After the Darkness (Dragonetti, McCormack)
May. 5th, 2008 12:47 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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darker_londonWhen Dragonetti awoke, feeling like his entire body was filled with cement, he immediately remembered that he was being pursued by that evil piece of work, Peter Kemp. He tried to scramble away, but it was absolutely pointless, considering the fact that his body had no energy contained within it, whatsoever. The room swam into a blurry sort of focus and Dragonetti's eyes fell on a face, hovering above him. Dragonetti let out a small, fearful noise and the head cocked to one side. "Is this hell?" Dragonetti managed to whimper.
"....No." The voice responded, sounding quite exasperated, actually. "Not for God-fearing men, anyway." The face softened and it came closer, causing the blurry lines to sharpen somewhat. "It's Father McCormack, and you're at the Templar complex in Bath. We've been wondering where you got to, Father Dragonetti. I have to admit I'm glad to see you."
And Dragonetti let out a noise that was equal parts relief and remorse. He hadn't been taken to the very realms of hell itself by the son of the beast. He'd faced Peter Kemp and come out of it alive. But being back with his brethren meant that his quest to prove who Peter Kemp was, had to come to an end. No one would allow him to continue. Their focus had changed, and Dragonetti would have to change with it. He was not, however, going to keep what he believed to be truth, silent. That was not the way of a true believer. "I faced the Antichrist. I came upon him on the street. And he attacked me in some sort of unseen way."
Father McCormack looked intensely worried at that. "Alessandro. You know Bishop Tagliateli doesn't hold with-"
"He's wrong!" Dragonetti yelled, with as much force as he had within him. It cased a sharp pain in his chest and he gasped for air.
"You had a heart attack, Dragonetti!" Father McCormack laid his hand on the man's shoulder. "Calm yourself, or you'll be doing God's work in Heaven instead of here on Earth. You were lucky the attack wasn't worse. You fell unconscious, but the doctors believe that was mostly due to the rather poor care you've taken of yourself and not as much to do with the attack. The damage wasn't severe. But it's going to take awhile before you're strong enough to join us in our purifications. I have contacted Rome to let them know you have rejoined our number. They have said you shall remain here to convalesce. We'd been following you since London. It was lucky. We saw you go down and we got to the ambulance Peter Kemp himself ordered, in time to make sure you stayed out of his hands. We believe he intended to have you imprisioned once you were well. I don't believe he's anything more than a man. But he is still our enemy, and we will not see another of our order behind bars if we can help it."
"I am telling you, he attacked me!" Dragonetti growled. He was convinced that Peter Kemp had used some sort of hellish power to squeeze the life force from him.
"He attacked you and then he rang an ambulance to ensure that you would not die?" Father McCormack asked, as if it was absurd. Little did he know, however, that once that had been the exact case. In this instance, however, it was not true. "Whatever you believe, my brother, following the path of revenge will only lead to your own destruction. Peter Kemp is a mighty foe, surrounded by loyalty. That is a dead end. This should be a wake-up call! I've seen you and you think of nothing but bringing him down! That will not bring back His Grace, Bishop Holden."
Dragonetti opened his mouth to argue again. But he was, quite simply, too tired. So he closed it again, gazing up at the ceiling above his head. Perhaps he should play along. Behave himself like he always had, and continue his quest in his own time. He would have to be careful. He had had no idea he was being followed and he wouldn't put it past them to continue that once he was well. But he couldn't stop. He wouldn't stop. In the end, he looked over at Father McCormack and he nodded as if to say he understood.
He would see the end of Peter Kemp. He just had to do it their way.
"....No." The voice responded, sounding quite exasperated, actually. "Not for God-fearing men, anyway." The face softened and it came closer, causing the blurry lines to sharpen somewhat. "It's Father McCormack, and you're at the Templar complex in Bath. We've been wondering where you got to, Father Dragonetti. I have to admit I'm glad to see you."
And Dragonetti let out a noise that was equal parts relief and remorse. He hadn't been taken to the very realms of hell itself by the son of the beast. He'd faced Peter Kemp and come out of it alive. But being back with his brethren meant that his quest to prove who Peter Kemp was, had to come to an end. No one would allow him to continue. Their focus had changed, and Dragonetti would have to change with it. He was not, however, going to keep what he believed to be truth, silent. That was not the way of a true believer. "I faced the Antichrist. I came upon him on the street. And he attacked me in some sort of unseen way."
Father McCormack looked intensely worried at that. "Alessandro. You know Bishop Tagliateli doesn't hold with-"
"He's wrong!" Dragonetti yelled, with as much force as he had within him. It cased a sharp pain in his chest and he gasped for air.
"You had a heart attack, Dragonetti!" Father McCormack laid his hand on the man's shoulder. "Calm yourself, or you'll be doing God's work in Heaven instead of here on Earth. You were lucky the attack wasn't worse. You fell unconscious, but the doctors believe that was mostly due to the rather poor care you've taken of yourself and not as much to do with the attack. The damage wasn't severe. But it's going to take awhile before you're strong enough to join us in our purifications. I have contacted Rome to let them know you have rejoined our number. They have said you shall remain here to convalesce. We'd been following you since London. It was lucky. We saw you go down and we got to the ambulance Peter Kemp himself ordered, in time to make sure you stayed out of his hands. We believe he intended to have you imprisioned once you were well. I don't believe he's anything more than a man. But he is still our enemy, and we will not see another of our order behind bars if we can help it."
"I am telling you, he attacked me!" Dragonetti growled. He was convinced that Peter Kemp had used some sort of hellish power to squeeze the life force from him.
"He attacked you and then he rang an ambulance to ensure that you would not die?" Father McCormack asked, as if it was absurd. Little did he know, however, that once that had been the exact case. In this instance, however, it was not true. "Whatever you believe, my brother, following the path of revenge will only lead to your own destruction. Peter Kemp is a mighty foe, surrounded by loyalty. That is a dead end. This should be a wake-up call! I've seen you and you think of nothing but bringing him down! That will not bring back His Grace, Bishop Holden."
Dragonetti opened his mouth to argue again. But he was, quite simply, too tired. So he closed it again, gazing up at the ceiling above his head. Perhaps he should play along. Behave himself like he always had, and continue his quest in his own time. He would have to be careful. He had had no idea he was being followed and he wouldn't put it past them to continue that once he was well. But he couldn't stop. He wouldn't stop. In the end, he looked over at Father McCormack and he nodded as if to say he understood.
He would see the end of Peter Kemp. He just had to do it their way.
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