The priests balked. "It is a sacred space. . . . That cannot be."
"It is," Schuyler said. "We were there."
"You entered the gate." Father Arnoldi looked sharply at Ghedi. "That is not allowed." As Jack had guessed, the human gatekeepers had been ordered to stay away from the site.
Ghedi bowed his head. "It was necessary. The girl was there."
"We were led there. Whoever took MariElena, they wanted us to know it was false," Jack explained. "They are taunting us."
"Ghedi said Father Baldessarre was worried about certain things?" Schuyler asked.
The priests shifted in their seats and looked uncomfortable. "Lately, there have been too many taken. Each year only one, or two at the most. But now we hear too many reports, and each is the same. The girls are taken, and when we find them, they carry the mark."
"You will not kill MariElena," Schuyler warned.
The old priest looked at her balefully. "She carries a dangerous enemy. It is better for her to die."
Schuyler realized something. When they had first asked Ghedi to explain his connection to his grandfather, Ghedi had told them a story of his mother's death. "Ghedi, your mother, she had been taken. . . ."
"Yes." Ghedi nodded. "She carried the mark. It burned in her skin. And her belly grew. She began to have visions and shakes. She spoke of Hell."
"You told us she died in childbirth, and that the priests took you as an orphan. But the Petruvians killed her, didn't they? And took you in afterward."
He did not deny it.
"And yet you do not hate them," she marveled.
"My mother was damned, Schuyler. And the child could not live. Not in this world."
"We will not allow you to harm MariElena," Schuyler said. "There has to be a way to heal her."
The conversation came to a stalemate, and the meeting adjourned. Back in their room, Schuyler rummaged through Lawrence's notes. "I think I found something that links Father Linardi, the first Petruvian, to Catherine of Siena." She held up a sheaf of letters. "I didn't think they were important, but now I do. Jack, these are love letters. Benedictus was Catherine's human familiar. She ordered him to guard this false gate. Which means that the real gate is still somewhere here."
Schuyler tied the sheets excitedly. "Catherine was guarding the real gate, and used the Petruvians as a decoy."
"But the Croatan know the gate is false, and if they are taking women, it means that the real gate, wherever it is, has been compromised somehow,"
Jack said.
"But if that's the case, wouldn't this whole countryside be overrun with demons already?"
"Not exactly. What did Ghedi say? The raiders who took his mother--the flesh traders who took MariElena--they were human. Michael's strength still keeps the demons in the underworld."
"But it doesn't keep humans out." Schuyler nodded. "They're taking the girls to Hell. That was why I couldn't locate MariElena in the glom.
"We have to find Catherine. We have to tell her what's been happening here. This whole thing must be a mistake. The Blue Bloods can't have allowed this. . . . Michael and Gabrielle would never . . . Something has gone very wrong here.
"We'll find Catherine," Schuyler said resolutely. "I have a feeling she can't be far. Lawrence thought she might be in Alexandria. He had meant to go there, but he'd wanted to check out Father Baldessarre first." She put away her grandfather's papers, and when she looked up, Jack's eyes were bright.
What is wrong, my darling? she sent, and walked over to take his hand. We are safe. We will fight this horror.
"I cannot go with you to Egypt," Jack said, gripping her hand tightly.
"What do you mean?"
"There will be more bounty hunters. We got lucky this time. But I cannot put you in any more danger. I must go back and face Mimi."
Schuyler did not say a word, and held Jack's hand even tighter.
"This is the only way, my love," Jack said. "For the two of us to be free, I must face the blood trial. I could never face myself if you ever came to harm because of me."
Schuyler trembled. "They will burn you," she whispered.
"Do you have so little faith in me?"
"I will go with you," she said, even though she knew she would not. She had to finish her grandfather's work. She had to carry on the legacy. Innocent women and children were being slain in the name of the Blessed.
"No. You know you must not," Jack said.
You said we would never be separated, ever again.
And we will not. Not ever. There is a way to be together always. Jack dropped to his knees and looked up at Schuyler with so much love. "Will you?"
Schuyler gasped and pulled him to his feet. She was ecstatic and devastated at the same time. "Yes. Yes. Of course. Yes."
It was decided, then. Shuyler would look for Catherine of Siena and the true Gate of Promise, while Jack would return to New York to fight for his freedom. But before they went their separate ways, they would seal their bond.
FORTY-TWO
The Road to Hell (Mimi)
Mimi Force looked up at the Repository scribe sitting in front of her. "The Venators have crushed the coup.
There will be no disbandment. For now the Coven stands."
"I heard. Congratulations."
"They're going to stick together and stick with me for now." Mimi pursed her lips. "If they know what's best for them."
"I can't imagine you had me fetched from the basement just to crow over your victory, as deserved as it may be."
"You're right; there's something else. The Repository report came in on the blood spell that hit me."
"And?"
"It was not sent by a member of the Conclave, nor from any vampire in this Coven."