Machinations of the Medici

[jak7139]

CHAPTER TWELVE​

As you sleep in the dining room, Lorenzo too has taken a nap. He’s reclining in his armchair near the fire, which burns mildly. Lucrezia’s statue sits atop the mantle still, watching over all.

While you sleep, Lorenzo stirs in his spot by the fire. Your sleep is deep and calm, like a starry night on a blue ocean. But Lorenzo is sailing in a storm. Each memory presses like a raindrop on his mind, each one taps him and makes itself known. His mistakes buffet him like the wind, whipping endlessly and violently.

Lorenzo’s dreams are flashes of lightning, scenes projected onto his brain. As quickly as each one comes into focus, it fades again. But Lorenzo recognizes each one and knows their significance well.

Some are memories he’s experienced. Others are simply pieced together from clues he has gathered. Fabrications he has made that are no less true. Everything made sense afterward. How could I have been so blind?

One scene, his sickly father, looking worse than before. He holds out his hand, pleading. Lorenzo takes it, crouching by his side. He tries to not let the tears show.

The scene shifts, an angry Cosimo smashing his instruments and books to the floor. Giuliano says something, trying to comfort him but the sound is muddled. Cosimo turns on his grandson, angrier than before, yelling.

Only one word can be heard from his lips.

“Sacrifice.”

Another scene, Lorenzo hides under a cloak amidst a crowd of mourners. A coffin with a group of escorts moves passed. A crier calls out, “Daughter of Piero, Lucrezia de Medici!” The crowd sings a chant. A priest gives a blessing. The coffin is given to the earth.

A different scene, Lorenzo drawing his sister’s blood. She smiles at him; he smiles at her. Cosimo making his concoction. Lucrezia drinking the potion. Her struggles, her screams. The strength Lorenzo felt in her arm as she wrestled free from his grip. His embarrassed face. Her triumphant grin.

A fifth scene, Lorenzo and Lucrezia sitting together on the stone bench inside the chamber. Both are smiling, happy. Giuliano emerges from the darkness, calling Lorenzo away. Cosimo needs him. Lorenzo departs, leaving his sister in darkness.

One more scene, Lorenzo exits a room with Cosimo. Next month is the day. The Summer Solstice. Lorenzo walks away, just as Giovanni rounds a corner. He marches up to Cosimo. He is angry. The two argue. They step back into the room and close the door, out of sight of Lorenzo.

The final scene, the time has come. Lorenzo’s flickering slideshow stops. Every detail is crystal clear. He remembers everything about this day.

Everyone is gathered in the dark chamber, except for Giovanni. He is missing.

“Running late as always,” Aldo declares. “I remember he was always late to lessons in his younger years.”

Cosimo impatiently paces the floor. Aldo stands at the workshop table, making sure every scroll and paper is ready. Piero is beside him, lying weakly in his wheeled bed. Lorenzo, Lucrezia, and Giuliano, the three siblings, are together. Talking. About what? Minor things. Trivial things.

“What will it be like to be fully immortal?” Lucrezia asks.

“Must feel pretty similar,” Giuliano replies. “We’re already halfway there.”

“True,” she says. “I hope father will make it through.”

Lorenzo chips in, “I’m sure he will. He’s made it this far. Just a few more minutes.”

Giuliano nods and looks around, “Agreed. Speaking of, where is Giovanni?” He directs this next part to the whole room, “Anybody seen him?”

“I did. Yesterday,” Aldo looks up from a dusty tome.

“So did I,” Lorenzo recalls, “Right before I went to bed. He seemed stressed.”

“Perhaps he overslept?” Lucrezia ponders.

“Never mind that!” Cosimo snaps, making a decision. “We can’t wait any longer. Either we go now or not at all. Giovanni will just have to go next year.”

There are mumbles of general assent. No one objects, they’ve all been waiting for this moment. Especially because of poor Piero’s condition. Cosimo grunts and walks over to the scaffolding. What happened next surprised Lorenzo even more than all the things he had already seen.

 

[jak7139]

Yeah, this isn't fuzzy, comfortable magic at all. Hmm... Very dark.

