ITALIAN WHISPERS

Lady La Fay

This will not be altered in any way, this is her work and her work only

Catarina Santiago looked down along the massive stage from her balcony seat at the Majestic Theater watching the actors perform their magic across the stage. Her dear friend had the leading role of the actress and it was by duty that she attended every Saturday evening's performance. Dressed in her dark blue silk dress, she seemed regal sitting amongst the elaborate statues and antique furnishings of the old theater. Her ravenesque hair falling across her porcelain shoulders. Her haunting lavender eyes seeking out the beauty within the lines of the play. She had it memorized she had seen it so many times, but she was in love with the way Lia gracefully made her presence known on the stage. Tonight would be no different than any other night, Lia would have a flawless performance, her fluid voice echoing through the halls of the theater. Her love of the theater many years ago prompted Catarina to encourage her to follow her dream of being a stage actress. She did every performance brilliantly. Tonight would be like every other night. There was one difference. The lead actor had fallen ill and the understudy was to take his place. Lia had mentioned this earlier at lunch in the home before she left for her make-up session. She said that she had only met him a few times before, but in rehearsals he seemed perfect for the role. Catarina was seemingly intrigued by this new character, as she waited for his entrance into the scene, she wondered what he would be like. The other actor was quite good by all standards, but he truly lacked the spark in which drew Catarina's attention. Lia had that spark about her. The intricate way she would make her eyes dance as she sang drew the audience in as if she was casting a spell over them. Catarina sat back watching the play go on, herself in a dreamy haze, until he walked out on the stage. His strong tenor voice sent chills through her spine. The way his dark hair fell in a wave of silk down his back was enough to draw anyone's attention towards him. He had a broad muscled chest that was visible under the white silk shirt he wore, and the way he touched Lia's face as he sang to her was as if he was truly in love with her and not playing a role. Catarina sat in awe watching these two interact with each other on the stage. As the final curtain call was made she stood up and applauded the crew for their beautiful performance, wiping a tear from her cheek with her black silk handkerchief. She quietly made her way back to Lia's dressing room as she always did after the performances and gently tapped on her door. A soft voice came from inside, “Come in Catarina, darling I am here.” Catarina opened the door and closed it behind her taking Lia in her arms briefly kissing each cheek. “You were fabulous darling. Breathtaking as always, and that new actor playing Lord Evantos, he was unbelievable. Do tell me about him.”

Lia sat down at her dressing table removing her stage jewelry and placing it delicately in the boxes. “Well he's 25 I think, from upstate and went to Harvard to study literature. He's a brilliant man, quite well versed in his knowledge of romantic poetry. He does seem to fit the role so much better than John did, didn't he?”

Catarina took the boxes and walked over to the small picture hanging on the wall with a vault behind it. She slid the picture over and opened the combination with ease placing the jewelry inside it. “Yes my darling, he did. It seems to be in his blood to play such a role. I would love to meet him sometime, if that is possible. Do you think he would come by tonight for a little cast party? I could have it arranged by the time you arrived I am sure.”

Lia stood up and wrapped her coat around her shoulders flipping her blond hair out from under the collar. “I will go now and mention it to the others. I am sure they will gladly come, they all love your gatherings. I will see you at home in about an hour then.” Lia kissed Caterina softly on the lips and walked out into the hallway to gather the others.

An hour later there was the sound of footsteps entering the large parlor room in the old mansion. Caterina was busily looking over the hors derves that were sat out. She held in her hand a glass of champagne, drinking it slowly when Lia walked in with the others.

Ben felt a strange vibe coming from the room, it was almost a cold since of uneasiness that he wasn't familiar with. He brushed it off as nervousness and walked in slowly. He was a outgoing man, but after his first night on stage in front of an audience he was still a little nervous. He followed the others into the room and looked over the ornately decorated parlor with curiousness. He felt himself being taken by Lia's hand and led over to a woman standing near the window. “Catarina I would like you to meet someone.”

Catarina turned around and smiled as she saw the man standing before her. He was dressed casually with his dark hair pulled away from his face in a ponytail. She reached out her hand and shook his. Her touch was cold and inviting in a strange way. Lia introduced them formally, “Catarina Santiago meet Benjamin Michaels.”

Catarina nodded gently and smiled. “The pleasure is mine Benjamin, I completely enjoyed your performance tonight. It was spellbinding.”

Ben smiled at her and thanked her politely. “Would you care for a drink? We have anything your heart could ever desire here” Catarina said graciously.

“Sure I'd love some scotch if you don't mind.” Catarina smiled and motioned to Lia to go retrieve the drink. She took him by the arm and walked around with him making small talk. Ben suddenly felt at ease with this beautiful woman, as he placed his hand over hers along the crook of his elbow. He had never seen such an intriguing person in his life. He had met and been with many women in his life, but this one was different. There was a awe and since of strength within her manners. Her eyes danced as she talked to him, and they were the most amazing shade of lavender that he had ever seen. They stood out brilliantly against her white skin.

