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*
FLORIANA LOOKED AT her reflection in the bedroom mirror. The blush had faded away, but she was still shaking after what she experienced in that narrow Mdina Street. The ride to Valletta had felt torturously long, as they both isolated themselves in an awkward silence.
After he parked his black car in the parking lot, Eric had helped her get off the car and carried her suitcase to the narrow alley that led the House of the Rose’s main entrance. He was not very talkative, but he was polite and gentle, giving her the impression that he was trying to erase the awkward moment they had experienced under the hot sun of Mdina. After they bypassed a row of teal wooden doors and windows, they stopped in front of the large cypress door with centenarian ivy that distinguished the House of the Rose’s entrance. A wave of sudden happiness had run through her body as Floriana pushed the button of the bronze Victorian doorbell. She felt so happy to be back and relieved.
Valerie and Carson, the Master’s close associates, welcomed her with big hugs when she entered the three-story baroque building. They told her that her grandfather, the Grand Master of the Order of the Black Rose, was still busy in a meeting and he would welcome her later in the day.
They crossed a hallway with white and black marble floors that led to an inner courtyard full of rose bushes bearing black blooms. Large, vaulted doors made of wood and glass lined each side of the rectangular courtyard, and a few iron tables and chairs filled the space.
Carson helped her carry her suitcase to the third floor where their bedrooms were. The building was large enough to accommodate up to thirty people at a time, and all active members of Order who lived in Malta had chosen to reside under its roof. The Grand Master’s study was on the second floor, along with the dining room, the kitchen, and two common bathrooms. Larger chambers, such as the two living rooms, a reception hall, and even a home theatre room were on the ground floor, while the Grand Chamber of the Roses, where all secret ceremonies used to take place, was located at the back of the building.
It’s like a boutique hotel, Floriana thought as she put the key Valerie had given to her in the keyhole.
After she thanked Carson for his help, she entered her bedroom and closed the arched door behind her. She took a look around the large bedroom; everything was exactly as she had left it. The rosewood furniture, the green velvet armchairs with the fluffy cushions, the elegant ivory lace curtains, even the heavy crystal vase with red roses was there on the nightstand.
The warm welcome had distracted her from unpleasant thoughts, but now that she was alone in her bedroom, the painful memory surged back.
Still standing in front of the mirror, she took off her yellowish green floral romper slowly. She looked at herself standing there in her underwear. Whatever she wore, she would still give the impression of an inexperienced young student. She always looked younger than she was, and she always felt that was a drawback; she was never taken seriously by anyone. However, she knew that she had a lust for life along with a thirst for adventure that didn’t match with her immature appearance. And she was determined to prove that to everyone. Especially Eric. And grandpa, she thought.
She unzipped her suitcase and pulled out her favorite pair of skinny jeans. After she put them on, she paired them with a black and white cropped tee and a pair of black old school sneakers.
Enough with lady-like clothes, she was saying to herself when a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
She opened the door to see Valerie’s smiling face. Her blond hair was up in a messy bun, and the loose strands that fell like a garland over her ears gave her an ethereal look to her wonderfully mature face. Floriana had always admired Valerie. She was a woman in her fifties with a chiseled body a young woman would kill for and the self-confidence of a badass woman. Every experience she had in her life was artfully drawn on her beautiful face.
“I’m sorry to bother you, sweetheart. I hope I didn’t wake you up. Oh, I see you changed clothes. Did you get some rest?” Valerie asked with concern.
“No worries, I’m not tired,” Floriana said as she gave Valerie a hug. “I was wondering when I am going to see my Grandpa. Is he still being busy? You told me earlier that he was in a meeting. Isn’t it over yet?
“That’s why I’m here. The Master is waiting for you in his office. However, this is not a private meeting; it seems that we are in the middle of an emergency and you are called to join them.”
“Nice. Let’s get the party started,” said Floriana.
***
“MY SWEET CHILD, I’M so happy to see you again,” the Master said in his deep voice as Floriana entered his office.
