101 Vatican Clan (1/2)
Charlie took out a card and put it into a slot in the lift. A button panel immediately turned over, displaying a few buttons that led to the higher levels. Charlie pressed the button, sending the lift up to the top floor.
When the lift opened, Lu Zhiyu saw an anteroom with a Western classical style. Girls dressed in maid uniforms were standing on both sides of the room. On the wall facing him, was a red inverted cross with the words, VENTURE, inscribed below. This translated meant Vatican. Lu Zhiyu was curious as to how the Vatican Clan first came about.
They had borrowed the name from the thirteen clan in a novel. Lu Zhiyu had thought that its formation was only for fun, but it did not seem to be so. He could feel a field emitting out from the top of his head, and had never experienced such power before, even the mental strength was totally different.
As a maid ushered both of them forward, they each put on black cloaks, and walked past a corridor filled with oil paintings. The oil paintings were painted by renowned artists, and were mostly depicting subjects like hell and the dark continents. In fact, most of the scenes were derived from Dante's Divine Comedy.
Soon, a dark golden world appeared before them. It was a huge hall. This should be the rooftop of The Shard, where only authorized personnel could enter. The floor level was not reflected on the lift button, nor was there any staircase leading to it.
This appeared to be a sacred place. There were dark golden pillars, carved with ancient myths and legends of the dark. The atmosphere was grim and mysterious, its people wearing black cloaks with their faces hidden in the dark.
On top of the dark dome, hung paintings of the angels and the gods. However, their eyes looked evil. They seemed to be smiling, but their smiles made one shudder. There was no gentleness or light in them, and they seemed to be staring at the souls on earth as if they were laughing at them.
The only windows were on the utmost top of the hall. As the sun shone in, its beams could only brighten up some of the areas. Hence, the lights were hazy and dreamy. Yet, underneath was utter darkness.
Suddenly, a light shone in the center of the hall. A man in a black robe was sitting beside a piano on the stage. As everyone looked at him, he started to play a melodious piece of music. Lu Zhiyu recognized that it was the prelude of Croatian Rhapsody. The rhythm carried a tinge of gloominess, and in the darkness, anger was being aroused. Lu Zhiyu seemed to see the ruins at sunset, the lonely figures, the graves, and sadness.
Many people started to chant. A special, sacred atmosphere filled the entire hall. It was not an aura of Divine Light, but instead, of the Dark.
”The beginning of the world. Millet or sheep, man had been expelled from the Garden of Eden.”
”Sent into exile, banned from power. The descendants had filled the earth.”
”Under the moonlight, light bloody sweetness. Who has awakened the dead?”
”…”
The rhythm became faster, as the fingers on the keys became heavier. Seemingly, melodies akin to pilgrimage music filled the hall, and everyone, in black cloaks, gathered toward the stage. They looked quietly at the man playing the piano. Many of them lifted up their hands to pray. Everyone was holding an inverted black cross.