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Dante had been trying to warn me of something unseen。
Then I see him。 And it is a miracle。
He is struggling up the path to the pond； limping badly； gasping for breath。 In a moment I am by his side； helping him to sit down on a large rock not far from the water。 He is in worse shape than when I saw him last and is already babbling about how sorry he is that he is late； and why he is late。 I can't get a word in； but I am so happy to see him that I weep。 Really； it is one of the most wonderful moments of my life。 God has heard all of my prayers。
〃The passageway was blocked；〃 he says rapidly； with hardly any air in his lungs。 〃There was a large stone。 I had never seen this stone before。 Never！ My lady； I didn't know what to do。 I tried walking back in your direction； but I couldn't find you； and I kept slipping in the water。 My brace kept falling off； and once it almost floated away。 I would have been crippled！ Then I took another path that I know but no one else knows and I went back into the castle and by all the saints in heaven I knew I was going to be put back in the prison。 But everyone ignored me！ The knights were running all over the place and the servants were crying and it sounded as if something horrible had befallen Lord Landulf。〃 He pauses to breathe and his eyes shine with hope。 〃What befell him； my lady？〃 he asks。
I have to smile。 Yet there is no joy in it and I wonder why。 My happiness is tempered with regrets I can hardly explain to myself。
〃He died；〃 I say。 〃I killed him。〃
Dante bursts out with laughter。 But then he catches himself and quickly does the sign of the cross。 But his relief is not to be contained and a moment later he is howling in pleasure again。 He jumps up from his rock and hugs me and shakes like a child。 Yet the news is too good for him。 He is having trouble believing it。
〃Is he is really dead？〃 he keeps asking。 〃Are you sure it was him？ Did you see his body？ Are you sure it was his body？〃
I strive to calm him。 〃It was him； I swear it。 I put the Spear of Longinus through his evil heart。 He died like any other man。〃
Dante is smiling。 〃Did you burn his body？ Did the smoke stink？〃
I shake my head。 〃No。 I didn't burn him。 There wasn't time。〃
His smile falters slightly。 〃But what did you do with his body； my lady？〃
I shrug。 〃Nothing。 I left it。 Don't worry； he will not return to haunt us。 I am sure of it。〃
Dante seems reassured。 〃Then we can go to Messina now and tell everyone that the world is safe？〃
I force a laugh。 〃Yes。 We can tell everyone that there is nothing left to worry about。〃 But my laughter soon dies because that is not the way I feel。 I add softly； 〃We will tell the whole world。〃
Dante is uncertain。 〃Is something wrong； my lady？〃
I turn away。 〃No。 I am just worried about you。 You need to eat； to rest and regain your strength。〃
He stands and steps to my back。 〃Something weighs on your heart。 Share it with me； my lady。 Perhaps I can lighten your burden。〃
My eyes are suddenly damp。 I am ashamed to look at his face。
But I feel I can tell him。 He will understand。 〃When I found Lord Landulf；〃 I say； 〃he was in the stone circle as you said he would be。 But I did not do what you suggested。 I did not wait for him to leave the circle to attack him。 I was too impatient。 He was simply sitting there…I thought I could just kill him and then it would be all over with。〃
Dante speaks sympathetically。 〃But you could not penetrate the circle。〃
My hands clasp each other uneasily。 I cannot stop moving them。 〃Yes。 There was an invisible shield around it。 Landulf had created it； I believe； by employing a sacrifice that required him to cut out the heart of his own wife。〃
Dante gasps。 〃Lady Cia！〃
〃Yes。 She was dead when I arrived。 But there was a young woman chained nearby who was very much alive。 Landulf told me if I wanted to get to him； I would have to rip out the girl's heart。 At first I refused； but then this pounding started in my head； and it wouldn't stop； and I didn't know what to do。 In a moment of pain and anger I reached for her 。。。〃 I have trouble finishing。 〃I reached for her and I…I killed her； Dante。 I killed her with my own hands； and she had never done anything to me。〃
Dante is silent for a long time。 Finally I feel his good hand touch my shoulder。 〃You did what you had to do； my lady。〃
I clasp his hand but shake my head。 〃I don't know。 Sometimes I think I just did what I have always done in the past…kill。 That has always been my ultimate solution to every problem。〃 I gesture weakly。 〃But this girl…she was praying for me to save her。〃
〃But you saved the rest of us。〃
I am emotional。 〃Did I？ Did I do what I was supposed to do？ If I did then can you explain to me why the stain of this girl's blood refuses to wash off my hand？〃
Dante grabs my left hand and stares at it anxiously。 〃Perhaps we only need to wash it in clean water。 e； my lady； a quick wash in the pond and everything will be all right。〃
I take back my hand。 〃No； Dante。 I have tried washing it a dozen times。 The stain will not e off。〃
He is confused。 〃But why？〃
I lower my head。 〃I think it is because I listened to Landulf； in the end。〃
〃No！〃
〃Yes。 I performed the ritual murder of an innocent。 That's all that was needed to be initiated by him。〃 I pause and stare at my left hand。 There is only the stars for light； but I see the stain well。 It is almost as if I see my whole life expressed in the red of the mark。 〃I have bee one of them；〃 I whisper。
Dante is adamant。 〃No！ You are the opposite of them！ You are an angel！ You bring light where there is darkness！ Hope where there is despair！ A dozen times you have e to my rescue！ A dozen times I would have died without your courage！〃
I turn and force a smile。 〃Oh； Dante。 I had to keep saving you because I kept putting you in danger。〃 I raise my hand as he tries to protest。 〃Please don't look upon me as an angel。 When you get to heaven； you'll see real angels and they'll look nothing like me。〃
He pauses and seems to think hard for a moment； but his eyes never leave my face。 〃You have too much love in you to be hated by God；〃 he says finally； 〃When we get to heaven； you'll see that。〃
I have to laugh and hug him again。 〃My friend！ What would I do without you？ No； wait； don't answer that question。 There is something I want to do for you。 Something I have been planning to do for the last few days。 But before I do it I want you to know that it is entirely safe。 That no harm will e to your body or soul by the change I am going to bring。〃
He is curious。 〃What is this wonderful thing you are going to do？〃
I hold his shoulders and stare into his eyes； trying to bring calm and understanding into his excited mind。
〃You saw how Landulf was anxious to get my blood？ There was a reason for that。 Long ago a mysterious man gave me some of his blood； and that blood changed me in a way that made me both strong and resistant to disease。 It is impossible for me to get sick。 And just a few drops of my blood is able to heal others。〃 I pause。 〃Do you understand what I am saying； Dante？〃
He shakes his head。 〃I am