Innamorata

*Chapter Three*

The first lamia may be traced in the ancient Greek Mythology in the story of a young Italian man named Ambrogio and the love of his life, Selena. According to the myth, Ambrogio fell in love with Selena after visiting the legendary oracle in the temple of Apollo, the sun god. He asked her to marry him, but little did he know the jealous Apollo wanted her for his own. Apollo cursed Ambrogio by causing his skin to burn whenever it was exposed to sunlight, then took Selena with him.

In desperation, Ambrogio turned to Hades, the god of the underworld for help but a favor was a favor, it was rarely given without a deal. Ambrogio has to steal Artemis's silver bow first.

Artemis cursed Ambrogio so silver would burn his skin upon learning what he has done. The goddess later took pity on him, she gave him super strength, immortality, and fangs to kill beasts so he could use their blood to write love poems to Selena.

Eventually, the mortal Selena escaped Apollo's grasp and reunited with the immortal Ambrogio. Artemis told Ambrogio he could make Selena immortal by drinking her blood which would kill her body but make her spirit live on. Their combined blood could then turn anyone who drank it into a lamia.

Most parts of that ancient history were true, some were just merely myth, folk tale, or folklore, whatever you call it. The first lamia was an Italian that part was correct, but his name was Salvatore, not Ambrogio. And yes, he was in love with the beautiful priestess but her name was Celeste, not Selena. Hades, Apollo, Artemis, and other gods and goddesses were as real as Salvatore himself. The part where Apollo took Celeste was on point again, but he didn't curse Salvatore's skin to burn whenever it was exposed to sunlight, so in reality, lamias were not at all sensitive to the sun. On the other hand, the part where Artemis was the one who created the first lamia? Yes, that was right. Also, silver could hurt Salvatore that was true. It could really burn his skin, and wounds from it will never heal making it his only weakness. And lastly, the reunion between the lovers didn't happen, Celeste became Apollo's prisoner forever.

So, that was the real story behind the mythology of the first lamia.

Salvatore walked on the earth alone. Resentful and grieving for his lost love, ignited by his anger, his blood lust began. He learned eventually that human blood could make him a lot stronger more than the strength Artemis had given him. He became unstoppable with each and every single century that passed, and the gods and goddesses who took pity on him didn't meddle with his doing.

Living a life in solitude for the thousands of years, monotony crept through Salvatore's veins afterward. He then decided to make his own monarchy, which he called the Maiores Letum. He sired ten rich and powerful kings and queens and made them his own personal eyes and ears around the world, they were the very first lamias that fell under the third category, the normal ones with red eyes. Augustus Gaius from the Roman Empire. Phillip Alexander the ruler of Greece. Olof Lodbrok from the Kingdom of Sweden. Mergrethe Gorm form the Kingdom of Denmark. Narmer Menes, Pharaoh of Egypt. Aethelstan, King of West Saxons of England. Idris Abdallah from the Kingdom of Morocco. Ahmed Bin Said from the Sultanate of Oman. Soma Norodome from the Kingdom of Cambodia. And Qin Shi Huang from the Chinese Empire.

With his strength and power, Salvatore became the king of all kings, humans could not even speak ill of his name fearing for their own life. Satisfied with what he did about ruling the world, he then went back to Italy and made it his very own turf. In the long run, he sired another nine people and they became the members of Congrego. They fell under the second category, their strength and power were next to Salvatore's. They were his councils and protectors with violet eyes.

Only Salvatore could make different kinds of lamias with his blood. The second and third kind of Maiores Letum could only turn human into another third category or the normal ones with the red eyes. That was how it normally goes until Lucan accidentally made another powerful congrego herself in the form of Ceres Armellini.