Imitation and Alchemy

by Elizabeth Hunter

  He started awake from his snooze when the driver stopped in the tiny Piazza di Santa Chiara. Ben paid him and grabbed his bag, then waited for the driver to pull away before he made his way up the side street that led to the house.

  After punching in the code for the giant wooden door that shielded the property from prying eyes, he pulled it open, wondering how Angela was coping with the gate when she ran errands. His uncle, being a five-hundred-year-old vampire, tended to forget about things like human frailties and arthritis.

  “Ciao, Angela!” he called into the courtyard.

  He heard a fluttering like bird wings before a tiny woman appeared from the kitchen on the ground floor.

  “Ciao, Nino!” Angela covered his cheeks with her small, wrinkled hands and pulled him down for a kiss, chattering as he laughed.

  Angela had to be in her late sixties, but she still had the bright eyes and impeccable style of a woman much younger. She’d run Giovanni’s house in Rome for most of her adult life with a healthy balance of efficiency, warmth, and Tuscan comfort food.

  “You’ve gotten taller since Christmas,” she said.

  “No. I promise I haven’t.” He’d filled out a bit in the shoulders, but he was done growing. Almost six feet would have to suffice.

  “You’re too thin!” She pinched his arm. “Nino, what do they feed you in California? It’s not enough. Come.” She waved him into the kitchen. “I’m making meatballs for you and Fabi for dinner.”

  He rubbed his eyes. Now that he was within the familiar walls of Residenza di Spada, he felt the delayed exhaustion hit. He’d bypassed the offer of Giovanni’s plane, choosing to use some of his frequent-flyer miles to upgrade to first class, but he hadn’t really slept for almost twenty-four hours.

  “Angie, I think I might lie down for a little bit.”

  “Not too long!” The housekeeper was accustomed to international guests. “Sleep for a little. I’ll wake you up for dinner. You need to get on Roman time.”

  “Sì, zia.”

  “Your room is made up. Fresh sheets on the bed and I washed the clothes you left here. Not many summer things, I don’t think.”

  Because he usually avoided the furnace of Rome in the summer. He could already feel his shirt sticking to his back. “I’ll be fine. I’ll pick up some new things tomorrow.”

  At least there was no lack of shopping in Rome. It was expensive, but Ben thought the quality was worth the extra cash, and he saved most of his formal shopping for Italian visits.

  He walked upstairs and tucked Giovanni’s notes and the journal in the safe in the master suite, then made his way to the cool shadows of his room where he toppled face-first into bed.

  ❂

  SHE was playing with the curls of his hair when he woke. Soft humming and the warm smell of citrus and bergamot she’d worn since she was a teenager. Ben rolled over and grabbed Fabia around the waist.

  “Gotcha,” he said, his voice still rough with sleep.

  Fabia laughed as she fell against his chest.

  “Bad boy,” she said, brushing a kiss against his jaw. “The beard is so sexy. I love your hair longer. You should always wear it that way.”

  Ben lay back, her familiar weight resting against his body. He took a deep breath and let his fingers trail over her smooth shoulders as Fabi laid her head on his chest and hugged him.

  Women were just so… delicious.

  Other than friendly kisses and a few teenage fumblings, he and Angie’s niece had never been more than friends, but the flirtation of more had always lain between them. Fabia was a beautiful girl. Smart and effortlessly sexy. She’d shorn her red-brown hair into a pixie cut when she entered her graduate program and moved to Rome. It suited her.

  “I missed you,” she said.

  “Why did you get a boyfriend then?” He smiled at her when she looked up. “I can’t kiss you—well, I can’t kiss you as much—if you have a boyfriend.”

  “I don’t want a boyfriend who lives in California most of the year.” She pouted. “I am not made for a long-distance lover, Ben.”

  “You could move to LA.”

  “And you could move to Rome.”

  They both grinned at the same time.

  Ah well. Not meant to be, no matter how the chemistry taunted them.

  He leaned down, gave her a quick kiss, then rolled her to the side while he went to use the attached bath.

