The year was 1560, a time of rebirth, of light, of goodness, but that was not to be my destiny. I came upon Marcos in much the same way that young way came to me. I recall Marcos staring at me in strange fascination. Later he was to tell me that he was simply amazed that I was not frightened. "So many mortals fear us," he used to tell me. I was not afraid of him, what was there to fear? I was sixteen then, reckless and careless. I had believed nothing could ever harm me, I was wrong.
I met up with Marcos on a hot August evening in a darkened Italian alley. I had been on my way home after a long tedious day of posing for my portrait. I had no desire to be painted, but I came from a wealthy family and each member of our family had their portrait painted and hung in the Hall of Faces.
That night, I had purposely traveled down that alley in hopes that something would happen to keep my portrait from being completed. I remember exactly how his voice sounded, so very soft and silky, yet dangerous nonetheless.
"My, you are a lovely one," he had commented coming up behind me and touching my soft black hair. His fingers were like ice as he ran them down my spine.
I gasped. "What is it you want signor?" I asked turning around, my eyes blazing in fury. How dare this stranger touch me in such a fashion? I remember turning around and being utterly stunned at the beauty of the man before me. His luxurious brown hair cascaded down his shoulders and down his back. His eyes were a soft shade of brown and I could not tear my own eyes from his.
"I want you," he whispered putting an arm around my shoulders.
I pushed his arm off my shoulders and stared angerily at him. I was shocked that this stranger would dare attack the daughter of Francisco Monacelli! No one ever dared to touch me in such a fashion and I was apalled at the audiacity of this man, yet I found this man strangely appealing.
"Good, you are angry," he said smiling as he ran his cold fingers through my hair. "Anger, such a wonderful feeling..."
"Signor, what are you doing?" I inquired as he took my hand and led me to a small caf� down the alley. The caf� was quiet, almost too quiet. There was hardly a soul in the place, except the bartender and the manager. They looked up briefly when we entered, but upon seeing this man they shrugged and went on with their business.
"My dear, please sit down," he offered motioning to a chair adjacent to the one he had chosen.
I sat down and crossed my arms across my chest and pouted sullenly. This fight was not over yet.
"My darling, I am here to offer you a gift more precious than anything you can possibly imagine," he began smiling again. "I have traveled across many lands for many a year in search of someone to be my companion and I have found you. You, you have a passion for life I have not encountered in anyone else. You are a grand creation, and I wish to immortalize you."
"Immortalize me?" I asked a bit confused. "I am sorry signor, you are too late..."
He cut in abruptly, "You are joking are you not?" he asked in a very distressed voice. "I thought for sure I would have sensed it..." he muttered.
"Sensed what?" I asked quizickly.
"That you were a vampire of course," he elaborated.
"A vampire?" I laughed. "I am afraid we have misunderstood each other. I have already been immortalized in a painting, if you want to paint me, you are too late."
He suddenly broke into a roaring laughter. "Paint you? Paint you?" he laughed. "My dear, I have no intention of painting you!"
"And what precisly are your intentions, if I may ask?" I inquired staring at him trying to learn something from his nonverbal communications.
He stared at me, his eyes fixating upon mine in such a way that I turned quickly away from his gaze. "Why, I want to make you immortal. I want to give you the gift of life, everlasting."
I thought this offer quite strange, but this man intrigued me and I could not refuse him. It was as if he had me under some sort of strange spell that I could not break. His very presence before me sent shivers up my spine and something in me warned me to stay far away from him, yet I could not. I nodded my consent to this dastardly offer and he smiled slightly.
"Now that you have agreed, let me introduce myself. I am Marcos de Santorini," he said bowing his head slightly. "Come my love, we must leave. I shall give you one day to consider your decision and when I return tomorrow, I hope you will have chosen to follow me."
I stared after him as he got up and took leave of the tiny caf�. Who was that man, and what did he mean by immortality?
I was to find the answer to my questions the next night...