“You know my family has been here for centuries. My father owned this house and gave it over to me when he died. All the artwork and pieces of furniture were imported here from Italy. He had exquisite taste don't you think?” Catarina looked into his green eyes as she spoke these words. Ben nodded his head in approval, “Yes they are impressive. I had no idea Lia had such a high quality of friends.” Catarina laughed softly. “Yes, Lia is a very special woman. I met her many years ago at boarding school. We became friends instantly. My family took her in when her parents died. She has been with me ever since.”

As she finished that sentence Lia walked back up with Ben's drink. “Here you go, I hope this is suitable for you.” Ben took a long drink and was surprised by the strength and smoothness of the scotch, it had to have been very expensive. “It is wonderful thank you,” he said to her politely. Lia nodded and went over to talk with the other guests as Caterina and Ben continued talking amongst each other. They walked out of the parlor room and out through the large French doors to the garden behind. They spent some time just laughing and talking, him quoting famous lines of poetry and literature to her. She was most impressed by the manner in which he spoke, and as they stood under the stars she stopped and gazed into his eyes. “You know Ben, I have never been so impressed by a man that I just met. I would love to spend more time with you if that was ok.” Ben looked at her and touched her face, still the same cold sensation as before. “Id love that. I had no idea that I would meet such an amazing woman tonight.” Catarina smiled softly and kissed him lightly on the lips. Her hands rested upon his chest. The scent of him sending her mind into a dizzy haze. Suddenly she felt the urge to step away for a while. “Will you excuse me for a little bit Ben, there is something I must do and I just remembered it?” Ben smiled and walked back inside with her, “Of course I will visit with the others are you sure you do not need any help? I do not mind coming along.” Catarina looked at him very awkwardly for a moment. “No I will be fine alone, I will only be a little while darling, enjoy the party. I shall return.” With a quick kiss brushing his cheek she walked over to Lia and spoke briefly with her and vanished out of the room.

The uncontrollable urge that came over her was haunting. Never in her entire life as a vampire had she wanted so badly to take the blood from someone that wasn't aware of her status. His scent was like pure ecstasy to her. The way his eyes flashed that deep green color when he spoke was luring her in. This would be one man that she would love to turn, but it was too soon. She would have to completely win his heart for that to happen. Usually she only turned the woman for her uses to lure the men in to be her victims, but this one would make the perfect lover and companion. Maybe her little Lia would have to work some of her magick. Yes, that is what she will do, Catarina thought to herself. My young one will bring this mysterious one to me. I will speak of this later in the night. She owes me this much for giving her the life in which she leads.

Catarina walked into a dark room on the other side of the house. Inside the room a woman stood there waiting for her. This woman was named Carly Macellan, she was a cast member from the play and an old friend of Catarina. She was a long and trusted giver of blood to the great Catarina. Her family was chosen as donors many years ago by her father, Giovanni, and for nearly a century they had been there to offer the strength that they could, in return for protection and wealth. She walked up to the beautiful brunette woman. Her eyes deep blue like the sky inviting the woman over to her. Catarina smiled taking her hands in hers, and kissed both her cheeks with a calm welcome. Carly looked beautiful in her low cut lavender dress. It fit snuggly around her waist and hips, and was very enticing to Catarina. She then leaned down and kissed both of Carly's breasts, her forehead, and then her mouth. This was the sign of the Santiago family to their donors of their wishes for blood. It was an erotic dance they played, Giovanni had always been quite the seducer, and Catarina carried his blood on very well. Everyone was in awe of her mysterious beauty, and many of the Macellans had been her lovers over the years. Both women and men had fallen for her. She leaned down and kissed Carly softly, running her tongue across her lips. Then with a quick stroke she sank her teeth into her neck. Drawing the blood into her. Carly murmured softly but never took her hands off of Catarina's face, pressing her mouth into her neck deeper and harder until she had her fill. Catarina sealed the wound with the blood and leaned up looking into Carly's eyes. She smiled softly as she wiped the blood from her lips with her handkerchief. She placed the handkerchief underneath the belt around her waist and kissed Carly in the same manner as before. They joined hands and walked back out into the party as if nothing had happened.

Ben noticed Catarina walk back into the room. He stepped away politely from those that he was talking to and joined her by the windows. He noticed that she looked more radiant and beautiful than before, her cheeks flushed and lips a dark shade of crimson. Catarina took his and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “I take it that you missed me just a little bit Benjamin?” She said with a smile. He laughed deeply and stroked her cheek, “Yes, actually I did. You have quite captivated me I am afraid. But alas, I only just met you, it is too early to tell how long I will stay within your trance.” Catarina smiled softly, “Well you have no idea of my full charms, my dear Benjamin, you never know how entranced you might become.” With a deep laugh they walked off into the night to talk with the others at the party.