  “So how hot is it?” he asked through the door as he splashed water on his face and pulled off his sweat-stained shirt.

  “Not too bad yet,” she said. “But July is just around the corner.”

  He walked out and caught her admiring his bare chest with an arched eyebrow.

  “I don’t have many clothes,” he said. “I’ll need to go shopping.”

  “I can go with you tomorrow.” She sat up and went to the wardrobe, opening it and surveying the contents with a frown. “You’re right.” She threw a shirt at him and closed the doors. “Wear that for dinner. It’ll do. We’re meeting some friends tonight by the river.”

  “Is the fair going on?”

  “Sul Lungotevere,” she said. “Good restaurants this year.”

  During the summer, the banks of the Tiber were taken over by restaurants and vendors who took advantage of the cool evenings to lure locals and tourists to the river. It was a combination of food, drink, and art that Fabi had told him about, but he’d never had a chance to visit.

  “You can meet Elias.” Fabi fell back on the bed. “I really like him, Ben. He’s kind. Smart, but not full of himself—”

  “Not like me then.” He grinned at her as he dressed.

  “No, not like you.” She rolled her eyes. “He is handsome though. His mother is Ethiopian. He’s gorgeous. And so tall.”

  “You trying to make me jealous?”

  “Is it even possible?”

  Maybe. He couldn’t decide yet. Fabi was an old friend, so it was nice to see her happy. That didn’t mean he’d give this guy a free pass because she thought he was handsome. Ben was protective of the women in his life, especially the human ones.

  He buttoned up the shirt. “So dinner with Angie and drinks after?”

  “Yes. I called Ronan and Gabi too. They’re going to meet us. Gabi will want to sleep with you now that you have a beard. Ronan might too. Just warning you.”

  Ben laughed. “And yet, neither one is my type. It’ll be good to see ’em both.”

  Ben and Fabi’s group of friends in Rome mostly consisted of other young people who had—like them—grown up under vampire aegis in some way. Ronan’s parents worked for Emil Conti, the immortal leader of Rome and most of Italy, while Gabi’s family was involved with the vampires at the Vatican. Gabi and Ronan didn’t offer information; Ben didn’t ask.

  When you grew up with vampires, you learned to be careful which questions you asked.

  But it was easy to be with a group of people who understood where you were coming from. Darkness didn’t hold the same allure when you grew up walking half your life in it. Their friends understood that.

  “So why did you decide to come to Rome in June?” she asked as they walked toward the smell of meatballs. “Not that it’s not nice to see you, but—”

  “I’m visiting friends.” He put his hand at the small of her back and ushered her into the courtyard where Angie was setting a small table for the three of them. “And I’m delivering some things for my uncle. And…” He sighed. “Still trying to figure out what I’m going to do, you know? Sometimes it’s easier to think when I’m not in LA.”

  She touched his jaw in understanding. They’d spoken of post-university plans at Christmas.

  “Any ideas yet?” Fabi asked.

  “Maybe. Nothing definite. You?”

  She shrugged. “I’m an attractive twenty-five-year-old Roman girl with degrees in archeology and art history. What do you think I’m going to do?”

  “Tour guide?”

  “Of course!” She smiled ruefully. �
�If I can build up a good private clientele, I can make a decent living. And I’ll set my own schedule. I like that.”

  “I like the idea,” Angela said as she placed a dish of olives on the table. “As long as she stays in the house and helps me here.”

  Ben raised his eyebrows. “Yeah? Like, permanently?”

  “I’m thinking about it,” Fabi said. “Zia Angela says she could use the help.”

  “I’m not getting any younger,” Angie chided. “And Signor Giovanni will need another housekeeper when I must retire. It’s a good job. And it will keep her busy when she’s not leading tourists through the dust.”

  Ben smiled. He liked the idea. “I think you’d be great here. You already have your own room. Gio and B like you. Perfect solution.”

  Fabi rolled her eyes. “I haven’t decided anything for certain. I like my apartment.”

  Ben looked around the lush courtyard with the palms and bougainvillea, the fountains providing trickling background music that echoed off the old walls surrounding them.

