Blood Ties

Chapter 8

Damiana rubbed her neck as she dressed herself. The room smelled less of camphor, at least, and aching neck aside, the rest of her felt better than it had in months. She shook her head at the memory of Giuseppe, of his hand on hers, her lips still burning from the kiss. She should have been ashamed, but all she felt was the warmth that he had given her. Was that the blood, working its way with her body, or something of her own?

Giuseppe's phone sat on a stand in the hallway, an enormous antique thing, all black and gold, the dial plate embossed and faded. Damiana picked it up, running her hand over the receiver. She could call home. Tell her parents that she was safe. Maybe even talk to Lazaro again. All it would take was a few words to the operator, and she could hear his voice. If she was brave enough.

"Miss?" One of Giuseppe's servants, a portly little man, interrupted her thoughts. "You have visitors."

Damiana checked her reflection in the window, rubbing at the shadows beneath her eyes. "I'll be right down."

Her cousins, China and Tommy, stood by the door. China, in a black mink coat with her hair cut short. Damiana stopped in her tracks. China, who had broken her hand and called it an accident.

Their eyes met, and Damiana was reminded of their last meeting. The look of disbelief and fury on China's face as Damiana had scored the last point. There was nothing left of that now. Only a perfectly coiffed and manicured smile.

"Hey!" Tommy was sharp, with a look like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. Even in a heavy winter coat, he managed to look stylish, and he beamed as he saw her. "If it isn't my favourite cousin." He slung an arm around Damiana, kissing her cheeks.

China sighed. "All of your cousins are your favourite cousins, Tommy."

"Well sure," said Tommy, pouting. "But you didn't have to point it out."

China turned her attention to Damiana. "You look awful, cousin. You're not sleeping days, are you?" She smiled, her eyes gleaming.

"China," Damiana swallowed, a ball of unease in her chest. You can't do shit against her now, so pretend you don't have a problem with her. That's what Laz would do. "I didn't know you were in Venice."

"Of course I am," China spread her hands. "It's where everyone is."

"So what are you doing here?" said Damiana.

"Word has it that old Joe slipped you some of the good stuff," said Tommy. "We're here to give you the Talk. It's kind of a tradition."

"The talk?"

"The new ghoul talk," Tommy clarified.

"But I wasn't sanctioned. You must know that."

Tommy shrugged. "Sanctioned, unsanctioned," he said. "Makes no difference to me."

"So you don't care?"