THE END OF THE CIRCLE

"Do you need anything else, Holy Father?" Pius IX. silently shook his head. "Forgive me for saying this, but you don't look well. You should lie down. Whatever it is you wanted to write here, it can wait until tomorrow!"

Pius IX. gave his Camerlengo a tired smile. There would be no tomorrow for him - at least not in this world. How would the world on the other side look to him? Would the Lord forgive his blindness? He had sensed that something unholy was going on, but he had closed his eyes and refused to acknowledge it. The desire to restore the importance of the Holy Church in the lives of the people had clouded his mind and his vision. Now he could only entrust himself to his supreme Judge and hope for His mercy.

"I will finish writing this letter, then I will go to bed. You may retire. I no longer need you."

The secretary bowed and closed the door behind him. When the footsteps outside had faded away, Pius IX. dipped the steel pen back into the inkwell and continued writing.

I, Pope Pius IX. by the grace of God, decree in my final explicit wish that my body shall not be interred in St. Peter's alongside my predecessors in the office of Peter. Do not erect my likeness as a marble monument like a ruler on a throne! Bury my body in all humility in San Lorenzo fuori le mura, for I too am but a poor sinner under the grace of God, and my place is with my people at the Campo Verano cemetery.

He signed it and pressed his signet ring into the soft wax. Then the Pope rose and walked with unsteady steps to his bedroom. In his pontifical robes, he lay down on the bedspread and folded his hands on his chest. Before the bells of St. Peter struck midnight, Pope Pius IX. died.

The librarian held Luciano as if in iron chains and ran swiftly and steadily through the night with him. Any protest from Luciano was futile. His thoughts raced. What did Leandro intend to do with him? He turned his head and saw crumbling walls and pillars that seemed familiar. Was Leandro really taking him home? They crossed the Palatine. The ground was already sloping down towards the Colosseum. Faster than Luciano had thought possible, they reached the hill that concealed the Domus Aurea. To his surprise, Leandro didn't drag him to the gate, but to a bricked shaft behind a bush, sloping down into the depths. The vampire pulled Luciano to the opening and then jumped three or four meters into the room below. Finally, he loosened his grip and let Luciano fall. He tumbled once and then squatted wide-legged on the stone floor.

"Damn it, what's all this about?"

Leandro still hadn't said a word, and it didn't look like he was about to give Luciano an explanation now. He headed purposefully towards a door, paying no attention to him. Did he intend to lock him in here? Luciano hastily got to his feet and chased after the librarian. "Hey! I'm talking to you! What's all this about? What do you want with me?"

He pushed through the door behind Leandro and was astonished to find himself in the library. Surely this entrance was a well-guarded secret of the librarian! Luciano clutched onto his robe, and finally Leandro looked at him - or rather, down at him, as one might look at a bug at one's feet.

"Stop yelling!" he said in a tone that Luciano found very threatening. "I brought you out because you're a Nosferas and because the Old Man wanted it, even though you more than deserve a beating for sticking your nose into things that don't concern you!"

"Things that don't concern me? Selling family members to those vampire hunters? Driving them unsuspecting to the slaughter?" Luciano shouted.

"They weren't important members! Just troublemakers and nuisances, and old ones whose time had long expired. No loss for the family, which should be strong and united."

"Oh, and you decide who is useful for the family and who can be sacrificed?"

"That was the old Giuseppe's affair. I might have chosen quite a few others, but I only followed his instructions."

"Giuseppe wanted you to save the others too!"

The contempt in Leandro's expression made Luciano step back. "The others? What are they anyway? Worthless descendants of the families we've rightfully fought against for hundreds of years! Why should I save them when they've brought danger upon themselves with their stupidity? I was neither in favor of letting this vermin into the Domus Aurea, nor was it my idea for them to destroy themselves tonight. But if that's how it's going to be... fine! I never understood why the Old Man didn't choose the strangers first. But no, he didn't want to hear about it!"

"Yes, because unlike you, he understood that together we are the future and the only chance for the vampires to survive and stand against humans!"

Leandro shrugged boredly. "I know Conte's speeches. We didn't agree on that either. The Old Man wanted to support his grandson with all his might and eliminate his opponents. I wouldn't have minded a change in leadership."

