A harsh reality catches up with an easy going, book loving Evelina Angelis when her parents are arrested. She is a young, educated woman in 16th century Venice, Italy. The life of a courtesan, a cortigiana onesta, is her only real option. The more she excels at her craft, the more dangerous it becomes. Her love for one man and obligations to another lead her down a dangerous path deeper into the world of vampires and it's only a matter of time before a deadly plague ravages her beautiful and beloved city.