Ganni De Paul took a black staff with a silver handle and stood up with difficulty from his old, heavy desk. The shadow of a large bookcase in dark cherry wood dropped on him as a contrast to the bright rays that sneaked into the room as the sun set.
“Missed you, Grandpa.” Floriana gave him a big hug.
“I have so many questions to ask you, there are so many things I want to know about you, but I’m afraid we don’t have the luxury of a chit-chat. As Valerie told you, I’ve called for an emergency meeting.”
“That’s right,” said Floriana, glancing around the room with its familiar leather couches and heavy wooden furniture.
Valerie and Carson had already taken their usual place on the sofa placed in the middle of the chamber, while Eric had snuggled into an armchair across from them. His gaze flickered over her as she glanced at him.
“We are waiting for a special guest, and our emergency meeting won’t get started until he’s here. Before I call him in, there is an announcement I want to share with you all.”
Floriana looked at him with curiosity.
The old man leaned on his staff and opened his free arm in a welcome gesture as he made the announcement.
“Floriana will join our field agents team, and she is going to team up with Eric,” the master announced, and an outburst of applause followed.
“Eric told me that you have already taken self-defense lessons. He finds you pretty skilled, and he’s willing to train you.”
From the corner of her eye, Floriana glanced at Eric, who was now staring at her as if he was trying to read her mind.
“Moreover, we all know how intelligent you are. You’ve already proven that,” the Master continued. “So, we all agreed that you have the whole package. You have the wits; you can develop fighting skills. And you couldn’t have asked for a better mentor and partner than Eric. So, Floriana, what do you think?”
“I think...” She paused as she saw Eric biting his lip. “I think that is awesome.” She grinned from ear to ear.
***
“SO, IS THAT WHAT THIS urgent meeting was about?” asked Floriana with a big smile on her face.
“Not really,” the Master replied as he walked to the door that led to a small room attached to his office and put his hand on the handle. “We were planning a surprise party for your homecoming when some disturbing news broke this morning.”
Floriana sent a questioning glance at Eric, who raised his eyebrows in ignorance.
"I've already briefed Valerie and Carson, but for you, Floriana and Eric, I’m going to call in someone to inform you," said the Master and opened the door.
"Dr. Davis, could you please come in?"
A man with suntanned cheeks and icy grey eyes entered the room with confidence.
"Hiya," he greeted as he scanned their faces. His gaze was so intense that made Floriana felt uncomfortable.
“Dr. Duclan Davis just arrived from the United States, conveying a message of alert from our branch in Washington DC. There are signs that a new biological weapon has been developed and every country is a possible target. Dr. Davis, let me introduce you to Valerie, Carson, Eric, and Floriana. Duclan, the dance floor is yours," the Master said when introductions were over.
Putting his hands in his pockets, Dr. Davis took a step forward. "Please call me Duclan. As you know, I belong to Washington branch of the Order, and I serve under the command of Master Norchelle Williams. I'm a genetic engineer, and for the last three months, I've been tracking down a series of incidents that imply that a biological attack is on the way."
Duclan cleared this throat. "There were several incidents the last months that drew our attention. Unidentified deaths in rural or underpopulated regions of the world that could easily pass unnoticed by the scientific community. It would take months before it came to the attention of WHO and the media. It couldn’t have gone unnoticed by the Order of the Rose, though. This is our job, after all. To dig where no one else digs and throw ourselves into battles we can’t win.”
He started pacing around the room, staring consecutively to each one of them.
“I’ve been to several countries in East Europe and Central Asia these past months. Some were countries with underdeveloped health care system and corrupt local authorities.
“Each of my trips followed a report of deaths of villagers and people who lived in secluded areas away from medical centers. I was in Romania where five people died from the same unprecedented causes, scattered across Transylvania. A few months later, I travelled to Tajikistan. There, at a 1,500-meter altitude on the snowy Pamir mountains, Ι found the bodies of a family of five lying lifeless in their hut. From Tajikistan, I traveled straight to Uzbekistan, only to find a whole group of workers deceased and their bodies scattered along the cotton fields of Aydar Lake. I went back to the States to examine the samples of the corpses I had taken throughout my mission. The findings were incredibly alarming, and we decided we had to share the info with all the branches of the Order worldwide. So, here we go.”