And yet how is Lorenzo so chipper and friendly at times?

More mysteries lay ahead, I am sure.

Rensslaer

Hopefully not too dark for this forum though. This was actually the last chapter I wrote. I had everything else done, but felt something was missing at this point in the story. This chapter got rid of that feeling.

Sometimes you have to put on a happy face to get through life. However, since this is a flashback, the event that caused Lorenzo's depression hasn't happened yet.

 

[HistoryDude]

I'm assuming that something went wrong here? Is this what killed the (other) Medicis, or did that happen after? If so, why's Giuliano dead?

Did none of them read the old stories about the costs of hubris?

 

[jak7139]

I'm assuming that something went wrong here? Is this what killed the (other) Medicis, or did that happen after? If so, why's Giuliano dead?

Did none of them read the old stories about the costs of hubris?

Yes. I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that something didn't go as planned.

The answer to Giovanni contains spoilers to next week's update, but I've included it below anyway for context/explanation. Feel free to read it after next week:

Spoiler

Cosimo has grown increasingly desperate as Piero's condition worsens (despite the immortality serum). His attempts to find a cure and make the immortality permanent have led him down some dark paths (there was the blood from last chapter, the mention of "sacrifice" in this one, the next one has a dagger and imagery relating to the Sun). Desperate people will often do anything to achieve their goals. Giovanni, though, has figured out what that success requires and doesn't agree with it. We saw him confront Cosimo in this chapter. Whatever happened to him is behind a literal closed door, but is implied. We've seen that Cosimo is not the kindest person, and all the Medici are ambitious. If you combine those with his increasing desperation, it isn't hard to see him becoming willing to murder.

I'm sure they've read those. Although the Rennaissance is only a few decades old and the classics are just being rediscovered, so maybe not. Lorenzo probably has, so maybe that explains his kinder nature when compared to his family.

 

[jak7139]

CHAPTER THIRTEEN​

Cosimo reaches for a lever on the wall, one so small it might not be noticed, and pulls it. The room shakes, everyone hears the grinding of wooden gears and mechanisms. The floor rises. The ceiling opens. Light pours in. Lorenzo shields his eyes and shuts them closed, temporarily blinded by the sunlight.

When he opens them, they are at the top of a tall tower. The tower overlooks the city of Firenze. It seems more beautiful than when he had last seen it. The most beautiful it has looked ever in his life. The setting sun bathes the villas and shops in a warm hue giving everything a sleepy look. Nothing moves down below. All is still.

Lorenzo's view*​

There’s a shuffling of movement as Aldo hands Cosimo a sand dial, then backs away. Cosimo checks the time, then calls Lucrezia over urgently. She rushes forward. Giuliano’s hand grips your shoulder. Everything seems to move in slow motion.

The glinting flash of sun on steel gives Lorenzo a brief warning, as Cosimo pulls a metal object from underneath his crimson cloak. An object that he plunges deeply into Lucrezia as she reaches him. Lorenzo tries to move, to confront Cosimo, to ask him what he’s done, but Giuliano’s strength grips him fast. The two of them struggle, evenly matched.

Cosimo gleams in triumph. The bloodied dagger is held at arm’s length, a necessary evil. A burning, golden light begins to coat it, spreading from the dagger, to Cosimo, to all over the tower.

Cosimo’s smile fades as the light grows brighter. He screams in pain as the light touches his arm and coats his body. He falls to the floor and twists in agony. The dagger clatters to the stone floor.

Piero weakly asks Aldo what’s going on. Aldo grips the wheel-bed tightly, he repeats Piero’s words, fear in his eyes, “What’s going on?” He falls to the ground as the light hits him, burning everything it touches.

The light hits Lorenzo and Giuliano at the same time, covering both of them with its painful glow. The two are sent to the floor in agony. Despite the pain, Lorenzo struggles successfully away from his brother. He crawls forward inch by inch.

He reaches his sister and touches her hand. She is completely still. The pain disperses when he reaches her. He is able to stand. The fiery rage of an immortal burns in his eyes. He looks around for Cosimo, only one thought on his mind.

