Blood Codex- a Jake Crowley Adventure by David Wood & Alan Baxter

Author:David Wood & Alan Baxter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, mystery, action adventure, occult, devil's bible, birthmarks, vatican, secret archives, men's adventure, paranormal
Publisher: Gryphonwood Press
Published: 2016-07-08T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Cefalu, Sicily

The walk back down the hill into Cefalu was pleasant under blue skies with a soft, warm breeze. The scent of the ocean was strong, fresh and briny, a perfect antidote to the rot and fungal spoors of the Abbey of Thelema.

Rose drew in long deep breaths, striding purposefully away. “I’m glad to put that place at my back. Creepy as hell.”

Crowley nodded. “You’re not wrong. It’s all kind of weird overlain with something unpleasant, don’t you think? I mean, something besides the age and neglect.”

“Yeah, it gives me the creeps just thinking about it. Let’s forget we were ever there now we’ve got something to go on.”

“Good plan.”

She glanced back at him, slowed her pace to let him catch up and fall into stride next to her. “So what have we got to go on?” she asked. “What was that inscription again?”

“Sedes Sacrorum. You’d know it as the Holy See.”

She stopped, stared hard at him. “The Vatican? Come on, Crowley, that’s going a bit far, isn’t it? The Vatican took the book?”

Crowley gestured forward, enjoying her shock. There was melodrama to everything occurring that he couldn’t help revel in just a little bit. It served to remind him just how boring his life had become as a history teacher. Despite the fact that their lives were in danger, Rose’s especially, he hadn’t experienced thrills like these since active service and he realized how much he missed them. “The Vatican has a secret army, if you believe the rumors and conspiracy theories.”

Rose barked a laugh, falling into step with him again. “Well, I’m not sure I do.”

Crowley couldn’t blame her for that. “Hear me out. There are lots of rumors about secret societies, legends about occult connections, all kinds of stories, and it’s not something you can simply write off wholesale.”

“You really believe in that sort of thing?” Rose asked, but her incredulity had waned.

Crowley raised his hands, a gesture of uncertainty. “Honestly, I think most of it is complete bollocks, but there is one thing of which I am absolutely certain.” He trailed off, memories coming at him like enemy fire, stirring emotions deep in his gut that he would rather stayed quiet.

Rose must have seen his face blanch. She put one hand on his shoulder as they walked. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sorry. I have a little army baggage, that’s all. Anyone who served is haunted at least a little bit.”

“And it’s relevant to all this stuff?” Her voice was soft, kind.

“Very relevant. One thing I know for certain... at least, as certain as I can be, is that there’s a powerful group called the Knights of the Sedes Sacrorum.”

“The SS?” Rose interrupted.

Crowley shook his head. “That was the name the SS went by, but this is a different group. These guys are the Knights of the Holy See. I crossed paths with them once in Iraq. We were fighting the Republican Guard, Saddam Hussein’s elite branch. The firefight was going down around some museum, I forget which.

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