Page 312 - Revelation

Svetlana de Rohan-Levashova. Revelation

– But why?! – My heart froze, having a bad presentiment.

– She is coming to save you. – Caraffa pronounced calmly.
– ?!!

– I need her here, Isidora. But in order that they let her go from Meteora, her
desire was needed. So I helped her to "decide".
– Why do you need Anna, Your Holiness?! You wanted her to study there, didn’t
you? Why was it necessary to send her to Meteora then?
– Life is slipping away, Madonna... Nothing stands still, especially Life... Anna
will not help me in what I need so eagerly... even if she studied there for a hundred
years. I need you, Madonna. Precisely your help is what I need... And I know that I
cannot persuade you so easily.

So, it came at last... the most frightful one. I did not have time to kill Caraffa! And
my poor daughter had become the next on his terrible list... My brave sweet Anna...
For a fraction of a second our fate suddenly opened to me... it was dreadful...

Isidora-5. The Darkness

Caraffa stayed for a little while in "my" rooms without uttering a word, then rose
to leave and very calmly pronounced:
– I’ll inform you when your daughter arrives here, Madonna. I think it’ll be very
soon. – He bowed with the air of a man of the world and withdrew.
I gathered what was left of my strength, trying not to give way to black despair,
took off my shawl with my trembling hand and sat on the nearest sofa.

What could I, exhausted and lonely, do? How could I protect my brave girl who
fearlessly entered into the war with Caraffa? What kind of lies did they tell her to make
her leave Meteora and came back to this Hell on Earth cursed by God and people?
I could not even imagine what Caraffa had prepared for Anna... She was his last
hope and his last weapon which, I knew, he would try to use in the best way he could
to make me surrender, which meant that Anna would have to suffer terribly.

I was unable to cope with such hurt alone; I tried to call my father. He appeared
at once, as if he awaited my call.
– Father, I am so scared! He is taking Anna! I don’t know whether I will be able
to protect her... Help me, father! At least give me some advice...
There was nothing in the world I would not agree to give to Caraffa in exchange
for Anna. I would agree to anything... except for one – the gift of immortality, which,
unfortunately, was the only thing the holy Pope wished for.

– I am so afraid for her, father! I saw a girl here. She was dying. I helped her to
go... Will Anna have to undergo the same severe trials too?! Is it possible that we will
not be able to save her?
– Don’t let fear into your heart, daughter, no matter how painfuil it is for you.
Don’t you remember what Girolamo taught his daughter? Fear can make what you’re
afraid of, a reality. It opens doors. Don’t let fear weaken you before you even start
fighting, my dear. Don’t let Caraffa win before you even begin resisting.

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