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CHAPTER 55

Miht as she checked out her figure in the spa s, broad shoulders, and high, not-so-big, not-so-smentation, she had the kind of body seen on Sports Illustrated cover girls, athletic and toned, but still woraceful, sli was set for the next day, and she tried not to think of Kingsley anymore But sometimes he ca to shake

"Ready?" hera thick white towel around her torso Trinity looked a bit disapproving to see Mimi so unabashedly nude in the middle of the locker room Tradition called for the bride to be fully undressed for the cereer necessary But Mimi preferred the old ways and fondly remembered the past baths she’d taken for this purpose, in the Nile River, in a marble tub at Versailles, in a newly installed sauna in Newport

The feirls fro for them in the fire pool

"Let’s do this" Miround cavern It had been a week since Kingsley had asked her to leave with hi, if he was thinking about her, butherself for to

The spa was a Blue Bloods, only establishment, patterned after the Roman baths of antiquity Mi cere of the bride by her wo was a tradition that the Blue Bloods had passed down through the centuries,in other cultures under different naion it was the mikva, in Hinduis the brahma muhorathae it was called the sanctus balineum

There were four different pools in the vast underground corees Fahrenheit; a steaood for the pores; a "harmony" pool, which was the essence of relaxation; and a fire pool, in which the water was kept at a degree of heat that only vampires could tolerate A human would burn in the fire pool, but for va treatment

Mimi walked down the stone slab steps and felt the ater cover her skin as she joined the group of wo like water nyan to hum as she caroup and crossed her ar to let them know she respected and appreciated their presence at this ie of her life

Trinity followed her into the circle, holding aloft a gold chalice She dipped it into the pool and filled it with the living holy waters The sanctus balineum required water that did not coht in by the truckload fro in a hidden reservoir

She poured it slowly over Mihter of the Heavens," she intoned in a sweet, melodious voice that echoed around the stone chaan to fade, until they were surrounded by total darkness, their varoup murmured

Trinity nodded and continued to chant "We come today to cleanse her of her earthly sins"

"A a soft "Hallelujah"

"We prepare her for the bond that must not be broken To say the words that must never be unmade"

Each old cup to pour water over Mi her with their prayers

When everyone had finished, Trinity placed her hands on Mihter of the Heavens Today she is cleansed of her earthly sins" She led Mied herself fully into the pool

Miht-headed cleansing of the ed froized

She felt cleansed of all her doubts, all her confusion She had no sley, or of what he had asked her to do She was one with the spirit, she was one with life, with light, with her destiny She was ready to be bound

CHAPTER 56