And here things begin to get interesting...

It was unfortunate that the sun did not want to come out today. The temperatures were chilly, and the market was not as cheerful as I had remembered. I had a couple of bags with me as I walked around looking at what was being offered before making my choices. I had run into a few people who remembered me as a child and gave their condolences for my loss. Even more vendors offered me items at no charge. Normally I would have refused their offers, but that was not the way things were done here in Volterra, so I accepted them with thanks and a smile.

It was as I was heading home, my grandma did not live far away, so I had decided to walk the distance it took to the lot, that I saw him, the man from the service who had been with Chelsea. He was leaning against a building in a narrow alleyway, and I thought it a strange place to be waiting. We made eye contact, and I smiled politely as he stepped out and walked towards me.

"It's nice to see you again, Liliana. Let me help you with one of those."

"Oh, Demetri, isn't it?" He smiled as I said the name I had overheard Chelsea spoke. " Thank you, but I'm walking back to the house. I think I can manage. I'm a lot stronger than I look. And it's just Lia," I replied.

"Lia, my apologies. I'm heading in that direction. I don't mind." He held out a hand, and I did not refuse. He easily took it from me, and we continued to walk. "Chelsea said you were planning on moving back. I imagine it must feel strange after so long."

"Actually, it feels more like I came home, but you would think that." I then asked out of curiosity, "How long had you known my grandfather?"

"For some time. He was an excellent mayor to work with. Always told such intricate stories." Demetri eyed me, and I noticed immediately.

"So he told you as well, did he? My parents always hated when he mentioned any of the legends or myths to me, but I found them fascinating. Of course, they're only stories, but he seemed to believe them."

"Perhaps then they are more than that?"

"Volterra is filled with secrets of the past, and Nonno was a historian. Honestly, now that I'm older, I think he probably exaggerated a little just because. But as a child, I had such an active imagination. I wanted to believe them. I remember looking everywhere hoping to see something that he mentioned in one of those stories. Funnily enough, I still wonder about the day before we left Italy and if that at all could have been relative."

We had reached the park and decided to sit for a moment. "What was that," Demetri inquired.

"My parents abruptly decided to leave on March 20 if that tells you anything."

"Right after St. Marcus' Day. Did they say why?"

I laughed. "This will probably sound crazy, but I was a child and wanted to believe in it for who knows what reason, but Nonno often talked about how Volterra was originally founded. He said the Etruscans built the city, but it was not without help from three Greek gods, or as they believed them to be. He said really that they were powerful, insanely alluring immortal beings. Beings that we now refer to as vampires." Demetri's eyes narrowed slightly at this. "Like I said, it's crazy. It's some legend that keeps the tourism industry going and money coming into the city. There's no such thing actually as vampires.

"But you have to realize that as a child, I didn't know that. Everything Nonno said to me was magic and fact. I remember asking him where the vampires were, and he told me, 'That's why we have St. Marcus' Day. It's to celebrate their eradication from the city and the priest who was martyred in doing so. But,' he said, 'We never know if there may still be vampires walking amongst us. They did so ever love the village they called home.' So I began to look more.

"That year, I saw something strange. Everyone was in the piazza outside the city hall, and there was this young man. I remember thinking, 'Why is he removing his shirt?' And I saw this girl running up to him, pushing him aside when she reached him, but not before I saw it. It was if his actual skin was being reflected by the sun. It was a moment only, but my eyes were drawn to it, like he was sculpted out of diamond."

Demetri scoffed lightly.

"What? I know my eyes were playing tricks on me now, but at that time, all I could think about was if he could be some sort of immortal creature like my grandfather had told me about, come to witness the procession."

"Why would this creature come to witness such an event?"

"I don't know. If you ever meet a vampire, maybe you can ask why they would be interested in that sort of thing."

"Heh. What did you do then?"

I continued. "I kept watching. The two moved into the alley between the city hall and the Praetorian Palace, and then two other men walked out towards them. I found it strange that they were wearing cloaks, but not the usual red. They were darker, different shades of grey. I saw them talking, then another female appear. I remember thinking how graceful she was. But then it looked as if they were arguing and some sort of fight was about to break out, so I got my father's attention to let him know. I think they realized that they had been spotted, and they left.

"I, of course, was too excited to go home afterwards to talk to Nonno about everything. I couldn't do it there in front of my parents, but they overheard anyway. They said that now my grandfather had me believing that those people were actually vampires or some sort of other monster, and they wouldn't stand for him causing me any nightmares. He had to stop. But my father was a little shaken after that, and the next day my bags were packed, and we were on a plane to New York."

"Did you ever have nightmares from the stories your grandfather told?"

"Only a few."

Demetri smiled again. "That is quite a marvelous tale."

"It's all true!" I said with a laugh. "So what do you do at the comune anyway?"

"You could say I work with the tourism office."

"Are you a guide?"

He shook his head. "Not me. I help in other matters."

"I see. I would really love to actually visit more of the Palazzo dei Priori at some point. Nonno always restricted me when I came to visit, but I remember people talking about the beautiful art throughout the building. He also never let me into the second wing, and he never said why. I assumed it was off limits to the public for a good reason. I know parts of the building have never been renovated, like the basement floors."

"True. No one goes down there much anymore. It's mostly used for storage. And the second wing is off limits for a good reason. All the fun stuff happens there," Demetri finished with a wink.

"Right. I know it houses the council chambers, and I have been there a couple of times with my grandfather to see a meeting and a family friend's wedding. I can imagine all the fun stuff that's gone on in there over the years."

"You may be surprised. Or perhaps not."

I bit my lip. "That's rather quizzical."

"Or open to interpretation." Standing up, he added, "I'm heading the other direction from here, but if you are ever free, stop by again and I'll show you around. I think you're old enough now to not get lost or into any trouble."

My heart skipped a beat for a moment. "Funny. Nonno used to say that to me about wandering off."

"He was an intelligent man. There's a lot about the building you and many others aren't aware of, but of course, being with the tourism division, I know everything."

"Of course. Perhaps I'll stop by soon."

"Any day except tomorrow."

"Obviously it wouldn't be open on Sunday," I replied. "What about Monday? Signora Bellini will be with my grandma again, so I'll have some free time on my hands."

"Monday is good. I'll see you then."

My eyes followed him as he walked back the direction towards the city center. I could not get over the fact that he looked so familiar, but it was impossible to place. There was no way I would have known him before. He would have still been young last time I was in Volterra. I could not believe he was much older than I. I thought about it, but still could not place it. Maybe he looked like someone else I knew back in New York. It was possible.

I grabbed the bags of food and began to make my way the last block to the house. It was not until I reached it that I realized something was seriously wrong. Signora Bellini's car was not where it was when I left, and the gate had been left open as if someone left in a rush. I ran through the gate and found the door unlocked, safe enough where we lived as the crime rates in Volterra were nonexistent, but still odd to find. When I entered, the house was empty.

A/N: Oh no! Where have they gone? I guess you'll have to review to find out. Just kidding. I'll post another chapter tomorrow evening, but the reviews are still very much appreciated.