Secrets Of Solomon

Plot Point 1:

Setting: The labyrinthine recesses of Florence's Tunnel of San Niccolò under the cloak of night. Two treasure hunters (and in their spare time, thieves), Marco and Luca, infiltrate a sealed section of the tunnels rumored to conceal Medici treasures. They get inside by hanging out in the underground tunnels by day and waiting until nightfall. They have bought from a fellow thief, an ancient treasure map that shows them how to gain entry to a secret tunnel, accessed through one of the many nooks. Once nightfall happens, they follow the map and start hacking away at the old stone walls. They break out one of the stones and Marco reaches his hand inside. There is another room! They carefully remove enough stones to gain access by crawling inside. They then replace the stones from the inside of the room so no passerby discovers them. Their search inside the secret tunnels uncovers a chest, but instead of gold or jewels, it contains an ancient manuscript. Disappointment turns to disaster as an errant move triggers a collapse of a wall, killing Luca and leaving Marco as the sole survivor, clutching the manuscript. (This is a good point to end the first opening chapter as Marco desperately uncovers the stones from Luca but only to find his skull crushed. Then pick up the story of Sully and leave the rest of this tale for a few chapters). In another chapter or so, he manages to escape, replacing the stones so no one will know they entered because he’s terrified the death of his friend will be blamed on him (they were not supposed to be there). Now out he is super bummed he only has an old manuscript when it was the treasure he wanted.

History: The Tunnel of San Niccolò, also known as the San Niccolò Gate Tunnel, is an ancient passage located in the Oltrarno district of Florence, Italy. The San Niccolò Gate and its associated tunnel date back to the medieval period, when Florence was a walled city. The gate was originally built in the 14th century as part of the city's fortifications, serving as a key entry point for travelers entering Florence from the south. Over the centuries, the gate and tunnel have witnessed numerous historical events, including sieges, battles, and changes in the city's defensive infrastructure.

The Tunnel is a stone-vaulted passage that runs beneath the city walls, providing a thoroughfare for pedestrians and vehicles alike. It is dimly lit and somewhat narrow, with rough-hewn walls and an arched ceiling overhead. The tunnel contains alcoves and niches where travelers (and thieves) can seek shelter or rest along their journey.

The tunnel is situated near the San Niccolò Gate (Porta San Niccolò), one of the historic gates of Florence's medieval city walls. It is located on the southern bank of the Arno River, within the Oltrarno district. The tunnel itself runs beneath the area surrounding the gate, providing a passage through the city walls. The main access point to the Tunnel of San Niccolò is through the San Niccolò Gate itself. This gate is located at the eastern end of Via San Niccolò, a historic street that runs from the Arno River to the Piazzale Michelangelo, offering scenic views of the city. Other nearby streets that could lead to the gate include Via di San Niccolò and Via San Miniato.

The Oltrarno district, where the Tunnel of San Niccolò is located, lies on the southern bank of the Arno River, opposite the historic city center of Florence. While the Tunnel of San Niccolò itself refers to a specific passage beneath the city walls, there are rumors of interconnected tunnels or passages nearby.

Plot Point 2:

Setting: Florence's historic heart.

The first Sully chapter (Chapter 2) opens with her arriving in Florence. We get a bit of her wearing shades, a hat and doing her best to be careful she isn’t recognized. After all, she knows the Prelate is from the Vatican (and she narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Prelate in Book One). This gives us a bit of flavor from what happened in the last book. Sully checks into a fleabag hotel in the old district (Hotel Rosa del Fiore located at Via dei Sogni, 14, Santa Maria Novella District, Florence, Italy) and she rings up a dear old friend of her father, Professor Giovanni Bellini—her surrogate uncle—and arranges for a meeting.

