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"I was just co to look for Orsay," Mary said

"Why?"

"I wanted to check on Jill"

"That’s not why," Nerezza said, al

Mary’s expression hardened "Okay Francis, that’s why I don’t knohat Orsay told him, but you must knohat he did I can’t believe that’s what Orsay wanted But you need to stop it, not let it happen again"

"Stop what fro?"

"Francis stepped out He killed himself"

Nerezza’s dark eyebrows climbed "He did? No No, Mary He went to his mother"

"That’s stupid," Mary said "No one knohat happens if you step out during the poof"

Nerezza put her hand on Mary’s aresture Mary wasn’t sure she liked it, but she didn’t shake it off "Mary: The Prophetess does knohat happens She sees it Every night"

"Oh? Because I’ve heard she’s lying Making it all up"

"I knohat you’ve heard," Nerezza said in a pitying voice "Astrid says the Prophetess is lying But you ious person, and very, very proud She thinks she knows all the truth there is to know She can’t stand the idea that soht be chosen to reveal the truth"

"I’ve known Astrid a long time," Mary said She was about to deny what Nerezza had said But it was true, wasn’t it? Astrid was proud She had very definite beliefs

"Listen to the words of the Prophetess," Nerezza said, as though i a secret "The Prophetess has seen that ill all suffer a time of terrible tribulation This will come very soon And then, Mary, then will coel And in a red sunset ill be delivered"

Mary held her breath,dismissive But Nerezza spoke with absolute conviction

"Coht, Mary, in the hours before dawn Come and the Prophetess will speak to you herself, I can prooodness inside her" She smiled and crossed her arood, and filled with love"

SIXTEEN