Chapter 8: IX

They woke up feeling that the past night had only deepened the riddles instead of bringing answers. There was a chaos of questions and doubts in their minds. The world into which Alessandra had drawn them seemed unreal and full of danger, and a thick fog still lingered outside the window, making Venice appear like a dreamy, gothic land full of dark secrets hiding in the shadows of every bridge and street.

- Fuck, it's not a dream after all.... Fucking... Damn city," muttered Alex, rubbing his eyes and trying to collect his thoughts.

- Even if it's a dream, it's devilishly realistic," sighed Luca, feeling increasingly confused.

Alessandra stood over them with a mysterious smile, the meaning of which was impossible to guess.

- Welcome to the city of legends and mysteries," she chuckled enigmatically, handing them mugs of hot coffee. - We must find the Knowledge Stones before the Order reaches them. Let's move to discover the undiscovered.

They hurriedly got themselves in order and followed Alessandra into the narrow, cobblestone streets of Venice, far from the tourist bustle. Moisture seeped into the old walls of buildings, the canals shimmered with cold, bluish water, and there was a quiet, sinister atmosphere over the canals. The city seemed more ghostly than beautiful, and its narrow alleys hid shadows that seemed to move.

- It seems that we have ended up in another reality," whispered Elena, struggling to control the tremor in her voice from excitement.

Alessandra led them like a guide through a maze of mysteries, each turn of which seemed to hide new questions. In time, they noticed that strange symbols appeared on the walls, familiar to them from the antique shop, but invisible to casual passersby at first glance. Alessandra pointed them out like road signs.

- I think they are signposts," Elena said, looking at the signs with fascination. - They show the direction ... There, to the right, around the corner.

Following the signs, Alex felt they were being watched. He sensed something elusive, like a shadow that disappeared whenever he tried to look. They walked at a brisk pace for several minutes until they reached an isolated square where an unassuming old church stood in the center, seemingly blending into a forgotten part of town for years.

Alessandra walked up to the huge wooden door and smiled defiantly.

- I invite you to come in. Inside you will find the answers," she said and in one motion opened the door, behind which was hidden the interior of the temple, more like a mystical vision than a church.

The dark stone walls pulsed with the past; history seemed to pulse almost tangibly within them. In the semi-darkness, they spotted a majestic altar, around which gilded sculptures glittered. The light that gently fell on the altar seemed not to come from any visible source, but emanated as if from beyond reality.

Above their heads rose monumental frescoes, each full of expressive, almost tangible figures. Dante Gabriel Rossetti depicted hell as a place of grotesque torture, where souls were torn apart by demons. Right next door, Hieronymus Bosch's monumental vision of heaven was full of angels floating in splendor that seemed to embody pure spirituality. On one wall was Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper," featuring Jesus and the apostles sharing bread and wine, indulging in the mysteries of communion - the painting radiated transcendence, giving the interior an aura of mystical silence.

Another fresco showed the figure of the Virgin and Child, painted by Botticelli, full of color and delicacy, contrasting with the dark austerity of the other works. Giotto di Bondone, on the other hand, depicted scenes from the lives of saints and martyrs - his vivid colors and precise contours gave history a new dimension, inspiring an irresistible sense of awe and humility. Also hidden among these walls were works by Bosch, depicting magicians experimenting with alchemy, scenes full of mysterious symbols and elements not of this world, in which alchemical rituals seemed to come to life.

The church emanated an atmosphere in which the beauty of art was intertwined with mysticism, and spirituality with the deepest mysteries. The frescoes and paintings adorning the interior created an extraordinary atmosphere - a spiritual feast for the soul and mind, lifting their thoughts to distant eras and unknown dimensions.

Alessandra stopped in the middle of the temple, looking around the interior with an expression of almost childlike awe.

- All of these things matter to us. Places like this store not only history, but also the energy of past eras. The energy of this place will help us find the answers," she said, breaking the silence full of mystery and announcing that here they are approaching the first key of this incomprehensible puzzle.

The last thing that caught their attention were three stones, shining with an intense, almost hypnotic glow, held by an immaterial figure hovering above the altar. The luminous glow of the stones seemed to penetrate the souls of those present, and the power emanating from them was unsettling. They seemed to guard a dark mystery that simultaneously attracted and repelled. Like a dancing guide through a gallery of mysticism, Alessandra led them through the long aisles of the temple, where the wooden pews, bearing the marks of the long prayers of the faithful, testified to the age-old faith enchanted within these walls.

As they made their way through the dark interior of the temple, they felt cool breezes from the nearby lagoon on their skin, which tore through the broken windows and heightened the aura of mystery. Finally, they stood in front of a huge altar, over which towered a monumental mosaic - a work by Giorgione, showing the cosmic phenomenon of holy light beaming from the sky and spreading toward the people praying with their hands raised. Angels floated in ecstasy in the rays of light, symbolizing humanity's eternal desire to get closer to the divine source of knowledge. Next to it was a dramatic El Greco painting depicting hell, where damned souls struggled with demons amid flames and suffering. The foreboding, almost macabre realism of this painting sent shivers down the spine, creating the impression that the battle was taking place before the eyes of onlookers.

