince right away. His blue veins glow with a mesmerizing glare. His hair an ebony wave, lips a dead rose, skin like silk, all beautiful to me. I went up to him, my mask over my eyes. He held out his hand to me. He thought I wanted to dance. He must be stopped. We dance to a waltz. His eyes never stray from mine. We talk through our minds as he shares his memories with me. I gave him the story of my past lives. We of the immortal shed our mortal shells every 100 years. Our blood lives on and that makes us immortal. I see recognition in his eyes as he stops at one memory. My most precious memory, one of me and my lost blood-bound twin. My other half, my better half, my twin from heaven. Michael, one of the archangels, who gave up paradise to be with me, Gabriel. I stared into his eyes seeking the answer I desired. I wanted him to be Michael. He seemed to have understood me for he gave me a curt nod of his head. We ended up dancing for hours upon end. I pleaded with him silently to let me return home to collect my mother’s things and that then we would be together again. He seemed to agree and his eyes softened. He smiled and released me from his mesmerizing stare. I turned and fled the ball. Everyone’s eyes were on me, but when I turned around, the only one I could focus on was his.I am collecting my things as I write. My sisters will be back from the ball at any moment. I found everything except for my mother’s necklace, the Bane of Lucifer. Legend says that when Lucifer was banished from heaven, an emerald from his crown fell, people also call it the Holy Grail. It is the only thing I want from this house.
May 10. 1622
I ran to my sisters’ room and searched their jewelry boxes. Finally, I found it in Grassina’s case with her rosary. Just as I grabbed it, the front door opened and my sisters returned home. They were sullen as they walked up the stairs and stopped in shock as they saw me hunched over their jewelry.
“Thief.” Isabelle cried. “Ladra.”
“Traditore!” Grassina snarled. “ You are wearing that whore’s dress.”
I grabbed the necklace and tried to side step them. They were too quick for me. Grassina yanked my hair and Isabelle snatched the necklace out of my hand. They shoved me at the bed and locked the door. I was trapped. I will never see my prince, my paradise again.
May 22, 1622
He came to our house. Michael came to every house in the city. He was looking for me. I cried out for him, but he couldn’t see me. His sense are duller in the daylight. I am as good as lost without him.
Later
Nighttime fell and I thought all was lost. I felt something swell up deep inside me. I sang out my sorrows. The song was eerie, sad with a hint of longing for all I lost. It was a song with no words, in a language only the chosen few could understand. It was the song of the vampires. Michael appeared at my window minutes later. His eyes glowed when he saw me.
“Bella?” He whispered. “É quello voi?”
“Yes.” I replied. “It is me. I am here.”
He reached up to the window and broke the glass with his hands. Come, he gestured. I climbed out from the window just as my sisters opened the door. Michael helped me down and we rode his horse back to his castle.
“Michael?” I asked.
“ Sí?” He inquired.
Do you still love me? I thought.
He kissed me and it invoked my senses. I felt home, I felt love, I felt heaven.
