Thicker Than Water....

Chapter 23 - Old Blood, New Life

A sound, almost like dry autumn leaves rustling along in a light breeze, filled my head.  As I slowly surfaced from my slumber, I realised it was, in fact, hundreds of muffled voices.  They were distant to begin with.   One, two then three broke through the mass. 

"How many have we lost?" 

"The tunnels are clear now."

"Stop fussing, woman!" 

I didn't know who  it was who spoke, but the fact I could hear them, confirmed that some of my people had survived the battle with Dante and his minions.  The voices were slowly separating, becoming clearer until eventually, they were synchronised with that of my consciousness.  I opened my eyes.  My vision was blurry, so I waited until everything was in focus, before raising my head.  I was still in the council chamber, but someone had moved me to a blanket on the dais.  A shadow loomed over me, then Calogera was kneeling beside me.  "Sienna!" she smiled.  "Rest, I will have someone take you to your room shortly."

   "I'm fine," I replied, huskily and tried to sit up.  The room spun slightly, so I had to lie down again.

Calogera remained smiling at me, her fangs slightly protruding from her gums. "Do as your High Supremo tells you, child."

I smiled back   "OK, boss."

She rose and stepped back as three more shadows approached.  First I saw Kula.  She knelt down beside me and took my hands in hers.  She turned her head as Peter next approached.  "Hi!" I said.  It was so good to see him, even if he was dishevelled. "Been trying to fire up barbeques again?"

We laughed as we remembered that day.  "Looks like it, doesn't it?" he said and laughed again. 

Another figure came into view.  Carter.  He was as messed up as Peter, but he tried to look as unshaken as he possibly could.   He stood silently for a few moments.  He cleared his throat.  "Thank you."

I just stared at him.  I really didn't like the little weed. 

   "I want you to know, there will be no charge, whatsoever, for my services....with your parents estate and everything.....you know..." he stammered.

   "Still the fucking calculating solicitor, aren't you?" I grumbled. Kula squeezed my hands in reprimand.  "Oh, alright! Sorry, Ian.  You will get paid for your work.  I suppose even you have to make a living. But don't over-charge!"

He nodded gratefully, then stepped back out of view.  "I'm still going to fire the slimey git's ass when I get home," I whispered to Kula. 

She simply shook her head in defeat.  "You is bad, little sista." A smile played on her lips.

Suddenly, she rose to her feet and stepped aside.  Cesare and Vittorio greeted her and Peter. They were both battleworn and bloodied.  Cesare had a deep cut on his cheek, which looked to be healing even as he stood.  His armour had chinks gouged from it and some blades or possibly teeth had left lots of punctures in his arms.  Vittorio, was of similar shape, though his wounds were fresher and still seeping a little.  "How is she?" my father enquired of Kula.

   "I'm fine thanks....dad."

He stared at me, then his mouth broke into a wide grin.  Vittorio was by my side, gently brushing strands of my unruly hair behind my ears.  I could tell he was desperate to kiss me, as I was him, but present company kept our ardour at bay.

   "I will take you to your room," Cesare told me.  He bent down and picked me up in his arms.  He lifted me with such ease, like he was picking up a stray feather from a duvet. As he carried me from the chamber, I watched, from over his shoulder, the Blessed, actively healing the wounded with their blue magic.  A few raised their heads as we passed and nodded or smiled.  Sadly, I saw the brutalised bodies of Belenus and Agostina in the hallway.  There was nothing any of us could do for them.  There were many who had lost their lives, some so horrifically injured it would have been hard to identify them.  But the vampires of Marsico Nuovo were dutifully going about the business of clearing up the carnage, tending to the injured and rebuilding their lives.