Aldo sees Lorenzo’s transformation and watches keenly between bursts of intense pain. He struggles forward towards Lucrezia. There is silence from Piero’s bed as Aldo crawls away.

Lorenzo steps away from Cosimo. It is finished. His lip is bleeding. Cosimo cut him there. He looks at his hands, ashamed, and kneels on the floor to pray. Forgiveness. Mercy. Strength. The light begins to fade, from blinding white, to flashing yellow, to flickering orange. It dissipates and dies, getting sucked back up into the bloody dagger from whence it came.

Lorenzo’s lip is quickly healing. His flesh knits itself back together, leaving only a scar.

Aldo, having reached Lucrezia, shakily gets to his feet. The light is fading rapidly. The Sun has set. Night has come. He puts a hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder who nods and thanks him. As Lorenzo stands, and as the last of the light leaves, a final flash erupts from the bodies of Lucrezia, Cosimo, Piero, and Giuliano. Then it disappears, along with the four Medici.

Lorenzo and Aldo are alone. Alone and above the world.

Spoiler

*AI generated painting using StarryAI.

 

[Historywhiz]

I can just see the argument in Hell now:

Cosimo: “Why didn’t you put down in your notes that we have to touch the sacrifice?!”

Whatever Roman/Egyptian came up with the ritual: “It’s sort of implicit, I mean why wouldn’t you?”

“How the heck would that be something people would just instinctively know what to do?!”

“… I’m not sure how to describe this to you… I never met anyone who actually stabbed a beloved family member and just let their corpse flop on the ground like a dead fish before.”

 

[HistoryDude]

What was that meant to do? Weren't they already effectively immortal? And, if Lorenzo did survive because he touched his sister's hand, why? Is it symbolic?

Where did the light come from? How did it get on the dagger?

All in all, this scene strikes me as extremely karmic.

 

[jak7139]

I can just see the argument in Hell now:

Cosimo: “Why didn’t you put down in your notes that we have to touch the sacrifice?!”

Whatever Roman/Egyptian came up with the ritual: “It’s sort of implicit, I mean why wouldn’t you?”

“How the heck would that be something people would just instinctively know what to do?!”

“… I’m not sure how to describe this to you… I never met anyone who actually stabbed a beloved family member and just let their corpse flop on the ground like a dead fish before.”

A great exchange! As they say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Cosimo wanted to save everyone, but failed and has paid for his methods.

What was that meant to do? Weren't they already effectively immortal? And, if Lorenzo did survive because he touched his sister's hand, why? Is it symbolic?

Where did the light come from? How did it get on the dagger?

All in all, this scene strikes me as extremely karmic.

They were immortal as long as they kept taking the blood elixir. But Piero's gout is still killing him, despite that. Cosimo needed to find a more permanent solution.

It's symbolic of Lorenzo's love for his sister. He is the only one who mourns her death (Piero probably does too, but he's too out of it to notice). This is sort of like that scene in Infinity War where Thanos has to sacrifice Gamorra. Immortality and power aren't cheap. Aldo also touches her, but only after he's seen its effect on Lorenzo.

The light represents whatever godlike power the Medicis want. The blood just acts as a reagent for it to show itself.

You're right, very karmic. This whole scene was one of my favorites to write.

 

[jak7139]

CHAPTER FOURTEEN​

You wake up feeling well rested, more so than you have felt in a long time. That’s probably due to the delicious meal Aldo served you. You get up and stretch. You’d probably better check on Lorenzo.

You walk out of the dining room and into the study. The last embers of a fire spark in the hearth. The chandelier rotates lazily. Everything is quiet. You peek over at Lorenzo’s chair and see him fast asleep. For a moment, you consider joining him. But then a new thought enters your mind.

The letter, the one that Aldo had written in his study, pushes itself to the forefront of your mind. As soon as you remember it, other things come too. The weird look Aldo gave you when you first arrived. And all the looks he's given you since. The glance shared between him and Lorenzo at dinner and Aldo’s reaction. All those things come together and a plan starts to form.

You decide you need to read that piece of parchment.

