Eighteen Summers by Jessie M

flirtatiously. I know I am looking really good now... His eyes shine and he does nothing to hide the yellow flicker. I bask in his admiration.
    “ Well Cali, what a day it has been for you.”
    “ You could say that.”
    “ And now you must begin thinking seriously about your new life here.”
    “ Hmmm, about that...”
    “ We agreed you would give it time with My Lord.”
    “ That was before I found out something about him.”
    “ And what is that?”
    “ He's a sadist. He likes to torture women sexually.”
    “ He has done this to you?”
    “ No, not yet. But he will.”
    “ Surely you are imagining things! I would know about this, if it were true. He enjoys the company of many females in the household.”
    “ They can't ever tell. He won't allow it.”
    “ Cali, what are you saying? Explain yourself.”
    “ He has a cellar. He hangs girls upside down in it and tortures them. God knows what else he does in there. I guess just about everything...”
    “ I have heard he has several wine cellars, but I have never been to his lower levels. How do you know any of this? If no one will tell...?”
    “ I've experienced it, in a very vivid dream. And before you laugh at me, I know Sofia has been in there but she won't say what went on. She is scared for her life. She could be dispatched permanently. I know Severina has been in there as well, but she'll never admit to it either.”
    “ But we are not a violent society. It is our ethos and culture to treat each other respectfully. Torture and sadism are completely at odds with this. And he is our leader, our Lord Protector. I cannot believe he would act this way. It's almost Ristorian, and they are everything we are not.”
    “ What's a Ristorian?”
    “ They are the main reason I guard you. They murdered your parents Cali. They are brutal, undisciplined, and sadistic vampires. Nothing is beyond them, truly nothing. They take small children in the night, decimate entire families on a whim, and indulge in gratuitous orgies of blood lust. The Ristoria are a rival family, from the Etruscan era, 500 BC. The origins of your bloodline and theirs emerged at the same time. There were bloody wars over land rights for millennia until 1500 AD, when your father finally put an end to their disgusting rampage and finally restored peace to the region. Their remaining lineage has sought revenge many times and finally, as you know, they were successful.”
    “ My God, this is quite a family history I have, don't I? I want to know more of this later, but tell me, what is a Lord Protector exactly?”
    “ He is the Lord in your stead. You are the rightful head of the household and he is holding your position for you until you become more accomplished in our ways. He is an old and ancient one. Wise and a natural leader.”
    “ But he isn't a noble like I am?”
    “ A lesser noble. He is a part of the extended Gianni family by birth, of Caprice lineage. Well, as far as we know anyway, based on his tale of events. He is not a direct descendant like you. He was born and raised human and later turned.”
    “ So who gave him this job?”
    “ Your father nominated him, should the need to protect arise. He became his confidant, a close friend, very close after you were born.”
    “ I see. So can I un-nominate him?”
    “ Cali... please... Do not consider such a thing. I cannot imagine the consequences.”
    “ I'm not, but I won't mate with him Nico, how can I?”
    He puts his head in his hands.
    “Look...” I begin, but he holds up his hand.
    “ I'm thinking Mistress, one moment please.” I wait for a minute while he paces up and down fretfully. “There is only one way you can avoid the union. You must leave the household, temporarily, until things become rearranged somehow.”
    “ Where will I go?”
    “ I have friends in Italy. I can take you there.”
    “ But what about Raffaele, won't he try to bring me back?”
    “ He cannot force you to come back. And you have your own