- These paintings are a warning," Alessandra explained, pointing to both works of art with deep thought. - The struggle between good and evil is eternal, and the Knowledge Stones can be both a blessing and a curse. The temple, built by the Veneti of old, hides the signs and clues we must find to get ahead of the Order.

As they admired the works, they felt their hearts speed up. The temple emanated a mystical atmosphere and seemed to warn them of an impending challenge. They knew that if they were looking for the Knowledge Stones, the Order wanted them too and would stop at nothing to get them.

Alessandra looked at the mosaic and the El Greco painting, explaining the meaning of the scenes depicted.

- Giorgione's mosaic symbolizes the sky as a source of knowledge. Stones, if they are a gift of the cosmos, can bring great power, but.... only in the right hands. El Greco, on the other hand, shows hell as a warning - knowledge can become an instrument of destruction if it serves dark purposes.

Gazing intensely at the images, they tried to see something more, a hidden answer among the sacred symbols.

Suddenly, a strange sound came from behind the altar, as if the walls themselves had begun to whisper secrets - a mysterious echo that shook them like a vibration, and the city seemed to come alive.

- I think they have some good rats here," joked Luca with a forced smile, but Alessandra paid no attention to him, focusing on the small hidden door on the left side of the altar.

- This way," she pointed out in a calm voice. - Where the angels make their song, but where the past has also left its mark.

She led them into the nooks and crannies of the church, where cold breezes mingled with the sound of a distant organ, penetrating them with a peculiar intensity. They passed through a row of wooden pews, down a gloomy aisle, until they reached a small chapel whose silence exuded tranquility. On the walls were frescoes by Tintoretto and Veronese depicting the lives of the saints, but the main attention was drawn to the large mosaic on the ceiling. It was Venice floating above the waters, surrounded by a golden glow that seemed to pulsate.

Alessandra pointed to the ceiling.

- It is Venice as a mystical guiding star. The place where magic and humanity meet. It is here, at its heart, that the Stones of Knowledge have their place.

They stood fascinated, knowing that every step they took brought them closer to unraveling the mystery of the city. Amid the smell of incense that permeated the air, they walked on toward the choir. The light, shining through Bellini's stained glass windows, cast reflections on the floor, painting in colorful spots the figures of saints and alchemical symbols, barely visible to the casual eye.

- Bellini wove alchemical signs into these stained glass windows without knowing he was creating a key, Alessandra noted. - His art is like a code for the initiated.

They watched the stained-glass windows in awe, and the colorful, shimmering images took them on a mystical journey. On one of them, Raphael noticed a strange symbol - the number IX, woven in so cleverly that it seemed to be part of the composition.

- Look, nine," he turned to the rest. - It is blended into the background, but certainly not accidentally.

Is took a closer look.

- It must matter," she stated seriously. - Perhaps this is another key.

After a moment of deliberation, they decided to search the church more thoroughly, trying to unravel the meaning of the number nine, which could be the key to unlocking the mystery of the Stones. They walked slowly through the main nave, observing every detail, stained glass windows and paintings, looking for hidden symbols. Elena stopped in front of one of the frescoes on the side wall, where she spotted the figure of a saint surrounded by a halo, holding an unrolled scroll with unknown signs.

- This is Saint Augustine, the great theologian and philosopher," Elena pondered aloud. - Perhaps the answers we seek are contained on these scrolls?

Meanwhile, Alessandra stared at the stained glass windows, noticing that the number nine appeared in various places, subtly incorporated into their structure. She saw that these recurring symbols could not be accidental - the nine seemed to have a hidden meaning, crucial to their search. Luca, not wanting to be left behind, moved his hands over the cool stones of the altar, looking for hidden mechanisms or hiding places that could conceal the answers. After a few moments, he looked up and noticed something previously unseen.

- Look at those chandeliers! - he exclaimed. - Their side branches are arranged in nine Roman numerals. This can't be a coincidence.

Alessandra also raised her eyes and after a moment realized that Luca was right. The nine seemed to mark a path, but they did not yet know where it led.

- We need to combine these symbols into some kind of whole," she said, anxiously considering what could be the next step.

They froze in reverie when suddenly the loud sound of a slamming door caught their attention. They turned abruptly toward the entrance, where a group of masked men in dark cloaks had just burst in. A golden medallion with an engraved trident - the symbol of the Order - glinted from under one of the attackers' cloak. Alessandra recognized it immediately.

- The time has come for you! - said the attacker, in a voice cold and full of certainty.

