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“If you agree to these terms, you too will save life—the lives of your citizens and the lives of my men. And Raven will be protected. I swear to you, I will keep her safe. And I will not let my brethren destroy you.”
The Prince rubbed his chin in agitation. “If I were to accept those terms, I’d want them written in a treaty that would be signed and circulated. I don’t want you marching on Florence after I’m deposed.”
“No,” Raven objected. “You can’t put your trust in an exorcism. It’s like placing your life in the hands of a magic trick. What makes you think it will work?”
“There will be no treachery,” the priest said, ignoring her characterization. “I will have the terms drawn up, and you may march a detachment of your soldiers to a neutral location. We’ll sign the treaty and end the war before the troops arrive.”
“Allow me time to consider your terms. You shall have my answer in half an hour.” William ended the call.
His eyes moved to his head of security. “Give us a moment.”
Gregor bowed and left the room.
“William, Father said himself they’ve never performed an exorcism on an old one.”
“It offers us a chance, with the added value of saving my city.”
“What if they kill you?” Raven’s body began to tremble.
“Then I’ll be dead. But you will be safe and so will the city.”
“It’s too high a cost.” She grabbed his arm.
William hung his head. He covered his eyes with his hand.
At length, he opened his eyes. “You were the one who taught me to hope, Cassita. The priest is offering me hope, hope that we can both survive this. I have to consider it.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
GENERAL VALE STARED at the Prince of Florence, his face impassive. The two leaders stood on opposite sides of a wide, wooden table, on which rested a few sheets of printed paper.
The General had already signed the treaty, on order of the Superior General.
The Prince held the pen in his hand. “If this treaty is violated, my troops have orders to strike.”
“Noted,” the General replied gruffly.
“You may have ousted me, but you still have the Roman to contend with. I’ve sent him a copy of the treaty. He will see it upheld.”
“You’re escaping with your life, which is far better than you deserve.”
“The opportunity to kill has not been taken away from you entirely,” the Prince growled. “I’ve revealed the identities of the vampyres responsible for the death of the policeman.”
“General,” Father Kavanaugh interjected. He stepped forward, facing the Prince. “Peace is in all of our interests. The General knows this.”
The Prince lowered his voice, addressing the priest. “And I have your word?”
“On my soul.”
The Prince stared at the priest. The other inhabitants of the room, which included the special forces unit and a detachment of Florentines, began to grow uneasy.
The Prince glanced at Raven. Then he pressed pen to paper and signed.
“I acknowledge your surrender.” The General inclined his head in the Prince’s direction. “Your soldiers may return to their barracks.”
The Prince saluted the Florentine captain and shook his hand. “Thank you for your service. Report to Lord Gregor for further instructions. Remind him to notify the Roman if even the smallest part of this treaty is broken.”
The captain bowed low, his hand on his sword. He and his detachment marched toward the door and exited.
“Commander,” the General ordered.
Commander Sullivan marched forward, holding a pair of manacles.
“What are you doing?” Raven surged toward William and the commander.
“It’s all right.” William’s tone was calm as he held out his wrists.
“No, it isn’t.” Raven turned on the commander. “He surrendered. You can’t chain him!”
The commander sidestepped her, keeping his eyes trained on the Prince as he shackled his wrists and another soldier shackled his ankles.
One of the soldiers blocked Raven from touching William.
“Father?” She tried to grab the priest, but he was already moving, throwing a rosary over the Prince’s neck.
A hush fell over the assembled group as the rosary had absolutely no effect on him.
Father Kavanaugh began reciting prayers in Latin and holding a cross out in front of him.
“William!” Raven pushed past the soldier, but another caught her around the waist. “You’re humiliating him. He surrendered. Stop!”
“It’s for our safety.” The priest gave what was intended to be a comforting look.
“To the Duomo,” the General ordered, leading the commander and three other soldiers as they escorted the Prince out of the room.
Father took Raven’s hand and they followed close behind.
Chapter Fifty-Four
“PLEASE LET HIM GO,” Raven begged, as she followed Father Kavanaugh through one of the underground passages that led from the Jesuit safe house directly to the Duomo.
“We made an agreement. In exchange for his surrender, his life would be spared.” Father began removing the gold bracelet from Raven’s wrist.
She snatched it back. “That’s mine!”
“You don’t need it any more. You are no longer under his control.”
She replaced the bracelet on her wrist. “It was never about control. It’s about love. Why are we going to the Duomo?”
Father gave her an odd look. “It’s the safest place to exorcise the demon.”
He assisted her as they ascended the staircase that led into the Duomo and passed through a set of doors into the sacred space.
Raven lowered her voice. “You’re going to let us go after the ritual, right?”
“We will require a few things from him first.”
She looked at the priest in horror. “He’s already surrendered. What more could you want?”
Father Kavanaugh averted his gaze to look toward an assembly of fifty black robes lining the aisle that led to the high altar of the Duomo. Each man was armed with a sword.
Raven watched William pass through them, a lamb being led to the altar in chains.
She grabbed Father’s arm. “You’re going to turn him into one of your soldiers? You’re going to make him kill his own people?”
“If that is what my superiors wish, yes.”
Raven cursed, loud and long.
“Enough.” Father’s expression grew severe. “We are in a house of God. You speak with respect or you will leave.”
“You deceived us,” Raven hissed. “You promised him freedom. Now you’re planning to make him a slave.”
The priest removed Raven’s hand from his arm. “We don’t keep slaves. But the Prince knows secrets about the Roman. He must share what he knows. And yes
, I hope that after he tastes freedom, he will want to help us provide that freedom to others.”
Raven pulled at her hair, frantically trying to keep her fury at bay. It was too late—William had already signed the treaty. But perhaps there was still time to warn him.
The beauty of the great cathedral opened up before her as she walked with the priest over the elaborately decorated floors toward the altar.
Raven ignored the artwork and Brunelleschi’s incredible dome that stretched over them. She was fixated only on William as no less than ten black robes dragged him across the floor.
He submitted to their actions wordlessly, his heavy chains crashing and clanking.
“William,” she lifted her voice.
The Prince turned his head but couldn’t see her because she was too far behind.
She approached more quickly, but Father blocked her progress. “It isn’t safe.”
“I don’t care.” Raven sidestepped the priest, limping as fast as she could toward William.
One of the black robes caught her arm.
“William!” Raven shouted, struggling against the soldier who held her. “They lied to us. They’re going to turn you into a killing machine. Save yourself.”
The black robes lifted their voices in disapproval. One of them moved to Father Kavanaugh’s side, whispering furiously in his ear.
The Prince was finally able to make eye contact with her. His eyebrows knitted together at the sight of her being restrained by a black robe.
“Don’t touch her,” he spoke through gritted teeth. His eyes moved to Father Kavanaugh’s. “You promised to protect her.”
“All the promises are lies,” she cried, continuing to struggle. “I don’t want to be protected by him. I want you.”
William’s expression grew pained. “Je t’aim,” he whispered.