Dr. Davis took a deep breath. “Have you ever heard of suicidal crickets and zombie caterpillars?”
Everyone stared at him with a perplexed expression on their face.
“It isn’t science fiction, in case you wondered. These things really do exist,” Dr. Davis continued. “I guess you haven’t heard of parasites manipulating insects. A caterpillar virus sends its victims running for the treetops, where they die.
“Zombie caterpillars are not the only example of zombie insects; there are also the zombie ants. Those ants are lured to their death by a fungus. When the parasite infects an ant, it convinces it to climb to the tops of blades of grass; and there, the ant is eaten by sheep.
“What you may know is that there are also parasites that can manipulate humans. For example, there is a trophozoite called Naegleria fowleri, a type of warm-water-loving microorganism that enters the human body and works its way into the human brain. Once there, it eats brain tissue and causes the victim’s death.”
Dr. Duclan Davis took a short break as he noticed a look of disgust on their faces.
“Is this the reason you are here, Duclan?” asked Floriana.
“Exactly,” he admitted. “There have reports of mysterious deaths in different parts of the world recently.
Dr. Akio Sato and I have been tracking down all reported incidents, from the ices of Greenland to the steppes of Mongolia. I have been travelling across the world for the last six months. After endless laboratory tests, we finally came to this conclusion. All deaths were caused by a worm we named Worm-V, the Vampire Worm, which acts in two ways in the victim’s body and causes painful death in just a few minutes.”
Duclan took a breath before he continued his narration. “We named it Vampire Worm after my trip to Romania. There were several suspicious deaths reported in Transylvania, where the legendary Bran Castle, the Castle of Dracula, is located. As the victims showed a pale white skin and bloody eyes, the local villagers thought it was vampire’s work. However, there was no vampiric involvement. All deaths were caused by a worm similar to tapeworms. That worm enters the victim’s body, travels all the way to the brain, and conquers it. Once the worm is in one’s blood system, there is no hope for the victim. They will either die by their own will or through anemia. When the worm reaches the brain, it conquers their power of will and manipulates them into believing that death is all they want. The victims try to kill themselves any way possible, jumping off roofs, stabbing or hanging themselves, etc. From what I collected from witnesses, all victims developed a strange behavior similar to the zombie insects I described. There have been cases where the victim’s actions indicated that they tried to fight against what the worm wanted. They didn’t manage though, as they died from anemia. As the worm swims through the blood to the brain, it spreads a substance that kills the blood cells, causing small explosion in the victim’s bodies. Usually, a worm that takes over an insect's brain causes it to seek water and drown itself, thus returning the worm or its eggs to water. In the case of the Vampire Worm, the worm doesn’t survive after the victim’s death. And that didn’t make sense to us. We couldn’t understand why would the worm kill its host if it wasn’t for its own survival or reproduction. And that’s why we concluded that this was not the nature’s doing, but rather a creation of man.”
“Sounds incredible. Is this why you believe a new biological weapon has been created?” asked Eric.
“Exactly,” replied Duclan.
“How can this organism enter the human body?” asked Floriana.
“It’s a warm-water-loving microorganism, able to grow or survive at any temperature, warm or cold. All affected areas I examined were close to bodies of water, such as lakes, wetlands, reservoirs, even water tanks,” explained Duclan.
“How could that be prevented?” asked Valerie.
“By regular tests on water systems. All governments should also work on raising the levels of chlorine in several dozen water systems. Citizens should be advised to take special precautions when showering and when swimming in nearby lakes, streams, and pools that have been filled with tap water,” said Duclan.
“However, once a human is infected, there is no cure. And water systems could simply be infected with no one noticing,” Floriana said, appalled.
“Exactly,” Dr. Davis replied. “And no one knows how to stop this. There is not even an antidote, and every human infected by the virus meets his or her end within a few hours.”
“This is dreadful,” said Valerie. “That means that practically no one on this planet is safe.”
