Lair of the Lion

walls seem to have ears."
    Isabella immediately placed her hand over the housekeeper's in a gesture meant to comfort. "You cannot truly be afraid, Sarina. This room is protected by angels." She laughed softly, reassuringly. "And my guards." She pointed to the stone lions sitting on the hearth. "They are very friendly. They would never allow anything in this room that shouldn't be here."
    Sarina forced an answering laugh. "You must think me old and foolish."
    Isabella took time to study the housekeeper's face. It was lined but gave the appearance of age rather than worry. But deep in Sarina's eyes was that hint of desperation Isabella had perceived in Betto and in a few other servants in the palazzo.

    Fear clawed at Isabella, swirling deep in her stomach, a subtle warning. It wasn't all her wild imagination and the aftermath of facing wild beasts. There was something more in the castello, an underlying fear the people all seemed to share. But maybe it was just that the story Sarina was telling her went with the wind lashing at the windows and the snow falling relentlessly, trapping them indoors.
    "Not old and foolish, Sarina," Isabella corrected softly, "but kind to a stranger. I couldn't ask for more courtesy than you have shown me. It is greatly appreciated, and if telling me this story is upsetting to you, it isn't necessary. I thought it interesting and harmless, a way to pass the time and take my mind off the worry of Don DeMarco's being left alone in the storm. But truly, if this is uncomfortable for you, we can speak of other things."
    Sarina was silent a moment. Then she shook her head. "No, it's just that I've never liked storms. They seem so ferocious when they move through the mountains. Even as a young girl they made me fanciful. There's no need to worry about Don DeMarco. He is well able to take care of himself. But it is good you are concerned for him." Before Isabella could protest, Sarina hastily took up the story. "Where were we?"
    Isabella grinned at her. "We hadn't gotten to the lions yet." She attempted to look innocent but failed miserably.
    "You are obsessed with the lions," Sarina chastised. "The magick had become twisted into something dark and ugly. Husbands suspected wives of infidelities. The penalty for such a sin was beheading. Jealousies became dangerous. The valley became a place of darkness. Storms ravaged the mountains. Beasts carried off young children. Some began to sacrifice animals and worship things best left alone. The years continued to go by, and the sacrifices worsened. Children were stolen from houses and sacrificed to demons. No one knew who was responsible, and each house looked upon the other with terrible suspicion."
    Wind rushed down the fireplace with a wail of derision. Orange flames blazed and leapt high, taking the shape of shaggy-maned beasts with open mouths and glowing eyes. Sarina jumped, turning to look at the flash of fiery shapes, cringing visibly.
    Isabella stared into the fireplace for a long moment, watching the wild flames die back down. Quite calmly she persisted, "How barbaric. Is it true? I know people did do such things in some places."
    "According to the old tales, it was so. Who is to say what is the truth and what is legend?" Sarina's gaze strayed to the fire often, but the flames were small, and it burned cheerfully, filling the room with much-needed warmth. "The story has been handed down for hundreds of years. Many things have been added. No one knows if there is any truth to them. It is said that the very weather could be controlled, that such powers were commonplace. Who is to know?"
    Isabella was watching the housekeeper closely. Sarina certainly believed the tale of twisted magick, of a religion, a way of life, corrupted into something dark and malignant.

    "There came a time when the Christian beliefs began to spread. At that time, the don of the DeMarco house was named Alexander. He was married to a beautiful woman, one very powerful in the ways of magick. She was considered a true sorceress. There was much jealousy of her powers by the other houses, and much jealousy of her beauty.
    Still, she met someone who spoke to her of this new belief, and she listened. And Don DeMarco's wife became a Christian."
    Sarina seemed to breathe the word into the room, and, outside the windows, the howling wind stilled, leaving a hush of expectancy. "She became popular with the people, as she continually cared for the sick and worked tirelessly to feed