Plot Point 3:

Marco, shaken but determined, seeks to profit from his perilous find. He approaches his fence, Antonio, who, recognizing the item's historical value but ignorant of its specifics. Antonio gives him a meager sum (maybe $500) for the ancient book. Antonio doesn’t know what he has but knows that harboring historic artifacts like this is illegal. He wants to turn a profit so he approaches his old acquaintance, (the same as Sully just called) Professor Giovanni Bellini, a local historian and collector of rare artifacts who can be trusted (Bellini can be trusted to keep quiet about illegal finds because he’s such an avid historian he doesn’t care. Eventually, he turns stuff over to museums). Bellini is stunned at what the fence has to offer but keeps a poker face and negotiates to buy it for $1,000. The fence is happy and goes about his business. We get a scene where Bellini is opening the book and says “oh my God,….” But we don’t know what he sees (great chapter ending).

Plot Point 4:

Sully, under a new alias to evade the aftermath of her Jerusalem escapades, meets with Professor Bellini. Bellini hasn’t seen her for years (he’s like a treasured uncle to her). Here, we get some info on her father and her mission to uncover the Templar secrets, more of the backstory of what just happened to them in Jerusalem, how her friend Yael died, etc. Good place to catch up.

Book One backstory: Sully and her partner, Yael, were in the old city of Jerusalem where they uncovered a Templar Cross in the floor of a previously undiscovered tunnel. This was a big deal as it’s been easily 200 years since any new Templar artifacts have been found. Then, Sully discovered another chamber beneath the floor. She and Yael carefully lifted up the stone section of floor bearing the cross, and discovered that indeed there was a room. Sully lowered herself down via a rope, found inside a silver amulet and an old parchment that pointed her to Florence to uncover the Secrets Key of Solomon. Before she could get out of the room, the Prelate from the Vatican sealed her in expecting her to die. Yael was left for dead, but Sully escaped, helped Yael up, had a near death escape again, was betrayed by a fellow researcher, Lawrence, and in the end, the Prelate killed her partner Yael. She escaped only with the manuscript that pointed her to Florence. You can read it here: https://www.eemians.com/ jerusalem-cipher

She shares with him her mission of uncovering Templar secrets and she shares with him the parchment she found under the old city of Jerusalem (in Book One). Together they go through the document, and he is thrilled and intrigued with what she has found (it was this document that led her here to Florence). He offers her a room and she can stay with him. She is happy to leave the cheap hotel she’s in and heads back to her hotel room to pick up her stuff. Here we can put in a bit about her being watched. She senses it again, but because she’s in disguise, she keeps going thinking it’s maybe her imagination.

Over drinks and dinner that night with Bellini, she tells him she’s searching for clues to the Key of Solomon and needs help but cannot be seen. This is when he shares with her the manuscript he bought from the fence, revealing ties to the Solomon Key and a potential Medici-Templar connection. Intrigued and sensing the manuscript's importance, Sully secures a loan of the document. She’s certain that wherever this document came from must be part of the riddle. She MUST meet the person who uncovered this. It is critical for Sully.

Bellini isn’t so sure. This guy is a conduit for the spoils of thieves and you cannot trust a thief or their middle man. She insists. He reluctantly says he’ll setup a meeting with the fence for her in the morning.

*Note: it is here that you need to insert some important foreshadowing for the closing acts without alerting the reader. Bellini has a remarkable photographic memory. Perhaps he recites something from an ancient manuscript from 30 years ago that only Sully’s father and Sully would have even remembered. Remarkable! And he is fluent in Italian, Latin, and ancient languages. Lastly, there should be signs that he is involved with the church.

History: The Key of Solomon is a medieval grimoire, or book of magic, attributed to King Solomon, the biblical king known for his wisdom and magical abilities. It is one of the most famous and influential texts in Western occultism and has had a significant impact on various magical traditions, including ceremonial magic and the occult practices of the Renaissance.

The Key of Solomon is divided into two parts: the Greater Key and the Lesser Key. The Greater Key contains instructions for summoning and commanding spirits, as well as various magical rituals and spells. The Lesser Key, also known as the Lemegeton or Ars Goetia, specifically focuses on the summoning and control of demons.

As for its connection to the Templars, it is thought they were in possession of the Key of Solomon and used its magical knowledge for their own purposes. According to these theories, the Templars may have incorporated elements of Solomon's magic into their rituals or sought to unlock its secrets for their own gain.

