A few days passed since she'd left the island. Everything was too quiet. It ran through her mind that maybe Dave took care of the police. Maybe he didn't let them go after her? She couldn't now, but somehow it was a nice thought. After his uncle's death he was the first person who took care of her. She couldn't deny that she missed the mysterious duke with those strange things around him.

He didn't like these events, because he liked to work for and visit the elders alone. But it was an obligation, he couldn't stay away. A lot of vampires on a private meeting. And he must do his demure fights with his rivals and the vampire ladies who always want to grab his attention. Now there'll be no need to lie to them. He had someone. A special person, who'll be his soon.

He had all reasons to hate the long, idle hours, which were boring like hell. But he sat there stiff and listened to whoever was speaking. Lady Marbella arranged that she got seat next to him, and he was musing whether he should tell her off rudely or report her behavior to Gregory privately. He decided the later, he wasn't gonna take it anymore. Lady Marbella's long, bony fingers were placed onto his groin and he excused himself, standing up and headed out of the room, knowing that someone, one of the elders would send someone after him, asking what the trouble was.

He was standing motionless next to a window and looked back into the large room, where the other guests were sipping blood from their crystal glasses. He saw the arrogance on nearly every white and perfect face. They were mainly the children of the patrician families, dukes and duchesses and their allies. A few warriors came too, but the others were engaged elsewhere. They were dealing with little rebellion actions or took care of the vampire race's safety.

He was a rare one. Neither a warrior, nor an appointed leader, he was rather a counselor of the elders and they respected him a lot. This respect wasn't widespread. Most of the younger male vampires were jealous at him because of his power over women, and envied his independency.

"What was the problem?" he heard the familiar hoarse voice from behind as Gregory stepped in.

“Yes, you are right. We wanted to know how things are going between you and Viola.”

"They are going fine” David answered after a moment of hesitation, which didn’t fail to attract Gregory's attention.

"Did anything happen?"

"Well... she's just a bit afraid of the things around me. I think my castle and myself frightened her a little, but she's too close to me now to resist me. She'll want me to see her again."

"Are you sure? If she's not good enough for you..."

"She is!" he looked straight into the elder's eye "I just wait for the appropriate moment."

"I hope you are right, David. You know that if she is a threat for our existence or for you, you must kill her... It's not a cat-mouse game."

"I know. And we arrived to my question, Gregory."

"I'm listening."

"I wanted to speak with you to ask for your permission."

"Permission for what?"

"I'd like to turn her into a vampire soon."

"Is she ready for it?"

"Yes, the time is right."

"Well, we gave you permission once, but we appreciate that you asked it again before the transformation procedure. If you feel it's time, do it. We need fresh blood in our society."

"Thank you, Gregory" he bowed.

"But I think here's something else, too..."

"You know me better than anyone, right?"

"Oh yes, David. You remind me on your father, my dearest friend" he smiled.

"You are right. You know I have a little problem here, which is disturbing me since ages."

"And that would be?"

"It's about the vampire dames. I don't want to seem rude, but I don't like their constant harassments..."

---

He was thinking about Viola again what she could do in that moment and how he'll carry out this whole transformation procedure. He must be patient, only a little longer. He had his spies, who told him that something is going to happen with her because of that rich man, whom she was talking about.

He spent a few hours on the lamp-litted streets, watching the few people going home or to a party, and then it was time for him to return. He wouldn't want to miss the elders' announcement. Even the thought brought a smile onto his pale face.

After the break everyone was there, all sitting, when he walked in and sat not to his former place, but far away from it, at the other end of the long table. There was utter silence, all staring at him, when he elegantly walked to the chair and descended onto it smiling not very discreetly.

The guests started to guess what was going on, but they lifted their gazes onto the rising Gerard, the head of the Elders' and Dave's Mentor.

"Dear sisters and brothers of the Crimson Heart Clan!" his strong baritone reached even the furthest parts of the hall "We have one more announcement you have to know about. You all know David Giovanni De Cardonne, the Duke of

“Shit!” she whispered, when she heard a yell and saw two police cars stop in front of her cheap rented apartment. She jumped back from the window, quickly closing it. She covered the candles’ flame and grabbed some items, then climbed out to her little balcony, which was connected to the roof with a ladder.

“She’s on the roof!” she heard a yell from the street and knew from the big crash that her door was forced open. She climbed quickly on the slippery pegs till she reached the top. She ran through the roof while the heavy rain made her soaking wet in one minute. She panted and stroked her hair out of her face. Once she slid on the roof, nearly falling down, but she managed to get her balance back, while she reached the other ladder of the building.

