Chapter Seven

A/N: And because I'm feeling generous… Ha-ha, here's another chapter for your enjoyment. Since the last one was short and more focused on thoughts of the future. This one's short too, but it's the beginning of the end my friends, keep on reading :0)

"You wished to see me Father?" Silas asked Aringarosa who paced before him, hands behind black-robed back. He had thought this through, he knew Silas hadn't stayed in his room last night and his heart had sunk when he saw the pale man walk into the church and go about his duties with more life than he ever had before. Aringarosa had almost rethought his whole right then, knowing Silas had found something beautiful. Who was he to take that away?

However, the same overpowering call to religion that Silas had felt so many times now called to Aringarosa. It was his duty as a newly appointed Bishop and member of this council to protect the church and its congregation.

"What I am going to tell you must not leave this room, do you understand Silas?" Silas nodded slowly. For Aringarosa to share anything of this importance was an honor but it frightened him as well.

"Yes Father." Aringarosa finally settled into the char behind his desk.

"When I am appointed Bishop, I will also become a member of an organization known as the Council of Shadows." Silas remained silent as Aringarosa explained.

"The Council of Shadows is a secret group of Bishops and other ranking members of the church. I must emphasize Silas that this council does not exist in the eyes of the church. " Silas nodded his quiet understanding. Aringarosa continued,

"This council seeks to protect the church from slanderous lies and defamation. So called evidence that Jesus Christ was neither divine nor unmarried during his time on Earth. There is another organization," he said after he took a drink of water from a glass on his desk, "it is known by many names, but more presently the Priory of Scion. These would be saints," Aringarosa spat as though a bad taste in his mouth, "believe that by finding evidence, they will prove our Lord's divinity a sham. This cannot be Silas." Silas had been listening, stunned at what he was hearing. Finally he asked,

"What must I do?" Aringarosa sighed this was the difficult part. Telling him what he had to let go. The very thought proved his hypocrisy, he had pushed Silas into taking the gift handed him in the form of an artist with an uncanny ability to catch details and emotions on paper. Now he was demanding Silas let her go.

"I need you to give yourself to God." Silas was puzzled.

"Have I not proven that through my faith to this church and to God?" Aringarosa shut his eyes, attempting to clear Silas' confused eyes from his mind.

"What I mean Silas is that I need you to give up your Earthly pleasures and commit entirely to the church." Even from behind his closed lids Aringarosa could tell that Silas had nearly stopped breathing. Aringarosa opened his eyes and saw Silas had gone rigid, his eyes locked on his guardian's face.

"You wish me to commit myself to the church."

"Yes."

"To cast aside my Earthly pleasures."

"Yes."

"This I cannot do."

"Silas, I understand that you hold Miss Conway very dear—but the whole of the church rests upon this blasphemy never coming to light." Silas shook his head.

"I understand the consequences Father, but I will not leave her." Never before had Silas been so defiant. Aringarosa rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Silas, the church needs you, I need you. No one but you understands the magnitude of this situation, nor do they have the devotion you do to protect it." Silas felt the old feeling of being ripped in two. His faith in God and his affection for Aringarosa as a friend pulled him one way, while his love for Amelia pulled him another. Equally strong, equally pulling him apart. Aringarosa stood; he seemed tired and frustrated at Silas' sudden stubbornness.

"Very well Silas, you may go. If you change your mind, please come to me at once." Silas gave his usual sign of respect, bowed head, to his longtime guardian and left his office.

Aringarosa turned to the fire that burned low in the grate of his fireplace.

It seemed he would have to persuade Silas to see had no choice but to join him in his fight to protect the divine. Where else to start, but the one that held his heart?