Landulf stares at me with such compassion that I have to wonder if I have slipped into a dream where demons are angels and the future is already burned to ash by our ancestors' sins. For moment I am in more than one time, but then Landulf slaps me hard on the cheek, even as he pretendsto bemoan my torment, and then I am alone with him, only him.
"Sita,"he says with sympathy. "Why do you do this to yourself?"
I strain to moisten my swollen throat. "I could swear, my lord, that I did not climb into these chains while I was unconscious."
He enjoys my gusto. "But these chains are of your own making. I have offered you another way. Why don't you take it? What is the sacrifice for one such asy ou? We are already old partners in this war."
"I didn't know that this was a war?" I say honestly.
He is serious. "But it isabattle far older than even your nonperishable body. It goes back to the birth of thes tars, to the dropping of the veil, and of the opening of the two paths back to the source. You see me as a monster but I tellyou I am God's greatest devotee."
"Aren't you exaggerating just a little?"
He slaps me again. "No! It is the truth you refuse to see. Will is stronger than love. Power lasts longer than virtue,my path is left-handed, true, but it is theswiftestand the surest." He pauses and comes closer."Did not your friends tell you that all roads lead tothe samedestination?"
Hisquestion stuns me, the implications of hisinsight "What friends are those?" I ask innocently.
He nods to himself as he studies my eyes. "I haveseenyoubefore on the path."
I force a smile and know it must more closely resemble a grimace. "Then you must know I will never join you. Because although I may be a sinner, I am also a servant. I love virtue, I love human love, even if I am not human. These are the things that bring me the most joy. Your path may be swift and sure but it is barren. The desert surrounds your every step and you walk forever a thirsty man. You may leave me to rot in this cell, but I am not forsaken. When I leave this body I know I will drink deep of Christ's and Krishna's fathomless love, and I will be happy while you crawl on your hands and knees to invoke your miserable demons. Whom you send out to perform deeds you are too frightened to perform in person. You sicken me,L andulf. Had I a free hand, I would tear your tongue from your face so that you could no longer spew lies in my direction."
He is unmoved by my speech.
"You will beg for my mercy, Sita. You will kill at my bidding."
I snort. "You will not live long enough, my lord, to see me do either."
He holds my eye. "We shall see." He raises a hand and snaps a finger and two armor-clad soldiers with torches, a prisoner between them, waddle into the cell.
They have brought Dante.
"My lady!" he cries when he sees me and tries to run to my side. But he trips and falls facedown on the damp floor, and is only able to rise when Landulf pulls him up by his hair. The black lord shoves my friend in my direction and Dante cowers and prays at my feet, weeping to see me in such a desperate condition. I would weep for my friend if there were any tears left in my body. But all I can do is sigh and shake my head.
"Dante," I say. "I told you to go back to Messina. Why are you here?"
He clasps my foot. "I could not leave you, my lady. I will never leave you."
Landulf is grim. "We caught him outside the castle walls, groveling like an animal." He grabs him by the neck and picks him all the way up off the floor with one hand. The demonstration of strength disturbs me. Perhaps he did take my blood, and put it into his veins, while I was unconscious. Yet Landulf does not show the signs of being a true vampire. He dangles Dante in front of me. "Will you not beg, Sita?" Landulf asks me.
I am fearful. "For what?"
"You know, my proud ruby."
I sneer. "Why beg for that which does not exist?"
In response Landulf throws Dante down in a heap and takes a torch from one of his men. Knocking out the flame on the damp wall, he steps toward Dante with the embers of the torch top still glowing. Seeing what Landulf has in mind, Dante tries to scamper to me but is kicked aside by Landulf. The evil lord kneels by my friend and points out to me Dante's sores.
"These wounds are infected," Landulf says. "They must be cauterized and sealed. Don't you agree, Sita?"
I stare in horror. "He served you loyally for many years."
Landulf eyes Dante, who trembles in anticipation.
"But he betrayed me in the end," he says. "And it is only the end that matters, not the manner of the path."