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Chapter 22: Alone With Her Thoughts
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The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 23: Catarina's Tale
CATARINA'S POVUsually, Catarina and her mother Iris would share a large bowl of vegetable soup from the cauldron in the brothel kitchens. It never had any herbs or meat. It was just broth and the cheapest produce from the market. However, one night they received a bowl with chunks of savory venison and large slices of buttered bread. One of the most frequent customers, a member of the clergy in the Vatican City, adored Iris. As a result, he started making monthly payments specifically for Iris to eat better, sleep better, and most importantly, see no other customers.The brothel mother used the large payments to construct a separate attachment behind the brothel just for Iris and Catarina. It was a lovely room, and they had the most comfortable beds and the nicest clothes. For once, Catarina didn't shiver through the night or starve through the day. The man taking care of them seemed very nice, too. He always spent some time praying over the little girl before sending her outside to
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 24: Bonded by Blood
The throne room had been completely transformed. Sidia gasped as she walked under the heavy drapery of vines, plants, and mushrooms hanging over the space. Instead of a long table down the center of the room, there were several small round tables where humans and vampires were seated. The centerpieces were glowing bouquets of moss and lichen, and soft orbs of blue light hung in the air. A light blue and pink color palette washed over the cushions and tablecloths. The room made Sidia think of fairies, everything sparkling with a strange happiness that permeated her very bones.She turned her attention to the throne and was stunned to find that the main seat was gone. Instead, a short sofa with large cushions and soft pillows at the arms took up the raised platform. The gold and jewels normally on display had been put away, and there were pots overflowing with some of the plants Sidia had seen in the underground garden.Seated on the left side of the sofa, Severus looked resplendent in
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 25: Whatever It Takes
Severus sat back on the couch, draping his arm over Sidia once more. The rest of the court continued their celebration. They talked and laughed, and some fed off their human companions. Even without music, there was something sensual and inviting about the scene. Sidia wanted to immerse herself in that desirous state of being once again, but she was too worried about the future, too worried about getting out of this situation and stopping Severus from doing whatever it was he really intended to do to humanity.She turned to look at him, smiling as sweetly as she could. "Severus, now that we have a date set and the coven knows how important I am, I think it would be safe enough for me to walk about alone. I'd like to learn how to navigate the castle by myself." It was risky to ask for such a thing, especially in front of the court. However, in front of an audience might be the only way she could get what she wanted. "Hmmm." Severus didn't have much to say, but his arm tensed around
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 26: Teach Me
Time passed, and Sidia gradually learned how to move about the castle. She made an effort to meet the various members of the court, trying to establish relationships and friendships. It wasn't just about socializing, however. How many were under a Blood Oath? Did they have more restrictive terms than Marcus? How exactly did it work?From what she gathered, everyone had lovely things to say about Severus. A small group had been with him since the very beginning and made up his original squad of guards and advisers. The majority of the vampires had been humans kept for sustenance and then turned once they reached the age of twenty-five. If they proved loyal and worthy of such a gift, of course.No one had made any indication that they didn't fully support Severus. The vampires that had once been humans had stories very similar to Catarina's. They had been mistreated and abused by humanity, and various servants found them and brought them into the coven. The ones responsible for adding
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 27: Tuckered Out
Time ceased to exist for Sidia. She barely kept track as it was, not being able to see the sky or the sun. Since arriving at the coven, time didn't matter anymore. Immortal beings who didn't truly need sleep or to follow a schedule didn't care about time. Still, Sidia felt as if she could somewhat sense its passing for the most part. As she sparred with Marcus, learning the sword for the first time, what little grasp she had completely vanished.She hung on to his every word, never making the same mistake twice. She corrected her form immediately every time, and he never had to repeat instructions on a technique. They moved through various repetitive forms, applied them to combat, and bantered the entire time. "Your hands can do more than turn pages, little scholar," Marcus teased her at one point. "I'm impressed."She was too flustered to concoct any brilliant comeback and usually settled for a stern glare or increased focus with her weapon. Her muscles burned, sweat poured down h
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 28: When You Put It Like That
The hallways seemed so much longer as they made their way to the library. Sidia wanted to sprint, but she had to maintain some sense of decorum. It wasn't just for hiding what was about to happen, however. She also didn't want to seem too eager and potentially change Marcus' mind about the whole affair. Everything still felt so fragile, as if one wrong breath could shatter the moment and remind them of the reality of their situation.Finally, the doors for the library came into view and they slipped inside. No one else was there, and Sidia was relieved. "If you'll follow me, I know of some tomes near the back of the library that may interest you." Marcus was guarded, and she followed his instructions.They moved back through the shelves, farther back into the cavernous library than Sidia had had a chance to explore yet. Despite the circumstances, she couldn't help but stare in awe at the sheer volume of knowledge and information stored here. They went deeper, farther away from the
