The Sphere of Life was an artifact that was said to contain Rambald's consciousness, his soul. It was hidden in a cave near Siena, Italy, where it stood in the middle of a chamber, on top of a glass floor. When Arvin Sloane and Nadia Santos found it, after retreaving the Vade Mecum from Lazlo Drake, Nadia touched it and saw glimpses of terrifying future events. These would take place approximately a year later, when Yelena Derevko put her plan into motion in Sovogda, Russia.
After having this vision, Nadia refuses to hand the Sphere to Sloane, who crosses the glass floor, which then collapses, making him fall into a pit, impaled by glass shards, where he is saved by his daughter.