Hassassin (Angels & Demons)

The Hassassin (or The Killer) is a character in the 2000 novel "Angels and Demons". The Hassassin is NOT part of the ancient Illuminati group. He is co-opted into carrying out evil deeds under the Illuminati name by a character called "Janus". He is of Arab descent, often referring to the murders the Crusaders committed against his people.

Background

In the prologue of the book, The Hassassin demanded a password from Leonardo Vetra to gain access into the Vetra's secret underground laboratory which contained a small, but nonetheless destructive, quantity of antimatter. When Leonardo failed to comply and give out the key, the Hassassin cut out one of Leonardo's eyes (which turned out to be the key into Vetra's underground laboratory) and branded the Illuminati logo onto his body. Leonardo's body was severely mutilated and his neck was twisted 180 degrees with one eye missing. The Hassassin stole antimatter (a very reactive and explosive substance when exposed with matter), in order to initiate revenge against the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican City by the secret society organisation "The Illuminati".

The Hassassin later kidnapped four Cardinals and made contact with Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca, Vittoria Vetra and Robert Langdon were discussing the missing antimatter from CERN. He gave information regarding the missing cardinals and gave them warning "Every hour from 8pm each cardinal will be branded with the four elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water in four different churches across Rome"." After giving the warning he contacted 2 BBC News corespondents who were in the Vatican covering the papal conclave and gave the same information to them about the four missing cardinals.

Motivation and killings

The Hassassin's motivations were to make the Illuminati church known across the world and to destroy the Roman Catholic Church. The Hassassin's actions were all motivated by his Illuminati mentor and contact Janus. The Hassassin also exhibits sodomistic behavior when he feels aroused at the idea of killing women after engaging in sexual intercourse with them (most specifically, when he desired to slit Vittoria's throat after having been pleasured by her).

The first three cardinals

He branded the Earth symbol onto one of four Cardinals and murdered him through oxygen deprivation because of the Hassassin lodging dirt into the cardinal's throat. The cardinal was murdered at the first altar of science which was Chigi Chapel at the Santa Maria del Popolo. The second Cardinal was branded with the Air symbol and had his lungs punctured. His body was thrown out minutes after Langdon and Vittoria arrived to the second altar of science at the West Ponente at Saint Peter's Square. This death was seen in public and caused a frenzy with media networks beginning coverage about the death and possible speculations of other kidnappings.

The third cardinal was branded with the Fire symbol and was burned alive at the third altar of science which was the Ecstasy of St Theresa at the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. Unlike the other cardinals, the Hassassin decided to leave this cardinal alive in order for him to witness his own death. Langdon and Vittoria intercepted the situation at the church, Vittoria evidently was kidnapped by the Hassassin, and Robert was forced into a Sarcophagus.

Olivetti

At the "third altar of science", the Hassassin killed Commander Olivetti in a manner similar to Leonardo Vetra's death. He then kidnapped Vittoria Vetra and escaped with her after trapping Robert Langdon under a sarcophagus.

Fourth cardinal and death

The Hassassin takes Vittoria to the Church Of Illumination, which he is using as his base of operations, and leaves her bound and gagged before he leaves with the fourth and final cardinal. He confronts Langdon at a fountain, where he drowns the cardinal and battles Langdon. He thinks Langdon dead after their confrontation (unknown to him that he used an underwater air hose to stay alive) and returns to the church, greatly anticipating what he is intending to do to Vittoria. He takes a great liking to her. He then begins feeling her breasts and even thinks about raping her before he flees.

As he prepares to rape Vittoria, Langdon manages to find the church and confronts the Hassassin with a large, metal pole. Langdon, however, is no match for the highly trained killer and forced out onto a balcony. As the Hassassin moves to finish Langdon, Vittoria, who managed to escape her bonds with yoga, attacks the Hassassin with a torch, burning his back and drawing his attention away from Langdon. With the Hassassin distracted, Langdon and Vittoria manage to push him over the side of the balcony, sending him plunging onto a pile of cannonballs below.