May of 2014. Sicily, Italy.
Karina slams shut the heavy tome she was reading, causing Vincenzo to glance up from his newspaper. She stares down at the aged leather of the cover and furrows her brow. "Something wrong, Miss Karina?", the ghoul asks.
Karina looks to the ghoul, her deep blue eyes seem to be searching beyond his face. "I need to get away. From here." She turns her eyes away, speaking in a barely audible tone. "From him." She raises her voice. "I can't stand to be trapped under his wing any longer, Vincenzo. I'll go cage-mad." To avoid the ghoul's pity, she adds "More so, I'm never going to expand on my talents stuck here, rifling through the same dusty books over and over again."
Vincenzo folds his newspaper and studies his young mistress, once again struck with her determination to succeed. "I imagine you already have a plan for liberation?"
Karina's lips twitch into a minuscule smile. The ghoul knows her too well. "Bartertown, Vincenzo. I gather you've heard of it?" He nods in assent. "I feel as if this would be a perfect opportunity to spread my wings. So to speak." She tosses her book to the side, rising from her desk and pacing in small circles. "On the way, I can look into meeting my fellow Necromancers. I've been ostracized from the family for too long." Her tone is bitter.
"Indeed, Miss. If I'm not mistaken, the priest you've been so captivated by is currently residing with your cousin Bernito. Perhaps you can satiate your curiosity there."
Karina gives her ghoul a sly glance. He uses the word 'captivated' lightly. After hearing of Father Maletoni's trysts in Baltimore, the young Rosselini has hero worshiped the eccentric Giovanni. To learn under such a skilled Necromancer would be an honor. "Rumor has it, both the Salvatores and Miss Regina are also making their way to Bartertown."
Karina's expression brightens, her voice reflecting a childish glee at the prospect of consorting with her clan mates. "This is phenomenal. A chance to broaden my skills, expand my knowledge, make a name for myself among the clan..."
Her words trail off as her face darkens. All sense of juvenile exuberance is withdrawn from her demeanor. She looks to the ghoul with all the pleasantry of a thundercloud, the slightest hint of misery in her eyes. "Papa will -never- let me go." Her shoulders droop when the ghoul fails to argue her point.
"Benedict does prefer to keep in his sight, but maybe if you spoke with him? Appealed to his better nature?" The ghoul has a brief look of repulsion at his last words, mirrored on the young girl's face.
"He has no better nature. Just as he'd have no inclination to allow his prized possession to traipse around the globe." She turns her back to Vincenzo, to speak without his pitying gaze. "He covets me like the trophy wife Mother refused to be." Her eyes turn to the oil painting of the late Marietta Rosselini that hangs on her wall. She stares at the painting, deliberating her options, aware of her ghoul's expectant silence. "Perhaps...if you spoke with Papa..." she turns back to the ghoul, hopeful. "You could convince him. Tell him of my restlessness, my rancor at being cooped up indeterminately. What ever you need to say to sway him to the idea."
Vincenzo is hesitant, not wanting to intervene so directly between the young Rosselini and her father. "I don't know how favorable an idea that is, Miss Rina."
Karina almost appears taken aback at the lack of enthusiasm from the ghoul. Her expression quickly changes to one of ire and refusal to take 'no' for an answer. "It wasn't an idea, nor a question Vincenzo. It was a command. You will speak to Papa on my behalf, and you -will- persuade him to let me travel." In that moment, there is nothing childlike about young Karina. She speaks with the authority of one much beyond her years. The ghoul doesn't respond, but gives a weary nod to the girl, retreating to her father's study immediately. After he exits the room, Karina almost looks ashamed of herself. She regrets her insolent behavior towards the old man. With her own weary frown, she sits down at her vanity, glaring unhappily at the perpetually youthful reflection for several moments before rising and following after Vincenzo.
When she enters her father's study, both gentlemen are already deep in conversation. She lifts herself onto the large desk in the back of the room, keeping her head down until she hears her father speaks her name. "Yes, Papa?"
Benedict Rosselini levels a stare at his daughter that is both loving and stern. "Vinny tells me you wish to travel?"
