Raven scratched at his arm, gasping for breath.
He tightened his grip, and Raven felt her throat close. She continued to struggle, tearing his flesh with her fingernails and pulling at his arm.
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“Release her.” A voice drifted out of the trees.
Raven pounded the hunter’s arm with her fists, straining for breath.
“I said, release her.” Out of the darkness a figure emerged, dressed entirely in black.
The fire from the burning building behind them illuminated the figure’s face.
Raven looked straight into a pair of angry gray eyes.
Chapter Seven
“YOU WISHED TO SEE ME?” Father Jack Kavanaugh stood in front of the large desk, clasping his hands together.
The Director of Intelligence for the Curia was dressed in the robes of a cardinal, befitting his position. He peered up at the Jesuit, his dark eyes assessing. “Tell me about your trip to Florence.”
“I met Raven, the young woman I wrote to you about. Two nights ago, her sister came to me with her fiancé. I gave them sanctuary, and we wrote to Raven, asking her to join us. She refused.
“This morning, one of our officers shared a report from Florence’s police department, indicating that the fiancé had been murdered, and Cara and Raven are missing. It sounds as if the fiancé was killed by a vampyre.”
The Director remained silent.
Slightly unnerved, Jack continued. “The Prince of Florence has been deposed by Machiavelli, who is sending Raven and Cara to us as a peace offering.”
The Director blinked. “In your letter, you requested a squad of Curia soldiers so you could retrieve the women.”
“Yes. I’m concerned for their safety.”
The Director glanced down at the open file on top of his desk. “This Raven woman was the Prince’s pet.”
Jack grimaced. “I was unaware of that until I saw her in Florence.”
The Director’s eyes narrowed. “Did you write to the Prince, asking him to release her?”
“Yes. I’ve known her since she was a child. I’ve always protected her.”
The Director rested his hand on top of the open file. “So you don’t deny ignoring proper channels and compromising the Curia’s mission?”
“Since when is an attempt to save a human soul a compromise?” Jack grew very red in the face.
The Director studied him.
“You Jesuits have a habit of asking for forgiveness rather than permission. We aren’t all Jesuits, Father Kavanaugh, and that kind of thinking isn’t tolerated here.” The Director paused. “You were brought to Rome because of your service record. I will personally transfer you to Prague if you compromise our activities again.”
“Prague?” Jack’s eyebrows lifted. “But there aren’t any—”
“Precisely.”
Jack bowed his head to hide his anger. “Understood.”
“It’s fortunate Florence decided to accede to your weakness rather than to exploit it.”
Jack lifted his head. “I don’t consider caring for my parishioners to be a weakness.”
The Director tapped one of his fingers on top of the desk. “We exist in order to protect humanity from evil. I wish we could save everyone. We both know that’s impossible.”
“I’m not asking to save everyone.” Jack forced himself to keep his tone even. “I’m simply asking for support in protecting two young women, women who are like daughters to me.”
“We have intelligence that they are being sent as a gesture of peace, but we have no idea what condition they’re in or how many soldiers accompany them. It would be folly to send a squad outside our walls until we know more.”#p#分页标题#e#
Jack leaned forward, placing his hands on top of the desk. “Raven and Cara are in danger, not just from the Florentines, but from ferals, mercenaries, other vampyres. They could be killed.”
“You’ve already tipped your hand by writing to the Prince and expressing your attachment. Any movement of our troops will simply place a higher price on the women’s heads.”
“Then let me go. Alone.”
The Director gave the priest a long look. “I admire your courage. But I’m not going to allow you to initiate a military engagement over two souls, one of whom is a pet.”
Jack straightened. “Our Lord left Heaven to seek and to save those who are lost.”
“I am well-acquainted with sacred scripture.”
Jack leaned closer. “Then you must know the story of the Gadarene, who was a pet to various demons. Our Lord clothed him, fed him, and rescued him from his tormentors.”