It was nearing 2 am when all of the guests finally left the house. Catarina and Lia walked up the massive staircase to their bedrooms. Catarina whispered for Lia to join her in her room for a moment that there was something she wanted to speak with her about. Lia nodded and followed her into the large master bedroom. She noticed that Catarina had a glass in her hand with a tiny bit of scotch still in it. She didn't drink scotch so it must have been Ben's glass from the party. She tried not to think about it and walked into the bedroom to help Catarina get ready for bed. The room was large and open. It was furnished beautifully with a large mahogany bed in the center. Catarina walked over to her dressing table and began removing her jewelry and placing it in boxes much like Lia had done earlier before. Lia walked over to a large picture and slid it over placing the jewelry in a vault much like Catarina had done before. Catarina walked over and slid her dress off and stepped into the soft satin robe that Lia held out for her to get into. Then they both went and sat on the edge of the bed. Catarina took Lia's hands in hers, “I know that I have never asked you to work your magick before my darling, but this is a time when I need it desperately. He will fit perfectly into the circle that I need for the ceremony.” Lia's eyes widened. She was a blood witch from Germany but only practiced because her mother had taught her from birth. She rarely did any magick other than a few protection charms and spirit guiding. She knew in her heart that Catarina was about to ask her to do a love spell, and a powerful one at that. There was one that her mother had done a long time ago on the great Giovanni that blinded him into loving her. This would be the one that Catarina would ask for, and this was the reason she still had Ben's glass. He had touched it and drank from it, and she knew that just the fingerprints on the glass alone would be enough to tie him into the spell. Lia squeezed Catarina's hand tightly and took the glass carefully, “If it is your will that I do this spell then I will do it for you, but know this, I do not like doing it. Altering one's will is a dangerous feat in itself, and it has the possibility to go very wrong. You know that Catarina.” Catarina ran her hand down her face, “Well my dear Lia, if it goes wrong I will just have to kill him now won't I? So it is up to you to do it right. Now leave me be I need to rest, I will be there when the sun sets tomorrow night for the spell, be ready my darling.” With a brief kiss on the lips Lia stood up and walked out of the room shutting the door behind her and walking into the darkness.

Ben lay in be the night after his meeting with Catarina thinking over the days rehearsal in his head. Everything had seemed to really fall into place. His lines went smoothly, and the nervousness was gone. He hadn't talked to Catarina since the party, but he had been too busy with the play and his other job, that he didn't have much time to think about her. He rolled over in his bed and drifted off to sleep. His dreams were deep and strong that night. A whirling mass of images of a beautiful woman cloaked in black chanting secret words. Taking objects and covering them with the blood of another woman standing near by. It was different than any dream he ever had before. He had often had dreams that came true. It was a gift from the gods his mother once told him. She herself was a powerful Voodoo witch from New Orleans. Ben had grown up there and vaguely remembered the different things his mother would do. He was bound by his blood to the powers that his mother held, but he had no interest in such things. His true love was the written word. He had taken himself out of that lifestyle when he moved away to college. He drifted further in the dream and watched these two woman in their strange dance. He recognized some of the objects, the idols, and cauldron with the fire burning underneath, but it was all very vague to him. As he watched these women from within his dreamy state, his heart began to race when the cloaked woman turned and looked his way, briefly, to reach for another object on the chair next to her. A very old book within a dark case. She looked directly at him and he saw her eyes. Suddenly his eyes shot open and he knew who that woman was.

Lia chanted deeply within her trance. “Now I need your blood Catarina,”she said softly.

Catarina took her teeth and ran them across her marbled flesh slicing into her arm. The pain from it was inticing in a way. She, being turned a vampire so long ago, did not remember the intensity of the feeling of teeth cutting flesh. As she slid her teeth across her arm like a razor, the blood began to flow forth in a river of crimson. She let the dark trail of blood pour from her veins, and over the glass in which Ben had drank from. “More, darling I need more,” said Lia nervously, looking over the glass in front of her.Catarina cut her wrist again deeper, more blood flowed over the glass and cauldron. Lia looked down at the blood and wanted desperately to stop the ritual, but she went on. She took her small hands and tied a braided rope around Catarina's hands binding her to the spell in which she was performing. Lia bent down and took the ancient book of shadows, her great grandmother's, from the large, black, fireproof box in which it was layed. She turned to the page of the blinded love spell and began following the directions carefully. She placed the specific herbs and oils into the cauldron, the smoke rising high to the ceiling, filling the room with a dark dreary scent.

Ben's heart was racing in his chest as he sat on the edge of his bed. Why would Lia be doing a spell? She wasn't a witch. He would have sensed it from her. That woman was calm and gentle, her spirit was at peace. There was no way that she would be doing a spell that required blood. That was a binding, and he knew that was dangerous in itself. He sat there for a few minutes puzzled by the idea that she would be doing something like that. Maybe it was his imagination running away with him. He knew that was the face that he saw, but who was the other? Surly it wasn't Catarina. He had to know the truth. Ben hurriedly got up and put his clothes on as he headed for the door. Something was going on and he was going to find out what it was.