They knew that a fight was inevitable. Alex, a mercenary with a steely gaze, moved first, instantly overpowering one of the men. Agile and precise, he acted without thinking, every move was measured with flawless efficiency. He dealt one of the attackers a powerful blow to the jaw, knocking him down, then turned to kick the other in the stomach. The church was filled with the sounds of jostling, screaming and moaning.

Alessandra used every moment to attack and retreat gracefully, overpowering more opponents. Is, holding a chair like a weapon, pushed back more attackers, keeping them at bay. Alex, focused on the leader of the group, faced him in a fierce duel, in which every move, every dodge and counterattack could be decisive. His opponent tried to reach for a small object hidden under his coat, but Alex didn't give him a chance. He grabbed it with a choking grip and held it until the man fell inertly to the ground.

Tired but determined, Alex noticed that an amulet was left in his hands. He noticed a familiar pattern on it - the number nine. He realized that the medallion could be the key to solving the riddle hidden in the symbols.

- It must be related! - he called out to his companions, showing the amulet.

The rest of the group of attackers, seeing the superiority of their opponents, retreated, leaving their comrades to fend for themselves. They knew that this was not the end of the battle. They were sure that the Order would stop at nothing to get the Stones. More confrontations awaited them, but now they knew more - the nine was the key, and the medallion only confirmed it.

Leaving the church, they headed to the hotel to treat their wounds and develop a new strategy. They felt their mission was nearing its climax, and the secret of Venice, enchanted in an amulet, was at hand.

The next few days brought them intensive research. Raphael busied himself with intensive research in the digital world, while the other four immersed themselves in the archives, libraries and antique shops of Venice, poring over old books and documents whose pages were full of long-forgotten stories. In conversations with local historians and art professors, they hoped to uncover additional clues about the mysterious number nine and the dark symbols they had encountered in the church. Although no further attackers appeared for quite some time, the atmosphere was tense; they had a sense that the enemy had not receded and could appear at any moment.

After a few days, Alessandra came across a groundbreaking clue in one of the rare books. There she found a reference to a ceiling fresco by Giuseppe Mazzini, a 16th century Renaissance painter known for works full of hidden meanings. His painting in the church depicted a symbolic transition between the worlds of the living and the dead, which in itself was extremely intriguing. A notation in the corner of the painting proclaimed:

"Fatum nos sequitur" - "Fate is chasing us."

These words seemed to warn them and at the same time convince them that they had not accidentally come across this trail. Alessandra knew they had to dig deeper, uncovering the lost history of the Veneti - a civilization that could hide the answers they needed.

The trail took them to the deserted island of Torcello, once the center of the Veneti cult. As they cruised to the island, they gazed at the calm surface of the water, but tension was clearly building. Despite the sunny skies and cloudless day, they had the irresistible impression that they were being watched. As they swam to shore, the majestic church of Santa Maria Assunta, a witness to centuries of history and a vanishing culture, appeared before their eyes. The interior of the building was beautiful, and the mosaics adorning the walls had a raw, almost disturbing realism about them. In the details of Veneti's life scenes, the four friends could see shadows of past splendor, as if the figures and landscapes hid as yet unnamed secrets.

On one of the walls, they noticed a portrait of Giuseppe Mazzini, the fresco painter, indicating his deep ties to the island and its history. Is, closely examining the mosaic, found another hidden inscription in one corner:

"Clavis veritatis in insula cordi est". - "The key to truth is in the heart of the island."

She looked at Alessandra, who was watching her with a gleam in her eyes, understanding that they were one step away from discovering another clue.

- This is it! - exclaimed Elena, full of excitement. - We need to find the heart of the island.

They left the church and began their search. They wandered around the abandoned ruins, searching for traces of former sacrifice sites, as if each could hide something they were looking for. As they delved into the wild part of the island, the atmosphere thickened and the forest seemed to take on a life of its own. Birds circled above them, making strange, surprisingly sharp sounds, and the trees arranged themselves in disturbing patterns, as if pointing the way.

Suddenly Alessandra stopped, seeing an old stone well in front of her, overgrown with wild vines, as if it had been forgotten for centuries.

- It's here," she said, looking at the well with intense concentration.

Alex, came closer and after a while descended the rope to its interior. Illuminating the walls with his flashlight, he noticed shelves carved in stone that held vases, jugs and various clay vessels. On one of the shelves in a clay vessel lay a tattered, centuries-old parchment.

- I found something! - he shouted, and his voice echoed off the stone walls.

He carefully tucked the parchment into his backpack, then pulled himself to the surface. Everyone waited with bated breath for him to unroll the old card, which perhaps hid the solution to their riddle. On the parchment there was only one note:

"In Piazza San Marco mysterium reperies".

- "In the Piazza San Marco you will discover a secret". - read Elena, translating from Latin to the others.

