Freedom

As usual, I got many stares from the people walking by me. It wasn't just their instincts screaming at them to run, but my albino looks scared them as well. The crowded streets of Rome immediately would part in my presence, making it easier to where I wanted, when I wanted. No one would care to follow me, so I made my way to the house of my friend Valentino.

A slave boy let me in and led me to Valentino's office but there was another man there. Apparently Valentino was finishing a trade deal so the slave took me to the reception room until the business man left. Then Valentino came out from his office and welcomed me.

"Caius, welcome," he moved forward and shook my hand, flinching slightly at my cold skin, but trying not to show his fear towards me. It was natural though, for humans to fear me, I had gotten used to it after awhile; how to manipulate their emotions towards me depending on what I wanted. "It's been so long, and the times are trying." I smiled, if only he knew how little time meant to me.

"They are, friend," I agreed though money for my "family" wasn't a problem. "But tell me, how have you been?"

"The gods find me in their favor," he bowed his head in reverence and then continued, "yet despite the bad trade, my family has prospered in our trade markets. Also, my wife is with child."

"Congratulations," I said, for pagans a child was a gift bestowed from a god for being a good citizen. "Have you thought of a name?" I asked conventionally.

"Yes," he smiled, "Ceaser." I smiled, in my human life, I was Ceaser. I was rather proud of myself, I had built up quite the empire and my name would live on forever in that legacy. It was also slightly annoying, because I had to change my name to Caius so people wouldn't recognize me. I focused back on what Valentino was talking about, but I was distracted again by a beautiful servant girl walking in. She silently placed two glasses of wine and a wine bottle on a side table and waited by the door for orders.

"And what if it's a female?" I asked, staying current with the conversation.

"It won't be," he said confidently, "We'll kill it or give it away if that is the case. Women are not suitable for continuing the family name; they are only good for one thing, and nothing else." The servant girl at the door looked at Valentino with such ferocity that if looks could kill, Valentino would be a dead man; she was strong, probably royalty before she was made a slave. I knew that the explorers would often bring back whole civilizations, royalty included, back as slaves.

"Dora, bring us food," Valentino ordered. She made a stiff bow and left; the hate almost radiated off her body. I watched her leave, not really looking at her, just in her direction; any vampire would have noticed the difference, but Valentino, in all his human slowness, did not. "You want her?" he asked me. Want her? Did I want her? Of course I wanted her! She smelled quite delicious; like honey and peaches and lavender…it made venom pool in my mouth just to think about it. I didn't say anything for a long time, not until she came back with the food. I suddenly felt guilty at how easy it would be to lure her away and…

"No," I refused, mad at myself, and Valentino for offering.

"Oh," she said softly, jerking her hand away, thinking I was refusing the food.

"No," I repeated, guiding her hand back down in front of me until she had put down the food without incident, "I was refusing Valentino's question." I clarified.

"So you don't want her?" Valentino asked, not caring whether Dora was present or not. "She's pretty, and knows how to serve but keep her mouth shut." I wanted to kill Valentino for saying that while she was here, but I couldn't, so I watched Dora's reaction. She twirled around to face me, grasping what Valentino must have offered, but not registering my answer to his question.

"You!" she choked out. In a flurry of motion she took my tray of food and threw at me. "You vile, repulsive pond scum! Dumb bunny!" (hehe, vocab insults)

"Athenodora!" Valentino barked, standing up and kicked her, making her fall over. "Good for nothing bitch! Whore!" he piled insult upon insult on her. She looked at him defiantly, yet I thought the pain in her eyes was obvious. That's when I noticed them: her eyes. They were light blue, practically grey, but when she was angry they blazed with green intensity. With the realization of her eyes, came the realization of her whole face; she was pretty, beautiful, almost. Even though Valentino was beating her now, and small trickles of blood ran down her face, she was still beautiful.

Why was I analyzing this? I asked myself; I am the living dead, nothing living could affect me. Though I didn't think it was right for Valentino to beat her like this, I made no move to stop him; I had to admit, I was captivated by her. Almost like I was under a spell…and couldn't move…though I wanted to, so I could kill Valentino. As I looked at her, she looked straight back at me with her piercing eyes and it was clear what she thought of me.

Finally, Valentino stopped and made her get on her feet. "Get up! Clean yourself and be at the guest bedroom at s