  “Really?” he asked. “You like your apartment better than this?”

  Angie leaned across the table. “Exactly. Listen to Nino. You live in a palace here. Don’t be stubborn. Come work for Signor Giovanni.”

  “Yeah,” Ben said, popping an olive in his mouth. “Don’t be stubborn, Fabi.”

  “You’re one to talk, Ben Vecchio, he who likes to pretend he doesn’t know exactly what he’s going to do after university.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Your uncle has been grooming you as a protégé for years, Ben. Are you really so clueless? He wants you to go into business with him.”

  Angie said, “Giovanni won’t say anything; he doesn’t want to pressure you.”

  Ben winced. It wasn’t that Ben didn’t know that Giovanni wanted him to work with him and Beatrice. Hell, he’d been unofficially working for his uncle since Giovanni had adopted him. But Ben was resisting it. Mostly because he just didn’t know if he could spend the next seventy years sorting through dusty libraries, which—the rare adventure aside—was most of what his aunt and uncle did for clients.

  “I’m thinking about it,” he said. “Just… pass the wine, will you? I’m not going to decide tonight.”

  ❂

  TENZIN watched the small group of young people from her perch by the statue. No one seemed to mind that she’d crawled up the embankment and sat next to the bronze chimera that had been mounted near the steps under the Ponte Cestio.

  She caught Ben’s expression and smiled. It was good to see him laughing. The past year at university had been stressful for him. He worked too hard to please his uncle. She knew part of Ben still considered any achievement a payment for the life of a boy rescued from the dirty slums of New York.

  Ben didn’t understand love yet. Not really.

  But then, no one did when they were young. She leaned back against the cool stone and contemplated her latest plan to lure him in as a partner. She’d become bored in this modern world, and she needed something to do. Catching up on twentieth-century technology and mastering video games wasn’t enough to keep her mind occupied.

  No, she needed the rush of adrenaline again. She hadn’t felt this restless since the days that she and Giovanni had been mercenaries.

  Now that had kept her occupied.

  But the world had changed. There was no longer any honor in living a warrior’s life. Those who hired out their services as soldiers, even in the immortal world, were a different kind of animal than she and Giovanni had been, and she felt no kinship with them.

  Ben turned and met her eyes in the low lights that reflected off the river.

  Tenzin had a different kind of plan to occupy her time.

  He stood and carefully wound his way through the outdoor tables and the small crowd watching a musician. Then he stood under her, his chin just reaching the edge of the ledge where she was sitting.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t see you there?”

  “I didn’t think about it. I didn’t want to disturb you and your friends.”

  He held out his hand. “Jump, don’t float. Let the humans see gravity.”

  Tenzin jumped down and let her feet land hard. Such an awkward, heavy feeling. Yuck.

  “Do you want me to leave you?” she asked.

  “No, you’re going to join us for a drink.”

  Tenzin halted. “No.”

  “Tiny, Fabi’s the one who spotted you. Your cover as an inconspicuous statue has already been blown. You might as well come have a glass of wine.”

  Tenzin wasn’t comfortable socializing outside her close circle of friends, and Ben knew it.

  “Just try,” Ben said, putting an arm around her shoulders. “All of them—except the tall Ethiopian guy—know about your kind anyway.”

  “Fine. One drink. And my Italian is rusty.”

  “We’ll speak English then.”

  She made her way through the crowd of humans, automatically assessing threats and marking weapons. A surprisingly high number of them for a lazy summer evening, until she realized that two of the tables were surreptitious security for the young people at the table.

  Interesting.

  The guards immediately took note of Tenzin, and she felt Ben’s arm tighten around her. He’d spotted them too.

  Sometimes she was astonished by his perception. It was truly exceptional for one so young.

  Fabia and Ben didn’t warrant security from Giovanni, at least not under normal circumstances. She wondered whether socializing with Giovanni Vecchio’s ward was considered something to be cautious about by other immortals. It could also be that there were current threats in Rome of which Tenzin hadn’t been apprised. She’d have to give Giovanni a call later.