Lia finished mixing the potion in the cauldron and then poured a bit of it into the scotch glass, tied to Catarina's hand, with a silver ladle wrapped with black leather. She slowly added a small part of Cabernet into the glass on top of the brew. She picked up the glass with Catarina's hands and held them up in the air chanting of love blinded by beauty. As she lowered the glass in front of her face she looked over at Catarina who was standing beside her. The flickering of the candle flames ignited a fire inside her eyes, reflecting the desire within the lavender sea.

“Now you must drink this slowly as your thoughts drift to his face.” Lia said to Catarina softly. “Concentrate deeply on his face, you must not think of anything else.”

Catarina closed her eyes and thought of his beautiful chiseled face. His dark green eyes and muscular body. The way he smiled at her and touched her hand. She thought over ever detail of his face until a portrait of him was painted in her mind. Then she began to drink. The potion slid down her throat and into her stomach. The warmth of it sending heat throughout her blood, reviving her with a new sense of strength and passion. She slowly opened her eyes and looked over at Lia. “Now what my darling?”

Lia untied the rope and took the glass from her hands. “We must now bury this in the dirt and plant a rose bush over it. We must do it now. Follow me my love.”

Ben drove down the street at a quickened pace, his left hand brushing the hair from his face. Suddenly thoughts of Catarina flooded into his mind. The beauty of her face, the delicate outline of her dress baring the blossom of her breasts. The soft way she spoke, with her Italian accent flowing through his ears like wine. He could not get his mind off of her. He found himself at their house and he walked up to the door. It was 12 pm, but he did not care if he disturbed them or not. He needed to know what was going on inside that house, even if it was nothing more than to just see that they were alright. He began knocking on the door. No answer. Again he knocked. Still no answer. He listened sharply and heard a soft voice from behind the house. Someone was in that back yard. Ben walked around the fence line to the gate and opened it slowly as to not startle who ever was in back. He stood there in the shadows watching.

Out into the darkness the two went until they found the spot in which Lia had prepared. A perfectly dug hole with a new crimson rose bush sitting beside it. No blooms were present at the time, but it was full and lively plant. Lia placed the glass and the rope into the hole and then the rose bush. She slowly covered it with dirt speaking to the earth as she worked. Catarina stood watching contently, anticipating the great moment in which Benjamin came to her wanting nothing but her. As Lia finished she stood before Catarina, “It is done. Now we just wait and see if it blooms. If it does you will know because he will be yours forever.” Suddenly Catarina turned her head. Her heightened senses knew someone was watching her. She could hear the whisper of their thoughts inside her head. She turned looking around her, feeling for some sort of life in the darkness. As she looked into the darkness, Ben walked out of the shadows and stood before her.

“Were you looking for me?” Ben said to Catarina boldly. “What are two beautiful ladies doing out in the darkness planting flowers?”

Lia looked at him frightened. “I just forgot that I had bought this plant this morning and was worried sick that it would die before I planted it. Catarina told me I was foolish that it wouldnt die this quickly, but I insisted to plant it tonight. She came along to keep me company in the darkness. I do hate being alone. Something about it gives me the chills. Why don't we go inside and get some tea?”

Ben looked at her unamused. “Ok, lets have some tea that sounds wonderful to me.”

The three walked into the parlor through the french doors. Catarina quickly excused herself and fled into the back room in which they were doing their magick. She quickly gathered up all the items, blew out the candles and shoved the important articles into the large valut in the floor. She took special care with the book of shadows, and when everything was back in order she covered the floor with the rug and returned back out to Ben and Lia who were talking softly to each other.

Ben immediately stopped talking, walked over to her, and kissed her hand. “I am sorry I snuck up on you earlier. I just missed you and wanted to see you. When you didn't answer I came around back ,because I heard a noise in the garden. I hope that is alright.”

Catarina blushed for a minute, impressed at how quickly the spell seemed to be working, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “That is fine darling. I was missing you too. Now that you are here, I would love for you to stay for a while and keep me company. Lets sit here on the couch and you can tell me about your family.”

Ben became a little nervous about that. He rarely spoke of his family because it always ended up being a discussion about his mother's practices. So he made up a story about growing up in upstate New York with his mother and father. That they lived a normal everyday american life and there really wasn't much to tell about it. Catarina seemed satisfied with that as she ran her fingers through his hair looking into his eyes. He really was a beautiful man. She thought about how perfect he would fit into her desires. Tall, dark and handsome, just like the other 5. He would be perfect.

