The Serpent's Disciple Read online

  “Please take the next few hours to rest and refresh yourselves. You will each find a set of evening clothes made especially for you by the Grand Master’s own personal tailor. A masseuse has been arranged on your behalf and if I might say, each one was handpicked for your specific preferences.”

  Thomas continued, “The next time I see you I am sure none of the young women in the room will be able to resist the gentlemen that I will have the pleasure of spending the evening with. Peter Romanus himself participated in the planning of the festivities. Anything you might desire will be available; nothing has been left to the imagination. Enjoy the evening gentlemen; it will be your first taste of what life will have to offer from this point on. Anything you desire will be available for your taking.”

  Thomas pushed back his chair and stood up. The hooded disciple was at his side, one hand resting on the ax and the other holding an automatic weapon. If his eyes could be considered a weapon, they would be knives that could cut out your heart before you even realize what had happened.

  “Until nine o’clock gentlemen,” said Thomas.

  CHAPTER 32

  Anthony and Nelli decided to walk back to the hotel.

  “It was good to see Mary Ellen wasn’t it, Anthony?”

  “Yes, I have to admit it was. It was awkward at first but then it was as if the last eight years never happened, except we both are a few years older. Actually, I think the years have made her more beautiful and she seems more at peace with herself and the world.”

  “I thought the same thing. I would say the same is true about you too, Anthony. God has a plan for all of us, you know.”

  Anthony thought to himself, you my dear sister are not yet totally aware of the undertaking that has been chosen for you, and he had no clue of what God’s plan was for Mary Ellen.

  As they were about to turn a corner and walk down one of the side streets, Anthony pointed out to Nelli a wrought iron railing that enclosed an opening in the street.

  “Let me show you something interesting,” said Anthony.

  He led her over to the walled off area. They looked into the gaping hole that dropped down for at least fifteen feet below the street.

  “What’s down there?” Nelli asked peering into the opening. “Why do they have this hole fenced off in the street?” Half way down a soft light revealed what looked like nothing more than a dirt floor.

  “What you are looking at are the ancient streets of Rome,” Anthony said, “there is a subterranean Rome not many people know exists, which is artistically and architecturally equal to that of the monuments above the ground—some of it going down as deep as thirty-six feet below the city. Where we are standing is the culmination of hundreds of years of civilizations that built their cities over those original streets.

  “At lunch yesterday, if it had been 96 A.D., we would have been sitting inside the Stadium of Domitian with 30,000 other spectators watching the birth of sports and athletic competitions. Not far away would have been the Odeon, a theater where artistic and literary events happened. These were the so-called ‘Agon Capitolinus’ or Contest at the Capitoline, all conceived by the Emperor Domitian.”

  Anthony added, “Many of these underground archaeological sites are now open to the public to tour. I’ve seen pictures but I have never taken one of the excursions. Someday I’d like to do that.”

  “That’s incredible,” said Nelli. “It’s hard to imagine we’re actually looking at the streets that people walked on thousands of years ago.”

  Nelli suddenly realized she was exhausted and could feel a headache coming on.

  “Is it much farther to the hotel Anthony?” Nelli asked.

  “No, it’s up ahead just around the corner. Why?”

  “I’m not feeling that well. I’m messed up with the time difference.”

  “I’m sorry; I should have paid more attention. Just a few more minutes and we’ll be at the hotel, and then you can lie down and take a nap.”

  Anthony actually felt more comfortable knowing that Nelli would be in the next room resting, instead of going back to the little shop to look for a box. Although he knew that there would always be a Guardian not far away.

  CHAPTER 33

  Nelli saw a man walking towards her. He looked familiar but she couldn’t quite place the face. He didn’t frighten her; in fact she felt a calmness that was hard to explain.

  “I’ve waited a long time to meet my namesake,” said the man.

  “I don’t understand,” said Nelli.

  “Your father named you after me, Antonella. He chose you to carry on the sacred task of the Keeper of the Key as all those before you. You are the only one who can unlock the box, which holds the book of the words of our Lord. It has been hidden, until the time came, when it needed to be found and that time has arrived.”

  “How do you know about that?” asked Nelli, shocked by what he had just told her.

  “You found a small religious medal in your room when you arrived, do you remember?”

  “You mean the Saint Anthony’s medal I found on the balcony?”

  “Yes, that’s right. I left it there for you to find.”

  “Are you saying that you are who the medal was made for?”

  “Yes, Antonella, I am Saint Anthony. Let me explain why I have appeared to you. After receiving a gift from young Giovanni, who was under my care at the abbey, I was visited by an angel who instructed me to write down what I was told and place it in the box I was given. The Lord would decide when the time came for his words to be revealed. I did as I was commanded.

  “Upon my death, I needed to pass on the box to someone born with a pure heart and who loved our Lord. Since Giovanni made the box for me and had these qualities, I gave him the box for safekeeping. He became the first Keeper of the Key.