“This is the most extreme biological warfare this planet has ever seen.” Duclan nodded.
“I’m going to summon an urgent meeting of all branches masters. Carson, please call Mirko in. I need him to start sending out invitations immediately. All masters should be here within 48 hours. This must be a top-secret gathering; they all have to take the necessary precautions to ensure they are not followed. They should keep secret the reason for their trip, even to their closest associates. The whole world is facing a dangerous situation, and it’s our duty to find those who can reveal the villains and stop their vicious plans. Once again, the Order of the Black Rose will take up its duty.”
***
AT THE MASTER’S SUGGESTION, they moved to the dining room, leaving Mirko behind to make all the arrangements for the forthcoming Masters’ summit.
They were sitting around a long wooden table, porcelain plates in front of them, surrounded by silver flatware and crystal glass full of red wine. Floriana’s stomach grumbled as Elena, their cook, placed steaming dishes of rabbit stew, beef olives and Kapunata, a Maltese version of ratatouille on the long white-sheeted table.
She realized that she had not eaten since breakfast and remembered that the first time she ever set foot in that house, she was also hungry and tired. It was the day that she found out that she had a brother and a grandfather who she had not met before—she was not even aware of their existence. It was the day that Eric kidnapped her and brought her to the House of the Rose because she had to save the world, as he told her. And here they were again, dealing with another world-threating situation, but this time she was not the centerpiece. Thank God, she thought. She wanted to be helpful, she wanted to become as effective an agent as Eric, but no, another family drama was not what she wished for.
She looked around the dining table. She had her grandfather sitting on her left side and Valerie on her right. Eric was sitting across the table, fringed by Carson and Duclan, their new acquaintance.
“Forgive me, my child, this is not the welcome party I dreamt for you,” the Master leaned over her shoulder and whispered in her ear.
“It’s okay, Grandpa. You already gave me the best gift ever; a place in your team.” She gave him a warm smile.
“You deserve it. I believe in you. You’re not only smart and courageous; you’re also passionate and evenhanded. You have the whole package required for an agent of the Black Rose. However, I can’t hide my concern. You’ll never be safe; you’ll always have to stay alert and be ready to protect yourself. You may also have to harm other people for the greater good. You may hurt a beloved person’s feelings by not being truthful in order to keep them safe, or you may physically hurt people who oppose the greater good.”
“You know that all the family I have are gathered here, in this room, around this table. I didn’t leave anyone caring about me back in London. I deliberately made no friendships during my college years because I knew how hard it would be to explain who I am and what my family’s cause is. I didn’t even fall in love if that’s what you are asking,” she said as she played with her food.
“Oh no, it’s not your love life I’m worried about. I have a feeling you’ll find love soon.” He smiled wryly. “It’s your safety I’m talking about. You aren’t fully trained yet; you need to take self-defense courses along with shooting lessons before you go into the field. Despite my concern, I have faith in you.” He raised his glass of red wine for a toast. “I want you to know that I’m proud of you. I’m honored to be your grandfather and every night; I praise God for bringing you back to us.”
With watery eyes, she took his gnarly hand in hers and kissed his wrinkled cheek.
“Oh, Grandpa, you don’t know how much that means to me. Having you and Vittor in my life again is like my wildest dream came true. I love you so much.” She raised her glass too.
“As for your training, Eric is ready to take over. You couldn’t wish for a more skilled mentor, a more trusted and loyal partner. He’s the best apprentice I’ve ever had, and then he became the most fearless agent this Order had seen in years. There is only one thing he’s afraid of; falling in love. But I guess that’s not something you are interested in.” He sipped his red wine as he glanced at her through the corner of his eye.
“Me?” She almost choked on her wine. “With Eric! God forbid!”
She took a napkin to wipe the split wine off her lips and rushed to change subject. “Grandpa, where is Vittor? Eric told me he’s in the States. What is he doing there? He didn’t tell me he was planning a trip. He let me think we would meet here, in Valletta.”
“It seems it was a last-minute decision. He said he had to visit a friend who was in trouble. I was disappointed he wouldn’t be here to welcome you, but he’s an adult, and I can’t tell him to do anything.”
