Valentino had locked himself away for the past week or so, having much to work out in his head.  Things had not been going the way he wanted.  He was looking weak and useless and Valentino was anything but that.  He had been spending hours in his study, just sitting by the fire, or the window, watching the flames lick at the wood, or the moons light move across the vineyards, thinking. 

Thinking was something that he did a lot of.  That was what made him one of the worlds most known Senators in his day, and quite the Primogen.  He was fair and just, diplomatic, as long as his rules were followed and no one tried anything funny.  Problem was, he had let personal matters get into the way of business.  He had been wallowing in his own self pity, woe is me bull shit that he really had to work out. 

Caroline had tried to get him out of the study many times, as had Sam, but they had failed, needing that personal time to get things straight in his head.  First it had been Silent, then Jane, then Tony.  Perhaps he had been thinking of himself for too long, but what vampire didn't?  His own self loathing had him not feeding for days, even the vitae that Sam left him went untouched, uninterested in drinking, satisfying the hunger that gnawed at him.  No, he had issues to work out. 

It was time to make a stand.  To be seen.  Heard.  To take the city and be noticed.  To get back to the Pilate history wove tales about.  It wasn't too late to take it all.   He knew Caroline and Meridian would stand by his side.  But that wasn't enough.  He needed others.  He needed a flock, a coven that was his to protect, to feel worth something again.  To be protected. 

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It was a new day (or night, which ever you prefer) to live.  Or die.  Depending on one's preference.  For Tino, he was going to take it all.  It wasn't the control or power.  Not all of it.  It was status, it was knowing that people respected you, feared you, loved you, all in one breath.  That was what Tino needed. 

Wanted.

He felt her before he heard her.  He had just sated his hunger, feeling alive again, freshly showered and dressed, listening to Sam speak with the unique femme fatale.  Strolling down the long spanse of marbeled hallway, he listened to every word spoken, infliction of voice and pitches.  Rounding the corner, he paused, looking to the woman.  She was a beauty, that much was true. 

"Come in, per favore, bella."  Soft tones, not asking, but requesting, that she come further into his abode, nodding to Sam, who glanced back, unsure of leaving his master alone with the hybrid.  Tino scratched lightly at his goatee, gazing at the woman from hooded tri colored silver eyes.  Body moved with sinewy grace, speaking volumes of a lethal weapon and yet held that sexuality that made both women and men nearly orgasm at the meer sight of him, leading Eden to his study.

"What do I owe the pleasure, bella?"  She was welcome in his home, just as was Caroline, who had taken up perminant residence, and Meridian.  He had yet met Azreal, and well, he and Marcus had a few things to work out.  But even they were welcome, for he would not turn away another vampire, unless they broke his rules, to which, he would just break them.  Hand moved out to offer her a seat on one of the leather chairs or couch, which ever she prefered, taking his own seat in his personal chair, eyes never leaving her face, actually finding her dual colored eyes captivating.