chapter FIFTY-FOUR
When we returned to the basement, I handed the piece of paper to Clavius. “What makes you think I won’t use the spell on myself?” I asked.
“One must hold the map while chanting the spell in order for it to work. And I will never give you the map. In fact, I think I’ll burn it when I’m done just to be sure you’ll never get your hands on it.” He turned to Vittorio. “Now that I will be more powerful than anyone, do you maintain that you do not want to overthrow me as Sacerdote?”
“I have seen your true nature. I love my coven and will not allow you to manipulate them. I will take your position,” Vittorio said.
“Wrong answer. You must enjoy watching your love suffer.”
He sent a wave of power through Kevin.
“Stop! We did as you asked. You promised you wouldn’t hurt him.”
“I never promised. I am not that stupid.”
“Please, don’t hurt him.”
“We are just beginning, my little angel, unless Vittorio agrees to revoke his threat and offer his allegiance to me.”
“Don’t do it,” Kevin moaned.
Elizabeth slashed him across the cheek with her knife.
“Please stop,” I begged.
Vittorio said nothing.
Elizabeth’s power flared, and Kevin cried out in pain. She followed up with a carefully placed stab that caused no major damage.
When she stopped, Kevin looked at Vittorio and said, “Don’t give in to them. I’m not important.”
“Yes, you are,” I cried.
Elizabeth slashed his midsection.
“Vittorio, please. Kevin won’t survive this much longer. Look how much he’s bleeding.”
“Alright, stop. You win,” Vittorio said.
“Say you will follow my command.”
“I will follow you.” His shoulders slumped.
“And you will give me your little angel as Sacerdotessa.”
“No!” he cried.
“Yes, he will. Just let Kevin live,” I said.
Vittorio looked at me in horror.
“I can’t watch them kill him. I’m sorry, my love, but I can’t.”
“Fine,” Vittorio muttered.
“Swear it.”
“I swear,” he said, barely audible.
I couldn’t stand the look of pain in Vittorio’s eyes as he swore his allegiance to Clavius.
“Good. Now, Elizabeth, if you will do as we discussed?”
Elizabeth turned to walk away from Kevin, suggesting his torture was over. Then, she turned around and thrust her knife into Kevin’s heart.
I don’t know if Kevin’s scream or mine was louder. I crawled to him and pressed myself to him in as much of an embrace as I could with my hands still bound behind my back.
He slung one arm around me.
“Kevin, please don’t die. Please, Kevin. I’m so sorry. Don’t leave me.”
“Make him pay,” he whispered.
“No, you’re not going to die. Please, Kevin. You can’t leave me.” I tried to heal him, but the amulet was still around my neck, my hands still tied. I was helpless.
“Vittorio will take care of you. Kill Clavius for me.” His arm slid from my shoulders and his body went slack.
I stared at Clavius through my tears. “You will pay for this, you bastard.”
“Is that so? And what are you going to do, all tied up and powerless? Nothing. And now, you will see how strong I truly am.” Samuel handed Clavius the map, carefully rolled up. He held the map in both hands and chanted the spell three times. Power rose in the room, threatening to suffocate. It was not Clavius’ power; rather the foreign power of the ancient spell. The map glowed in Clavius’ hands and I wondered if it would save him the trouble of burning it himself.
He seemed to grow younger. He turned and tested his power on Vittorio, who screamed in pain. I felt that Clavius power was stronger than before. I feared we would never be able to defeat him now, even if we could get free of the ropes and amulets.
“Such power! I will live forever. See how I will rule!” He projected his thoughts into our minds. He sat high upon an onyx throne. A woman I assumed was Aerin stood by his side. People who I sensed were the other coven members knelt at his feet, proclaiming their loyalty and everlasting love to Clavius. His thoughts said he would kill anyone who opposed him. And the first he would kill would be Samuel. Samuel was too powerful, too ambitious, too much of a threat.
I don’t think he meant for that last part to reach us, and he didn’t seem to notice. Samuel’s face said he certainly had noticed. He moved closer to Vittorio and knelt down beside him when Clavius wasn’t looking. I saw him whisper something. He stood just as Clavius turned to look at him.
“And you, Samuel, you will take the place of La Guardia. You have served me loyally, and I will soon need a replacement.”
Vittorio scooted closer to me. I saw he had a knife and that his hands were free. He cut me free as well. “When Clavius is not looking, remove the amulet, but not before. We will have to be quick and stun him. I only hope the amulet will work on him now that he has used the spell.”
“Come, Samuel, come and chant the spell with me. Be young and powerful,” Clavius beckoned.
As Samuel walked toward Clavius, he reached behind his back and drew a gun that was tucked under his shirt. My gun. In one quick movement he shot Clavius in the heart. Clavius collapsed to the ground.
Jonah and Elizabeth battered Samuel with the full force of their power, overcome by rage and sorrow at the death of their Sacerdote.
Vittorio and I removed the amulets from our necks. “Should we help him?” I asked.
“He did help us.” He tucked the amulets into his pocket.
“That’s only because Clavius was going to kill him. Personally, I say let Elizabeth and Jonah do what they want with him.”
“You are becoming coldhearted, mio amore.” There was no sentiment to his words, just a statement of fact.
“Can you tell me you truly wish to help him after everything he did to us?”
“No, mio amore, I cannot.”
I wondered what the hell we were going to do then when movement caught my attention. It was Clavius, standing unharmed.