DESI
“Desiderio, you’re early.”
“Who are you?” I demanded of the man standing by the fire.
“I am Samson, the demon who was supposed to greet you in…” He paused and pushed up the sleeve of his suit. “Thirty minutes. Wow, you were so close.”
“What do you mean?” I looked around the room. It wasn’t really a room, but a space. Just two chairs, a colorful rug, and the fireplace where he stood.
“You are a vampire, are you not?”
I nodded. “It’s my twenty-seventh birthday.”
“Ah, but not quite, see, you don’t turn until the very moment in which you were born. You are dead, Desiderio. Just a half-hour short of turning.”
“What? No, you can’t just—” I gulped. “No. I’ve gotta get back up there. The love of my life is dying. I need to save her. Turn me!”
“Turn you?” He laughed. “I don’t think you’re in the position to make demands, Desiderio.”
“What then?” I threw up my hands. “Am I dead then?”
“Not quite. Close, but…” he paused. “Someone you love is dying. I could save her if you want.”
My mouth fell open. I remembered now. I’d been shot. I went down, and she fell down beside me. My brain grew fuzzy. I couldn’t see her face in my memories. I couldn’t think of her name. But I knew I loved her.
“Please. I need to go back. I can help her.”
“You want a second chance at the life you were meant to have, make me a deal.”
“A deal?”
He nodded.
I needed to think this through. A deal with a demon wasn’t something to just go into lightly.
“I’ll do anything to keep her alive.”
“Who?”
“Uh—” What was her name? Her face shone beautifully in my head. Lush brown curls, eyes dark as night, and lips so perfectly shaped. Her image was becoming more clear, but still, her name escaped me. I just knew that she was… “My soulmate.”
“Your soulmate?” He smirked. “Are you talking about Aleida Linotti?”
I didn’t recognize the name, but nodded.
“My soulmate, save her.” I repeated. There could only be one person I’d meant. Surely, that would do it. There was something wrong with my brain, and I had a feeling he had something to do with it. He was trying to trick me, but I wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“I’ll add her to our deal. And in return?”
“Do whatever.” I threw my hands up. “Want to punish me for asking? Just fucking do it”!
Samson blinked, and his expression darkened. “I don’t like yelling,” he growled. “You want to be punished? By all means.”
“Now what? Do I go back now?”
“Yes, but you will be forever changed. I’m pushing through your vampirism. You will be given eternal life and all the abilities that come with it, however, you will be marked. Every Bloodborn will know that you are being punished for what you’ve done. You don’t get to disprespect me without paying for it.”
“Fine.”