The Key of Solomon contains various rituals and invocations that some believe could be used to bring about or avert apocalyptic events. These rituals may involve summoning angels or demons, seeking divine guidance, or manipulating cosmic forces. Some interpretations suggest that the Key of Solomon contains hidden knowledge about the end times and the role of humanity in shaping its outcome. Its teachings on magic, astrology, and theurgy are seen as pathways to unlocking higher states of consciousness and accessing hidden realms of existence. Some believe that the Key of Solomon contains encoded messages or insights into the nature of reality and the fate of humanity.

Plot Point 5:

Setting: A clandestine meeting in a dimly lit Florentine café. Sully, with Professor Bellini's assistance, persuades the wary fence (and spend a little time here making sure the fence is afraid that Sully might be a cop—and somehow, we convince him she’s not), Antonio, to introduce her to Marco.

Antonio reluctantly agrees because of the assurances of Bellini and maybe a little bit of a threat that if Antonio doesn’t do what’s been asked Bellini’s not going to be so easy in the future to sell stuff to. A bit of arm twisting.

The meeting is arranged and now Sully goes alone to meet Marco. She’s been introduced by Antonio, but that can all just be foreshadowed. Let’s just jump into this meeting.

Marco doesn’t trust Sully. After all, his friend is dead. What if she rats him out? How will he know she’s not the police? She does her best to assure him she’s a treasure hunter “like him” and what can she do to prove it?

Marco says if she’s really who she says she is she won’t hesitate to help him steal something. Sully, always game, says if that’s what it takes. He’s convinced that no police undercover person would dare go with him on a thievery mission.

Marco challenges her to help him steal a painting from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Sully agrees under one condition, that they do not actually steal the piece. She will risk police arrest and prove herself to him, but only if he agrees. He does but we suspect he likely won’t stick to it.

*note: this whole robbery bit should take up a good 15K fast-paced, tightly packed words of the story.

Their target is the painting "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli. The plan is meticulously laid out for the museum's annual gala—happening the next night—leveraging the event's chaos for cover. Spend a short chapter outlining the plan, and have Sully prove herself as the master thief—as Marco is a bit of a buffoon—here; Sully should impress us with her skills.

Distractions are orchestrated—a staged protest and a false alarm—while they entered through the sewers, emerging near the museum's restoration area. With the help of a disillusioned security guard—a friend of Marco's—they bypass the alarms, swapping the iconic painting with a high-quality replica crafted by a trusted forger.

Marco then begins to take the real painting and Sully stands in front of him. "You promised." He argues that this is worth millions. She gets it but promises there are bigger treasures ahead. “The Medici fortunes you are searching for are just waiting and I will help you find them, If we do, there will be no police tracking you down.”

He finally agrees and reluctantly puts back the original. Now, to escape unnoticed—but for excitement, there is a premature security trigger forces a hasty retreat and a fast-paced chase scene. They narrowly dodge the guards, escaping via a pre-planned route to the Arno River, where a boat awaits in the darkness.

Plot Point 6:

Now that the robbery is over and Sully has proven herself to Marco, she insists he stick to his promise. She reminds him that the treasure map he has could lead to the Medici treasure.

Despite Marco’s early fears of being arrested for the theft of the artifact, he calms down, trusts Sully, and now smells money. He still harbors fears over the tunnel's collapse and the loss of his friend, Luca.

Marco is ultimately swayed by Sully's promise that she will help him find any Medici treasure there is to be found. Should they find riches, they are all his. Any artifacts are all hers. A deal is struck, and Sully prepares to enter the tunnels with Marco.

Plot Point 7:

Setting: The tunnels. To access the tunnels, they must first enter the tunnel complex at early evening and wait until it is late. Marco doesn’t yet want to share the place but once nightfall has come and the tourists have gone, he takes her to the alcove, and they begin removing the bricks that he and Luca has originally removed and then replaced. They go through the same process of getting inside, replacing the bricks, and then venturing forward. He’s warning her not to be afraid of running into his dead partner (but he himself is terrified. Sully, who has no fear and is more like Indiana Jones, is unmoved)

They find that the body of Luca is gone! This makes no sense. How did anyone know about his death? How did anyone know that had even entered the tunnel and how they did it?