- Piazza San Marco... St. Mark's Square! - confirmed Is with fascination.

- The direction of Venice! - exclaimed Luca with obvious excitement, ready to move on.

Having acquired a new clue, they returned to the boat and set course for Venice. Awaiting them were further challenges, mysteries and perhaps answers that lay hidden deep in the heart of this ancient city.

The city greeted them with monumental beauty and unsettling serenity. Piazza San Marco stretched before them like a stage set from the past - majestic buildings headed by St. Mark's Cathedral, whose golden domes and fabulously detailed mosaics told of Venice's past triumphs and ties to Byzantium. Elena gazed at the stone statues of St. Mark's lions adorning the facade, which seemed to be watching them with a mysterious, almost threatening vigilance.

- These lions remind me of the Hippodrome in Constantinople, from where the Venetians brought the designs for their sculptures," Is mused, admiring the impressive statues.

- That's right, Venice was once intertwined with many cultures, pulling them together like a magnet, Alessandra confirmed. - No wonder it was the most influential city in the Mediterranean.

As they walked along, their attention was caught by the Doge's Palace, the former seat of Venice's rulers and witness to many dark intrigues. They stared in silence at the Gothic façade, whose windows reflected the history of Venetian power and ruthless authority.

- Our search leads us to the heart of the Republic's power," Isabella said quietly, looking at the monumental building, as if in fear that the palace would hear something.

They went inside, and the interior greeted them with sumptuous halls decorated with works by Tintoretto, Veronese and Bellini. The opulence of the paintings contrasted with the impression of dark purpose the wanderers felt as they traversed the galleries. In one of the side corridors, their attention was drawn to a particular painting depicting monks participating in a mysterious ritual. In their hands they held stones of luminous colors, as if an unearthly energy permeated them.

- This must be another clue," whispered Alessandra. - Tintoretto was not only an artist, but probably also the keeper of the story.

- But what are we actually looking for? - muttered Alex, furrowing his eyebrows when he noticed another painting showing a scene of sacrifice.

Alessandra came closer and silently studied the image. Meanwhile, Luca, standing slightly behind, felt uneasy and had the impression that they were not alone.

- Someone is watching us," he whispered. - We need to get out of here, but slowly.

They left the palace, blending into the crowd of tourists. Alex tried to catch sight of the figures following them, but saw no one. Finding themselves in one of the side streets, full of forgotten corners, they arrived at an abandoned monastery near Campo dei Santi. It was a place as if from another world - its devastated courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the cracked walls were marked with traces of time and past decay.

- This place smells strange.... - remarked Is, drawing into her lungs a peculiar scent that resembled that of old incense and herbs.

They overcame a rusty padlock and went inside, and the air thickened with aromas that seemed to have settled within the walls of the monastery over the centuries. The corridors were full of murmurs, as if ancient prayers echoed here, and their own footsteps seemed to wander the stone walls with mysterious echoes. In one of the rooms, they came across an old alchemical laboratory full of books, scrolls and old vessels.

- This is brilliantly preserved... - said Alessandra, looking through one of the scrolls, and glanced in Alex's direction. - Honey, hand me the one from above," she added with a smile.

Rolling his eyes, Alex reached for the scroll, when suddenly the whole room shook, and images appeared on the walls showing ancient rituals, dark creatures and intricate symbols. A strange, powerful energy filled the room, and after a moment the specter of an alchemist materialized in front of them and spoke, uttering enigmatic words.

- Nigredo et albedo, putrefactio et coagulatio, solve et coagula," he recited, and his figure slowly dissolved into darkness.

- Elena, what does that mean? - mouthed Luca, feeling growing anxiety.

Elena, in a slightly trembling voice, replied, although she herself seemed impressed by what she saw.

- Not really sure... Terribly chaotic and incoherent.... But it sounds like... Literally translating... - her voice trembled with fear as well as excitement - "Black and white, disconnection and entanglement, disintegration and weave . I think these are old alchemical principles, maybe hints.... But their meaning... sounds strange ...

Alessandra had the feeling that they were getting closer and closer to the Knowledge Stones, and the powerful force they were unleashing was beginning to enter their reality. The unseen forces of the past seemed to intertwine their fates with the dark secrets of the city.

- I don't know about you, but I'm getting the hell out of here and I'm not going to check what the hell it was! - exploded Rafael, darting toward the door.

- Hounds. Ghosts? Really? I can't digest it sober," Luca added, looking at the others with an uncertain smile.

Leaving the monastery, they were aware that on this road they would never be alone again. The ghosts of Venice's past would not let them leave with the secrets of this city. Wandering through the narrow streets of Venice, where the quiet hum of the canals echoed in the darkness, they felt that their journey was just beginning. In the maze of ancient squares, ruins and secrets, they knew that they were only pawns in a game whose rules had been created by centuries, and whose end they might never see.