Karina glances at both father and ghoul, a very different expression on her face for each man. "That is correct, Papa. I mentioned to Vincenzo that I wanted to visit Barter town and the surrounding areas, but was hesitant to ask you. I suppose once again Vincenzo has proved his worth by bringing it up to you, as I lacked the audacity to do it myself." She looks to the ghoul in silent apology.
"You must of known your Papa would be adverse to the idea."
Of course I did. The young girl thinks to herself, keeping such thoughts from her lips. Karina slides from the desk and approaches her father's chair. "Papa, I'm so very restless. Cooped up in the mansion night by night. I wish to explore beyond these four walls. I feel as if my knowledge has reached a plateau, which you know is one of my great despairs." Watching Benedict's expression, the young girl feels resentment. His eyes seem to rake over her body, his mind oblivious to the words she speaks. "I can't be imprisoned here forever, father. I'll go completely mad."
That statement gets the older Rosselini's attention. His deep blue eyes snap up to meet their match. "Do you feel as if I've bound you here? All this talk of exploring, Karina, is your true wish to escape your Papa?"
Karina is careful to avoid her ghoul's eyes, a latent fear that the truth will be exposed on either of their faces. She takes one of her father's hands between her own and speaks with a believable sincerity. "Never. You are my Papa, my Sire and the man I adore."
His expression softens as he pulls his young daughter onto his lap. "And I cherish you, my darling little Karina." It's a grand show of her mental clout that Karina doesn't let the slightest hint of disgust show upon her visage. The click of the study's door closing, nor Vincenzo's departure is unnoticed by the young girl. "Can you blame your Papa for wanting to keep you near? You're my prized possession, and if something were to happen to you I would be destroyed." He wraps an arm around her waist, resting his hand far up on her thigh.
She looks down at his wedding ring, still worn out of habit more than anything, and resists the urge to grimace. "Vincenzo is more than adept at watching over me, and I'm no paper tiger, father. I know how to defend myself. More importantly, I know how to bend those around me to my will."
Benedict misses the jibe to his own character, as he strokes the scars on the side of her pale throat. "You'll bring both Vincenzo and Marietta, then?" He shows no recognition from speaking his former wife's name.
"Yes, Papa." Karina replies, relishing in her victory whilst realizing she still has to undergo one last battle. She turns to face her father, the hem of her dress already pulled high upon her thighs by his deft maneuvering. She presses her full lips to his throat, the dark curls of her hair falling over her face. Grazing dainty fangs over his flesh, she is grateful to have her face buried in the niche of his neck, if only to avoid viewing the lust and desire that is likely etched in her father's face.
Three quarters of an hour later, Karina finds Vincenzo lounging in one of the kitchens. The ghoul sits at the breakfast nook, newspaper in his hands, an empty plate before him. He glances up at his young mistress, eyebrow raised in silent query. "I'm free." Karina's elation is apparent in those two words.
Knowing Benedict's ways the ghoul responds, "And the stipulations for your freedom?"
She retrieves his plate from the table, placing it in the sink. "Oh, there's an extensive amount of stipulations. None of which do I plan to adhere to."
Vincenzo turns the page of his newspaper. "As expected." he replies, not without affection.
Karina smile is unseen, hidden from the ghoul's eyes by his paper. "He did request that I bring you...and mother with me." Vincenzo nods, wordlessly. The young Rosselini circles the table, approaching the ghoul from behind. She wraps her arms around the gentleman, resting her chin upon his shoulder. "You'll come with me, won't you Vincenzo? I wouldn't dream of setting out on an exploit without your companionship."
The ghoul sets his paper down and pats the girl's arm in a paternal gesture. He smiles as he speaks. "Of course, Miss Karina." The young vampire and the ghoul embrace in that manner for a moment or two. Karina showing an endearment towards the gentleman that is rarely, if ever, seen by anyone else. She kisses his creased cheek and releases Vincenzo. "I'll make the arrangements to leave by tomorrow night." The ghoul knows she'll want to leave as soon as possible.
"Wonderful. Thank you, Vincenzo." Her spoken gratitude seems to cover a subject much broader than the one at hand. "I'll start packing right away." Karina heads upstairs to her bedroom, anticipating the following night and the happy prospect of escape.