  “Growing into manhood he married, and had a family, naming his first child Anthony. From that time on one child from each generation would be named after me and become the Chosen One.”

  As Nelli listened, she remembered her father’s words to her. Then she asked Saint Anthony, “My father came to me and said it was my destiny to locate the box, but how am I supposed to find it?”

  “You have already been given a clue where to look Antonella. You must believe in the souls that come to visit you. We are all around you. We will guide you and protect you along your journey. Temptation cannot win against the pure of heart. I will visit with you again my child. Now rest, for tomorrow your quest begins,” and the image of Saint Anthony slowly began to fade.

  Nelli called out to Saint Anthony not to leave her, she still had questions to ask him but as silently as he came, he was gone, and she was alone again.

  The door separating the two hotel rooms was slightly ajar and Anthony thought he heard Nelli calling him. He got up and headed over to the door.

  Lightly tapping on the door he whispered, “Nelli are you awake?”

  Peeking around the door it looked like she was still sleeping but Nelli called out his name again. Then Anthony realized she was calling Saint Anthony, not Anthony. He walked over and sat down on the edge of her bed.

  “Nelli, its Anthony, wake up, you were having a dream.”

  Slowly opening her eyes, it took Nelli a minute to register where she was. Then a peaceful look came over her face and she smiled at her brother.

  “I just talked to him, Anthony. I just talked with Saint Anthony.”

  He was no longer surprised by Nelli’s visions asking, “What did he say to you?”

  After she told him about finding the medal and her conversation, he suggested that she try to remember as much as she could of all the visits and write down every detail even if it did not seem important right now. She agreed that was a good idea.

  He checked his watch. “Mary Ellen will be here in a half hour. Let’s go get you that box to add to your collection.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Everywhere you looked were artifacts from past civilizations.

  “Buona s
era, benvenuto.”

  “Buona sera,” replied Anthony.

  “Ah, le capiscei l’italiano?” asked the proprietor of the shop.

  “Si, io capiscei l’italiano, ma no la sorella non capiscei l’italiano,” said Anthony nodding at his sister.

  “Si, si signore, I will speak English,” he seemed happy to have visitors.

  The man looked as old as some of the treasures in his shop but his eyes held the wonder of a young child. He moved slowly as he walked. His shoulders slouched forward as he leaned on a cane for support but it was obvious he loved being among his possessions.

  Nelli had already spotted a large wall case that held even more boxes. She stood in front of the glass doors peering inside. They were more beautiful than the ones that were in the window.

  “I see your sister has interest in one of my collections. Each box in front of you has a story to tell signorina.”

  “They are all so beautiful and each one is so unique,” said Nelli not able to hide her excitement. “I recently started collecting these small treasures and have read how they were given as gifts throughout the centuries. Where did you get all of them from?”

  “Ah, I see you have done your homework signorina. My life has been blessed and I have lived a long time but sadly everyone I know has gone to be with our Father. I’ve been waiting to join the others and I think perhaps that the time might be near.”

  Nelli was listening as the shopkeeper spoke but her eyes were locked on one of the small boxes behind the glass door.

  The old man couldn’t help but notice and came closer to where she was standing. Anthony and Mary Ellen followed close behind.

  “Which box calls to you signorina?”

  Nelli pointed to the wooden one with an intricately engraved cross on top.

  “There’s something special about this one don’t you think,” turning to look at Anthony and Mary Ellen, Nelli quickly looked back at the box.

  The old man smiled and said, “You have chosen a very special one and it has a special story behind it. The person that sold it to me many years ago told me it had been part of his family’s estate in Pesaro.”

  Nelli was startled by the old man’s statement.

  “That’s where we’re headed tomorrow to visit the birthplace of our father.”

  The old man didn’t seem too surprised. He just looked up towards heaven and made the sign of the cross.

  “The Holy Spirit must have had a purpose for bringing you to my humble shop.”

  “You spoke of a story with regard to this box?” asked Mary Ellen.

  “Si signorina, I was told that it is an identical reproduction of a box given to a monk who lived in the monastery outside of Pesaro in the thirteenth century. It is said the original box held a secret.”

  Nelli couldn’t breathe. Her dreams were coming true. She remembered her father telling her she would be guided on her journey.

  Anthony sensed the change in Nelli’s demeanor. Moving next to her he put his arm around her shoulder hoping his sister would snap out of the daze she seemed to be in.

  CHAPTER 35

  They were finally on their way to Pesaro. Nelli held the box in her hands, examining it carefully. As Anthony drove, he mentally went over the plans discussed with the other Guardians the night before. Two Guardians would stay behind in Rome to protect Mary Ellen. Two were already in Pesaro, two were close behind in a car following them, and the others to predetermined locations.

  “So what do you make of this box Anthony?”

  “I believe you were meant to find it.”

  Anthony had been waiting for the right moment to talk to Nelli about the mark of the stigmata; this seemed as good as any.

  “Nelli you never told me what you did to your hand. I noticed it on the plane flying over here,” he asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

  Nelli moved her hand away from the box looking down at the marking on it and then quickly placed it back.

