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g of the medical properties of herbs is extensive。 An old friar in Arturo's church became ill with a lung infection； and it seemed as if he'd die。 I brought Arturo an herb concoction of echinacea and goldenseal and told him to give it to his superior。 The friar recovered within twenty…four hours and
Arturo wanted to know who had taught me how to make tea。
I laughed and told him about my Greek friend； Cleo； failing to mention how many centuries ago he had died。 Arturo was impressed。 It was only then he began to talk about his crystals and magnets and copper sheets…the secret elements of alchemy that have now passed from human understanding。 That very day Arturo confessed his mission in life to me。 To discover the elixirs of holiness and immortality…as if searching for the secret to one of these conditions was not enough。 Arturo always thought big。 He was determined to re…create nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ。
〃What makes you think you can do it？〃 I asked； shocked。
His eyes shone as he explained。 Not with a mad light； but with a brilliance I had never seen before or since in a mortal man。
〃Because I have found the spirit of man；〃 he said。 〃I have proven that it exists。 I can show you how to experience it； how to remove the veil of darkness that covers it。〃
Sounded interesting to me。 Arturo took me to a secret chamber beneath the church where he lived。 Apparently the elderly friar whose life I had saved knew of Arturo's hobby and looked the other way。 He was the only one who knew of the master alchemist； besides the gypsy。 I asked Arturo about her。 Apparently she had nursed him back to health when he had fallen from a horse while riding in the countryside。
They had shared many intimate conversations over late…night fires。 Arturo was surprised； and a bit angry； that she had told me about him。
〃Don't blame her；〃 I said。 〃I can be most persuasive。〃 It was true that I had used the power of my eyes on her； when I saw she was hiding something important。
Arturo took me down into his secret room and lit many candles。 He asked me to lie on a huge copper sheet； as thin as modern paper。 On adjacent shelves； I noted his collection of quartz crystals； amethysts； and precious stones…rubies； diamonds； and sapphires。 He also had several powerful magnets； each cut into the shape of a cross。 I had never seen a magnetic cross before。
〃What are you going to do？〃 I asked as I lay down on the copper。
〃〃You have heard of the human aura？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。 It is the energy field that surrounds the body。〃
〃Very good。 It is spoken of in ancient mythology and is present in art。 We see the halos in paintings above the heads of members of the holy family； and in drawings of saints。 Still； most people don't believe in the aura because they don't experience it。 They are only conscious of their physical bodies。 What I am going to do to you now is draw out your aura； allow your consciousness to expand into it； so that your spiritual body bees the focus of your attention； and not the physical body。〃
〃Do you not like my physical body？〃 I asked。 I often flirted with him。
He paused and stared down at me。 〃It's very lovely；〃 he whispered。
He told me to close my eyes。 He didn't want me to see how he set up the crystals and magnets。 I peeked； of course； and saw that crystals were placed above my head and magnets below my body； at angles。 He was creating a grid of some kind； one that transmitted unseen energies。 He prayed as he worked； Hail Marys and Our Fathers。 I have always enjoyed those prayers。 But for me； of course； they reminded me of Radha and Krishna。
When Arturo was done； he told me to keep my eyes closed and breathe naturally through my nose。 The breath was important； he said。 It was one of the secrets of experiencing the soul。
For the first few minutes not much happened。 But then； slowly； I felt an energy rise from my body； from the base of my spine to the top of my head。 Simultaneously； I felt my mind expand。 I became as big as the secret chamber。 A curious floating sensation enveloped me； a warm peacefulness。 My breath went in and out； sometimes fast； sometimes slow。 I had no control over it and wanted none。 Time passed。 I wasn't entirely awake； but I wasn't asleep either。 It was a mystical experience。
When Arturo spoke next； he sounded many miles away。 He wanted me to sit up； to e out of the state。 I resisted…I liked where I was。 But he took my arm and forced me to sit up； breaking the spell。 I opened my eyes and gazed at him。 〃Why did you stop it？〃 I asked。
He was perspiring。 〃You can get too much energy at once。〃 He stared at me； he seemed out of breath。 〃You have an amazing aura。〃
I smiled。 〃What is special about it？〃
He shook his head。 〃It is so powerful。〃
The experiment in consciousness raising was interesting； but I failed to see how his technique would allow him to transform human blood into Christ's blood。 I quizzed him about it at length but he would divulge no more secrets。 The power of my aura continued to puzzle him。 As we said good night； I saw fear in his eyes； and deep fascination。 He knew I was no ordinary woman。 That was all right； I thought。 No harm done。 He would learn no more about my special qualities。
But that was not to be。
He was to learn everything about me。
Perhaps even more than I knew myself。
There was an altar boy； Ralphe； who lived with the priests。 Twelve years old and possessed of an exceptional wit； he was a favorite of Arturo's。 Often the two would go for long hikes in the hills outside Florence。 I was fond of Ralphe myself。 The three of us had picnics in the woods and I would teach Ralphe the flute； for which he had a talent。 The instrument had been a favorite of mine since the day I met Krishna。 Arturo used to love to watch us play together。 But sometimes I would get carried away and weave a melody of love； of romantic enchantment and lost dreams； which would always leave Arturo quiet and shaken。 How long we could go on like this； chaste and virtuous； I didn't know。 My alchemist stirred ancient longings inside me。 I wondered about the energies his crystals invoked。
One day while I was helping Ralphe repair a hole in the church roof； the boy decided to amuse me by doing a silly dance on the edge of the stone tiles。 I told him to be careful but he never listened。 He was having too much fun。 That is the mysterious thing about tragedy…it often strikes at the happiest moment。
Ralphe slipped and fell。 It was over a hundred feet to the ground。 He fell on the base of his spine； crushing it。 When I reached him； he was writhing in agony。 I was shaken to the core； I who had seen so much pain in my life。 But centuries of time have not made me insensitive。 One moment he had been a vibrant young man； and now he would be crippled for the rest of his days； and those would not be long。
I loved Ralphe very much。 He was like a son to me。
I suppose that's why I did what I did。
I did not need to make him a vampire to help him。
I opened the veins on my right wrist and let the blood splash where his shattered spinal column had pierced his skin。 The wound closed quickly； the