The trail of blood curved up the stairs。
Before ascending； Langdon knew he needed a weapon； any weapon。 He found a four…foot section of iron bar near one of the cells。 It had a sharp； splintered end。 Although absurdly heavy； it was the best he could do。 He hoped the element of surprise； bined with the Hassassin's wound； would be enough to tip the scales in his advantage。 Most of all； though； he hoped he was not too late。
The staircase's spiral treads were worn and twisted steeply upward。 Langdon ascended； listening for sounds。 None。 As he climbed； the light from the prison area faded away。 He ascended into the total darkness； keeping one hand on the wall。 Higher。 In the blackness； Langdon sensed the ghost of Galileo； climbing these very stairs； eager to share his visions of heaven with other men of science and faith。
Langdon was still in a state of shock over the location of the lair。 The Illuminati meeting hall was in a building owned by the Vatican。 No doubt while the Vatican guards were out searching basements and homes of well…known scientists； the Illuminati were meeting here 。 。 。 right under the Vatican's nose。 It suddenly seemed so perfect。 Bernini； as head architect of renovations here； would have had unlimited access to this structure 。 。 。 remodeling it to his own specifications with no questions asked。 How many secret entries had Bernini added？ How many subtle embellishments pointing the way？
The Church of Illumination。 Langdon knew he was close。
As the stairs began narrowing； Langdon felt the passage closing around him。 The shadows of history were whispering in the dark； but he moved on。 When he saw the horizontal shaft of light before him； he realized he was standing a few steps beneath a landing； where the glow of torchlight spilled out beneath the threshold of a door in front of him。 Silently he moved up。
Langdon had no idea where in the castle he was right now； but he knew he had climbed far enough to be near the peak。 He pictured the mammoth angel atop the castle and suspected it was directly overhead。
Watch over me； angel； he thought； gripping the bar。 Then； silently； he reached for the door。
On the divan； Vittoria's arms ached。 When she had first awoken to find them tied behind her back； she'd thought she might be able to relax and work her hands free。 But time had run out。 The beast had returned。 Now he was standing over her； his chest bare and powerful； scarred from battles he had endured。 His eyes looked like two black slits as he stared down at her body。 Vittoria sensed he was imagining the deeds he was about to perform。 Slowly； as if to taunt her； the Hassassin removed his soaking belt and dropped it on the floor。
Vittoria felt a loathing horror。 She closed her eyes。 When she opened them again； the Hassassin had produced a switchblade knife。 He snapped it open directly in front of her face。
Vittoria saw her own terrified reflection in the steel。
The Hassassin turned the blade over and ran the back of it across her belly。 The icy metal gave her chills。 With a contemptuous stare； he slipped the blade below the waistline of her shorts。 She inhaled。 He moved back and forth； slowly； dangerously 。 。 。 lower。 Then he leaned forward； his hot breath whispering in her ear。
〃This blade cut out your father's eye。〃
Vittoria knew in that instant that she was capable of killing。
The Hassassin turned the blade again and began sawing upward through the fabric of her khaki shorts。 Suddenly； he stopped； looking up。 Someone was in the room。
〃Get away from her；〃 a deep voice growled from the doorway。
Vittoria could not see who had spoken； but she recognized the voice。 Robert！ He's alive！
The Hassassin looked as if he had seen a ghost。 〃Mr。 Langdon； you must have a guardian angel。〃
108
In the split second it took Langdon to take in his surroundings； he realized he was in a sacred place。 The embellishments in the oblong room； though old and faded； were replete with familiar symbology。 Pentagram tiles。 Planet frescoes。 Doves。 Pyramids。
The Church of Illumination。 Simple and pure。 He had arrived。
Directly in front of him； framed in the opening of the balcony； stood the Hassassin。 He was bare chested； standing over Vittoria； who lay bound but very much alive。 Langdon felt a wave of relief to see her。 For an instant； their eyes met； and a torrent of emotions flowed…gratitude； desperation； and regret。
〃So we meet yet again；〃 the Hassassin said。 He looked at the bar in Langdon's hand and laughed out loud。 〃And this time you e for me with that？〃
〃Untie her。〃
The Hassassin put the knife to Vittoria's throat。 〃I will kill her。〃
Langdon had no doubt the Hassassin was capable of such an act。 He forced a calm into his voice。 〃I imagine she would wele it 。 。 。 considering the alternative。〃
The Hassassin smiled at the insult。 〃You're right。 She has much to offer。 It would be a waste。〃
Langdon stepped forward； grasping the rusted bar； and aimed the splintered end directly at the Hassassin。 The cut on his hand bit sharply。 〃Let her go。〃
The Hassassin seemed for a moment to be considering it。 Exhaling； he dropped his shoulders。 It was a clear motion of surrender； and yet at that exact instant the Hassassin's arm seemed to accelerate unexpectedly。 There was a blur of dark muscle； and a blade suddenly came tearing through the air toward Langdon's chest。
Whether it was instinct or exhaustion that buckled Langdon's knees at that moment； he didn't know； but the knife sailed past his left ear and clattered to the floor behind him。 The Hassassin seemed unfazed。 He smiled at Langdon； who was kneeling now； holding the metal bar。 The killer stepped away from Vittoria and moved toward Langdon like a stalking lion。
As Langdon scrambled to his feet； lifting the bar again； his wet turtleneck and pants felt suddenly more restrictive。 The Hassassin； half…clothed； seemed to move much faster； the wound on his foot apparently not slowing him at all。 Langdon sensed this was a man accustomed to pain。 For the first time in his life； Langdon wished he were holding a very big gun。
The Hassassin circled slowly； as if enjoying himself； always just out of reach； moving toward the knife on the floor。 Langdon cut him off。 Then the killer moved back toward Vittoria。 Again Langdon cut him off。
〃There's still time；〃 Langdon ventured。 〃Tell me where the canister is。 The Vatican will pay more than the Illuminati ever could。〃
〃You are naпve。〃
Langdon jabbed with the bar。 The Hassassin dodged。 He navigated around a bench； holding the weapon in front of him； trying to corner the Hassassin in the oval room。 This damn room has no corners！ Oddly； the Hassassin did not seem interested in attacking or fleeing。 He was simply playing Langdon's game。 Coolly waiting。
Waiting for what？ The killer kept circling； a master at positioning himself。 It was like an endless game of chess。 The weapon in Langdon's hand was getting heavy； and he suddenly sensed he knew what the Hassassin was waiting for。 He's tiring me out。 It was working； too。 Langdon was hit by a surge of weariness； the adrenaline alone no longer enough to keep him alert。 He knew he had to make a move。
The Hassassin seemed to read Langdon's mind； shifting again； as if intentionally leading Langdon toward a table in the middle of the room。 Langdon could tell there was something on the table。 Something glinted in the torchlight。 A weapon？ Langdon kept his eyes focused on the Hassassin and maneuvered himself closer to the table。 When the Hassassin cast a long； guileless glance at the table； Langdon tried to fight the obvious bait。 But instinct overruled。 He stole a glance。 The damage was done。
It was not a weapon at all。 The sight momentarily riveted him。
On the table lay a rudimentary copper chest； crusted with ancient patina。 The chest was a pentagon。 The lid lay open。 Arranged inside in five padded partments were five brands。 The brands were forged of iron…large embossing tools with stout handles of wood。 Langdon had no doubt what they said。
ILLUMINATI； EARTH； AIR； FIRE； WATER。
Langdon snapped his head back up； fearing the Hassassin would lunge。 He did not。 The killer was waiting； almost as if he were