side of the world.’
‘I intend to steal nothing,’ hissed Gatilusi, ‘The Palladium is ours by right and was taken from Samothrace a long time ago. For thousands of years its location has remained a mystery until now. We have spent millions on unsuccessful investigations and though we had made the link between the disappearance of Rubria and the placement of the fake Palladium in the Forum, the trail went cold around the time of the great fire of Rome.’
‘So how come you found your way here now?’ asked India.
‘Mortuus Virgo are one of the most secretive organisations in the world,’ said Gatilusi. ‘They enjoy the patronage of some of the most influential people in power, including politicians, royals and clergy. We believe they are funded from the purse of the Vatican itself, though they have always denied it, and knowledge of this place is restricted to those privileged by right of birth only. Despite our best efforts, we could not find out where they were based, until those fools, the Venezelos brothers got lucky and fell in with a well meaning, yet senile old rogue who showed them a carved plank in return for a thousand dollars.’
‘What carved plank?’ asked India, her interest aroused.
‘Nobody thought much of it at first,’ said Gatilusi, ‘It was a very crude drawing, etched into a plank of a Roman cargo vessel, sunk about two thousand years ago. Carved by a bored sailor more than likely, perhaps to pass away the time.’
‘What was it?’ asked India.
‘A picture of a woman kneeling down and kissing the shore of some unknown land,’ answered Gatilusi, ‘But it was what around her neck that was important, a necklace of Vesta.’
Rubria gasped.
‘Are you sure?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ said Gatilusi, ‘As you know there were only six ever made, and five are spoken for, either in the hands of private collectors or are documented as being buried with various Vestal Virgins.’
‘All except one,’ said India.
‘The necklace of Rubria,’ confirmed Gatilusi.
‘How does that link here?’ asked Brandon.
‘The board was in Rome,’ said Gatilusi, ‘But it was returned there years ago along with many other artefacts. The actual wreck was found in the mud of the river Severn, A river separating England and Wales. It was a very busy route around the time of Rubria as the Romans were busy establishing a fort in a place called Caerleon, further up the river. As soon as that was established we despatched the Venezelos brothers to continue their investigations here in Britain. It didn’t take long before they picked up the trail but after a while they disappeared off the radar.’
‘And that’s where we came,’ in said Brandon.
‘Exactly,’ said Gatilusi, ‘Thanks to you, we managed to find them again and the trail led here.’
‘You know they are both dead?’ asked India.
‘Shame,’ said Gatilusi, ‘But their contribution will be remembered.’ He looked over India’s shoulder.
‘Someone’s coming,’ he whispered urgently, ‘We had better get down’ If I am correct, over the next few minutes you will witness a ceremony of one of the most secretive cults in the world, Mortuus Virgo.’
Six Nuns, each dressed in a grey hooded cape entered the cavern and made their way down to the fire. They walked slowly, in time with a bell that rang gently in the distance, each holding their hands together in prayer. They spaced themselves out around the fire pit and stood awhile in silence before Sister Agnes finally raised her arms and started a litany, her voice echoing around the cavern.
‘Holy mother, hear our prayer,’ she recited.
‘
‘Holy mother guide our will,’ cried Agnes,
‘
‘Holy Mother give us strength.’
‘
Brandon watched the ceremony develop, the chanting raising in volume and intensity.
‘Are they supposed to represent the Virgins of Vesta?’ asked Brandon.
‘I don’t think so,’ said India, ‘It just doesn’t sit right.’
Suddenly the chanting stopped and Sister Agnes climbed up on a small podium and faced the raised pulpit set into the far wall of the cavern.
‘Pontifex Maximus. Come forth and hear our prayers, that they may reach the ears of the Goddess Vesta.’
The room fell silent and all the participants gazed upwards, waiting for something to happen. Slowly, out of the shadows, a male figure emerged onto the pulpit, swathed in a long red cloak, his face covered by a white, featureless face mask, and in his hand he held a wooden mace. He struck the struck the floorboards of the wooden balcony three times ceremoniously.
‘Hail Children of Vesta,’ boomed the male voice.
‘Hail Marcus Vibius,’ they answered in unison.
‘Oh my God,’ whispered India, ‘They have even kept the tradition of the Pontifex Maximus.’
‘Who or what is that?’ asked Brandon.
‘In ancient Rome, the Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the Temple of Vesta. The only male allowed into the Temple. He was the controlling authority with absolute power over the priestesses. Second only to the Emperor.’
‘So let me get this straight,’ said Brandon, ‘What we have here is a religious cult, mirroring the cult of Vesta from Rome over two thousand years ago.’
‘Exactly that,’ said Gatilusi, ‘Though I fear it is about to get a lot more sinister.’
The Pontifex Maximus had raised his staff and indicated the line of locked doors in the wall of the cavern.
‘Summon those who honour the veil of the Virgin,’ ordered the priest.’
All six Nuns retreated from the fire, each making their way to the cell doors. The Priest struck the floor once more with his staff and each Nun slid back the locking bars and opened their respective doors.What happened next caused Brandon’s jaw to fall open in astonishment and horror.
Out of each door, came a small girl draped in white silk, each no more than ten years old. Each Nun took the hand of a child and led them back to the fire pit, but this time, with the children filling the gaps to complete the whole circle.
‘Holy shit!’ whispered Brandon, as he watched them hold hands again and restart the ceremony.
‘They are using children,’ gasped India, ‘Indoctrinating them in the ways of Vesta.’
‘Just like they did in Rome thousands of years ago,’ said Gatilusi.
‘But how?’ asked India, ‘Who on Earth would allow their daughters to submit to this sort of life in this day and age?’
‘I don’t think any of these are here with parental consent,’ said Brandon, ‘If I am correct, I wouldn’t mind betting these girls have been taken against their will from the streets of London.’
‘I am not so sure,’ said India, ‘Surely they would be missed.’
‘Think about it,’ said Brandon, These Nuns run soup kitchens in the worst parts of London. They get to meet the destitute and the desperate on a daily basis. Stay out there long enough and eventually an ideal candidate would come along. Perhaps a young mother with a child she doesn’t want.’
‘If that’s true,’ said Brandon, ‘Why kidnap a ten year old girl from the streets of London.’
‘Who knows?’ said Gatilusi, ‘Perhaps the supply of babies dried up, or there was a death. It is very important to these people that the number of acolytes is maintained at six, however drastic the measures needed.’
‘But why?’ asked Brandon, ‘I don’t understand the reasoning behind it. Surely they know it is only a matter of time before they are caught.’
Gatilusi smirked.
‘You think this is new?’ he asked sarcastically, ‘Mortuus Virgo bases its religion around the core of six Vestal