"But you're just an impure one and have nothing to say," Luciano hissed spitefully, stepping back as Leandro's fist shot up. He narrowly avoided the first blow, but the second sent him flying two steps through the air, crashing into a bookshelf with his back. When Luciano got back on his feet, Leandro was gone, the door behind him locked. Annoyed, Luciano brushed the dust off his sleeves. The librarian wouldn't get away with it unscathed, he'd make sure of that! And if it was the only thing he could do now. His thoughts returned to his friends. An overwhelming feeling of unease pressed harder on his chest than the iron grip of the librarian ever could.

Alisa, Ivy, and Franz Leopold set off. They dragged themselves rather than ran. Ivy kept looking over her shoulder. So far, the beam was holding. They approached the open oval of the Circus when a dozen figures came running towards them along the foot of the Palatine. They moved faster than humans and lacked the warm aura. A moment later, they recognized Conte Claudio, who, despite his corpulence, was leading the others. He seemed out of breath and very agitated as he grabbed Ivy's arm and shook her. "What's going on here? Don't you learn anything from your mistakes?"

With a vigorous movement, Ivy broke free and took a step back. "What do you already know, Conte?"

"We were at the Borghese festival when the impure Hindrik caught up with us and called us back. He reported finding his protégé Tammo and the Pyra Joanne locked in a sarcophagus in the library. The children could hardly say a sensible word, only that you sent them to alert us. It's a matter of life or destruction, and we should follow the traces. If they've exaggerated, I'll personally spank their behinds!" He stretched his neck hectically. Probably the smell of blood. His companions became restless too.

"They didn't exaggerate, unfortunately!" Ivy said. "The venerable Giuseppe is probably now deprived of his head and heart in a Mithraic cult site under an old house."

"It was a conspiracy by people with red masks," Franz Leopold interjected, leading Alisa over. "The vampire hunters were also there!"

Only now did the vampires notice their torn clothes and the blood running down them. A murmur went through the ranks of the family members and servants who had accompanied the Conte. Alisa spotted Malcolm among them, who visibly tried not to attract the attention of the Roman family head. Surely the Conte had not asked him to participate in this mission. They exchanged a brief glance.

Hindrik let out a cry of horror and pushed forward. He went down on his knees in front of Alisa and pushed apart the bloody fabric edges with pointed fingers.

"It looks, I think, worse than it is," she said with a gasp, trying to smile. "The sword didn't penetrate very deep."

"No," confirmed Hindrik, "but it wasn't an ordinary blade, judging by the way the blood still flows."

"A silver sword," confirmed Franz Leopold. "The same blade that injured Seymour."

Hindrik nodded. "You can let go of her now. I'll take her back."

Franz Leopold hesitated for a moment, but then stepped aside with a shrug. Ignoring Alisa's protest, Hindrik lifted her into his arms.

The Conte looked over the young vampires. "Wasn't Luciano with you? Where is he?"

Franz Leopold spat contemptuously on the ground. "Your librarian Leandro took him to safety. Luciano was the only one worth saving for him!"

"Don't be so harsh. How dare you accuse him of such a thing?" Conte Claudio bristled.

"Because he said it before he carried Luciano away and left us behind," Ivy explained. Her tone left no room for doubt, and the Conte did not contradict her.

"Now what?" Franz Leopold called out. "We can't just let them escape and continue wreaking havoc in Rome until more of us are destroyed!"

"No, we won't allow that," said the Conte. Despite his chubby cheeks and double chin, his expression appeared hard and cold. "Good. I will lead you. Ivy, you should go with Alisa."

The Conte nodded curtly. "Then let's go."

While Hindrik quickly carried Alisa back to the Domus Aurea, Franz Leopold led the vampires to the door leading down to the ancient Mithras sanctuary. Ivy's latch hadn't held. That was the first thing they saw as they reached the entrance to the ancient cult site of Mithras.

"The birds have flown," growled the Conte, and was the first to descend the stairs. The others followed him. As expected, the conspirators had fled. The vampire hunter and his companion were also gone. They had taken the two dead Circle members with them. Only the destroyed body of the venerable Giuseppe remained in the anteroom. Shocked, Conte Claudio knelt beside his grandfather, who had led the Nosferas family through the changing times for so many years. He placed his fingertips on the cold chest.