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 29: Show Me How
He was so cold, but why did she feel so wonderfully warm? Marcus melded his lips with hers, and Sidia moaned. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his long, dark, and unbelievably soft waves of hair. His tongue explored her mouth, and he tasted like cool peppermint. Sidia squirmed in his vice grip, her desire overwhelming. Suddenly, she was pressed against a bookshelf, but the wood digging in her back didn't matter. All that mattered was Marcus running his hands over her body, squeezing her hips as he pushed into her. Marcus didn't need to breathe, but she was almost dizzy. She didn't want to stop kissing him, didn't want to stop tasting him. It was better than anything she could have imagined, and she didn't know how she was going to stop.Marcus seemed just as out of control. He stopped kissing her mouth and moved to her neck, his teeth scraping across her flesh. Sidia moaned again, panting and gasping as his tongue slid across her throat. He grinded again
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 30: The Taste
Marcus led her to the sunken pit of cushions and blankets in the middle of the room. He adjusted a few pillows and gently summoned Sidia to lay down on her back. Once she was comfortable, he hovered above her, his eyes roving and inspecting every inch of her. He was drinking her in, memorizing her features."I couldn't watch you every moment of your life, but I always assumed you had some dalliance or another." Marcus caressed her cheek as he spoke to her. "It's hard to believe no one ever made any advances with you.""I wouldn't know if they had," Sidia replied wistfully. "I just never paid attention to that sort of thing.""Yes, you spent your nights romanticizing the poets of old. You fell asleep reading Shakespeare and Milton. They were the men who held your heart." Marcus gently lifted the hem of her shirt and pulled it up. He hooked one arm around her waist and delicately removed her clothing, exposing her breasts and bare torso. Sidia sighed as he showered her with kisses, mo
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The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 50: Eternity
CESARE'S POV, 150 YEARS LATERThe ocean waves crashed against Cesare, flooding his mouth with tangy salt water. He didn't mind the taste so much. He loved swimming through the vast depths far from the coast. He had spent most of the day underwater. The ocean water filling his lungs was a strange sensation that he would never quite get used to, but the wonder of exploring the seas made up for it. So many whales, sharks, jellyfish, and strange creatures dazzled him. There was never a dull day in the ocean.He let the tide wash him ashore, the sun almost completely set behind the peak of the mountains. Cesare coughed hard, expelling the last of the ocean from his lungs before stretching and looking around the coast. It was exceedingly difficult to find quiet and empty places along the shore. So many people had left the cities of Italy for the peace and beauty of the coastal towns. Monterosso had done fairly well over the decades. Without the protection of the vampire coven, there had
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 49: One More Thing
The next few days sped past Sidia. There was so much to do. After destroying the throne, the coven gathered the remains of Julia and Severus and held a ceremony for them. Marcus grieved his mother, and even though he was overwhelmed with love and happiness for his freedom, he had lost something so precious. Sidia spent many moments holding him while he sobbed, so utterly saddened by his loss. He would be okay, and he would pull through. Sidia knew he just needed time.As the coven found its new rhythm and settled into a new way of life, Sidia was finally able to speak with Helena openly and freely. Helena explained that Severus obtained her Oath because she didn't want him to hurt the true love of her life, Francesco. She pledged her loyalty and became a vampire to save their village and make sure Francesco had a good life. Now that she was free of her oath, Helena wanted to find out if Francesco was still alive and if he had lived the life she wanted for him. Sidia also met with th
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 48: I Want to See My Family
The cracking sound was the wooden stake piercing Severus' skin. Sidia watched in a mix of relief and horror as fissures formed in his skin, little lines breaking apart. Severus let out one final scream as he literally fell apart, disintegrating.The room fell silent once more, everyone staring at the two piles of dust on the throne room floor. Helena dropped the stake and sank to her knees, sobbing."After all these years," she cried. "I'm finally free of him.""We're all free," Catarina left Julia's corpse to sit beside Helena, wrapping her arms around her. The two women held each other and softly wept.Sidia looked up at Marcus, trying her best to wipe the tears from his face, but the blood only streaked. "I'm so sorry I kissed him. I was just trying to get out of the chains. I wanted to do something, anything to stop him," Sidia heard the breaking of her voice, felt her own tears. All the stress and adrenaline left her body, and she was weak and exhausted."Hush, my love," Ma
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 47: We Renounce You