You stride up to Aldo’s door, hoping, vainly, that it might be that easy. You tug at the handle. Locked. Nothing is ever easy. You put your head next to the wood and listen for a moment. Aldo’s faint snoring can be heard beyond. Good, you think. You’re not sure how loud this next part will be.

You grab Lucrezia’s statue from the mantel and, with no qualms, smash it hard against Aldo’s lock. Your curiosity’s got the better of you now. You have to see what’s on that note, come what may.

The handle breaks off easily, as you knew it would, falling to the floor with a soft thud. The statue fares slightly better. It is mostly intact, except for one small shard. You hastily put that in your pocket and return Lucrezia to her spot, turning it slightly so Lorenzo hopefully won’t notice the missing piece.

You listen again for any sound from Aldo’s room. He’s still snoring. With that, you slowly ease the door open and creep forward. The room looks much the same as when you’d been in here before. The various books and cooking instruments are still strewn about. You’re hoping that the letter is in the same spot too.

You reach the archway leading to the next room and look carefully beyond it. Aldo is sleeping. Smoke wafts upward from the candle beside his bed. It must’ve recently been extinguished. Many papers litter his table. Hopefully, the pile includes the one you’re looking for. You spend some more minutes watching Aldo and his breathing. A few times he stirs and snorts but doesn’t wake. Eventually, you are satisfied that he is really asleep and decide to make your move.

Each step you take feels like a thunderclap as you make your way across the carpeted floor. You diligently keep one eye on Aldo, making sure he doesn’t wake, and then you reach the letters. It takes you precious time to sort through the crumpled papers, but it is necessary. Each one is brittle and cracked, and one wrong move could send Aldo after you in an instant.

But then you find it.

You almost can’t believe your eyes as you finish reading it. What? No. Impossible!

The script is faded in many parts, probably some attempt at invisible ink, but the gist is legible. This letter is addressed to your professor.

Your eyes pour over the parchment one more time. Wanting to make sure that what you’ve just seen is real. The letter says the following:

Acolyte ~~~~~~

I see your task was a success. The statue you charmed worked ~~~~ ~~ intended. Oh, if only the Great Lord Cosimo could have seen it! ~~~ ~~~ proud he must be of how far we’ve come in the field of ~~~~~ ~~~~~~!

All for him and his vision!

Your student touched the statue just as I ~~~~~~. From your last letter, I understand that my timing with the earthquakes could ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ perfect. Another instance of GLC’s genius with these hydraulic ~~~~~~~! With that, no one should grow wise to our ~~~~ down here.

All ~~ ~~~ and his vision!

Well done. And thank you again for sending such a suitable subject to me. ~~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~. The Medici will rise again!

All for him and his ~~~~~!

--- Grand ~~~~~ Aldo

Below the signature is a stamp of the same symbol you saw before in the tunnels: the modified Medici crest. The deep black ink gives you chills as you look at it. Although you feel some clarity at having finally seen what the letter contained, other thoughts now tug at your attention. You’ve been a pawn in Aldo’s game. But what he’s playing at and how he wins (or how you don’t lose) are two mysteries you’ve yet to solve.

 

[HistoryDude]

What are the ~ for? Were they blacked out? Were they just unintelligible?

What does Aldo want? More advisors for Lorenzo? A successor to Lorenzo?

 

[Bullfilter]

Caught up again.

You grab Lucrezia’s statue from the mantel and, with no qualms, smash it hard against Aldo’s lock.

That was a bit sudden.

It is mostly intact, except for one small shard.

But seems to have paid off.

You’ve been a pawn in Aldo’s game.

The big reveal. Aldo seems to be more important than I’d been picturing him - more the Master than the servant I’d been thinking of him as. That ‘we’ have been played was pretty clear, but the the depth and breadth of the deception is significant. After the previous chapter I was concerned about the prospect of being sacrificed, like Lucrezia. Now the alarm is really going off.

By the way, without going all the way back to the start, has ‘our’ gender in this story ever been specified? I’m also now pretty sure our first person character has always been referred to by neutral terms, “guest”, “friend”, “student”, “subject” etc and no name has been asked for or offered. A Lucrezia substitute? There’s more than two mysteries to be solved here …

 

[jak7139]

What are the ~ for? Were they blacked out? Were they just unintelligible?