Now, Marco is worried. Someone else knows about this tunnel. This puts Sully on high alert. They make their way over the rubble. Sully is reading off the manuscript Marco and Luca found and doesn’t yet know where it leads. Marco still has the treasure map that led him to this place in the first case. uncovering further clues to the Key of Solomon and hints of a hidden Medici treasure.

Plot Point 8 solving the riddle of getting inside:

Reaching what seems to be a dead end, Sully's resolve hardens. Marco thinks they're done for and he wants to give up. Sully never gives up.

Sully notices the tunnel just ends. There's no room where it ends. This makes no sense to her. Why would the builders of this tunnel simply stop? No, there's something here and she begins to look. The cold air coming through the cracks in the stone speaks of hidden spaces beyond. "The air," she murmurs, tracing her fingers over the cold, uneven surface. "It's moving through here." With Marco's treasure map spread out before them, its cryptic symbols under the beam of her flashlight, Sully thinks there must be a key. She traces the wall and starts to find symbols and letters. They are covered by the dust of ages. The two get going cleaning the walls and slowly, Marco's skepticism gives way to intrigue as Sully deciphers the symbols, her lips moving silently as she translates them into a riddle.

Riddle:

"In the heart of stone and time, where secrets sleep and shadows climb,

The Templar's shield and Medici's rose entwine,

Seek ye the key where the four winds blow,

North to wisdom, South to power, East to courage, and West to tower.

Press in sequence, dare to align,

The path shall open, by design."

Answer Explanation:

The riddle combines elements of both Templar and Medici symbolism, guiding Sully to interact with the chamber's architecture in a specific manner. The "Templar's shield" and "Medici's rose" refer to symbols associated with each group, indicating that the solution involves their combined legacies.

North to wisdom: Sully identifies a stone carved with an owl, symbolizing Athena and wisdom, located on the northern wall.

South to power: On the southern wall, she finds a lion, emblematic of strength and power.

East to courage: The eastern wall holds an image of a horse, representing courage and speed in battle.

West to tower: The western wall features a tower, signifying watchfulness and strategic defense.

By pressing the stones in this order—owl (north), lion (south), horse (east), and then tower (west)—Sully aligns with the riddle's instructions, reflecting the virtues esteemed by both the Templars and the Medici. This sequence triggers a mechanism, revealing the hidden passage and guiding them deeper into the mystery of the Key of Solomon.

The riddle speaks of guardians and keys, of light and darkness. It takes all of Sully's considerable skill in symbology to unravel its meaning. "It's a sequence," she announces.

Problem is, they are in a tunnel with only three sides. Using her compass, she see the west side is open. This makes no sense since the riddle refers to 4 directions. She goes back over it again. The east wall is the dead end and there she finds the horse symbol. But the tower symbol? They are at a loss. Marco scours the ceiling and still nothing. Suddenly Sully walks away from the dead end and says, “wait, what’s this on the floor?” There they see the outline of a tower. Good point to end the chapter when they see it.

They were looking for small symbols like the other three, and now they see. It was huge. The two get on their hands and knees feeling the floor until they get near the top of the tower, directly across from the north and south symbols. A square in the floor. This must be the secret stone to press.

Marco places his foot on the floor stone, then extends both arms and hands and prepares to press the north and south stones. Sully is ready with her hand on the horse symbol. She says, “now!” They press against the stones in the precise order dictated by the riddle.

With a rumble that vibrates through their bones, the wall shifts, revealing a passage obscured for centuries. The chamber beyond is vast, swallowed in shadow.

Plot Point 9:

B plot: Give us a chapter of Cardinal Malatesta and the Prelate discussing the fact that they’ve found Sully and she’s searching for something. Should the Prelate snuff her out? The Cardinal says maybe they should wait. After all, where she’s purported to be searching, legend has it that this is where one of the best kept Vatican secrets is supposed to have been left. The fabled, Arcanum Sigilli Templarii. If she finds it, we will know.