His companions respectfully held back, but Franz Leopold quickly approached him and touched the Conte on the shoulder. "Not now!"

Franz Leopold fell silent, but kept his gaze fixed on the entrance to the Circle's assembly room.

"You have taught me much, and now you have sacrificed yourself for the only thing that matters: our future, which resides in our children. I thank you," Conte Claudio said.

Franz Leopold tried to speak again, but now the others had also perceived the man's aura.

"He is their leader. They call him the Cardinal," Franz Leopold whispered to the Conte as the man in the red robe stepped under the arches. He had removed the mask. The face underneath was old and haggard.

Conte Claudio straightened up and raised his spine, but the man towered over him by half a head's length.

"You have no reason to praise him like that," said the Cardinal in a gruff voice. "He has betrayed and sold you. But perhaps you knew that already?"

Conte Claudio stared at the Cardinal with an impassive expression. "No, not that it was him. I only suspected that the victims didn't randomly encounter their tormentors."

"He negotiated a contract with these people. He brought them the vampires and their rubies, and in return, there should be no more excavations," Franz Leopold said quickly.

Conte Claudio nodded. "Yes, there were good intentions behind it, and yet it was wrong. No member of our community should be sacrificed in this way. We have successfully defied humans so far, and we will continue to do so without resorting to such dishonorable agreements." His hand lay heavily on Franz Leopold's shoulder. "The old druidess is right. You youngsters are the power of our future, and we will strengthen you so that you can stand against humans and their technology and inventions for all time."

The Cardinal curled his pale lips into a mocking smile. "What sentimental nonsense! You will not have the opportunity to coddle your devil spawn. I know your hiding place is out there somewhere. Soon we will track it down and destroy you all. Rome is a holy city! Close to the kingdom of heaven! There is no place here for demonic creatures of the night." With head held high, he passed them and ascended the stairs.

"You're not just going to let him go, are you?" Franz Leopold exclaimed. "If you won't kill him, then I will!"

Conte Claudio held him back with an iron grip. "No, we will not kill him. I have enacted rules to protect the clan, and I must adhere to them as well. Even if he deserves to be drained to the last drop."

"Then you're just letting him go?" the young vampire cried out in horror. The Cardinal pushed through the Conte's entourage and began to climb the stairs.

The Conte shook his head and then continued in a raised voice, so that the man on the stairs could hear him as well. "No, we're not letting him go. I wonder if we could use another impure one. The Cardinal is undoubtedly a learned man who could serve well in the library. Once he's turned into a vampire, his character will be easy to mold!"

Franz Leopold heard the Cardinal start to run. The door slammed open, and he rushed outside.

The Conte allowed him a little head start, then instructed two of his servants to follow the Cardinal. Another was to bring the remains of the venerable one home.

"And what do we do now?" Franz Leopold asked.

"We will pay the vampire hunters a visit!"

Carmelo hung heavily in Latona's arms. His neck was barely bleeding anymore, but the shock and perhaps the blood loss left him disoriented and helpless like a child. Strangely, Latona felt only cold determination. This was not the time for fear and tears. She had to act, and quickly, if they wanted to survive this ordeal alive. All evening, she had had a bad feeling, but Carmelo had stubbornly insisted on staying in Rome.

"Just one more assignment," was his constant reply. "Just one more bag of money."

Now the delay had almost cost him his life and - perhaps even worse - his soul, and Latona could have easily been torn to pieces by the white beast. It felt as if she still felt his fangs on her throat and his hot breath on her face. His saliva clung to her neck and to the ruffles of her dress. Latona felt an overwhelming urge to scrub herself with hot water and lye, but such trivialities would have to wait until later. Until they were safe.

"Uncle Carmelo, please don't make yourself so heavy! I can't hold you any longer, so pull yourself together!" she snapped at him.

He remained silent, staring blankly ahead with wide-open eyes. Did he even see her? His silence deepened her concern. This was not like him. He should have been cursing and swearing, vowing revenge, or at least complaining about pain. But at least he straightened up a bit and walked a little faster now. Latona guided him past the Teatro di Marcello and then through the winding alleys to their accommodation behind the church of San Nicola de Calcario. When they entered the hall, Carmelo had recovered enough to climb the stairs on his own.