They spent the rest of the night, until just before dawn, talking with each other about every day little things. Ben seemed at ease with her, but inside he felt very strange. He had no idea what was going on with this woman. There was something different about her, and Lia was acting very nervous, which wasn't like her at all. He decided to talk to her about what was going on at rehearsals that afternoon. He excused himself about 4 am and left for home, much to Catarina's relief. She wasn't ready to explain why she was never seen in the light of the day. She spent that time in her room, attended by no one but Lia herself. Lia would sit and have lunch with her while Catarina lay upon the bed in a daze listening to her talk. A strange way to spend the afternoon meal, but it was Catarina's wishes, so Lia went along with it. After all she really had no choice in the matter.

Ben drove home feeling tired and confused by the night's activities. He got home and fell instantly into a deep slumber. His dreams this time flooded to a woman upon a large stone alter surrounded by 6 cloaked men. Ben tried to focus on his dreams, but he could not figure out who the woman was or what exactly they were doing. He had a feeling when he woke up that Lia would have his answers though, and he was going to get answers whether she wanted to give them or not.

Ben arrived at rehearsals early that day and saw Lia walk into her dressing room. He didnt knock on the door, but just let himself in and shut the door behind him. “Lia, we need to talk.”

Lia almost jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice. She quickly turned around and looked at him like a startled deer. “You are right. We do need to talk,” Lia said softly as she looked down at her handkerchief that she held in her hand. She looked up at Ben and stared into his eyes, with tears welling up in her own. “I am sorry that I couldn't tell you more last night. She came back too quickly.” Lia walked over closer to him and touched his shoulder. “Ben, you are in grave danger. That spell she wanted me to do is very powerful. It doesn't ever fail. I didn't complete the steps in the right order so that it wouldn't work, but she will know that I didn't do it right, if you don't act as if it does. She will kill me for going against her. I know this woman, she has a horrible temper. You have to act as if you are madly in love with her, until I figure out how to help you, do you understand?”

Ben looked at her dumbfounded. “You want me to act as if I love someone that wants to do harm to me? I went along with it last night because I didn't understand, but this is insane. Why would you go along with a spell like that anyways? Do you not care about me at all? I thought we were getting so close. What about all those things you told me about falling in love with me last week before you introduced me to Catarina? What about making love under the stars on the roof of my apartment? Is that all different now?” He ran his fingers through his hair and walked to the other side of the room pacing.”Fuck Lia, I thought I got away from this shit.”

He turned and looked at Lia as the tears flowed down her face. “Talk to me Lia, tell me what you know. If you love me at all you have to talk to me.”

Lia slumped down in the corner and started sobbing. “I am so sorry. I do love you. I didn't even want to introduce her to you that night, but she insisted. She controls my life Ben. I have no choices because of the deal her father made with my mother. I am her slave. I have to do what she says. When she asked me to do this spell it killed me. I couldn't go through with it, because in my heart I didn't want her to have you. So I just didn't follow the ritual properly, and I knew that I would have to tell you to act as if it did, as soon as I saw you. I just didnt know that you would show up that night!”

Ben looked at her tenderly and sat down beside her, holding her in his arms. “Ok, so why did she want you to do this spell? Can you tell me that?”

Lia looked up and him and burried her head in his chest. “Ben, she....” Lia stopped mid-sentence and tried to rephrase it, “there are just things you don't know about her. She wants you to love her. That is why.”

Ben knew that wasn't the real reason, he could feel it inside. “Lia, tell me the truth. I will make sure you are ok. Just please tell me what is going on. We can't fight it if I dont know how to deal with it.”

Lia ran her hand down his face, “ Ben, Catarina is a vampire. She wants to turn you. She wants to use you as a tool for gaining her full powers as a vampire. She will use you to make herself stronger. That is what she wants with you."

Ben suddenly pushed away from her, his eyes flashing at her wildly. “She's a what?!”

Lia looked up at him terrified, her body trembling from his obvious anger with her. “A vampire, Ben. I'm so sorry I couldn't tell you before.” She quickly looked down at the floor.

Ben got up and walked across the room, pacing back and forth. “A fucking vampire. Shit, Lia. You live with a god damned vampire and you couldn't tell me? You say you love me, and you played me right into her hands. Have you lost your mind?That is not love Lia, that is just wrong. I would never do that to you. Do you understand what you did?”

He leaned down in front of her and held her by the shoulders. “How could you do this to me? I left New Orleans because of shit just like this, you know that. I told you the truth. I will not be turned into anything, not now, not ever. Just like I said I would not be a fucking voodoo witch, I will not be a vampire. I cannot believe you did this to me. I trusted you.”

Ben stood up and walked towards the door. “Lia, sorry doesn't fix this. Now I have to figure out how to fix this fucking mess.”

Lia got up and walked over to comfort him. “I will do anything I can. Please just tell me what to do?”