“I didn’t know he had friends across the pond.”
“Neither did I. That’s why I had Bill, Valerie’s son who lives in Washington DC, spy on him. He hasn’t reported back yet,” the Master said as a story on the tv caught his interest.
“Dozens of dead bodies have been discovered in Macedonia, Alabama, in what Homeland Security has described as a possible terrorist attack.”
Everyone in the room turned to the tv screen, having paused what they were doing. They still had their forks in their hands, their glasses up for a toast, frozen smiles on their faces, as if someone had taken their photo without a prior notice.
“Macedonia, Alabama, is a small village in Pickens County, Alabama, and one of the US communities with the highest African-American majority populations. As of the last Census, 93% of the population were African American. The rest were whites. According to FBI sources, all 260 residents are dead,” a female newscaster announced.
“Whoever those guys are, they move fast.” Eric broke the silence.
“It makes you feel weak, doesn’t it?” Duclan said, chewing a toothpick.
Floriana studied his face. There was something in his look that was creeping her out. Maybe it was his icy grey eyes, or maybe it was the smirking smile he had had from the moment he entered the master’s office.
“It’s not a matter of weakness,” Eric replied, and Floriana was startled by the huffy tone in his voice.
“Calm down, everyone,” the Master intervened. “We’ve been through worse. Duclan, you’ll have to fly back to the States immediately. Your presence is needed there. You’ll inspect Alabama’s water resources—let’s hope Macedonia is the only area affected. The Masters’ summit will be held as scheduled the day after tomorrow. Duclan, you may be asked to Skype with us and keep us posted on your findings.”
Duclan nodded positively when the music of another breaking news intro sounded. The newscaster announced that the newly sworn President of the USA, Gabriela Maria Alvarez, was on her way to the town of Macedonia with a group of distinguished scientists to inspect the situation. A pre-recorded video with President Alvarez making a statement on the White House South Lawn surrounded by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, along with a group of scientists.
“This is an act of terrorism. And every act of terrorism will be punished. The evildoers who orchestrated and performed this abominable attack will be found and brought to justice,” President Alvarez said before she boarded Marine One.
“I like this woman,” Valerie said quietly to Floriana. “The first female President of the United States. And she’s Latina. Who would believe?”
“Impossible. I don’t ... I can’t believe that,” the Master yelled, making Floriana jump at her seat.
“What is it Grandpa? Is it President Alvarez you’re talking about?”
“No, no. I’m sorry, I’m sorry ... I was thinking out loud. I thought I saw someone I could never possibly see again,” the Master said, his face pale as if he had seen a ghost.
“Valerie, did you see that?” he said, pointing to the tv, where a commercial break was now playing.
“See what?” Valerie asked, confused.
“Nothing, never mind. I’d better retire to my room. The old man needs some rest before he starts hallucinating.” He smirked. Putting all his weight on his cane, he stood up with difficulty and walked across the room under everyone’s puzzled looks.
“And Valerie,” he said as he held the door handle, “call Vittor on the phone. I need to know he’s okay. And tell him to stay alert; his presence in the States might be useful to us.”
***
ONCE HE CLOSED THE door behind him, the Master leaned on the wall to keep his balance. His head was spinning after what he saw on tv. Dizzy as he was, he listened to the sound of the door opening and then closing behind him.
“Are you okay?” Eric asked, worried.
“I saw a ghost,” the Master said as if he was having a vision. “On that screen, I saw a ghost. Someone I wouldn’t expect to see again. Someone who’s dead.”
“It may be your imagination. Come, let me help you go to your room. It’s been a hard day, and you need some rest,” Eric said softly as he embraced the old man’s arm.
“I know what you’re thinking. The old man is losing it,” the Master said as he let himself follow Eric’s lead through the half-lit hallway. “I assure you, my body might be old, but my mind is still sharp. I know who I saw on that screen. Those eyes, that mouth, those silver curls, once blond, flying in the wind. It was her. And she was alive, standing behind the president of the United States.” There was no tone of surprise in his voice anymore. Having gotten himself composed, he was now making a statement.
