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And he had died anyway

Liam keyed in a different series of words that included Key West, Satanism and books

He scanned another site quickly "A ship called the Queen Caroline wrecked off Key West in the 1840s, and a large ed by a local character, Peter Edwards, aoccult practices As a young man, he was feared for his abilities to ‘curse’ his fellow Southerners, thus helping the South’s defeat in the Civil War Edwards was a staunch Unionist WhileSouthern ships during the blockade, Pete was known to report any possible activity of Southern ships to the Union military It was an uneasy time in Key West, since Key West was part of the state of Florida, which had seceded fro both forts in Key West The activity at the forts is believed to have been effective in preventing nu needed supplies to the South, and Peter Edwards was credited with supplying the officers at the forts with valuable information Historians suspect that his alliance with the Federals caused a great deal of hatred a his fellow citizens, and so his reputation for the practice of ‘blackthe Key West cemetery," Bartholomew said

"Makes no sense," Lia to another reference He ression’ was as strange in Key West as all else Old hatreds died quickly Northern soldiers went home, and little of as suffered in areas of the Deep South was felt in Key West Peter Edwards soon began a practice ofthis time when he told friends that he had turned to his book--the book he had salvaged from the Queen Caroline--to ht about during the war He was living for a long time in peace and harmony and the eccentricity known to exist in many a conch when another visitor headed down to Key West, Abel Crowley, a man who claimed to be related to the notorious Aleister Crowley"

"Aleister Crowley," Lia rock bands who had been obsessed with Aleister Crowley better than some of Crowley’s history But he knew that Crowley had practiced blackto some, offered up hu his time, he had been known as "the wickedestainst the Victorian society into which he had been born, Liah ti

Not to s

Liae to a book--possibly the book that Bartholomew had learned about from Pete Edwards Liam hit the key to the link and found that a book had been published titled Key West, Satanism, Peter Edwards, and the Abel and Aleister Crowley Connection

Lia the publisher’s and reviewers’ infor look into little-known historical figures who brought the dark arts to the bright sunshine of Key West!" read one review

Another touted the book as "A little-known treatise on some most unusual ure in the chronology of the supposed "Anti-Christ" an to live with a tenet of "Do What Thou Wilt," believing his as a yptian exhibit--numbered 666--specified the year of the beast Whether his claiic were in any way real has never been proven or disproven His exploits in Great Britain and elsewhere were legendary History cannot even prove or disprove whether Abel Croas or wasn’t a bastard cousin of Aleister Some people believed Abel Croas an eccentric, an accepted personality in Key West, a ainst the Victorian principles of his day, and others suggest that he, too, was a hu devil worshiper

Bartholomew poked Liam and whispered, "I think you need to check this book out of the library I’ Key West hed "Maybe I can get you to see the fellow I met Pete Edwards Pete Edwards believes that he re the streets of Key West because he tried to practice soht to hiaret Street that was bulldozed years ago--at the end of his life He tried to use the book, In Defense froed off the Queen Caroline--in order to atone for his actions during the war, and for the evil he had done during his tian his way back to goodness and grace through the use of In Defense froick--but he died before he could fulfill his task of freeing others"

Liarateful and yet not sure of what the inforive them that they didn’t already have He knehether Kelsey ever wanted to admit it or not, that Cutter Merlin had suffered his fatal heart failure because he had been afraid

Liam had returned the book and the reliquary to Kelsey, but Ted and Jaden now had the reliquary and would hopefully find out what they could about it He needed to get In Defense froick back from Kelsey, read it and hope that the library had the other book, about Pete Edwards and his friend Abel Crowley, as well

The librarian was a friend--Key West was a small community Jeanie Fry was tall and slim and tanned and loved books She was surprised when he asked about the book and told him that they didn’t usually lend it out "It’s in the room with our special editions It’s very old, and we only have one copy"

"Oh," he said, looking at her with disappoint citizen, and I suppose we could trust you with it After all, we trust you with our lives, right?"

He smiled appropriately in return "Thank you I really appreciate it, Jeanie"

"Followfor the reserved and special-editions section of the library "This isn’t your usual reading, Liam," she said as they walked "In fact, it’s not the usual reading for anyone I know Is this all about Cutter Merlin?"

"Yes, he was a strange old fellow, and once, he was hter has co tonight, and he’s going to be buried to soic?"

"I don’t believe so"

"Then why the interest?"

"I’ht?"