What does Aldo want? More advisors for Lorenzo? A successor to Lorenzo?

The ~ parts are unreadable, for whatever reason.

His goals will become clearer with time. But something has triggered him to go behind Lorenzo's back like this.

Caught up again.

That was a bit sudden.

But seems to have paid off.

The big reveal. Aldo seems to be more important than I’d been picturing him - more the Master than the servant I’d been thinking of him as. That ‘we’ have been played was pretty clear, but the the depth and breadth of the deception is significant. After the previous chapter I was concerned about the prospect of being sacrificed, like Lucrezia. Now the alarm is really going off.

By the way, without going all the way back to the start, has ‘our’ gender in this story ever been specified? I’m also now pretty sure our first person character has always been referred to by neutral terms, “guest”, “friend”, “student”, “subject” etc and no name has been asked for or offered. A Lucrezia substitute? There’s more than two mysteries to be solved here …

It was sudden, but the protagonist doesn't have the same love towards Lucrezia as Lorenzo. They also did not see any of the previous chapters that were Lorenzo-exclusive.

Glad this part worked out well. I tried really hard to make Aldo seem like your typical servant, but I gave hints along the way that there was something more to him. Our main character should definitely be worried. He has no idea what Aldo plans to do.

The character's gender-neutrality is a purposeful choice. It's partially a product of when (a long time ago) this idea was meant to be a "choose your own adventAAR" story. That's also the same reason (other than one instance in the prologue) that they've never spoken. A lot has changed since then, but those aspects remain. The protagonist could turn into the next Lucrezia if they're not careful. Let's hope they're cautious and smart.

 

[jak7139]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN​

This is such a shock to you, that you don’t even notice that Aldo has ceased snoring. It’s when you finally put the letter back on the table and plan to make your escape that his hand clasps firmly over your mouth.

However, despite this surprise, you have the advantage of youth against Aldo. He may be immortal, but he still has an elderly frame.

You yank his hand away and try to sprint for the exit, but he trips you up and you fall face-first into the carpet. It leaves a rough mark on you as you try to get up, but Aldo’s on top of you in an instant.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he demands.

You refuse to answer and struggle against him. You land a punch on his nose which lets you rotate to face him. The two of you tussle on the floor and bang against the wooden furniture. Neither of you are willing to admit defeat.

Suddenly, a force picks you right off the ground. It slams you back against the wall, along with Aldo. You blink the daze from your eyes and see the mighty form of Lorenzo standing in the archway, blocking the exit. Aldo is beside you, exhausted but prostrating himself towards his master.

“Forgive me, master Lorenzo. I didn’t mean to wake you. Please—”

Lorenzo cuts him off with a hand wave, “Never mind that! Will someone explain to me what’s going on? What are you two doing?”

“Of course,” Aldo stands and takes a shaky breath. “This…hooligan was going through my belongings and personal papers. A thief if I ever saw one! Do you really think you can trust this one now? After what he’s done? Throw him out I say!”

You’re distracted. You were trying to think of an explanation for Lorenzo. Curiosity doesn’t seem like much of an excuse for breaking and entering. But then Aldo’s response stops you. Something he said gives you pause, “‘Do you really think you can trust this one?’” Why would Lorenzo need to trust you?

Lorenzo is thinking something over. No doubt he is wondering if he can trust you, now that you’ve done something so criminal. Aldo is watching his master vehemently. He is hungry for justice. But will he get it?

Lorenzo sees the question in your eyes and lets out a sigh, “Very well Aldo. But first, I think I owe an explanation to my friend here. It’s something a gracious host should do, anyway.”

The fire of triumph in Aldo’s eyes extinguishes as soon as he hears the second part of Lorenzo’s sentence. For a moment, a nasty look comes over him and he looks like he wants to argue, but then his humble demeanor resumes. He accepts the judgment.

Lorenzo makes no sign that he’s seen Aldo’s look and merely pulls up a chair from the wooden table, stacking the various documents in a neat pile and putting them to the side. Aldo takes a chair too and gestures to you. You sit down as well and wait for Lorenzo to speak.