“Who are you talking about?” Eric enquired, but he only got silence back. He helped his mentor climb the stairs, and he once was assured the old man was safe in his bedroom, he left. Trying to figure out why he had this strange feeling, he descended the stairs and took the long way back to the dining room. It was not the threat of a massive worldwide biological attack that had him worried; it was not the first time they had been called to save the world. It isn’t even a feeling; it’s more like a memory, he thought.
***
“AREN’T YOU GOING TO tell me goodnight?” Floriana’s voice came from behind him.
Absorbed as he was in his thoughts, Eric stopped walking and turned around. Floriana lolloped down the hallway towards him with her wavy hair dancing. And it was then that a blurry image flashed through his mind.
It was two years ago, and he was trying to save Floriana from the Bacterium-Z her own father had created. They were at Ahornweg Forest in Germany, and they had just faced General Müller’s stormtroopers when Eric spotted a van moving away. As the vehicle passed by, the rear window behind the driver had rolled down and then up, as if the person who handled it vacillated about whether they should reveal themselves. The movement was brief, and the window opening was small, but Eric managed to see locks of silver hair whipping around as the light breeze snuck into the car cabin. He kept watching the tinted-windowed van until it vanished into the forest they had left behind.
“Are you okay?” Floriana’s touch on his arm brought him back to reality.
“Um ... I just had a flashback.” He touched his forehead as if he was trying to recall the memory.
“Really? What was it?”
“I’m not sure... Some hair dancing in the air,” Eric said with a perplexed expression on his face.
“I don’t follow,” Floriana replied, baffled.
“I think something the Master told me triggered a memory buried in my mind.”
“You talked to Grandpa? I was looking for him. He acted weird during dinner. It must be something he saw on TV. I asked Valerie what he was talking about, but she was confused too. I was heading to his bedroom when I saw you coming this way. Well, what did he say to you?”
“He said he saw a ghost, someone he wouldn’t expect to see again. He said that it was her, alive, standing behind the president of the United States,” Eric explained.
“Who was he was talking about?”
“He didn’t say. But it was something else he said that brought back a memory to me. He talked about ‘those silver curls flying in the wind’. That reminded me of some other flying silver curls I once saw.”
“Was it an old girlfriend?” Floriana bit her lip.
“Oh, no, I don’t even know whose hair it was,” Eric retorted and hurried to change the subject of their conversation. “I think it’s useless talking about it. Let’s talk about you. You are an agent now. How does that feel?” He stepped closer to her.
“It feels like ... I don’t know. Let me tell you in a couple of months.” She laughed. “Seriously, I wanted to thank you for referring me for your partner.”
Eric put his arm around her waist. “Something tells me I’m going to regret it. But that’s me. I love to live dangerously.”
Floriana chuckled and kicked his leg playfully.
“Hey, I’m your mentor now, show some respect.” He moved his head closer to hers as he pulled her into a tighter embrace.
Her heart fluttered as she felt his body against hers. The gleam in his eyes helped her work up the nerve for what she was about to ask.
“About what happened today in Mdina,” she said softly as she looked at his beautifully sculpted face.
“What happened in Mdina?” he teased and got another kick to the leg in response. “Hey, you kick my leg again, and I’ll kick you out off the team.”
He pretended he was annoyed and they both giggled before he took on a serious face.
“What happened, or should I say what almost happened...it was my mistake.”
“And what is it that almost happened there?” Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for his response.
“You know exactly what happened.” He leaned towards her until his mouth was near her ear. He brushed his lips against her skin and whispered. “I like you, Floriana, I really do. But you know what happened last time I fell in love with my partner.”
“People got killed.” Her breath sped up as their gazes locked.
“Exactly. But it’s not only due to that.” He brushed her hair off her forehead and there was a jolt of electricity at his touch. “You are the Grand Master’s granddaughter, Floriana. He’s practically my boss. And my mentor.”
“He mustn’t find out.” She bit her lip.
“But he will find out eventually. You know he will.” He twined his fingers in her hair and stared into her eyes.