Ben took his hand and held her away from him. “Don't come near me. There is nothing you can do now. This is something I will have to fix myself, because I don't know if I can even believe that you would fix it if I asked you to. Hell, you might have wanted this too. So just let me go. I don't need your help, nor do I want it.”

With that he walked out of the dressing room slamming the door in Lia's face. She crumpled to the floor and began sobbing uncontrollably. After some time she regained herself and decided to see what she could do to fix this horrible mess. She arrived back at home and walked up to Catarina's room slowly. As she entered the room, she noticed her laying in her usual fashion, upon the bed, in a deep trance. Lia sat down in the chair next to her bed with her eyes dark and red from the tears she cried. She sat there for hours, just thinking, and just before sundown she walked out of the room, her mind made up.

Catarina came down the stairs in her usual fashion, impeccably dressed and composed. She saw Lia standing in front of the window dressed completely in black, holding a candle. When Lia felt her presence in the room, she walked into the parlor, where she did her spells, without a second glance to Catarina. Puzzled, Catarina followed her into the room and saw it lit entirely with candles. Strange, mystical artifacts scattered all over the alter, incense burning, and several objects covered with a black cloth. Lia was there, knelt down in front of the alter, staring at the largest candle, with a rose on the top of it, burning in the flame. Catarina walked up behind her and stood there. “What are you doing?”

Lia never changed her composure. She just kept softly chanting to herself, her eyes fixed on the burning rose. Catarina wound her hand in Lia's hair and jerked her head back. “I asked you what you were doing, I suggest you answer.”

Lia looked up at her and kept chanting. Catarina slowly took her long crimson nails and raked them across Lia's neck,las if she were a preditor, drawing blood. “You little bitch. Tell me what you are doing, and I suggest you do it before I have to make you regret it.”

Catarina pulled her hair harder, pressing Lia's head into her legs.“Stopping me? From what? You have no power over me. I am the one that controls you remember? How quickly you have forgotten you were sold to me by your own mother. You are nothing to anyone. I could kill you and no one would notice.”

Catarina jerked Lia up to her feet and pushed her face down onto the alter. Lia's face was very close to the candle flames, the other candles at her side beginning to scorch the long cloaks she wore, burning them to her skin. “Reverse whatever you are doing and do it now!”

Lia struggled to get away from her grasp, and the heat that was beginning to burn her face with a dark fiercness. Her body began to tremble from fear. Catarina would kill her, and she knew it.

Catarina let go of Lia and pushed her onto the floor. Her falling against the large rug put out the flames along her robes. Lia got up to her feet and went back over to the alter, taking a large silver dagger from the alter. She turned around and glared at Catarina with the look of death in her eyes. Catarina looked at her with a wicked grin on her lips. “What are you going to do with that? Use it...Let me see you try. You don't have it in you. Do you love him enough to die Lia? Stupid, stupid girl.”

She took the back of her hand and slapped Lia, causing a small trail of blood to trickle from her lips. Catarina grabbed her by the throat, and pushed Lia back on the alter, holding the hand with the dagger in her own hand, and pressing it to her own chest. “Come on little girl, kill me. See if you can. Press it into my heart. Feel my blood run across your own chest, and onto that pretty little face of yours. Is he worth becoming a vampire to save him?"

Lia's eyes widened. She hadn't ever thought that Catarina would change her. Catarina knew what she was thinking and began to smile. Her white fangs glistening in the candelight. "You know that if you get my blood on your lips its over, don't you? Is a man's lust worth that Lia? Did he make you feel like you were special? You know thats a lie."

Catarina leaned very close to Lia's face, laughing deeply. "You are a nothing but a whore, you were born from a whore and will never be anything else. You are my whore. He just used you. Men lie to get between your soft little legs Lia. He never loved you, or he would be with you now. I love you. See, I am willing to bleed for you.”

Catarina pressed the dagger into her own skin far enough to let the blood flow from her veins and seep through her dark purple gown, dripping on Lia's neck. She felt no pain as she did that, her anger was too strong. Her determination was flowing like venom through her. She would not only make Ben a vampire, she would take Lia with her if she had to. Lia struggled violently with her trying to free her hand from Catarina's grasp and push herself away. Blood dripped down upon her cheek. “Feel that Lia, its life. I will take you with me. I will make you crave his blood the way I do. Now, that will be love dear one. You will be evil like me. Your veins will run cold. You will never turn from me. You are mine, Lia, mine.”

Lia lay crumpled on the floor when Ben came walking through the parlor door, with Catarina at his side. Her eyes were cold and distant. Blood dried across her face and neck. She never looked at either of them, just stared out the window at the garden, shrouded in the darkness, trembling.

