Cesare was heading out to meet with his soldiers at dusk so we were given some time to become re-acquainted.  The mansion was completely shuttered to daylight, which enabled the vampires to move freely inside its walls during this hour.  Cesare informed me, that a series of tunnels below also aided them in moving from one area to another, albeit restricted and known to only a select few. He winked when he told me this.  Somehow, I got the feeling he was teasing me.

He gave us the tour, showing us more splendid, exorbitantly decorated rooms and halls.  We ended our exploration in the library, where the walls were adorned with books of all sizes and subjects reaching from floor to ceiling.  An ornate desk sat to the right and a sofa and two armchairs were positioned in front of the enormous marble fireplace. We sat there for the remainder of the afternoon.  

He wanted to know about the life I had had with the Darroways.  Were they good to me, what kind of things did we do as a family, where did we go for holidays, what was my school like, did I enjoy school, my favourite food, colour.....I bore with it.  He was merely trying to find out about his long-lost daughter and what kind of person she had grown into.  I couldn't however, so easily accept him as being my father.  Perhaps it was the fact that I had already been to one dad's  funeral, and had had a personal hand in cremating my so-called second dad, I don't know.  I liked Cesare, and deep down, as the day progressed, I so wanted it to be true, but was still too scared to commit.

He asked about my friends, school friends, college friends, boyfriends (there had never been many, 3 in fact, until Vittorio).   I did latch onto the subject of friends however.  Namely Peter and Kula. I had given him a brief outline of the situation prior to our arrival in Italy, omitting of course the real reason Kula had been in Dante's service for so long.  That much he knew, Vittoria had informed him.  I made a joke about vampire-homing-pigeons, but I don't think my jest was quite understood, judging by Cesare's wry smile.  I noted Vittorio got the joke though. My Vittorio!

   "I need to find Peter," I said. "He is vulnerable and alone amongst the Heirs.  If they found out...."

Cesare silenced me with a wave of his hand.  He looked at Kula as he replied. "We cannot send out any trackers or scouts to find one human, who has willingly given his loyalty to the enemy. We need all our resources here."

Kula started to cry.  I was outraged.  "But, they didn't know Dante was the enemy when this all began!" I pleaded. "My friends were deceived, tricked into serving an Elder who they thought was noble and righteous."

He stood, his posture, one of unwavering determination, and something else, which  I could not quite identify.  "There is no such thing!  Look at us, Sienna. We feed off humans to survive.  We have bred with them for our own selfish and deluded needs. We kill those who stand in our way, without conscience or regret. We are monsters!"

Now I was stunned.  I had not expected him to be self-loathing, so self-depricating. I looked at Vittorio.  His was wide-eyed.  I gathered that Cesare's opinion had taken him utterly by surprise too.    

   "That's utter rubbish!" I retorted.  Cesare's head snapped round.  His eyes were a mixture of sorrow and disbelief.  "Only some of you,,,correction...us are like that, Cesare!  Look at human history and tell me how we are any worse than they are. 

   "Prime example, Hitler.  He was a meglamaniac with deluded ideas on world domination.  His SS and nazi cohorts slaughtered millions of Jews in the insane belief they were the 'superior race'.  But even from within, there were those who opposed him.  Hell, the German Resistance attempted to over-throw the Nazi-led Government with an assassination attempt on Hitler himself,  at his field headquarters near Rastenburg.  The ordinary German people did not all conform to his methods nor ideals. Many were innocents just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got dragged along in the chaos.  There were kind, good-hearted people amongst them who strived to make a decent and honest living.  They laughed, they loved, they raised kids... they survived! 

   "Even today, although the horrors of the holocaust are known globally, do you think humans have learned anything?  Do you think they have suddenly sprouted wings and fly with angels? No!  They are as capable of inflicting pain, terror and death today, not only on their own kind but also lesser creatures of the planet. And if you really need to use the blood-drinking arguement to debase yourself further, here's a thought....they have cannibals!"

Cesare stared at me open-mouthed.  Vittorio looked equally surprised.  Kula's eyes filled with fresh tears, but she smiled an appreciative smile at me.  Cesare came to stand directly in front of me.  He placed his hands firmly on my upper arms, then pulled me to him.  As he hugged me, I felt his body shudder from suppressed sobs.  He smoothed my hair with his broad hand.  "There is more to you than even I realised, " he whispered.  "I am so proud you  are my daughter."  Then, with a very paternal kiss on my brow, he released me.  "I will do what I can to help your friend.  But, I cannot guarantee success."

That was all I could ask of him.  He then took Kula's hand.  Even though she was a tall woman, she was still dwarfed by this vampire-warrior-captain.  Softly, he said, "You have an invaluable friend in Sienna, and I do not say that through bias."  Kula nodded.  She seemed lost for words.

The blond warrior who had accompanied Abramo and Cesare appeared at the doorway. Cesare had informed his name was Durante, and he was an exceptional soldier.  "There you are Captain.  We are making ready."  Cesare nodded at him.

   "I wish we had more time," he said to me. "But, I must make haste and rejoin the forces."  He turned and headed for the door.  A pain in my chest caused me to inhale sharply.

   "Wait!" I called after him.  He stopped and turned to face me as I ran up to him.  I was over-whelmed by my sudden and undeniable acceptance of this man.  I felt tears prickling the corners of my eyes.  "Be careful," I said hoarsely.  I flung my arms round his neck.  He stooped slightly and wrapped his arms round me, lifting me from the ground.

   "I will, my darling Sienna.  You too.  Stay safe."  He released me, and with one more tender look, he turned and headed out the door.