“I met my grandfather for the first time two years ago. He was never close to me and never involved with my upbringing,” Floriana pouted.
“Maybe he didn’t, but he has always been as a father to me,” Eric said quietly. “Floriana, you are a charming girl. We could have fun together. But I don’t do relationships. And if I ever hurt your feelings, the Master wouldn’t let it go.”
Her heart swelled as he ran his hand over her back.
“What if a relationship is not what I want?” She threw her arms around his neck and felt him inhale sharply.
They both stayed staring at each other silently in the empty corridor. Floriana’s heart battered against her ribs so hard that she thought Eric would hear it.
“Okay, no problem,” Floriana finally muttered. “Now, let’s call it a night,” she said abruptly.
Eric looked at her surprised as she withdrew herself from his embrace.
“We have an early morning tomorrow,” he said rapidly following her sudden change of mood. “We’re going to the shooting range, where you’ll have your first shooting lesson, and before lunch break, I’m going to teach you some self-defense techniques.” He now had a professional tone in his voice.
“Shooting. Great,” Floriana said, uneasy.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Eric requested.
“No, it’s just ... what about Duclan and the terrorist attack in that village in the States?” she asked.
“We’ll be waiting for our orders, and if we’re asked to take action, then we’ll act accordingly.”
He looked composed as if he had everything under control.
“We’re having breakfast at half past six in the dining room. Goodnight.”
She watched him walk through the hallway until he started climbing the stairs to the second floor, where all the bedrooms were. Typical Eric. He turned from an almost boyfriend to a severe mentor in just one second. She felt that she had just received her first lesson as an Order of the Black Rose agent. The Order always comes first. Her apprenticeship was starting tomorrow. With a shooting lesson and self-defense training. A shiver went down her spine.
“Where did I get myself into? I’m an art history graduate; I should be looking for a job at a museum,” she mumbled as she headed toward the stairs. Her anxiety over the next day gave its place to a desire to get out of her clothes and crawl into her comfortable bed. She was passing by the master’s office when she noticed that the door was ajar. After she checked no one was around, she pushed the door slightly and looked inside the dark room. The Master would never leave his office room door unlocked; it must be Mirko’s mistake.
Her brother Vittor had informed her about Mirko in his emails. Mirko was the Master’s new secretary, quite young for this position but exceptionally discreet. He was a member of the Order himself, offspring from an old Malta family, and he was mentored by Valerie. The latter was the one who suggested that he was not as much into weapons as into books. Floriana had met him for the first time a few hours ago when the Master called him into his office to assign him to make the arrangements for the upcoming Masters’ summit. The poor guy, he totally lacked social skills. He was so timid that he hardly looked around the crowded office. He looks like me a few years ago, except the reading glasses. She smiled as she entered the dark room and closed the door behind her.
She knew that sneaking into the Master’s study was forbidden. So, what if she was the Master’s granddaughter? The same rules applied to her as all the members of the Order. She couldn’t risk being seen in here, so switching the lights on was not an option. She got her phone out of her pocket and turned on the flashlight. The light was enough for her to look around the place without being noticed. She knew it was not a good idea, but her curiosity of what secrets the room held was stronger than her morals. She had spent years wondering what other secrets her grandfather was keeping, how his life had been, and what amazing and dangerous situations he had been through. She wondered what the secret in Eric’s family history was. Most of all, she died to know more about her parents, how they met, why her mother made the tough decision to take Floriana away and start a new life for them in London, leaving behind her only son, who was only months old and never even mentioned his existence since then. Her family history was still a mystery to her, and she hoped that moving here would help her figure it out. Maybe she could find something that could shed some light on her family’s dark side: maybe a document, a book, or even a family picture. She looked over the books aligned in the old wooden bookcase. There were so many books—science books, history books, art books—but nothing about mystic sects and presumptive killers, not even a How to Save the World For Dummies.
