Guido swung open the front door to see the woman standing there with two huge suitcases, one in each hand. He made no move to assist her with either but opened the door wider and stood to the side to allow her entry to the house.
"Let me be clear, I don't want you here," he said as she passed by him.
"I am aware, Mister Mista, that it was not your idea, nor do you approve of my being a guest in this house," she returned, pausing at the foot of the stairs. "However, since it was not your decision to make, would you be so kind as to show me to my room?"
Guido extended his arm toward the stairs with a flourish like a model showing off a prize on a game show. He insisted on following her so he could watch every move she made. It was never a good idea to turn one's back to an adversary even one who had not committed an act of aggression yet.
"You don't sleep in a coffin?" Guido asked her while following her up the stairs.
"No," Liora replied patiently, proceeding down the hall extending to the right of the second floor landing despite not knowing exactly where she was going. "Which room is mine?"
"Second door on the left," he replied, scooting around her to open the door for her. Her hands were full after all. "Do you sleep all day?"
"Sometimes. Needless to say, I prefer cloudy days if I do go outside." Her eyes caught his when she turned her body to slide past him sideways. "You'd be surprised how romantic a stroll through the rain can be."
"Hmph," he snorted, entering the room behind her without being invited. Apparently since he lived here and was not only friends with the owner but second in command to his boss, he viewed this as part of his domain and did not require her approval. "I guess you only need the right motivation to go outside in the sun."
"Occasionally I take my chances and venture out into the world of humans on a sunny day," she retorted, dropping the suitcases with a clatter and a thump on the hardwood floor. "Sometimes necessity requires it. Like making contact with my baby brother."
She smiled to see him wince at her use of the familial reference.
"I also like shopping. A lot."
Guido looked her over from head to toe. Today she was dressed in a pencil thin black skirt, a white silk long sleeved shirt, and black patent leather shoes with thin silver high heels that resembled steel spikes. Quite the fashionista, she must spend a fortune on her wardrobe. She seemed to have a penchant for styles harkening back to the heyday of Hollywood, often looking like a starlet from old black and white movies. Her main fabrics of choice of were silk and light wools which he could appreciate.
Being a clothing connoisseur himself, he prefers quality material such as cashmere and leather. His mind wandered into territory it should not, pondering what her underwear collection might look like. Fancy silk and lace matching bras and panties? Or did she wear thongs and leather corsets? Maybe a mixture of naughty and nice. His face heated and reddened at the thought of her wearing a white satin corset with lots of ribbons and bows, matching bikini underwear, and a garter belt with thigh high stockings under her present ensemble.
"Mostly I occupy myself during the day time hours by painting," she said, making him wonder what he had missed her saying. "Everyone needs a hobby, right?"
"I suppose," he rejoined, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Liora walked around the large room, her heels tapping on the wooden floor. She was aware of his watchful eyes on her taking into account her every move. Her fingers drifted over the slick top of the white chest of drawers waiting to be filled with her clothes. Standing at the end of the queen sized bed, she resisted the urge to leap onto the mattress to test its softness. She ran her fingers over the comfy looking puffy white Egyptian cotton duvet that was as soft as silk.
Her father had decorated everything in black and gold and silk which she found pretentious and gaudy. Unfortunately, because of him, she never lost her taste for the softness and smoothness of silk fabric against her skin. His decorating choices, along with his fashion style, was lodged hopelessly somewhere between Goth chic and contemporary S & M. While not particularly aesthetically pleasing to her, she had to admit the style suited his personality perfectly.
She grasped one of the tall thin white posters on the corner of the bed looking up at the pointed top that reminded her of an arrow head. She shuddered upon recalling an image of the arrows that old hag Enya had given her father which started a whole new world of pain for many unsuspecting people. Strolling over to the French doors leading out to her own personal balcony, she pulled the heavy tapestry curtains closed to block out the light.
"While I can be in the sunlight for short periods of time, I do prefer avoiding the natural light as much as possible," she explained, turning to face him in the muted light imparted by the light filtering under the curtains covering the doors and one window in the room.
"You do have quite the delicate complexion," he remarked having the rich natural tan coloration imparted by olive Italian complexion.
Guido Mista's attention was focused on something to her right. Following his line of vision, she saw he was studying her reflection in the oval shaped mirror attached to the dresser.
"Surprised?" she asked him, her mouth dropping into a lopsided, only slightly mocking, grin.
"Actually, yes," he answered truthfully despite it make him blush a little from the embarrassment. "I suppose I've read too many vampire novels."
"Maybe so," she agreed with a laugh, walking toward him.
"What are you doing?" he asked, turning his head to look her in the eye when she came to stand well within his personal space.