After a few moments, or it could have been days, Lia felt herself being lifted up and carried into her room. She was paralyzed and had no idea who was carrying her, nor did she care. Gently she was laid upon the bed and removed of her burned cloaks. She was bathed and cleaned by a dark figure she couldn't make out in her dizzy haze. Lia closed her eyes and just lay there comatose, like a mummy being prepared for burial. An hour or so passed, and she was sat up and told to take a drink, by a deep fluid voice. The liquid was cool and rich. It tasted of wine. As the drink flowed down her throat she felt her sight begin to come back to her. Her body began to regain its once lost senses. There, standing before her, was a man. She knew him somehow, but she could not place the face. His dark hair flowed down his back to his waist. The translucent blue eyes caressed her naked body, laying upon the bed, making her feel as if she was being fed upon. Lia tried to figure out who he was, as he sat down on the bed next to her. He ran his cold hand down her cheek, smiling at her. “Beautiful Lia, it has been such a long time since I have seen you. You do not remember me do you?”

The figure shifted on the bed and leaned down, kissing her cheek. “I am Antonio, Catarina's older brother. I met you when you were a young girl and came to live with our family. I'm sure you don't remember me because I was not around much. That was the time in which I was being taught to take over the realm of darkness from my father. No matter now. I am here, and you will never be alone again. My sister has great plans for you, dear one. I will see to it that she never hurts you again, but you have to trust me. You have much to learn in a short time. So for now I will let you rest and regain your strength.”

With a soft kiss upon her lips, he covered her with the soft chenille blanket and left the room. Lia was lost within her thoughts. She had no control over her body, but her mind was becoming more and more clear. She had very lucid dreams as she slept. Her dreams were filled with a swirling maze of images she had never seen before. She tried fighting them, but as her body was paralyzed, her mind was a slave to her thoughts.

For many days she slept in the same room, only visited by Antonio. He would tell her stories of old, and feed her the wine which had become her only sustenance as of late. Every day she grew stronger, her body alive and filled with new sensations, but she still could not move. He talked to her about her dreams, slowly teaching her how to control them. She didn't know how he could see into them, but as a vampire she didn't doubt what he could do. Lia became more and more at ease with him. He was so different than Catarina. He held her and talked to her. He was very calm and gentle. She had to trust him, it was the only hope she had of freeing herself.

On the final night he came to her cloaked in dark flowing robes. His eyes glowing and hungry. He lifted her from the bed and cradled her in his arms. He walked down the long staircase in the center of the house, and then down into the basement. Deep in the back of this room there was a door that lead to the crypt. Lia murmured softly into Antonio's chest as he carried her down there. She did not want to go into that room. Although she had no strength to fight him, she tried to free herself. He only held her more closely to his chest and whispered to her in Italian. She had never been allowed down in that room before. It was the place of Catarina's family, where all the secrets where held. If she was taken in there, she knew she was going to die.

Antonio laid her gently upon a cold marble slab and tied her hands and feet together with the ropes that were there. He then took a crimson blanket and draped it over her body, trying to keep her warm. He stood at her head, with his hand on her shoulder, never making a sound. Lia struggled to free herself but the movements she made were only figments of her imagination. She was fully awake, but she could not move. A butterfly trapped in her cocoon, awaiting her death. A few moments later, as she was staring at the ceiling she sensed others near her. Catarina's voice flowed into her mind, and then she saw her. She was dressed as a dark queen. Covered in jewels of a blood red color, shrouded in black. She leaned down and kissed Lia's forehead and smiled. “Soon Bella, soon.”

Others flowed into the room. People that she had only seen in pictures. Where they came from Lia did not know. It was possible they were coming from within the walls of the crypt. She drifted her thoughts around the room and tried to see what she could. She found that if she concentrated she could see the entire room as if she was standing there amongst them. Antonio leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Relax, darling. You are waisting your energy by trying to see. My family is gathering. It soon will be time. Catarina has waited a long time for this moment. She will take her place among us and be free to walk among the people of the light as we do."

Lia then saw Ben come into her view. He stood there next to her and looked into her eyes. He seemed different. Why he was down there amongst them she did not know? Had he been changed already? Gods she hoped he hadn't. She struggled to capture his face in her thoughts. The way he looked upon her reminded her of someone, but in her haze she could not recall who. It was as if she was seeing someone from the past.

Not her beautiful Ben, please don't let them have changed him too, she thought in her mind.

The drums began beating as a heart would from within the walls, a deep, echoing, haunting sound. Lia found her heart's pace began to match the beat of the drum, and this terrified her. Antonio kept his grip upon her shoulder and brushed her hair from her face tenderly, as he watched the ceremony take place. Catarina came and stood at Lia's feet and removed the blanket from her body. She took a dagger and cut across the tops of Lia's feet and then across her wrists that were tied together. The blood flowed from her body, but she felt no pain. She felt nothing, but the weakening of her own heart.

Ben collected the blood in a jewled goblet, until it was filled, and handed it to Catarina.She drank the contents greedily and handed the goblet back to him. She then walked over to another slab next to Lia, taking the goblet from another man standing near her. There were seven slabs there that night. Seven bodies, seven sacrifices, seven hosts giving her the blood. Lia could do nothing but lay there and bleed, wondering why Ben wasn't helping her.

