Enlighten Series- The Complete 3 Book Collection
Page 63
Keeping ourselves unseen, we fly over the Vatican Museums and the Osservatore Romano to the Apostolic Palace and land in St. Peter’s Platz. Pillars surround the white rotunda. Statues of martyrs, saints and previous popes stand on top of each, as if guarding the entrance to the sacred place of worship. The whole building is majestic. The gray paved ground doesn’t take away from the grandness of the center pillar that soars into the sky, with a bronze cross at its peak.
I stumble toward the entrance of the basilica, not watching where I’m going. It’s a good thing I’m invisible, otherwise everyone would see me face plant, multiple times.
The inside is as spectacular as the exterior. Patterned marble flooring greets us. Textured columns probably made of the same material as the floor lines the walls. Everything is gold trimmed. Each archway has angels. Alcoves hold massive angelic statues of saints. People mill around, snapping pictures of this impressive space.
“It’s not here.” Besides being awed like all the other visitors, I feel nothing. “We should move on.”
“I don’t think the angels would hide it in such a tourist trap,” Sidelle says. “Since they went to the trouble in hiding the sword, they’d use some place a bit less conspicuous. Just my opinion, though, from what I know of angels.” She nods to Kieran.
“Would I be wrong?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Okay, where to next?” I ask, taking one last look around the magnificent building.
“I guess let’s just cover as much ground as possible,” Kieran says. “If anyone notices any sword that could be what we’re looking for, text each other.”
We leave the plaza, taking flight. I keep myself low to the ground and still invisible to humans. Spiraling outward from the Basilica, I spot what looks like a castle. A Castle of Angels, perhaps. At first I think it’s an odd place to have one, but by the state of it, it’s old. Part of the walls are crumbling away. The arched bridge that runs over the River Tiber is caked with green and black moss. Statues of angels escort the tourists to the main door.
Sweeping the pathway, I inspect each angel. None are holding a weapon. As I approach the main building, rising out of the roof is a bronzed figurine. With his right hand, he’s unsheathing a sword.
I fly close enough to inspect it. No humans are allowed on the roof. The angel is green from the elements, and the sword’s blade shines in the sunlight. It’s either what I came to see, or it’s been modified.
I hover next to one of its colossal wings and reach out toward the long blade. My fingers graze it but nothing happens. Wrapping my hands around the hilt and letting it bathe in my Light still doesn’t do anything.
Sighing, I move away and continue my search. The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Piazza Venzia are all passed. No tingling felt.
Hours pass as I fly over the Baths of Caracalla and outward to Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella. I’m high enough that the whole city of Rome is placed within a circle.
The moon is rising. We’ve been searching for most of the day. I pull out my phone and text Sidelle and Kieran.
Me: I haven’t found anything. I’m at some nature reserve to the west of the city.
I spot of bit of greenery to land on and rest. Sidelle texts back first.
Sidelle: I’ll find ya.
Looking around and not finding anyone, I make myself visible and stroll on the vibrant green grass. Rolling hills swell across the land and round hay bales dot the ground. I barely make them out, but my sneeze tells me that I’m correct in my thinking. The ping from my phone disturbs the crickets’ song.
Kieran: I think I see you.
When Kieran finds me, I’m sitting yoga-style on the grass when my wings twitch. I’ve come to know that feeling is when other angels are around me, so I know Kieran is close, even though he’s still unseen.
“Nothing?” he asks me as he floats down from the sky.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Well, let’s wait for Sidelle to consider our next step.”
We don’t wait too long and from the expression on her face, her search has also come up empty.
“Don’t fret, yet,” Kieran says. “Europe is a lot older than the U.S. There’s tons of places to look.”
I stay quiet and unlock my phone again to text my sister.
Me: Next option? Oh, and tell M & D, I’m staying at K’s tonight. I’ll let them know, too. Just so we have our stories straight.
“Don’t count out South America,” Sidelle says. “There are tribes there that date back before Europe. And some places in Asia, too.”
Stella: Nothing, really? Um, weird. Ok. Off you got to Ukraine. I have a good feeling about this one. OK about the sleep over.