"I won't hurt you," Liora assured him, running her fingers along the silk lapels of his expensive black suit.
"I'm not afraid of you," Guido shot back, annoyed by her assumption. Despite her being the same height as him, he tilted up his chin to enable himself to glare down his nose at her pridefully.
"Aren't you? It's basic human nature to fear what you don't understand. You don't understand me at all, Guido Mista, and the worst thing is, I don't think you want to," she said, her fingers grasping his lapels.
"Could you not do that?" he requested, placing his hand over hers in attempt to push it away but her fingers held fast. "You'll wrinkle the fabric."
"Don't forget I'm half human too. I can even hide my teeth." She took that opportunity to extend her fangs, peeling back her lips to expose them to him.
"Fuck me," he muttered, his fingers tightly grasping her hand that was still holding onto his suit.
"But I never resorted to drinking human blood which made me a huge disappointment, yet again, to dear old Dad. I can eat regular food and don't require much blood. If I do crave blood, a very rare steak will do," she explained, taking hold of his other lapel with her other hand.
"Well, isn't that a relief?" he remarked, looking into her eyes. He was astonished to see she appeared upset and wounded rather than angry.
"You have the most amazing eyes, Guido. So gorgeous," she complimented, her eyes tracking back and forth between his as she looked deeply into them. "I am truly envious of those lashes."
"Thank you?" He would swear she was staring into his soul, weighing the decision to make his the first human blood she ever tastes.
"It is definitely a compliment."
Suddenly Liora lifted him so that his feet dangled above the polished hardwood floor. Guido pulled his gun, placing the muzzle against her forehead. He did not want to shoot her since she was Giorno's sister. but he would if he had to with only the smallest bit of regret. To do so would be the senseless waste of a beautiful woman - and his best friend's sister whom he did not even get a chance to know. But Giorno had too many unanswered questions for him to kill her now. What a horrible dilemma.
"In case you were wondering, I do have super human strength," she said, unfazed by the steel weapon resting between her eyes.
"Hey, Mista, wait a minute," a tiny little voice said. Six little creatures with pointed heads and numbers on their chests appeared around the cylinder of the snub nosed six shooter.
Sometimes it really pissed off Liora that while not being granted a Stand, she had been given the ability to see them. It was like allowing a starving man to sit inside of a restaurant for warmth but not allowing him to eat any of the food. To her, Stands represented a constant companion, a helper. Although a part of the person themselves, they are source of protection and something to rely on - to never be alone.
These were all things she never had. Perhaps that was reason she had felt the need to hang around and watch over the lonely, neglected child she found that night. While not wanting to interfere in his life, she wanted to make sure he was never alone or mistreated again. The man in front of her only wanted the best things, the best life, for Giorno as well. At least they had that in common.
"Aren't you curious?" Liora challenged him, pushing her forehead against the muzzle until the metal cut into her skin making it sting.
"About what?" Guido asked, placing his thumb on the hammer.
"Pull the trigger. See what happens," she invited him, her irises turning gold as if they had been switched on like a light.
"You'll die won't you?" He lifted his thumb away from the cocking mechanism.
She lowered him back to his feet.
"Of course, I will. Although I can regenerate from some injuries, being only half vampire, most are fatal. Like a wooden stake through the heart," she added, smoothing down the rumpled lapels of his jacket. "But let's be honest, that's enough to kill anyone...vampire or not."
"Yeah, I suppose so," he said, giving her a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry. I just..." He rubbed the back of his head self-consciously. "I'm just not sure how to talk to you."
"Talk to me like you would any other woman. I'm just human after all," she said, smiling sweetly him. "Mostly."
Liora was definitely not just human. She was something more, but he did not think it was something bad.
Guido pressed the pads of his fingertips to her cheek as if to make sure she was real after all. Though white and delicate in appearance like a porcelain doll, her skin was soft and warm like normal human flesh. She was not cold like the undead creatures of the novels he had read. As if coming to his senses, he jerked his hand away and took several steps back from her.
"I think it only fair to warn you, if you ever try to harm Giorno, or have any evil intentions whatsoever toward him, I will kill you without hesitation," he threatened her, looking directly into her luminescent eyes to show his sincere resolve to follow through on his words. "I will protect him at all costs."
"Just as a good and loyal friend should, Guido Mista," Liora returned, her serene smile never wavering.
She surprised him by not trying to defend herself verbally in any way, not even offering her reasons for deciding to suddenly make an appearance in Giorno's life at this point in time. He assumed she would reveal her reasons eventually. Until then, he would stay close to her, keeping a cautious eye on her - which would not be an entirely unpleasant task.
