THE PRIEST OF SANTA MARIA

( CHAPTER  49 )  -  { PT.  12 } -  ...with all its pains, penalties and sorrows; in reparation for all of my sins, for the souls in Purgatory, for all those who have died tonight and for your greater glory. The ship made a sudden dive to the right. He shut his eyes and shouted, Amen, ready for the morbid outcome, but his body landed against a cushioned surface. His eyes formed slits surrounded by a blur of orange. He forced them wider to see a bright orange valise to his left. He let out a cry of relief and shook his head in disbelief as tears streamed from the corners of his eyes. With his waning strength, he lifted his hand to the Velcro flap and made a few hapless attempts to pull it, before his hand, limp with fatigue, flopped to his side. He felt himself drifting, the pain in his head like a chisel to his brain as his surroundings grew as dark as a cavern. Angelica appeared in his mind's eye. She smiled lovingly and blew him a kiss. Come find me. Her voice blasted like a horn

  ( CHAPTER  49 )  -  { PT.  11 } - Christiano maintained his hold, with Kristoff's hands clamped firmly around his trainer, like a lost soul trying to prevent his plummet to hell. The assassin looked up at him in venomous desperation as the trainer, unable to hold his weight, began to slip off Christiano's foot. His face flashed with panic. He made a swift grab at Christinao's calf and clung on with taut, desperate hands as the trainer came off and made its final run down the deck. With Kristoff's nails digging into Christiano's skin, the blood combined with the sweat left a slippery surface. Kristoff's nails clawed their way down his leg and glided off his sock. He glared in cold terror as gravity, playing its role as the grim reaper, dragged him into the darkness. His nails scraped all the way down the deck, and his mouth emitted a monotone screech that grew ever distant until it was no more. Christiano let out a heavy sigh sound of him was gone. Barely able

  ( CHAPTER  49 )  -  { PT.  10 } - When I find your whore wife, I'll hack off her head and send it to the Cardinal in a box made of gold. Over my dead body. Christiano's face glowered like the raging fire around him. As you wish, said Kristoff releasing one of his hands from the pole. He proceeded to punch at Christiano's knuckles and dig his nails into his flesh. He released one of his legs and began kicking at his ribs. Christiano lost his grip and slid sideways towards the ocean. He tightened his legs round the pole. Not a man to give up, Kristoff skimmed along the pole and began a flurry of kicks to Christiano's head. His skin split like a zipper, exposing part of his skull and oozing with blood. He fought to stay alert. bearing the pain through gritted teeth. His thighs clenched tighter round the pole. A hair-raising screech sounded from above, and a large metal chain descended upon them--landing square on the pole. It bent like a piece of elastic and broke off fr

  ( CHAPTER  49 )  -  { PT.  9 } - His hand made a desperate crawl to Christiano's face and futilely pulled on his skin, but the life force that resided inside him was abandoning his body with the indifference of a drifting cloud. His eyes glazed over. His grip barely a touch. The deck rumbled, and another explosion ripped through the ship. A loud creaking noise from above sent a large piece of rigging crashing down on the cargo container. The ship careered to the right, and Christiano's grip was lost. Kristoff gasped for breath as a large influx of smoky air was sucked into his lings. The container gave way and squealed all the way down to the sea. Both men instinctively grabbed hold of the large people that had dropped down. They stared at each other as they clung for their lives. You nearly had me. Kristoff coughed up his words. You would have been the first. And the last, replied Christiano. Kristoff sniggered. You will find that I am like a cat with nine lives. God has ble

  THE TWO MEN ROLLED -  ( CHAPTER  49 )  -  { PT.  8 } - like tumbleweeds down the sloping deck, speeding through fore and knocking against sharp, unidentifiable obstacles--both maintaining their grips like two vices. Their descent to the ocean depths was shielded by a large cargo container loosely hinged in mid-air. It creaked beneath their weight as if this one more pressure was just too much to bear, and at any moment it would plunge into the sea and take them with it. Both men were indifferent to the danger. With Kristoff pinned to the ground, Christiano had the advantage; his hands clamped around his neck in an indomitable grip. The assassin's hands were cemented to Christiano's wrists, pushing against him with all his strength. The sweat on their bodies sizzled. The heat from the scorching fire was hazardously close. The groaning cargo container continued to hinge up and down like a seesaw. Each movement threatened them with imminent death. Sweat dripped from Christiano&#

  ( CHAPTER  49 )  -  { PT.  6 } - Why are you afraid? I'm not. It's... just... She shut her eyes and opened them again to see the wise four-year-old still giving her a quizzical look. Must you always look through me? Salvatrice remained silent. Salvatrice! She immediately regretted her tone, flooped her head into her lap and burst into tears. After a couple of heart--beats, she looked up. I'm sorry I yelled. Its a difficult time. You know the sacrifice Christiano made to get us here. You know how much he loved you. The young girl smiled. Yes, and you will be happy with my news. Salvatrice, the message, please, interjected Kurush. My Father told me that Christiano's heart is still filled with love for you and fr me. Still Angelica gulped and stood up. Salvatrice what do you mean, still? The words rasped through her throat. My Father told me that Christiano is fast asleep. Asleep? questioned Angelica. Salvatrice, do you mean a coma? Ah... Like Snow White? asked Kurush. Y