A Plot: They step inside, the beam of their flashlights cutting through the darkness. The chamber is a crossroads of history, walls etched with the intertwined histories of the Templars and the Medici, a testament to their secret alliances and shared quests. In the center, a pedestal holds what appears to be a model of the city, but with certain structures highlighted— structures that no longer exist (Marco recognizes the city outline because he’s from there).

Sully's eyes catch on a series of symbols, identical to those on the Key of Solomon manuscript. "This," she breathes, "is not just a map of Florence. It's also a map to the Key itself.”

As they explore the chamber, they uncover more than just clues to the Key of Solomon and the Medici treasure. Hidden compartments reveal artifacts, scrolls, and, most astonishingly, a round locked cylinder.

But, there's no Medici treasure. As Sully is sifting through the artifacts and photographing everything, the sound of footsteps echoes from the passage they've just opened. Marco's face turns ashen. "We're not alone," he whispers.

Plot Point 10:

Sully's mind races. The removal of Luca's body, the unseen observers—someone has been guarding these secrets, someone who is now aware of their intrusion. With the chamber's secrets laid bare before them, Sully and Marco are panicked as shadows detach from the walls, figures emerging into the dim light. The guardians of the chamber, their identities obscured, move with purpose. Sully and Marco find themselves not just hunters but hunted.

Sully grabs the map and the cylinder and stuffs them in her backpack and stands ready to defend herself. Marco inches behind her and then, suddenly Sully’s heart skips a beat. The face of the Prelate comes into view. Chapter end.

As the new chapter opens, Sully is warning Marco to stay behind her. This guy is serious (or something like that). Marco laughs and moves over to where the Prelate is standing. He’s sold their location to the Prelate! Good place to end the chapter.

The Prelate has already seen the cylinder Sully placed in her backpack and instantly recognizes it as the Arcanum Sigilli Templarii. He congratulates her on discovering that which they have been searching for for centuries.

Sully, despite her great knowledge, has never heard of the Arcanum Sigilli Templarii. She asks him and he laughs. He tells her that, of course, there is much she does not understand and that the Templarii was known only to the highest order in the church. How could she?

He growls out that he is not here to hurt her, but rather to take what rightfully belongs to the church. Sully’s trapped. Her mind races with escape scenes, but those with the Prelate seem to be reading her mind. Every time her eye flicks to a possible escape route one of the Prelate’s men moves into position. Absolute all is lost moment.

Just then, everyone finds themselves on the floor. It’s an earthquake!

Good chapter ending.

Sully’s the quickest and hightails it out of there with the bad guys chasing her. We get a big chase scene, some crazy running through the city until Sully evades them. This could be two chapters worth of nail-biting, fast-paced action.

Plot Point 11:

Sully makes her way back to Bellini’s house, being careful to stay in the shadows and not draw attention. She gains entry and tries to locate him. He’s nowhere to be found. She sits in the study trying to figure out how to unlock the Templar cylinder she escaped with (see earlier section describing what it looks like and how it can be opened).

Sully scans through her laptop and notes from her father for clues as to what The Arcanum Sigilli Templarii is. She runs across an old sketch from her father’s notes, and there is a drawing that resembles the Templarii. The note below it in her father’s handwriting says “real?” and then goes on with the following typed description:

September 16, 1967

Arcanum Sigilli Templarii

The artifact, purportedly crafted in the 12th century, represents a cylindrical vessel rumored among scholars and historians to contain pivotal Templar secrets and a possible link to the Holy Grail. Its existence, largely speculative and debated within academic circles, finds a singular reference in a fragmented document from the Vatican's secret archives, dated back to the 13th century. This document, presumably a communication from a Templar Knight to the Grand Master, describes the artifact as a 'vessel of knowledge' and a safeguard 'for the path to the Light.'

The Arcanum Sigilli Templarii is believed to house ancient manuscripts or maps delineating sacred Templar sites across France, potentially linked to the order's apocalyptic prophecies and quest for the Holy Grail. These contents are speculated to encompass both the physical locations of these sites and esoteric knowledge regarding their spiritual significance, implicating a comprehensive Templar design.