A soft voice entered her head. A voice she recoginized. It was Ben's. “Be still darling, You will not die. My brother will save you as he promised.”

Lia felt the bile rise in her throat with those words. His brother? Ben was Antonio's brother? All this time she had believed they didn't know each other at all, and to find out that she was the one that was being tricked all this time made her ill. Why did they need her for this ceremony, she wasn't of any importance. She had made love to a vampire! The sickness came back quickly, but of course the thoughts didn't stay with her long, the blood was still flowing from her veins. She was dying. She knew it.

Antonio leaned down and whispered in her ear softly, “My love, please just hold on a little longer. Once Catarina is in her tomb, I promise I will save you. She just has to think you died, or she will hunt you down until you are dead. I know my sister. Once you betray her, even if that was her intention in the first place, she will seek revenge on you. So please, just hold on. It wont be long now.”

Lia tried to relax as much as she could, but a few more moments and she would be unable to stay awake. She could still feel her heart weakening. Catarina had finished drinking the blood from her sacrifices, and many of them had already died and passed on into the shadows. Before long, Lia would be the only one that remained.

A dazed and intoxicated Catarina was taken by the hands of her hosts and led to her tomb, a chamber for her body to change. Much like a caterpillar goes into its cocoon to become a butterfly, her transformation would take some time, and it must be in a place of total darkness. Her tomb had been prepared many weeks ago, just as the members of her family before her. She was finally ready to take her place among them. The blood that she had fed on would sustain her until she was ready to emerge as immortal vampire, free of any possibility to be killed, unless it was by another vampire, of her own family's blood.

She was wrapped in entirely in iridescent silk, by Ben, until she looked like an Egyptian princess being taken to her grave. She was laid upon a bed of stone, with a single pillow under her head. Slowly Ben covered her with a thing gauze material and they all walked out of the tomb, sealing it off with the iron door. The family slowly left the room, creeping back into the walls,just as they had entered, until the only ones that were left in the crypt were Ben, Lia, and Antonio.

Antonio looked at Ben and motioned to him to go lead the way out of the tomb. He took his cloak off and wrapped Lia in it, trying to stop the bleeding, and carried her out of the crypt. He fled out the door and into a dark car waiting outside. Lia opened her eyes for a moment and looked into his cold blue stare. For the first time she felt a sense of fear in him. He now was worried that she was going to die, and she knew it.

Holding her in his arms in the car, he told the driver to leave, and do it quickly. He never let his grip on her body loosen. He held her close to his body as if he was desperately trying to feel the life inside her. They rode for about a hour, in complete silence, and when the car stopped he hurriedly jumped out and went into the dark house upon the hill.

He ran up the stairs, carrying her in his arms, and laid her upon the bed. Lia was motionless. She was not awake anymore, and barely breathing. He quickly felt for a pulse in her neck. It was there, but it was so faint he had to use his heightened senses to feel it. Unable to get her to drink anything, he was forced to his last resort. Antonio quickly removed the cloaks from her right arm, still tied together, and started fumbling around in the drawer next to the bed. He pulled out a small stretch of medical tubing and attached an I.V. needle to each end. He leaned down and softly kissed her cheek. “I am sorry Lia, but I don't have any other choice. You are going to die if I don't do this.”

Antonio brushed the hair from her face and slid the needle into the vein on the top of her hand. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her and rolled up his own sleeve. Taking a deep breath, he slid the needle into his own arm. His own blood began to slowly fill the tube and slide down into Lia's arm. Her eyes fluttered quickly beneath her eyelids, as his crimson blood flowed into her veins, mingling with her own. Her breathing became stronger, deeper breaths flowed into her lungs. The color began to flow back into her cheeks, and after a while she began to slowly stir under his touch. She was already beginning to change, but this was something she would not know for some time. He felt his own heart weakening and had to remove the needles from their arms. The blood that he had given her would surely be enough to save her, although the change that was going to take place in her might rip at her very being. That was something he was willing to deal with to save her life. His beautiful angel would always be a part of his life now.

Lia opened her eyes and found herself in a very strange old mansion. It was somewhere she had never been before. Her vision was extremely clear and the auras of everything danced in her sight. The wounds she had received from the ceremony had healed in the night, from the blood given to her by her savior. She sat up in the bed and her head suddenly felt very woozy. Antonio saw her sit up from the shadows and softly spoke to her. “She awakes. Tis a good sign.”

Lia about jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice. Had all of the things she remembered really happened to her? The spell, the crypt, that stranger, no it can't be real she thought to herself. It had to be all a nightmare, a dark horrible nightmare. She looked around the room for the voice, desperately trying to find the face. Far against the wall, within the shadows, she saw the face of the man from her memories, and she realized that it was no dream at all.