Beatrice relented at Donatella’s touch. Lorenzo lifted his glass of champagne in a silent toast. As he brought it to his lips, Beatrice reached out and forced the liquid in the glass to expand, shattering the champagne flute at Lorenzo’s lips and opening a small cut at the corner of his mouth. He smiled and reached up with an elegant finger, swiping at the cut and holding the finger out to her.
“Care for a taste?"
She turned her back on him and walked away.
The night wore on, and she managed to find Tenzin, who was crouched on a corner of one of the towers, pouting.
“Tenzin, come down.”
The small wind vampire glared at her and floated to the ground.
“If I don’t kill something soon, I’m going to go crazy.”
“I thought you were supposed to be the patient one.”
“I hate all this shit.”
“You think I don’t?”
The two friends leaned against the stone tower and watched the crowd, conscious of the numerous eyes that followed them constantly.
Tenzin said, “How much longer are we going to have to drag this out? I’m bored.”
“Well, you’re not the one that trying to avoid…” She looked around and lowered her voice. “Further complications, so to speak.”
Tenzin switched to Mandarin, which Beatrice could speak passably well. “Would killing everyone really be that bad? I’m not saying it wouldn’t be a pain in the ass to deal with the fallout, but at least you’d have some fun in the meantime.”
“We’re not really in the mood to rule a city, Tenzin.”
“It would just be for a few hundred years.”
“Do you know how crazy that sounds to my ears?”
“You’ll get used to it, my girl.”
Beatrice sighed. “Tenzin…”
“I know. I know.”
They watched the party for a few more minutes, and Beatrice detected a strange energy building among the crowd.
“Tenzin, something—“
“I know. I feel it, too.”
They both walked closer. There were murmurs of excitement. Whispers flew around and a strange buzz of energy enervated the immortals gathered. She felt the approach of a particularly strong energy signature and turned to see Emil Conti approaching her with Donatella hanging on his arm.
“Beatrice.”
“What’s happening, Emil?”
“You young people with your slang.”
“No, really. What is happening?”
He blinked. “Oh. I believe our fair patroness has an announcement of some kind. I’m bubbling with excitement, can’t you tell?”
Beatrice’s eyes widened. “Not…”
Emil only cocked a lazy eyebrow, and Donatella smirked.
Livia mounted the stairs of a small stage where a string orchestra had been playing and tapped on her champagne flute to gather everyone’s attention. It was completely unnecessary; the whole party was riveted to her before she even reached the top of the stairs. She was glowing with excitement when she started to speak.
“My friends, we are joined tonight by esteemed guests. We welcome them to the Eternal City. The Immortal City. Rome has long been a center of culture and learning. Of sophistication and enlightenment. I am happy to announce tonight that another achievement has been added to her crown.”
“Pompous bitch,” Tenzin muttered.
“As most of you know, I have been a patroness of the human sciences for hundreds of years. For in the prosperity of the human world, we find our own continued success. I am happy to announce that an ancient secret, a stunning discovery has, this past year, been recovered from the lost library of the great immortal, Niccolo Andros. It is in his honor that I announce a mystery of the ages has been solved. Long have humans and immortals sought the elixir of life. The unique formula that would offer our human friends the longevity and health that we immortals enjoy. Now, we have accomplished this.” A buzz began to build among the crowd. “And in doing so, an even greater achievement has been made.”
“She's going to do it.” Beatrice shook her head. “She’s going to announce—”
“My scientists have discovered not only the elixir of life, but the cure to bloodlust, as well.” The buzzing stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the castle grounds as Livia continued. “And it will be available to all of you. This secret is a secret no longer. It belongs to us.” Beatrice saw Livia's eyes light up. “It belongs to the world!”
The silence lasted only as long as it took for the first burst of applause to erupt from the excited crowd. It had to have been the humans in attendance who started it, Beatrice thought. Vampires weren’t usually an enthusiastic crowd. But soon, everyone around them, including the immortals, was applauding and moving toward the stage. Livia was enveloped by vampires and humans vying for her attention.
Beatrice and Tenzin exchanged a grim look, and Emil said quietly, “Look how they gather around her now.”
“Why?” she asked. “All of these vampires are blood drinkers from what I’ve seen. Why is it so important to find a cure for bloodlust? Are they all humanitarians? They can’t all care about the good of mankind that much.”
Donatella was the one who answered. “They’re not being altruistic, Beatrice. And most of them enjoy blood as much as we do. But they need it. They don’t just choose to drink, they have to. It controls us. Even the oldest vampire is a slave to hunger in the end. They all clamor for Livia’s favor, but it’s not a cure they are seeking. They crave control, and she offers it. So more will come.” Donatella looked at Beatrice with a hard stare. “Many more will come.”