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He gestures to the circle； using the heart。 〃You say your ears are sensitive。 What about your eyes？ Can you not see what you are up against？〃
Now that he mentions it； I do notice a peculiar vibration in the air。 It's as if we're surrounded by a swarm of insects； yet there is no sound。 The sensation of the swarm is psychological。 Now I feel as if something foul picks at my skin。 I start to brush it away； but stop myself。 I fear to show weakness in front of him。 Yet a faint thread of fear has already entered my mind； and slowly begun to wrap around the center of my brain。 However； I still feel I have the upper hand。 I am an ancient vampire of incredible strength。 He is just a man。 Why； he doesn't even have his spear in his hand to protect himself。
I step toward the stone circle and bump into a barrier。
It is invisible but palpable。 A wall。
Or a magnetic force that resists physical contact。
I pound on it with my fist to no effect。
Landulf grins at me from inside the circle。
〃To enter；〃 he says。 〃You will have to sacrifice an innocent。〃
The girl cries behind me。 I silence her with a gesture。
〃That will never happen；〃 I say as I slowly probe the perimeter of the stone circle； seeking for a weak spot。 But the force field is uniform； and I am amazed that it even exists。 My memories of the future are back again； clearer than ever。 I have to wonder if the shield is of extraterrestrial origin。 The last time I confronted Landulf on this spot； I defeated him by using his wife as a shield。 This is the first event that is being played out differently from the last time。 So I know I must have e back in time for this final moment。
Yet I do not know what to do。
Landulf follows my movements and does nothing to thwart me。 I plete my inspection of the circle and pause to consider the possibility of jumping into the circle from the side of the cliff。 Landulf reads my mind； or perhaps he logically figures out what my next move must be。
〃You can try it；〃 he says。 〃I would enjoy watching you bounce off the edge of the cliff。〃
〃You cannot stay in there forever；〃 I reply。
〃Dante cannot stay in the underground passageway forever。〃
I freeze。 〃You bluff。 You cannot stop him from here。〃
In response Landulf raises the heart toward the sky and to my amazement it starts beating。 The blood squirts on his face and he licks it。 Then he lets out a high…pitched cackle； and I hear a loud shifting of stone far above。 Glancing up the way I came； I see that the exit to the cliff has been closed over with a fallen boulder。 Landulf lowers the heart。
〃That is one end；〃 he warns。 〃I can close the other end the same way。 If。。。〃
He doesn't finish。 He wants me to。
〃If I don't e get you；〃 I say。
〃Exactly。〃 He gestures to the chained girl； who is not enjoying the display of the duke's powers。 〃The life of your friend for the life of a stranger。〃
I glance at the girl and she shakes her head slightly。
〃Don't worry；〃 I snap at her。
〃You need to rip out her heart；〃 Landulf explains。 〃Quickly。 While it still beats； you will be able to penetrate the circle。〃
〃I do not barter in human lives。〃 But sudden doubt plagues me。 If I do not kill him； he will kill the girl anyway。 And I will not be able to take her with me down the side of the sheer cliff。 Dante's innocent face haunts me； as do Landulf s hypnotic eyes。 I just want to get to the duke and scratch his face off to put an end to his circus。 He moves to the edge of the circle； es within five feet of where I stand。 Once more I pound on the barrier but my fists rebound against my chest。 His dead wife's heart continues to beat and now the sound is in my ears。 I do not understand how his palm can animate it。 How a wizard； no matter how powerful； can infuse life into what should be dead。
〃You will barter；〃 he promises。 〃Fool！ There is no part of you I cannot touch。 No aspect of you I cannot defile。〃 He stops。 〃Hear something； Sita？〃
The beating of the heart grows louder in my ears。
In my head。 Even when I cover my ears it doesn't help。
He shoves the heart toward me and I am forced to stare at it。
This is madness…I cannot even close my eyes。
〃Kill her and it will stop；〃 he says。
〃No！〃 I cry。
〃Kill her and your friend will live！ Kill her and you can kill me！〃
The blood of the pounding heart splashes through the barrier and catches my face。 I taste the waste of Cia's perverted life on my lips and the pounding in my head increases ten…fold。 Surely I will go mad if I do not stop it in the next few seconds。 Whirling toward the chained girl； I do not know what she hears except that she suddenly screams。 Maybe the sight of my crazed expression makes her scream。 What is one human life； I think？ In four thousand years I have murdered thousands； ripped the lives from a parade of innocents。 I need her heart； just for a second。 Her sacrifice is necessary to spare the torment of billions in the future。 She should be happy to die for such a noble cause。 God should see that I have no choice in the matter。
But he will not see that and I know it。
Because I am five…not four…thousand years old。
I know to murder innocents is to murder my own soul。
But the pounding grows louder。
It is a miracle Landulf's voice can be heard above it。
〃You can rip out my heart when you are done with me；〃 he says。 〃And then you will finally be at peace。 Peace； Sita！〃
My body balls up in pain。
I squeeze my ears between my knees。
The beat of the dead heart。 Nothing can stop it。
Tears run over my face。 Bloody tears。
The girl swims in my red vision。
My head will explode； I know。
〃Kill her； Sita！〃 Landulf implores。
My mission will fail。 Billions will burn。
〃Rip out her heart！〃
In my head。 The pain。 The pounding。 Please。
〃Do it！〃
I do it。 Finally； just this once； I listen to him。
Leaping toward her； giving her almost no time to react； I thrust my left hand into her chest； smashing through her white gown and her pale ribs。 Yet for a fraction of a second； she knows what I am going to do。 She feels the absolute horror of the ritual execution。 That is what Landulf wants； what he needs； to activate his black sorcery。 The battery of the bastard is tied to perversity and pain。 The girl's heart is in my hand。 I feel its life； and still I yank it from her chest and leap toward the circle。 Out the corner of my eye I see her staring at me； and understand the betrayal she is feeling deep in my soul。 Her eyes are as blue as mine。 Even in death； they could be mine。
I land inside the circle； at the tip of a point on the pentagram。
The pounding stops。 The agony in my head。
The dead girl's heart seems to melt in my hand。
Landulf has picked up the mystical spear。
〃They are always hungry；〃 he explains as he nods toward the heart vaporizing in my left palm。 In moments it is entirely gone。 There is not even a stain of blood left on my hand。 Landulf raises the spear and takes a step toward me。 He is pleased with me。 〃You have passed the second step；〃 he says。
I ready myself for his attack。 I shift to the right side。
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