Read Online Suicide Kings by Christopher J. Ferguson - Free Book Online

to release and repeat the cycle. At last she stopped, pulling away from Diana’s hand with a gasp. She looked at Diana with wide eyes, breathing in heavily as if she had just run a race. “You will find what you seek,” Francesca whispered. “But it won’t be what you want.”
    Diana took a step back, holding her hand against her chest as if it had been burned.
    Francesca blinked several times and put out one hand to steady herself in her cell. She was sweating visibly, lines of fluid running down her angelic face despite the frigid February air. She looked up finally, “Diana,” she whispered.
    “Lady Savrano!” called a voice from what seemed a world away. Diana turned to the sound and saw a tall woman in a black robe had emerged from the wooden door and now motioned toward her. Diana looked back at Francesca who watched her quietly with large eyes. “Thank you for the blessing, Francesca,” Diana whispered, averting her eyes. She moved off toward the tall nun without waiting for a reply.
    Siobhan fell into step beside her, keeping silent.
    Diana had collected herself by the time they reached the tall nun. “I am Lady Savrano,” she told the nun, keeping her back straight. “I would like to ask some questions.”
    The nun held up one hand. “I know why you are here. I am Sister Ophelia the cellarer. You’ve come to ask about Sister Maria Innocentia.” The nun turned her back, motioning with one hand that they should follow.
    Diana gave Siobhan a wary look. These nuns were more intimidating and mysterious than Mancini. Still, she followed the sister into a dark and cluttered hallway. She wasn’t turning back now.
    “Cardinal Lajolo has investigated the matter of Sister Maria Innocentia’s death and declared her demise to be an accidental fall,” Sister Ophelia informed them. Diana almost sputtered a protest but the sister held up her hand once more. “I know what she told you.” They ascended a set of stone stairs, light from a few windows casting away the doom momentarily. “You should know that Sister Maria Innocentia was a deeply disturbed soul. I hope her spirit found some measure of comfort during her time with us, but I cannot be so sure.”
    “You think she was mad?” Diana asked.
    “I know that she was mad,” Sister Ophelia responded without a moment’s hesitation. “The monk physicians claimed that her madness was a result of an imbalance of her humors and they tried to cure her with bleedings. Sometimes the horrors of this world are enough to drive any person mad, and I have little doubt that Sister Maria Innocentia was well versed in horror.” They stopped outside a little wooden door. Sister Ophelia turned round, facing them with her stern, slightly wrinkled face. Her eyes met Diana’s. “Your mother was good to our community. We should have liked to bury her in our chapel had it been her wish.”
    Diana met the woman’s gaze. “Do you believe what Sister Maria Innocentia said about my mother?”
    For once the nun didn’t answer immediately, but hesitated, her voice quieter when she finally did respond. “Maria Innocentia lived in a world that was haunted by the deepest and most unconquerable evil. I must hope that she was wrong.”
    “Most women who come to a convent such as this provide a dowry. Did Sister Maria Innocentia pay her own?” Diana asked.
    Ophelia’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not the treasurer for this community. I wouldn’t know.” She produced a ring of keys from her belt and unlocked the cell door. “For your mother’s memory I’ll grant you five minutes.” She motioned inside the cell.
    Diana nodded in appreciation. As she prepared to step across the threshold the nun touched her shoulder. “If your fears are correct, you should know that no one will help you. You’ll be on your own.”
    Siobhan stepped forward. “I’ll help her.”
    The nun gave her a sympathetic smile and stepped aside, holding open the door to the cell for them.
    Diana stepped