  Until then, a far greater danger awaited her.

  Small talk.

  “Hey, guys!” Ben said. “This is Tenzin.”

  She saw the recognition immediately. Young people growing up under immortal aegis wouldn’t have any idea what Tenzin looked like, but almost everyone in their world—human or vampire—knew her name.

  The ancient one.

  Daughter of Penglai.

  Commander of the Altan Wind.

  Assassin.

  Spy.

  Tenzin had been a legend before most of the Western immortals took their first breath.

  Ben pressed a hand to her back and eased her into a chair he pulled next to his.

  Only Ben, his friend Fabi, and her clueless boyfriend were at ease.

  “Tenzin, it’s so good to see you,” Fabi said. “How long are you in town?”

  Tenzin smiled. Fabi was Angela’s niece. A smart, humorous girl. Ben was at ease with her, so Tenzin could be too.

  “I’m here for a time,” she said vaguely. “I have some business in the south, then I’ll probably head north to visit some property.”

  She had a house in Venice. It was one of her favorites. Had she ever told Giovanni about it? She couldn’t remember. She’d show Ben.

  Ben said, “You know Ronan and Gabi, I think. And this is Elias, since Fabi is being rude—”

  “Zitto!” Fabi laughed. “Sorry, I forgot. I feel like Tenzin must know everyone.”

  The young man leaned forward and held out a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re an American friend of Ben’s?”

  Tenzin stared at the hand for a moment before she held hers out, touching the young human’s fingers only briefly so he didn’t notice the unnatural chill of her skin.

  “I am,” she murmured, careful to keep her lips closed and her fangs covered. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  Ben seemed at ease with the young man. His earlier stiffness had eased the more he talked with Fabia’s new friend. If Ben approved of the young man, Tenzin would give him the benefit of the doubt.

  Ben quickly led the conversation into a discussion of a current film that had just premiered in Rome. Tenzin sipped the wine he poure
d for her and smiled, but she avoided speaking. Elias didn’t know about immortals, and it was too difficult to conceal her nature from ignorant humans.

  Ronan and Gabi’s tension eased after a few moments, and soon the young people were drinking, joking, and laughing like the old friends they were. Tenzin, however, watched Ben.

  Did he have friends like this in Los Angeles? He must have, but she didn’t know them. When she was in LA, she didn’t socialize except with Giovanni and his family. It was fascinating to see Ben in his element with the other humans his age.

  He was a natural leader. He steered the conversation without effort, probably not realizing the others followed his lead. He was the kind of man other males would follow, not out of fear but because he made them feel a part of something greater. More important.

  And with the females… Tenzin couldn’t stop the smile.

  Every girl Ben met fell half in love with him whether she wanted to or not. He was handsome, yes, but even more, she knew he truly enjoyed women and all their facets.

  He caught her smiling at him.

  “What?” he whispered.

  Tenzin switched to Mandarin. “It was good for you to come here. You will see things more clearly.”

  “What things?”

  She didn’t answer him but leaned close and brushed a cool kiss over his bearded cheek. “I told you the beard was a good look for you. All the girls in the restaurant want to have sex with you.”

  He shook his head. “Seriously, Tiny—”

  “I’m going to go. You’re going to see Zeno tomorrow night?”

  He nodded.

  “I’ll find you. Good night, my Benjamin.”

  “Night.”

  She waved to the others but slipped away without another word. She stepped lightly through the crowd, marking the humans and few vampires who were patronizing the festival that night. She kept her head down, and within moments, she was past the lights of the riverbank. Past the clatter of humanity.

  Tenzin melted into the comforting shadows and disappeared.

  Chapter Two

  THE VATICAN LIBRARY MIGHT HAVE been the most famed, mysterious library in the Western world, but Ben still thought it smelled like most libraries everywhere. Dust. Mold. A stale smell he associated with institutional cleaners. He leaned back at the table in Zeno Ferrera’s workroom and kicked his feet—newly shod in the best Italian leather thanks to his shopping trip with Fabi—on the table.