Free The Love of Vincenzo: Paranormal Erotic Romance (Anam Céile Chronicles) by Rosalind Scarlett Page A

had to get from Venice
to Florence safely.  Depending upon how I was to travel, that would be a long
journey.  At least, I had the entire day of knowing the Vampires would still be
tucked away. 
    If I can just make it there by twilight…
    With the little bit of money I had been able to stash in my
bag, I was able to hire a coach to drive me there. 
    It was dusk when I arrived in the city of Florence, the
place which gave birth to the Renaissance.  It was an undeniably beautiful
city.  Somehow I had missed coming through it on my way to Venice six years
earlier.  Had I visited it then, I may very well have just stayed on there.  It
possessed a sort of comfortable ambiance which made even a newcomer feel right
at home.
    Easily finding the house by the address listed upon the
calling card, I stood before the impressive double door grand entrance of a
stately Renaissance building.  Even after all this way I had come, I hesitated
a moment before knocking, to reassess myself.
      Is this is what I really want?  Well, no, not exactly. 
I know what it is I truly want.  Though alas, that cannot be.  As it was with
Romeo and Juliet, Giuliana and I are star-crossed lovers, destined to love one
another divinely, yet never be together.  
    Though the vast majority of the performers at Sanguelascivia had been waiting to pounce at the chance to be offered a permanent arrangement
with a Vampire— particularly since forming a lasting bond meant the human would
enjoy a fleeting taste of immortality for the duration of the bond—never had I
possessed any desire to enter that type of covenant— especially not with one of them .  I had always prided myself on electing to retain my free will,
rather than submitting to the will of one of those creatures.
    So what the hell was I doing here now?
    Giuliana.
    This woman really had altered my course, in more ways
than I wanted to admit.  But, I did not exactly have many other options at that
moment, now did I?
    Before I could think myself out of it, I raised my hand and
knocked upon the massive dark wooden door. 
    Perhaps he will not even remember me.  I have heard of
how these Vampires can be so fickle in nature.  Perhaps he has already claimed
another for his servant.
    An older female house servant answered the door, her
expression expectant.
    I cleared my throat to speak.  “Buona Sera,
Signora.  I am Vincenzo of Venice.  I have come to call upon Signor Niccolò.”
    She turned to relay the message, however, the distinguished
Vampire was already striding up to the door, his face beaming with joyous astonishment. 
At once, I felt more at ease within myself.
    Perhaps this will not be so terrible, after all— save for
the fact of having to abandon my sweet Giuliana.
    “Ah, Vincenzo!  Do come in!” he exclaimed, his arms open in
welcome.  “How are you, Ragazzo ?”
    The interior of his home was even grander than I had
expected.  Or perhaps it was simply that many years had passed since I had been
in a grand home such as his.  Sleek marble floors lining the foyer, the walls were
adorned with paintings by several famous artists from the Renaissance era.  The
showpiece in the centre of the room was a larger than life size statue of a
nude young man standing proudly.
    “I am well, Niccolò, grazie,” I answered, affecting a grin,
though I could clearly see he was not altogether convinced.  “And you?”
    Niccolò gazed at me with a focused expression for an
extended moment as though he was attempting to perceive my inner thoughts, but
then appeared to have shrugged it off for the moment.  “I could not be better
than I am in this moment!” he suddenly answered full of enthusiasm.  He thought
a moment before adding, “I must say, Vincenzo, I did not expect to ever see you
at my door.   You look well!”
    I look well?  Hmph!  Yeah, right!  It is hell I am
certain I look like.  But it is kind of him to suggest otherwise.  That is the
kind of man he is. 
    I