The Untouched Flower
Part 6: Rebirth
Several nights passed as Camilla, Renzo, and a small group of servants held up in one of the Elder Vampires Havens in the city of Rome. Over several nights Camilla explained the basic principles of Vampirism and the laws of Kindred society. She notably remained vague on the nature of the of the blood bond and manipulations she had used upon Renzo and his family.
Many nights Camilla kept herself busy with her own affairs rather then to tutor her new Neonate, likewise Renzo kept himself secluded in his room looking out over one of the city streets trying to mentally come to grips with what became of him.
A knock came at the door and Renzo instantly glared at the door, he knew it was Camilla, his instincts told him that, he felt the tether that bound them tugging.
“Get yourself ready, we are going out for a walk.” Her voice rang through the door and he had no strength to refuse such an invitation.
He dressed himself quickly, clothes of fine white though they were not his he felt some measure of comfort in them. In quick order he found his way to Camilla’s side and the two made their way through the streets in a seemingly random way starkly silent.
“How are you adjusting ?” Camilla broke the silence as they made their way into the old abandoned city.
“Well enough, I suppose, I think I am learning to be comfortable in my body again.” Renzo replied.
“Good.” Camilla noted as her hand slid along the wall of one of the ruins.
“What have you learned? What happened to Haloise?” Renzo spoke with a desperate worry.
“Our scheming resulted in calamity, the Kindred you meet, the older was my sibling by the blood and my rival, and the Sire of Haloise, Tiberius. The pretend Priest was another of his Childe by the name of Gavin.” Camilla explained breathing in the age of the place.
“What of Haloise, did their ambush succeed?” His words still carried concern.
“I heard that he fought his way free of the city and disappeared in to the wilderness.
“We have to find him then.” Renzo chimed in.
“We are not so fortunate Renzo, Tiberius still looks for me and our ability to resist him diminish by the day, Haloise is resourceful.” She spoke rather somberly.
“How can you say that! How can you discard him so easily!” Renzo pleaded.
“Do not overplay your hand Renzo, it is by my blood you still love and it can be by my will that such a thing can be snuffed.” Camilla flared with rage.
“Then what are we to do, wait until we are found and meet our ends then ?” Renzo was quick to find his place.
“No, I have been planing for this possibility, we will travel to the capital of New Spain where my enemies have no influence, I have already shifted much of your family’s wealth there, we should be quite comfortable and quite capable.” She confidently explained.
“We are just going to run then and abandon everything.” Renzo sounded disappointed.
“In short yes but fortune may give us opportunity in the future should we prove clever enough. Time is our tool only should we use it.” Camilla explained further.
They traveled a little further and Renzo could begin to sense the signs of the living as they made their way to the heart of the old city.
“In order for you to be useful for me you must have access to your full strength and to do so you require blood. Here we should be able to find someone that will address your hunger.” She explained as a homeless man came in their view.
“No …. I … I cannot.” Renzo was obviously disgusted with the idea of the act.
“You speak as if your choice was your own.” She focused on Renzo tugging at his Beast and forcing his hunger to the surface.
Renzo had not tasted Vitae since his embrace and it was simple enough to coax the beast in him to the surface. Renzo flew in to a frenzy pouncing upon the homeless man drinking his fill.
“Easily forgotten, easily discarded, in time we might refine your taste but fill your strength Renzo we will need it for we will leave soon.” Camilla smiled as she observed the horror in Renzo’s face as the body beneath him was cold and lifeless.