Current Status: Despite extensive searches by the Vatican and other entities, the artifact remains elusive, its existence more mythic than evidenced. The purported contents, implying a profound historical and theological significance, continue to elicit intrigue and scholarly debate.

This must be it! Now she must open it and find what the Prelate wanted.

Here we get a detailed section on Sully figuring it out. She’s close.

She gets to the point of rotating the Ouroboros (se description below) when she hears a noise downstairs.

Description of the cylinder: The lock mechanism is housed within a cylindrical casing, approximately one foot in height and half a foot in diameter. The casing is crafted from aged brass, adorned with intricate engravings depicting Templar symbols and esoteric motifs. These symbols, including the iconic Templar cross and mystical sigils, hint at the device's significance and purpose.

At the top of the casing, a series of gears and levers protrude, forming a complex array of interlocking components. The gears are finely etched with geometric patterns and symbols, suggesting a level of craftsmanship beyond ordinary locksmithing. Each gear turns smoothly, hinting at the precision engineering that went into its construction.

The lock mechanism operates through a combination of mechanical and cryptographic principles, designed to thwart unauthorized access while allowing entry to those who possess the correct knowledge. At first glance, the lock appears formidable and impenetrable, with no obvious keyhole or latch.

The steps necessary to open the cylinder:

To unlock the cylinder, one must decode the sequence of symbols, a task that requires not only expertise in symbology but also an intimate knowledge of Templar lore.

The first symbol to catch the eye is the iconic Templar cross, a potent emblem of the order's religious and militant fervor. Its arms are evenly proportioned, suggesting the Templars' quest for spiritual and temporal balance. This symbol is the starting point, the key to engaging the lock's intricate mechanism.

Next, one must identify a series of geometric patterns surrounding the cross, each corresponding to the foundational principles of Templar belief and architecture. The first is the Vesica Piscis, representing duality and the intersection of the material and spiritual worlds. This symbol hints at the necessity to balance opposing forces, a principle echoed in the lock's design.

Following the geometric patterns, an engraving of the Ouroboros, an ancient symbol depicting a serpent devouring its own tail. This signifies the cyclical nature of history and the Templars' understanding of time's eternal return. The Ouroboros is a reminder that the lock's solution requires an acknowledgment of beginnings as ends and ends as beginnings.

Adjacent to the Ouroboros, is a lesser-known Templar symbol: the Two Riders on a Single Horse. This emblem, emblematic of the Templars' vows of poverty and brotherhood, suggests a need for unity and cooperation—a clue to operate dual mechanisms simultaneously, a task reflecting the Templars' communal ethos.

Finally, at the heart of the cylinder's engravings, is the Clavis Sigilli Salomonis, or the Key of Solomon's Seal. This intricate sigil, a fusion of geometric shapes and arcane symbols, is traditionally associated with wisdom and protection. It represents the culmination of the lock's sequence, the final step in the unlocking process. This symbol embodies the Templars' pursuit of knowledge and their efforts to safeguard it.

You start by aligning the Templar cross with the Vesica Piscis, acknowledging the balance between the physical and spiritual realms. Next, you carefully adjust the gears to reflect the unity of the Two Riders, ensuring each action is mirrored in its counterpart.

You then engage the Ouroboros, rotating it to symbolize the cyclical nature of the task, acknowledging that each step is both a beginning and an end. Finally, you press the Clavis Sigilli Salomonis and the cylinder opens.

Plot Point 12:

She hides the cylinder, closes her laptop, and waits. She hears footsteps coming up the spiral stairway, and she’s glad Bellini is returning. The door opens, and Bellini walks, and just behind him are the Prelate and his goons.

End of chapter.

“I am sorry, my dear,” says the Prelate. “But in this town, everyone knows everyone, and I am afraid that as a ranking member in the church, I have been asked to make an official introduction.”

Sully is horrified that Bellini has turned on her. The Prelate says they’ve already been introduced and demands the cylinder from her. She refuses, and Bellini steps in. He says, “I am sorry, my dear, but neither you nor I are leaving here alive without our friend here getting what he wants.”

