“The younger woman traveled to Florence with her fiancé in order to persuade her sister to come to me here. The sister is the Prince’s current pet. Tragically, the fiancé was murdered by one of the Prince’s council members. For some reason, the Prince himself brought the women to Rome yesterday.”
“Not for some reason,” the General interjected.
“Pardon?” Jack’s eyebrows shot up.
“The Prince brought the women in response to your letter.” The General looked pointedly at a closed file in front of him.
Jack tapped his foot in agitation. “Yes.”
“I know the Director of Intelligence has already spoken to you, my son. I must stress that your action has placed a number of our operations at risk.”
Jack was stricken. “Forgive me. I didn’t know.”
The General’s dark eyes met his. “You are forgiven, but forgiveness is not license.”
“Yes, your eminence.”
The General’s expression grew less severe. “My intelligence officers report that the Prince visited the Roman and sought his counsel before appearing here. The Prince surrendered the younger sister to you but refused to turn over his pet, despite your insistence.”
“That’s true. He claimed to have the Roman’s support.”
“Do you believe him?” The General’s tone was relaxed. Perhaps too relaxed.
“The Roman’s standard bearer and a small group of soldiers stood in plain view, watching. Their presence seems to indicate an alliance.”
“We are skeptical of the Prince’s claim. There’s been no direct communication from the Roman. The presence of soldiers and a standard indicate nothing. They could be Florentines masquerading as Romans.”
Jack wiped his palms on his trousers, for he was beginning to sweat. “A strange fog appeared, but did not cross the border. The Prince declared it was not of his doing. Who else but the Roman could have done such a thing?”
“There are multiple forces of darkness.” The General seemed unaffected by Jack’s insinuation. “What of the woman surrendered to you?”
“She is being examined by the medical officers.”
“Yes, I know. How did she appear?”
“She appeared healthy. She didn’t know her fiancé was dead, which means she’s probably been under mind control.”
“Once she’s healed of any injuries, her memories will be adjusted. You are to escort her and the body of her fiancé to America. The intelligence office is ensuring that an approved report is released to the media by the police.”
“Yes, your eminence.” Jack’s hand went to his Roman collar, which seemed to be suffocating him. “What about the other sister?”
“She and the Prince have left Rome. We are tracking their movements.”
“She’s in danger.” Jack rummaged in his pocket and closed on a glass vial. “I have in my possession a relic of St. Teresa of Avila. I carried it with me into the piazza, but it seemed to have no effect on the Prince.” He paused, as if fumbling for words. “The Prince laid his hand on my arm in order to free his pet. He also set foot on holy ground.”
The General scowled. “Impossible.”
Jack withdrew the relic and placed it on the General’s desk. “With respect, your eminence, I saw with my own eyes. The Prince’s foot crossed the border.”
The General sat back in his chair. “This ground is holy. Vampyres and other demons cannot pass.”
“I know what I saw.” Jack pointed to the relic. “He should not have been able to touch me; not with the blood of St. Teresa in his face.”
The General’s eyes focused on the relic. “Intelligence officers monitor the piazza constantly. No one saw the Prince set foot in Vatican City.”
“The fog,” Jack sputtered. “How could they have seen anything?”
“I viewed the video myself.”
“Then you must believe what I say.” Jack stood, placing his hands on top of the desk, next to the relic.
The General’s gaze shifted to the crucifix and then back to the Jesuit. “Be seated, Father.”
Jack replaced the relic in his pocket and returned to his chair.
The General removed his spectacles and rubbed his eyes. In that moment, he looked aged and worn and very, very tired. “In science, as in life, there are anomalies. Sometimes an anomaly is merely an illusion, a fault with the observer.
“Sometimes an anomaly recurs. It’s the recurrence that challenges a scientist to re-examine his theory.
“The Roman appears to be an anomaly. He continues to outlive his thousand-year lifespan. And we have no idea why.”
Jack stared in shock. “How is that possible?”
The General pursed his lips. “We battle not against flesh and blood.
“God enabled our forefathers to restrict the lifespan of vampyres. Through earnest prayers and through grace, judgment was passed on our enemies, and they ceased being everlasting. From that moment on, every vampyre has slowly gone mad as he or she approaches the thousandth year, and then they eventually expire. The Roman is an exception.
“According to the records, he was turned in the second century. By the time of the judgment, he was already a thousand years old.”
“Is that why he escaped death?”
The General replaced his spectacles on his face. “An interesting hypothesis. But legions of vampyres his age or older were struck down immediately.