The echoing chimes of a grandfather clock rung through the lively halls of D'Avanio mansion, announcing the hour of 11pm to the many noble and dignified party guests attending that night. Aristocrats of Volterra and its surrounding cities in Tuscany were gathered to celebrate the birthday of young Lady D'Avanio, who was to turn 16 in an hour. The nobles were also attending the party to show support to Lord D'Avanio; his intentions were to rise up against the Volturi, a "family" that had ruled over the people of Volterra for centuries. He, and the majority of the upper class in Tuscany, felt that it was time to rebel against their supernatural tyrants and restore power to human families of nobility. The festive function was to be the instigation of a political war between the humans and vampires of Tuscany.
At the final chime, Lady D'Avanio slowly made her way down the wide staircase that led into the great hall, holding her dainty head high. She was the most beautiful girl in the room, with her flowing pink ball gown and curled golden hair held up in silk ribbons with a silver tiara on top. Gasps and sighs of admiration filled the room, as she took her father's arm and was led to the ball room. Lord D'Avanio leaned in and whispered, "Natalina, you look most elegant."
"Thank you father," she murmured softly.
"But I would really rather the dress not be so revealing, it's not entirely appropriate for a lady of your age," he scolded.
"Oh pa, I'm sixteen now," she protested haughtily, "I can wear what I like. Besides, it's the 18th century for heaven's sake!" His only response was to roll his eyes and humpf disapprovingly.
Natalina glanced around and caught the eye of her handmaid, Calissa serving punch to the guests, and smiled kindly to her. Over the years, they had become best friends due to their closeness in proximity and age, although Calissa was a year and a bit older. Calissa returned the smile and proceeded to hand a glass of the spiced wine to a guest.
"Well! If it isn't the slave girl Calissa" sneered Euric Ronaldio, a nobleman from the south of Volterra who took every opportunity he could to torment Calissa. He swaggered his way over to her, obviously inebriated. A sick feeling swirled in Calissa's stomach; she cast her eyes down and mumbled a nervous "good evening, sir."
"Well it was," he slurred, "until I saw they let filth like you into the house."
Hurt and hatred boiled in Calissa. She looked straight into his eyes and said "I'll have you know, sir, that I have worked for this house for four years, so the fact that you find it surprising to find me here tonight makes me worry for your current state of mental health. Perhaps you should leave while there's still blood in your alcohol stream." She knew she had stepped too far, but her malice towards him had been festering for a while now, and she found the look of shocked fury in his eyes rather satisfying.
"How… how dare you!" He threw his arms up in anger, and intoxicated, caught the side of the punch bowl. Calissa's indignation dissolved into humiliation as the wine spilled over her and stained her dress. It was the only one she had ever owned, and she struggled not to cry at its ruin.
Natalina rushed over and shouted at Euric. "Leave this house or I shall have you escorted off the premises," she threatened. "There now" she comforted Calissa, holding her hand. "I'll get you a new dress, don't you worry. Come on. I'll just be a minute daddy!" she called and they went upstairs.
"Ready… ok, open your eyes!" squealed Natalina. Slowly, Calissa opened them and gazed into the large standing mirror in front of her. She saw a beautiful stranger in a purple and blue dress with a low-cut, tight bodice that fanned out into a loose, pleated skirt. The dress was an old one from Natalina's closet, but it fitted Calissa's small body perfectly. However, it was not the dress, but Calissa's face that was most surprising. Natalina had spent a good half an hour curling and tying Calissa's dark brown hair in an intricate bun, allowing curls of hair to frame the side of her face, which was powdered to hide her tanned skin colour – the sign of a working class citizen. Natalina had also generously adorned Calissa with beautiful lipstick, eye shadow and jewellery that allowed Calissa's ethereal beauty to easily surpass all others, even Natalina's. It was 10 minutes to 12pm when she finally finished the make-over. However, she was not jealous of Calissa, but rather excited that the two now looked like sisters. She wanted to share her accomplishment with her party guests, to prove that beauty is not only a gift to those of nobility. "Okay," she said, " I will go downstairs and re-disperse myself in the party, then at the stroke of midnight get everyone in the hall to watch you walk downstairs, as I did. Trust me; people will faint at the sight of you".