Lorenzo spends some time thinking about where to begin, but then gives up. Instead, he starts with a plea, “I need your help.”

 

[HistoryDude]

Why does Lorenzo need our protagonist's aid, though? Or, perhaps more importantly... with what?

I wonder if this tension between our protagonist and Aldo will last...

 

[jak7139]

Why does Lorenzo need our protagonist's aid, though? Or, perhaps more importantly... with what?

I wonder if this tension between our protagonist and Aldo will last...

You'll find out soon enough.

Aldo's been acting weird to the protagonist since the moment he was introduced. There's no reason to think he'll stop now.

 

[Bullfilter]

After what he’s done? Throw him out I say!

Aha, a gender confirmation. Though the greater mystery remains - for the moment.

The fire of triumph in Aldo’s eyes extinguishes as soon as he hears the second part of Aldo’s sentence. For a moment, a nasty look comes over him and he looks like he wants to argue, but then his humble demeanor resumes. He accepts the judgment.

I had a definite Sméagol/Gollum feeling there about Aldo. Wizened after centuries of unnatural long life? Raging against a thieving hobbit - er, guest? Probably after his precioussss … something.

Anyway, the thought is both peripheral and fleeting. Looks like we may soon get an explanation. We may get some truth, but not sure it will be whole and nothing but …

 

[jak7139]

Aha, a gender confirmation. Though the greater mystery remains - for the moment.

That one must've slipped through when I was editing . Although I think it does kind of fit, since Aldo is centuries old and not up-to-date on pronoun usage or anything like that.

I had a definite Sméagol/Gollum feeling there about Aldo. Wizened after centuries of unnatural long life? Raging against a thieving hobbit - er, guest? Probably after his precioussss … something.

Anyway, the thought is both peripheral and fleeting. Looks like we may soon get an explanation. We may get some truth, but not sure it whole and nothing but …

Aldo is hiding something, and what that is is slowly being revealed and hinted at. Having just rewatched the trilogy a few weeks ago, I can see the Gollum/Smeagol similarities, though I didn't consciously link them when writing.

 

[jak7139]

CHAPTER SIXTEEN​

Aldo waits impatiently as Lorenzo lays out the truth before you.

“I want to die,” Lorenzo says. “My time is up, and I need you to help break this curse.”

Your eyes grow wide. You weren’t expecting this.

Lorenzo sees your surprise and budding apprehension, so continues quickly, “I don’t need much. Aldo assures me of that, even if he disagrees. Just one drop of mortal blood. Though of course, the catch is, it must be given willingly.”

Your apprehension remains. But you do wonder. It’s only one drop...

Aldo grabs your hand, trying to convince you, “Don’t listen!” he shoots Lorenzo an apologetic look. “My master does not know what he is asking. Yes, only one drop is required. But he is a Medici, last of his house. His death would be the death of a great legacy! And…of me too.”

He sheepishly retreats his hand and looks at the floor. Then he locks eyes with Lorenzo, “My master, please, reconsider.”

Lorenzo stares back. He is determined, “I understand, Aldo. But I must do this. It is long past my time. And yours too!”

He gives a dry chuckle to try and relieve some of the tension, but Aldo’s having none of it. Lorenzo stops. Now he’s the one who is sheepish.

You’ve been watching them both, thinking it over. You do really want to help Lorenzo. Aldo’s been nothing but creepy and mean towards you your entire time down here. Lorenzo, at least, has tried to make you comfortable. Even if he’s been a little weird. But do you have the right to chain Aldo’s fate to Lorenzo’s? Do you have it in you to knowingly, if indirectly, kill two people?

This is a hard decision, whatever you choose.

Both men watch you, knowing that their lives are in your hands. You sit there, thinking.

Finally, you decide. Lorenzo.

Aldo stands up in a rage and storms off. You can hear the SLAM of a door and the sound of rapidly echoing footsteps.