  “What happened?”

  “It was after I had the dream I told you about when father came to visit me.”

  Nelli was fighting back tears trying not to cry. Anthony was struggling with the memory of that day too, as he watched from the other room, where Nelli sat next to their dying father.

  “I miss him too Nelli.”

  “I know,” she said in a whisper.

  “Go on Nelli.”

  “I was watching the evening news on TV. The next thing I remember I felt a sharp pain in my hand. When I looked down I noticed blood dripping down my arm. Then I realized I was holding on to the cross father gave me and immediately let go of it. I thought I must have held it so tightly that it cut into my skin and it never healed.”

  “You know I have studied religion. What I am about to say to you might be difficult to accept. The marking you now have is the mark of the stigmata. Their existence is so well established historically, that unbelievers now seek only to explain them naturally and no longer dispute them.

  “It happens only to the Chosen Ones. They will have visions as are written about in the stories that have been recorded over time. I believe the dreams you are having are not dreams but visions. I would like to explore your dreams a little more Nelli if you are up to it.”

  As Anthony was talking she grabbed a notebook from her bag.

  “I did what you suggested Anthony. I tried to write down everything as accurately as I could remember.”

  “That’s great Nelli.

  “Okay, then your next vision was when you spoke with Dad, right?”

  “Yes, he told me, search for the knowledge found in a box that has been hidden for centuries. The box can only be opened with the key you possess. In the box you will find a book. Within the book is written the words of Our Lord that will show the path that must be taken by the shepherd of the flock if the Church is to survive. He said I would be given a Guardian on earth and when he saw the stigmata on my hand he would know the time had come to be myr protector.”

  Nelli abruptly stopped, looked up from her notebook, turned her head and looked at Anthony, shocked at realizing what she had just said.

  “It’s you, isn’t it?”

  Anthony continued to look at the road ahead, then calmly replied, “Yes Nelli.”

  Neither of them said a word.

  Nelli was the first to speak, “I’m glad it’s you Anthony.”

  “There’s something else you must know, I am not the only Guardian,” replied Anthony. “There are eleven others who will help us on this journey. I can tell you more later.”

  Nelli now realized that she would be surrounded by many souls, here on earth and by others that had gone before her. She would stop questioning and accept her fate.

  “Let’s keep going Nelli. Tell me about the one involving Saint Anthony. Did he say anything about the box?”

  “Yes, he spoke about the young boy Giovanni and the gift of the box. Being visited three times by an angel who told him to write down the words of Our Lord in a book and place it in the box he had received as a gift.

  “Upon his death Saint Anthony entrusted the box to Giovanni. The young apprentice became the first Keeper of the Key. Giovanni married and named his first child after his friend and mentor. Upon Giovanni’s death the child named after Saint Anthony became the Chosen One and so on and so on and we know where this ends.”

  “Now your vision with the artist Bellini, if I remember correctly you said something about a painting that held a clue?”

  “Yes, he was at the foot of my bed standing next to a painting and he told me to study the painting carefully. When I fell asleep that night, I was reading from the Frommer’s guidebook on Italy and it suggested things to see while in Pesaro. The most significant relic of Renaissance Pesaro is a painting by Giovanni Bellini housed in the art gallery of the Museo Civico in Piazza Toschi Moca called Coronation of the Virgin.

  “Here’s what I wrote down. He said, Study the painting carefully, it will guide you along the path you seek. Remem
ber to look within, there you will find a clue.”

  “Do you think this could be the painting the artist meant?” asked Anthony.

  “At the moment it’s our only lead.”

  CHAPTER 36

  Mary Ellen got to her office earlier than normal. She knew Anthony and Nelli were already on their way to Pesaro. They said they would call her when they arrived at the villa they had rented outside of town.

  She checked her e-mails. As she scanned through the messages, there was one from her brother. He had decided to write down everything he could remember, like she had asked.

  She began reading and half way through the e-mail Devlin made a reference to an order called the Legion of Christ.

  “There’s that name again,” muttering under her breath, reading more slowly now.

  There was something he had noticed with one of the priests from the LC. It didn’t seem very important at the time. He assumed it was a nervous habit that people sometimes develop. He noticed upon greeting some of the other clergy he would start to nervously spin the ring on his left finger before shaking hands. But then he observed others and not all of them priests, exhibiting the same idiosyncrasy. He thought it was odd to see the same behavior among that many individuals.

  Sitting back in her chair, Mary Ellen thought about what Devlin had observed. It could be nothing or maybe it was some kind of secret sign? She heard the outer office door open, then footsteps. Barely breathing she watched the door slowly being pushed open and then she heard her name.

  “Ms. O’Farrell?”

  Mary Ellen relaxed when she heard the voice of her assistant Carlotta but was shocked to realize she had the letter opener clutched tightly in her hand. She had received it as a gift her first day at the Vatican. Mary Ellen set it back down on the desk before Carlotta could see.