Calissa smiled, "I think you're exaggerating. I'm just a servant. There's no need to make such a fuss," but Natalina would not be swayed, and eventually Calissa gave in and agreed. Clapping her hands in excitement, Natalina left the room and went downstairs. Calissa sat on the bed and waited for midnight. Five minutes later, the clock struck 12 and she stood up and nervously headed to the hallway. The house had fallen silent, which only added to her tension, making her movements awkward as she pictured the Italian nobles waiting impatiently in the hall. What she saw was entirely different.
She stood frozen at the top of the stairs. The smell was the worst; blood, balefulness and burning – the stench of death itself. It stuck in her nose, forcing its way down her throat, making her want to retch. Dead bodies littered the floor of the mansion, red stains to big that no marble could be seen; only more blood. Every victim was dead, each body with horrifying wounds to the neck. The front doors were blasted open and hung on their hinges, so it looked as if some hellish creature had burst in and killed everything on site. Movement caught Calissa's eye; a dark flash in the corner of her vision. Her head snapped down to the right. A man stood in the doorway leading to the ball room. He had short, flicked hair that was light brown, but appeared to shine golden in the light. He was tall and well built, around 6 foot 3 inches tall. His skin was tanned, like hers, but his face appeared pale, probably due to the thick, wet blood smeared across his mouth. Calissa did not notice any of that, though. Her eyes were locked with his. They were terrible, but beautiful - like the rest of him - flashing crimson as he stared at her. She thought he must have been an angel. One fallen far from grace. Two strongly contrasting emotions fought for dominance inside her. Instinctual fear made her want to scream and run far away, to hide from his sanguine gaze, but a strange and curious longing urged her to move closer, to feel him, hold him. As a result, she stood rooted to the spot, unable to flee or move at all.
The following events happened so fast, Calissa was unable to determine the order in which they occurred. The man's red lips parted slightly, as if to speak or ask something. At the same time, a dark flash raced towards her from the other end of the hallway, and a figure appeared behind her, pulling her hair sideways painfully and exposing her neck. "Felix, no!" the man said in a forceful, panicked tone. Calissa felt cold breath on her neck and a slight brush of something sharp on her skin. It was then that she eventually found her voice and screamed, although she realised there was little point in the action – she was as good as dead anyway. The sensation on her neck disappeared, however, at the man's exclamation. The grip on her hair did not loosen though, and she felt single strands of hair being ripped individually from her scalp. This and the trauma of the entire situation brought tears to her eyes, although she refused to cry in front of these murderers.
"What, Demetri? You want her for yourself?" asked the figure, Felix. Demetri walked up the stairs, but at the speed of someone sprinting, and stood at eye-level with Calissa even though he was a step below her.
His face inches from hers, he asked "What is your name, girl?"
"Calissa" Her voice was strong and unbroken, even though her whole body was shaking. Demetri seemed impressed by her bravery, though he gave no outward indication of any other emotion.
"What house are you of?"
"None," she replied, "I am a servant of the D'Avanio house. Otherwise, I have no family." Her lip trembled as she thought of Natalina, wondering if she was alive, doubting the possibility.
"She's lying" growled Felix. "No servant could afford her clothes." She tried to explain why she was wearing the dress, but the vampire hissed and pulled tighter on her hair, yanking her head sideways.
"Please!" She cried. "Check the guest list – You'll not find a Calissa. My lady gave me this dress and jewellery to wear for tonight, as my previous outfit was ruined. It's on the floor of her bedroom!"
Demetri turned and inspected the bedroom, then came back to the hallway, all in one fluid action.
"It's true" he reported.
"So, we kill her anyway" shrugged Felix, still gripping her.
"But Aro sent us to dispose of the rebelling nobles; our quarrel is not with her." Demetri's voice sounded desperate… almost pleading. Why would he bother defending Calissa? It took away some of the fear she had for him, though she was still terrified for her life.
Felix scoffed "We killed the other servants. Besides, she smells so sweet, and wrapped up all nicely too." He leaned in and touched his lips to her neck, drinking in the scent of crushed pine and spice and intoxicatingly sour fear. She shivered and stiffened, her body shrieking out against the horror. She was about to die. He would have killed her right then, but a low, rich growl resonated through the hallway. It was demanding, dominating, aggressive, with a very slight undertone of lust. Felix looked disbelievingly at its source, and as slow as a human, released his hold on Calissa, stepping back from her. She would have fallen forward if Demetri hadn't stepped forward and held her shoulders. He looked into her face, smiling, and said "Now, what shall we do with you?"