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TONITA SCREAMED, “STOP!” Her arms raised high above her head, with the heel of Dominic’s dress shoe, once so carelessly tossed to a corner of the room, at the ready to strike. She had already leveled the heel of the shoe into the monk’s head once, and she was prepared to do it again, both hands clenching the toe of the shoe—precisely aiming the heavy black heel.
The monk, however, did not move. He lay where he had fallen. The only movement was a thin steam of blood that flowed from his right ear, down his cheek and slowly dripped to the floor.
“Is he dead?” Tonita asked, with shoe still at the ready.
Dominic looked up at her from his prone position on the floor. “I don’t know. You see, I’ve got this little problem of my own.” He glanced to the crucifix dagger still embedded in his chest.
“Oh, Dom!” Tonita started to lower the shoe, then decided a quick kick into the monk’s side wouldn’t be uncalled for. She kept the heel of the shoe aimed at the monk, lifted one foot, and kicked, landing her foot powerfully into his side.
The monk moved and inch or so forward from the force of the kick, but did not make a sound.
Tonita slowly lowered the shoe, all the while keeping an eye on the slumped body of the monk.
The sound of a groan had the shoe back up over her head in an instant, ready to strike again. Still the monk did not move, and he made no sound.
Another groan of pain, followed by a cough, then the breathless sounds of someone desperately trying to catch their breath, then Dominic too, was on his feet. A slight dizzy feeling swirled in his brain and he closed his eyes until his legs steadied.
“Dom,” Tonita whispered. “A priest?”
Dominic opened his eyes as the swirling motion in his brain, calmed. He stepped in the direction of the sounds, and winced. The crucifix dagger pierced into his pectoral muscles and sent a searing pain up his shoulder. When he stood still, the pain ceased. But once he stepped forward again and the muscles in his chest expanded and contracted, a white hot fire shot through his chest up to his shoulders, causing his entire left side to convulse. He steadied himself once again, sucked in a breath of air and held it. He pulled on the crucifix dagger, gritting his teeth at the feel of the metal dagger pulling through his skin. Once its length slid completely out of his chest, he allowed himself to breathe, letting air out slowly. The dagger left a small hole in his shirt and in the pectoral muscles underneath. Pumped once again with adrenaline, Dominic stepped forward. He turned the weapon around, intending to use it on whoever this older priest was.
Tonita kept the shoe and its deadly heel poised and ready, but let Dominic step around her.
The priest had pulled himself away from Dominic’s struggle with the monk, taking a slight refuge by the old leather chair. His breath was returning and his voice rasped, “Dominic. Thank you,” he said, between repeated coughs.
Tonita lowered the shoe, and after one quick glance to the monk, tossed it aside. “Who is he?” Tonita nodded in the priest’s direction.
Dominic shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know.”
“Well, he knows you.” Tonita turned to the priest. “Apparently you know who he is. Mind if I ask who you are?”
The old priest used the arm of the chair to steady himself and pushed himself up to his feet. “My name is Bill.” He paused as he caught Dominic eyeing his clothing. “Bill, to my friends. William Celent is my proper name. ”
Both Dominic and Tonita watched, studying the movements of the man as he struggled to gain his footing. Neither offered help.
Tonita turned to the monk on the floor. “Okay, we know your name. Now, who is he?”
“A brother of the Society.” William Celent said.
“And what is he doing here? Dominic said with a bit of irritation. He held the crucifix dagger between his fingers ready to push it into the flesh of the old priest, should he need to.
“I’m afraid he was here to kill you.”
“And you were here to help him do that?” Tonita moved slightly closer to Dominic.
“No.” William Celent stood up straight. “I was here to protect you.”
Dominic lowered the dagger to his side in a conscious effort to appear at ease. “Protect me from what?”
William Celent reached out a hand, “I’m afraid I have much to explain.”
“All right,” Tonita said, trying to take control of the situation. “We know your name, so, what do you want? What are you doing here?”
“As I said, protecting you.”
And is that why this monk was trying to kill you?” She paused giving the priest a chance to respond.
“I have every intention of answering your questions, my dear, and I’m sure there are plenty more...”
“Oh, you’re right about that,” Tonita said, interrupting the man.
“But, I believe our good man here, needs some medical attention first.” William Celent turned his gaze toward Dominic.
Tonita followed Celent’s gaze to Dominic.
Dominic’s skin had grown pale in color. His eyes were glazed and the bloodstain from the wound to his chest had spread. He was losing blood quickly. Only the adrenaline that pulsed through his body had kept him standing.
And its effects were beginning to fade.