Lorenzo looks behind him, some concern present in his face, “He’s gone off into the catacombs.” he sits back down, “I understand how he must feel. But I don’t want to continue wasting away down here. It’s time to rest. Hopefully my soul will end up in the right place, despite my sins.”

He stands again, “Come! Let’s find the recipe. Aldo’s got to have it around here somewhere.”

. . .​

It’s taking you a while to find the recipe amid the miscellany of items on Aldo’s shelves. It must be here, but where? Lorenzo has gathered a wicked-looking knife and most of the other ingredients, and now is searching for that last piece.

As you help him look for it, a thought continues to press against your mind. It is fuzzy at first and you push it away, eager to get this over with. But it continues hounding you. At first, you think it is only guilt at having condemned Aldo to death. But it isn’t that. The idea comes to you slowly, like a ferry through a fog. And then you remember.

The letter. Your professor. Lorenzo’s startling plea had temporarily driven these things from your mind.

You hurriedly ask Lorenzo about the letter as he finally plucks the book from the highest shelf. Does he know about it? Lorenzo sets the book down on the table next to the knife and other ingredients.

“Done! What’s that? Letter? No, I don’t have any letters. Aldo usually writes the correspondences. If he comes back, I’ll ask him.”

Your enthusiasm turns to confusion. Lorenzo doesn’t know? Strange. Just as you are about to inquire more, Aldo returns. He looks a little disheveled and out of breath, but otherwise normal.

“Good! You’ve not started yet,” he eyes the ingredients table. “As much as your decision displeases me, I’ve come to my senses. I am a servant, born to serve. And I must honor my master’s last request as well as any other.”

Lorenzo grins, “Glad to have you here old friend.”

Aldo takes a deep breath, getting the last of the fatigue from his lungs, “Yes. Now to begin.”

. . .​

Aldo brews the potion quickly. Lorenzo acts much like a servant during this time, fetching whatever tool Aldo needs. Alchemy is Aldo’s domain, and Lorenzo knows it.

You stay out of the way, watching it all unfold. You don’t know the first thing about chemistry (science was never your strong suit in college) and are sure Aldo wouldn’t trust you to mess something up.

Finally, the moment for your input arrives. Aldo grabs the strange looking, curved dagger and beckons you over.

“One drop,” he says.

Lorenzo stands close by. He pats your shoulder reassuringly. A brief, nostalgic, flicker comes over his face when Aldo draws the knife. But then he stands stoically beside you.

You extend your hand over the pot. And, as expected, it hurts as the blade is drawn across your palm. But then it is over. Aldo hands Lorenzo a bandage and he begins wrapping it around your wound.

Aldo stirs as you and Lorenzo sit back and wait. After some time it is done.

He plunges three small glass vials into the concoction and offers two of them to each of you.

“We must all drink for this to work,” he directs his gaze at you specifically. His eyes have that odd look to them again.

Lorenzo wastes no time, downing his third in one massive gulp. Aldo does his a moment later and that just leaves you. You steady yourself and take the rest.

Seconds pass, then a minute. Nothing feels any different.

Lorenzo starts to ask Aldo a question but then stops. Suddenly he doubles over in pain and collapses to the floor. You follow suit as your head begins to spin. Before you lose consciousness, you see Aldo smiling a wicked grin down at you.

He is unharmed.

 

[Bullfilter]

You weren’t expecting this.

Nor were we.

It’s only one drop...

That’s what they always say. It’s never as simple as that.

The letter. Your professor. Lorenzo’s startling plea had temporarily driven these things from your mind.

Exactly. Aldo has brought this about and has probably anticipated this exact outcome. He’s playing us like a Stradivarius!

I’ve come to my senses. I am a servant, born to serve. And I must honor my master’s last request as well as any other.

No, don’t trust him, it’s a trap.

We must all drink for this to work

Oh, you naive fool, this is a disaster waiting to happen.

Before you lose consciousness, you see Aldo smiling a wicked grin down at you.

Sigh. Whatever the trap is, there’s a resounding clangs as it snaps shut.

 

[HistoryDude]

Yep. Aldo was lying...

So what did this ritual actually do? Make the immortality permanent for Aldo?

Is Lorenzo dead?