Her chasers were in her heels, but Viola managed to jump onto a nearby roof. She moaned in pain, because she hit her ankle, but she stood up and started to run. Fortunately she knew the nearby buildings and hiding places well, and hoped that she’ll be able to reach one of them before the policemen can catch her.

After another jump she opened a door and started to run downwards on the steps of an abandoned old house. Before looking carefully out to the street she took a few deep breaths holding her aching side. It was time to move. She avoided the lamps’ lights and stayed in the shadows. The cold rain made her vision blurry, but she managed to turn around the next corner.

If Viola thought that she can escape, now this hope was gone, because she faced two guns pointed to her head and upper body.

“Don’t move! You are under arrest! Put your hands over your head!” said the taller policeman.

“Move on!” said the tall man again and the other went to her back to push her forward a bit. Viola walked calmly to the car and watched as the police man opened the door “Get in!” he waved with his gun. She had no choice…

“Ah, Viola De Montone! Finally we meet again!” she heard and saw Ignatius Scaligeri, that bastard who took advantage of her mother’s weak heart and took everything he could from her, till she committed suicide, leaving her daughter alone on the streets until her uncle appeared and took her under his wings.

“Signore Scaligeri…” she said sitting down opposite him, next to the man’s black bodyguard, who pushed the barrel of a Browning between her ribs “What do you want from me?”

“Viola, you were a very-very bad girl…” he started with an arrogant smirk “You humiliated me in front of my guests, robbed me and played hide and seek for long days. You must be punished.”

“You want to send me to jail?” she asked calmly, not showing her fear.

“No, you have a choice.”

“Between what?”

“Between going to jail or returning my belongings and settling our account.”

“What do you mean?” she asked suspiciously.

Ignatius stroked his inner thigh till his hand reached the bulge between his legs “I think you know, my little whore…” he added with a nasty grin.

“Forget it!” she grimaced “I’d never do that! I’d go to prison instead.”

“Oh so I put you off? Too bad…” he sighed “Then I have no choice, darling…” and he pushed a button to slide the window half-way down, still looking at Viola “You go to jail, honey. I’m really sorry, cuz I’d have liked to see you as my slave in every meaning…”

“I’d rather die!” she shouted “You killed my mother and took everything from us! I’d never let you touch me, you bastard!” Viola didn’t mind the hard push between her ribs.

“Don’t you ever dare to speak with me on this tone!” said Ignatius and slapped Viola hard on her face “You can take her!” he yelled out of the window and in the next moment she was out in the rain again, which eased her aching face a little. She spit bloody saliva onto the pavement and let the men bundle her into a police car.

---

”That gentleman at the door who is waiting for you.”

Her Signor Cardonne was standing there with a shit-eating, confident smile on his handsome face and after opening the door in front of her, he invited her into his car. Without further questions she accepted the invitation. Viola kept her rising questions inside, she waited for the appropriate time to ask them. After a few minutes ride the driver stopped the car in front of her rented flat. David said that he and the driver are helping her to grab her stuff, as much as possible, as she has to move out. The owner of the building was fed up with the police and night razzias. David promised that his staff would take care of the furniture later and would transport it to the place she names. David offered his castle again as a temporary dwelling for Viola and she accepted it. He promised he would come back with her on the next morning and help her with her move. Somehow, Viola didn't mind to go with him anymore.

Aspen was with his master but greeted Viola as a dog is greeting his mistress. He was licking her ears and was wagging his nonexistent tail, literally grinning and nudging Viola with his cold nose. Viola was smiling ear to ear, she loved dogs a lot. She wanted one too, but she couldn't bring it into her small apartment. Dave was watching the two of them and he was satisfied with what he was seeing. He knew he has chosen well. With her future bride he got out of the car and into the gondola. Mario started to sing, but he gave a short whistle for him and he stopped it grinning. His master somehow didn't like the O Sole Mio...

The night passed without anything irregular. Viola was chatting with Dave for a while, but when she noticed that looking at him was more than fine, she decided to call it for a day and go back to her room. She smiled when she heard Asher's and Aspen's footsteps behind her. After looking back at Dave she saw him nodding and a tiny smile appeared on his face, while he slowly stroked Amarth and called the fourth dog, Alden to him. Viola went back into her room and couldn’t bear it: she let the two dogs jump on her bed. She nestled herself next to them and fell asleep while stroking their soft fur.