In the dimly lit Chapel of St. Sebastian, Cardinal Clemente knelt before the altar, the flickering candles casting dancing shadows upon the ornate walls. His hands trembled as he clasped them together in fervent prayer, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions.

  The weight of his involvement with a clandestine group of men bore down upon him. He knew that continuing to aid them in their plan to raise the evil one would lead to his downfall, yet the thick fingers of fear gripped his heart, whispering of the dire consequences that awaited him should he attempt to sever ties with them.

  “Oh lord guide me,” he beseeched, his voice a desperate plea echoing in the silent chapel. “Steer me away from the evil rising, take me on the correct path. I beg you to bring forth the righteous people who can end this. It is in your heavenly name that I pray, Amen.” Now sitting he starts to search his mind for who may be willing to travel with him, someone from outside the group, someone who will understand what needs to be done, someone who has no fear or knowledge of the men in the group.

  As he rose from his knees, a sense of desolation settled upon him. His mind raced, searching for a solution to his predicament. But with each passing moment, the realization grew more profound – he was trapped, ensnared in a web of evil from which there seemed no escape.

  “No one!” he said out loud, “No one would want to go without an explanation of why such a long voyage must be made. I cannot speak of it to anyone, I am at a loss.” His gaze drifted upwards to the intricate mosaic adorning the chapel's dome, seeking solace in its divine beauty. Just then he notices a man in a cassock sitting to his right a few rows back. “I am sorry Father, my troubles would not have been so loud had I thought that I was alone.” He stated, looking at the ground with embarrassment and fear.

  “No apologies are necessary Cardinal, we all come to the chapels to vent our fears and frustrations with daily life. My name is Father Tobias Ratcliff, I am visiting the Vatican before I head back to the States,” he said.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you Father, I am Cardinal Xavier Clemente. Your Cassock looks familiar, but I am coming up short on the name of the order.” The Cardinal said drifting off.

  “I am with the Society of Jesus, Your Excellency.” This sparked an idea in the Cardinal's mind, he was headed back to the States, maybe this would be the perfect travel companion he thought.

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  “If I may so bold Father, when are you due to leave for the States?” He asked,

  “I will be leaving in two days, why do you ask?”

  “I have to travel there as well, would you like to accompany me to the States in one of the Vatican's private planes?”

  “Yes, Your Excellency I would very much like to travel back with you!”

  “Excellent then I will arrange the flight, and we will leave in two days”

  “Thank you so much for inviting me, I have heard that the planes used by the Vatican are very nice!”

  “Yes, Father they are very comfortable for such a long flight. Meet me at the statue in St. Petersburg Square on Thursday 7 am sharp and we will go from there.”

  “I will be there your excellency again thank you.”

  Later that night Cardinal Clemente donned his black featureless mask and entered the old stairway leading down to the secret ritual room, as he approached the chamber doors he could hear some of the men talking to the Blood Pope.

  “I want you men to kill Archbishop LaRosa, then travel to Las Vegas and bring Father Murray back here, and kill the man named Jack Porter. He is the one Father Murray hired to find the boxes.”

  The cardinal knocked loudly on the chamber doors and the men fell silent, he entered and reported to the Blood Pope that his travel arrangements had been made, and he would be departing Thursday morning.

  “Excellent Cardinal, I am glad to hear of this. I was starting to feel as if you were having second thoughts about our plans to bring greatness back to this world.” Now starting to shake, he is, without question, sure that he has made a horrible mistake.

  “No, my Lord I am just averse to making such a long trip alone. I have however found another traveling to the States who will accompany me to alleviate the issue.” He said still shaking, hoping the pounding of his heart did not show through his robes.

  “Very well then go and get those boxes back here as quickly as possible.” He said.

  “Yes my Lord I shall not fail you!” He turned and quickly walked away taking off the mask as he headed back up the stairs to the ground level. Thinking this is as close to hell as he ever wants to be.

  The two meet at the square Thursday morning and take a limo to the airport where the plane has been fueled and is ready to take off. “Father Tobias, I have something that I need to talk about, a sort of confessional if you will. Perhaps during the flight, we can talk, and I can get your opinion on what I should do about the issue that has been troubling me so very deeply?” He said with much sorrow in his voice.

  “Yes, Your Excellency. However, I can assist you, I will do my best to give wise counsel for you.”

  “Thank you, Father, now let us relax for a while and rest.”