We were here finally, settling in to the Franchesi Villa in my dear Venice. Bianca met us and we were a full house. Louis, Mary, Astoria, Merida, Saphira, Antonio, Rose, and me. Left Sosaria in a moment’s notice. To be honest, I’ve never feared death… I am actually quite skilled in avoiding it, but things were different now. My life, my heart revolved around my beautiful little angels and one very frazzled gorgeous little lady who I love more than anything in this world. The dangers of Sosaria were no place to raise our children, here we would be safe. Here we were nobles, treated with the utmost of respect. Here we were also completely hidden from whispers, from speculations, from the finger-pointing of some.
As Baron of Venice, I was entitled to all the grand luxuries one can imagine. Certainly befitting our family name. Merida had become quite accustomed to the lifestyle and bowed her head back when commoners would curtsey or bow to her. She even proudly wore the Romanus Crest on her royal sash for official functions. The limelight suited my beautiful queen, she thrived in it.
We would remain here for a while, until we knew exactly what the Draconians wanted. Merida being of Razele blood worried me, they took an interest in it, in its power. Us, not so much… they already know all they need to know since we originate from the same line. They’d want to examine it, test it, turn whoever has it in them into a lab rat. Its just what they do. They have no feelings, no care, and a general disdain for anything that isn’t a vampire in some way. If it were up to them, they’d turn every human. Every single one. And now that they know of a world that no only openly knows we exist, but we exist in positions of power… Gov. Va’lis Razele, for example…. they will seek to conquer this land first and use the portal to outnumber Earth’s humanity with their own.
The potential for disaster is so great that when I look at my children I cannot help to think… will they see adulthood? *sighs*
Ahhh the mother land… and the splendor that became St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great. Leaving Boryspil International Airport in Kiev we arrived Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg in roughly 2 hours. As a private planed marked with the Royal standards of Italia, for our nationality is of Venice, our plane was deposited into the private area of the airport reserved for dignitaries and visiting heads of state. The red carpets were placed under our feet as we deplaned which still had a somewhat alarming effect on my new bride. It would take some getting used to. A limousine awaited us as handlers and valets packed our belongings into its trunk and then graciously introduced the driver to us, who opened the door to usher us into the vehicle. Evgeny, our driver, then drove us through the 20 or so miles it takes to get from the airport to our hotel passing through the many canals and rivers that surround St. Petersburg. “It’s so similar to Venice in a way, except for the machines everywhere.” Merida commented to me. “Ah but my love, St. Petersburg is perhaps 4 or 5 times the size of Venice thus it allows for the roads that sustain the transit of automobiles and the like.” I retorted.
