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〃Peace； Dante； peace。 Continue。〃
Dante swallows thickly before continuing。 On top of everything else； he seems to have trouble breathing。 A frown wrinkles his features and he blinks； trying to remember where he is； or where he has been。 Yet his voice remains clear。
〃We were led away； my duke and I； and thrown into a stone cell where criminals were normally taken。 We spent the night together in that stinking place。 My fear was great…I knew we were about to be killed。 But my duke acted pleased。 He said nothing could harm us； that the Holy Father would be forced to release us。〃
〃Were you released？〃 I ask。 My knowledge of the inner workings of the Vatican is extensive。 No one accused by the pope of consorting with Satan ever survives。 Such mercy would set a poor precedent。 Yet Dante nods in response to my question。
〃The next morning the jailer came and opened our door。 There stood the Holy Father。 He said the judgment of the holy council was that we were to be let go； but to be banned from the city of Rome。 My duke's titles and properties were not confiscated； and I was amazed。 My duke knelt and kissed the pope's ring before we were led away； and then he stared into the pope's eyes； and far the first time I saw the Holy Father afraid。〃 Dante pauses。 〃I was afraid as well。〃
〃Of your duke？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why？〃
He gestures with a stump。 〃Because it was as if a black snake reached out from his eyes and touched the Holy Father between the eyes。 A snake the others could not see。〃
〃But you saw it？〃 I ask
〃Yes。〃
〃How？〃
He speaks with conviction。 〃It was there！〃
〃I understand。〃 I have to calm him again； not allow him to e out of his trance。 〃What did you and your duke do next？〃
〃Traveled to Persida。〃
The name is not familiar。 〃Where is that？〃
〃Not far。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Near。 Hidden。〃
I find it strange he is able to avoid answering me directly； and wonder if powerful hypnotic powers have already been brought to bear on his memory。
〃What is special about Persida？〃 I ask carefully。
He coughs painfully。 〃It is where magic was first invented。〃
〃By your duke？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why did you stay with him in Persida？〃
Dante struggles。 〃I had to。〃
〃Why？〃 I insist。 〃Did he use magic on you？〃
He bursts with memories。 〃Yes！ He called forth the great serpent！ The living Satan！ He invoked it in pain and blood and it poured forth from his navel。 I saw it again； the snake…it grew from his intestines and screeched when it saw the light of the world。 He poisoned my soul with its filthy powers； and then he poisoned my body。〃
〃That's when you started to get sick？〃
He calms down； so sad。 〃Yes。 In Persida； where magic lived； I began to die。〃
〃Why did he make you sick？〃
〃For his pleasure。〃
〃But you were a loyal subject？〃
More tears。 〃He did not care。 It pleased him to see me eaten away。〃
I want him to go on。 〃What did he do next？〃
〃He went to Kalot Enbolot。 That is the door to Sicily。 He has a castle there。 It was given to him by the Holy Father。 He wanted to open the door to the heathens。〃
〃To let the Moslems overrun the Christian world through Sicily？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And it was there he took up the name Landulf？〃
〃Lord Landulf of Capua。〃
〃How did he slay his knights？ At the castle？〃
〃He made them slay one another。 The demons summoned by the sacrifices always demand betrayal。〃
〃You keep saying he invoked demons； that he summoned them。 What proof do you have of this other than the snakes you thought you saw？〃
〃I did see them！〃
〃Fine。 But what was Landulf able to do with these demons？〃
〃He used them to torture men。 To control their wills。〃 Dante stops and glances away from the fire； into the dark； and his whole body shakes。 〃Distance does not matter with these demons。 They can cross water and bring death。 In the fair land of England； my duke boasted； knights in search of the Holy Grail wander lost because of the spells he cast over them。 They will never find the Grail； he said。 Forever； they will be lost。〃
I was familiar with this mystical quest。 But it was hard for me to imagine that Landulf had a hand in it。 〃Why does he bother with these knights？〃 I ask。
Dante speaks with pride。 〃Because they are righteous； and the light of God shines before them。〃
〃But you say Landulf is stronger than they are？〃
Dante hangs his head； as if ashamed。 〃I am afraid that he is the strongest。〃
〃But you are a Christian。 Your Lord Jesus Christ says no demon can stand before the name of Christ。〃
Dante continues； dejected； 〃Landulf cannot be defeated。〃
〃Surely he is not all powerful。 You escaped from him。 How did you manage to do that？〃
But Dante shakes his head。 〃I did not escape。 He sent me away。〃
〃Why？〃
Dante looks me straight in the eye； and I believe my power has finally failed。 He is no longer in a trance； but he is still frightened； more so than ever…terrified of what he has already told me； what I may do with the knowledge。
〃My lady； he told me to find him an immortal ruby beyond all worth。 And bring her back to him。〃
An immortal ruby？ My vampiric blood？
It sounds as if Landulf of Capua already knows about me。
That is fair。 I intend to know a lot more about him。
I will go to his castle； I decide。
Dante will lead me to the black wizard。
9
It takes a week to walk to Landulf's aerie； which stands in the heights of Monte Castello； in southwest Sicily； where； Dante tells me； the Oracle of Venus； the Goddess of Love； once stood。 Dante knows a tremendous amount of Roman and Greek history and mythology。 He is much more educated than I would have guessed。 I begin to understand that one of the reasons Landulf kept him around was because of his powerful story…telling abilities。 Even the evil duke loved a good tale； and when Dante starts on a story； his whole demeanor changes； as if he were hypnotized； and he speaks with great eloquence。 But the moment the tale is over； he reverts。 The sudden personality changes are disconcerting； but I am sympathetic to him because he has obviously been warped by his exposure to Landulf。 I feel guilty that I am manipulating him further。 Only by dominating him with my eyes； by soothing him several times a day； am I able to persuade him to lead the way to the castle。 The thought of the place fills him with dread and he must be wondering that his legs continue to carry him in that direction。
Yet he doesn't seem to wonder about me。 His affection for me is genuine； it pains me to use him so。 And it is obvious that he is more concerned about me than about himself。 When my influence on him wanes； he begs me to turn back。 The human sacrifices he tells me about as being monplace at the castle fill me with doubt。 It is hard to believe there could exist such evil as he describes。 Of course that is Dante's point。 Landulf is no longer human。 He has bee a beast he invoked。 The devil lives and breathes on a peak once considered sacred in ancient Rome。 Before resting each night； Dante recites the entire mass in Latin； praying to a small copper cross he hides during the day i