She finally gives in (glaring at Bellini—asking “how could you? I trusted you.”) Bellini insists and she reluctantly hands it over. The Prelate has it now and tells Sully she must open it to make sure nothing’s missing.

Here, Sully, with arms folded, says, “Why would I help you? You’re going to kill me no matter what”.

This is when the Prelate lets her know that’s not necessarily true. He and Bellini have spoken, and Bellini has convinced him that she’s more valuable to their cause alive than dead. After all, the Templarii cylinder would still be a mystery without her help. If she can open it and the Prelate can confirm the contents are intact, she can go.

She looks at Bellini with daggers in her eyes, and he shrugs. She shakes her head and shows them what she’s figured out so far, but she’s missing the final key (refer to the steps). The Prelate tells Sully this better not be a trick and orders her to sit down. The Prelate tries his luck. Nothing. He orders his men, and they cannot figure it out either. He finally goes to Bellini and says something like, “This is your only chance to prove to me your words have truth.”

Bellini studies the pattern, then, with his photographic memory apparent, says he remembers something from long ago. Something like:

“First saw the cross, so bold and grand,

Around it, shapes from the Templar's hand.

Vesica Piscis, unity's sign,

Bringing together the divine line.

Next, the Ouroboros caught her stare,

A serpent eating its tail, with care.

It tells of cycles, end to start,

A wisdom deep, from heart to heart.

Two riders shared a single horse,

Their bond of brotherhood, a force.

This clue, a hint to join and blend,

To unlock the mystery, to comprehend.

The Key of Solomon, at the core,

Held wisdom, secrets, and much more.

With these signs, she set to align,

The cross, the riders, in design.

Turned the serpent, breathed deep and pressed,

The key, the lock, the final test.

The gears moved, the tumblers clicked,

The secrets within, at last, unlocked.”

He presses the last step (see details in the earlier section). With a soft click, the cylinder opens, and Bellini reaches inside, pulls out a rolled manuscript, then bows to the Prelate, handing it over to him.

Plot Point 13:

The Prelate snatches it, spends a moment looking it over, then puts it back in the cylinder and signals for his men to follow him out. He gives Sully a final warning about how there’s much more to be found but he will be watching. And, should she uncover Church secrets, she should be careful. “Are they worth your life? I may not be so generous in our next meeting.”

Now, alone again with Bellini, she is pissed. “How could you?” she asks.

Bellini doesn’t answer her. Instead, he searches in his wine cabinet.

“Let me tell you a story. In 1968, way before you were even a twinkle in your parent's eye, your father and I travelled to Tenuta San Guido, a new vineyard owned by our friend, Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. He had spent years trying to battle the French in the wine marketplace, until one day he stopped the fight and decided to join the fray. Instead of battling the French winemakers by pushing Italian wines, he decided to instead create his own Bordeaux-style wine in Tuscany, using two French grape types: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The results were something extraordinary. Sassicaia the first of what came to be known as Super Tuscans. Ahh, here it is. I've been saving it for just such an occasion. A 1968 Sassicaia.”

He pours them glasses and she’s still pouting.

“Do you know what our friend told your father and I that evening? It’s something I’ll never forget, ‘In the absence of choice, 'tis wiser to bend like the reed in the wind, living to see another dawn, than to break like the oak in the storm, fighting a battle already lost.’”

He then goes on to explain that he has been a member of the Vatican’s inner council for years—and though he does not agree with them or their methods, at least being an insider gives him access to more than any outsider could expect—and he had no choice but to give the Prelate what he wanted. It was Bellini who convinced the Prelate to spare her life in exchange for the cylinder.

She’s still unmoved. When she says she’s a big girl and has been through worse, and now she’s left with nothing, Bellini laughs and refills her glass. He explains that in the instant he opened the cylinder, he saw what was on the parchment inside. And, with his photographic memory, he recites what was there. Sully is stunned.

He laughs and says he’s always there for her. She is going to France, and he wishes her a safe journey. The story ends with Sully being given a written transcription of what he memorized. She promises to never let anyone know where this info came from. And she went off on the next adventure.

End of story.