She felt helpless; it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. The sound of heavy steps pounding down the hallway made her jump and lose her balance. As she stumbled, she stretched her hand out in a vain attempt to prevent herself from falling. She was half way down when she grasped the corner of the heavy wooden desk. A cracking sound echoed as a solid piece of wood broke away from the old furniture and went down with her. Supine as she was, she still saw a beam of light emerging from behind her as the wall split apart with a creepy sound. Astounded, she got back on her feet and moved to the half-opened sliding door that just had appeared. She gasped as she looked through the opening and the dark space revealed in front of her. Curiosity overtook her; she was desperate to find out what was behind that wall. She took a step back and listened. There was no sound. Whoever had walked down the hall had already passed by the Master’s study. Floriana placed the detached corner of the desk on the surface of the wood. Replacing it might result in the door closing and blocking her way to the secret place she just had discovered. This must be some kind of key to the sliding door that just opened. I’d better leave it here until I come back, she thought.
An old stone staircase appeared behind the half-opened door. A weak light from an electric source lit the descending stairway. Stepping carefully on the sloping stairs, Floriana eventually reached the bottom. With the flashlight still on, she shed light around the space. Wooden boxes covered with dust and spider webs peeped through the darkness. A cloud of fine, dry particles rose as she made her way further into the chamber and made her cough. A standing stone sarcophagus beamed in the light of her flashlight; the discovery creeped her out. What was this place? Another step forward and she found herself tangled up in a spider web. Panic-stricken, Floriana uttered a cry of disgust as she frantically shook her head. As she tried to calm her breath, she noticed a huge dark shadow on a wall at the other side of the cold chamber. Carefully not to get caught in another spider trap, she moved toward the large object and shed light on it. She let out a scream as the huge figure of a man appeared.
“Who are you?” she yelled, but there was no answer.
Once again, she shed light over the silent silhouette, and yet he didn’t move. She took a closer look through the darkness and then she saw him. He wore a rusty, long-sleeved chainmail shirt with hand coverings. His shoes and leggings were also chain mail. His head was covered by an iron bucket helmet. Over the haubergeon, he wore a sleeveless white mantle, torn and bloodstained, with a red cross over the left breast.
“A Knight Templar. Or rather, a Knight Hospitaller,” she whispered, ecstatic.
“Can you hear me?” she shouted as she moved closer to him. He was still standing there, still and silent. She jabbed at him but got no response. She got even closer and scrutinized his bucket helmet. Slowly, she moved her hand towards his head, and when she was sure there was no response, she lifted up the face-protecting plate. The helmet was empty; the whole armor was empty. There was no human body in there. Relieved, she stepped back, laughing at herself until she realised that a forest of shadows surrounded her. Breathless she flashed the light on them; she had now a better look at this place. Several figures in knight’s armor were scattered across the vast chamber. Some wore black tunics with the red cross; others had great helms or bascinets attached to aventails or frog-mouth helms. There was a great display of medieval knight armor placed among ancient artifacts and contemporary high technology devices.
“I had a museum under my bedroom this whole time,” she muttered as she examined the armor of a black-clad sergeant knight.
Suddenly an emerald flare glowed behind her. She turned around, but there was only darkness in the chamber. Until the emerald light beamed again for a second. Stumbling on dusty boxes, rusty machines, and old-fashioned computers, Floriana stepped along the chamber and waited for the light to flash again. When she spotted it again, she found out that the light was coming from behind an engraved table with an antique typewriter placed on it. She held the precious typewriter with both her hands, lifted it up carefully, and placed it on the floor before she sneezed from the dust. A crystal showcase was revealed behind the table; a golden rod with a cross pattée on the hilt was placed on red fabric and secured in the showcase. Four emerald green stones decorated each of the four corners of the cross pattée, the distinguished Christian cross of the Knight Templars, arms narrow at the center and broader at the perimeter.
“A baculus. The pastoral staff, the Grand Master of the Templars, bore as a mark of his jurisdictional power,” she said out loud in admiration.
As the four emerald stones of the baculus hilt flashed again, a loud noise behind her startled her.
A strong hand grabbed her from behind and gripped her waist firmly as another hand closed over her mouth with a moist piece of cloth.
Oh no, not again, it was her last thought before she passed out.