SIDIA'S POVSeveral things happened at once. Marcus screamed at Severus, causing Severus to lose his rage for a moment and stare in disbelief at his brother."How?" Severus screeched.The entire throne room erupted in cries, the shock wearing off as they realized Marcus was free and they fully processed Julia's death. Catarina pushed through to the front, stopping just in front of the square of sunlight, crying out in grief as she stared at the dust that was once Julia.Sidia wanted to run to Marcus, throw herself in between the brothers even though it would mean death. She didn't want any harm to come to Marcus. They glared at each other, the column of sunlight between them. Sidia could see where this was going, and she didn't want Marcus to end up the same as his mother.However, the entire throne room was shaking with anger and grief. To Sidia's surprise, they didn't rush to Severus or try to take down Marcus. Instead, all of them were shaking, their eyes widening and bodies re
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 46: You Are No Longer My Brother
Sidia didn't feel much surprise at the revelation before her, Julia's secret wish to thwart her son's efforts to rule the world. Mothers were generally protective of their sons, suspicious of the women they married, but her murderous intentions had been rather exaggerated. If she just didn't like Sidia, she surely wouldn't have tried multiple times to kill her. "How dare you?" Severus growled. "All the centuries I trusted your judgement. You could have been helping me! But you've been stopping me this entire time?"Sidia finally looked at Marcus again, knowing he would be too preoccupied with what was happening to show any reaction to Sidia's behavior.She was right. Marcus' eyes were incredibly wide. Based on the twitching of his muscles, the way his neck tremored, he was trying to fight against the magical bonds of his oath. Severus had ordered him not to move though. He didn't have a loophole for that. He was stuck, and he was trying to save his mother.What can I do? Sidia tho
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 45: Deadly Loopholes
Severus grinned, but he did look surprised. "Excellent! A kiss first, then I'll move those troublesome chains for a taste of your blood.""Out of curiosity, why not just the bite?" Sidia risked the question. "Do you not want to kiss me?" Severus countered, eyes narrowing once more."I didn't say that, Severus. I'm just surprised that you want to kiss me right now. I want to know your reasoning." Perhaps this questioning would align with the pattern she had already established. She couldn't be too eager and obedient, but she couldn't push too far either. It was such a delicate balance to maintain."That questioning mind of yours," Severus chuckled. "Preliminary test is my reasoning. So few can hide the truth when their lips are locked onto another's. Whatever the lips hide, the blood will further reveal. I'm measuring your honesty and testing your loyalty. Your kiss will show your dedication, and your blood will show me that you're willing to let me know your location, that you're
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 44: A Kiss and a Bite
SIDIA'S POV"After that, I read through what the crazy old man had left behind. His original journal has since crumbled, but I have various copies, all different versions. I didn't want so much powerful information in one place." Severus had relaxed as he told his story, rocking back on his heels."The journal I read, that was Tephyr?" Sidia asked, putting all the pieces together."I assume the journal contained information about Blood Magic and cautionary tales?" Severus raised his eyebrow."Yes, it did," Sidia answered truthfully."You probably found one of my older copies then, a true copy. I added my own edits over the years to spread misinformation. Vampires are notorious for more than their blood thirst. Their thirst for knowledge comes second, and that knowledge is too powerful for others to discover." Severus surprised Sidia by lowering himself completely to the floor. He sat with his legs crossed in front of her, as if they were just having a regular conversation as frien
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 43: Two Thousand Years Ago
SEVERUS' POV TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGOWater. He needed water. His tongue grazed the roof of his mouth, dusty and dry. How long had he been in the tent? Was he still in the tent?"Don't move, Your Grace. You've been wounded." Was that Gaius?"No, don't try to speak, Your Grace. The healer will be here soon."No healer would be able to help him. Severus was certain of that. Death had already slipped its icy fingers around his bones, settled deep in his chest. He knew the end was coming. He could no longer remember what injured him, barely remember he was leagues away from home. All he wanted was to be in his own bed, the warm, salt-tinged air lulling him to sleep. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" Someone was yelling. There was a commotion. "How? How are you doing this?" Who was talking? What was happening? He couldn't see anything.There was more struggling, but Severus barely noticed. The fever had swept over him, and all he could think about was water. He just wante
The Last Amato Sacrifice Chapter 42: Just Tell the Truth
"Severus! She isn't even worth your time. Just kill her and be done with it. You can resume your search with her next generation." Julia waved her hand dismissively at Sidia."None of my ancestors have been allowed to leave, have they?" Sidia hissed. "I'm not terribly surprised. You're all terrible liars.""Shut your stupid little mouth." Severus bared his fangs as he spoke to her."What? No longer trying to befriend me? Did you think I was going to fall in love with you or something?" Sidia had to fight back tears from how hard he was pulling her hair, but she refused to let the pain show. "It would have been so much easier for everyone if you had," Severus retorted. "You just had to keep asking all your silly questions.""Since the pretenses are gone, will you finally tell me the truth? There is no prophecy, is there?" Sidia wanted to keep him talking. She needed to stall him, try to figure something else out."No, there is no prophecy. No seer. I concocted that detail for you