"Just sit down here on the bed," she said, finally managing to open the rusty door lock. "I'll pack the most important things." With a slight regret, she left her clothes, hats, and gloves in place and instead stuffed only the leather pouches with the money and a few pieces of clothing into the smallest of her travel bags. She was just pulling out a fresh shirt from the chest to give to Carmelo when she paused in mid-motion. The white silk shirt fluttered to the ground. Latona had heard no sound from the stairs, and yet she knew with all her senses that they were out there. The young girl backed away until her legs hit the edge of a chair. In silent horror, Latona stared at the door handle slowly descending.

As Alisa had said, the cut above her chest was long but not very deep. However, the silver kept the wound open and caused her to lose a lot of blood until they reached the Domus Aurea. Hindrik immediately carried her to her sarcophagus and sent Ivy to fetch blood. Signora Zita arrived promptly with a heavily laden tray and stood next to Alisa's sarcophagus until she had drunk everything empty. She leaned forward and patted Alisa's hair motherly.

"Now sleep tight, my dear, and it will heal soon."

She hurried away and also shooed Ivy and the wolf out of the room so that Alisa could get some sleep. As if she could just lay down to rest now! The morning was still far off, and she was so agitated that she would have paced around the room if the wound hadn't still been bleeding and hurting like hell. So she was forced to lie still and ponder over the events of the night.

A faint rustling from the door made her peer over the edge of the open sarcophagus. Luciano's chubby face peered through the door crack. When he saw himself discovered by Alisa, he recoiled.

"Come in!" she called out, glad to finally have someone to talk to and relieved that nothing had apparently happened to him. Timidly, Luciano pushed the door open and entered, but he remained close to the wall and lowered his gaze.

"What's wrong?" Alisa pressed. "Have you been hurt?"

"No," he said barely audibly.

"Come closer, it hurts when I have to strain to see you like this."

He complied with the request, but still kept his head hanging and dared not look her in the eye. "Is it very bad?" he finally asked.

Alisa wanted to shrug, but thought better of it, as the pain shot through her body in hot waves. "No. It's not deep, but it will take a while to heal. What did Leandro do to you?"

"He saved me!" Luciano exclaimed bitterly. "He left you to your fate and dragged me here, but he will pay for that, I swear to you! I will report to the Conte what kind of traitor he entrusted his library to!"

"There are worse things than being saved," said Alisa with a short laugh. "And he's certainly not the only one who considers only his family valuable enough to dwell on this earth." She thought of Franz Leopold and his kin.

"What could be worse than abandoning your friends in the face of great danger?" Luciano cried out.

Alisa propped herself up in her sarcophagus and reached for his hand. He flinched back, but she held him firmly. "Look at me!" He obeyed hesitantly.

"You didn't abandon us! It wasn't a free decision or a cowardly escape. You were abducted against your will. That's all that matters! And that we all got away - well, almost - unscathed! Is that clear? We are friends who can always rely on each other! That's how I saw you before, and that's how I still see you."

A faint smile crept onto his features. "Thank you for saying that, but the truth is, I was terribly scared and would have liked to run away myself."

"So what? Do you think I wasn't scared? The fact is, you didn't succumb to that pressure - and would have stayed with us until the end if Leandro hadn't intervened."

Luciano just squeezed her hand silently and then quickly let go as he felt someone approaching. Almost panicking, he stumbled back until he bumped against the next sarcophagus, but it was only Ivy returning with Seymour.

"It wasn't easy to escape Signora Zita's care and her even greater curiosity," Ivy said as she settled down cross-legged on the lid of her ornately decorated sarcophagus. "Now unfortunately, we have nothing else to do but wait for Franz Leopold to learn the end of the story. In the meantime, should I read you something to pass the time?"

Alisa nodded, although she couldn't imagine how a story would distract her from the events of this night. However, soon her mind not only drifted into foreign worlds and adventures, but it also ventured further into the realm of dreams. Alisa didn't even notice when Luciano and Ivy closed the lid.