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Hands clutcheddragged off the fire I was being dragged across the ground Feet sto tunic was ripped off asped for air I felt pain all over my body, the dread pain of burnt flesh, and I deliberately rolled my eyes up into my head to seek oblivion Come, Master, come if there is a paradise for us, come to me I pictured him, burnt, a black skeleton, but he put out his arms to receive me

A figure stood over me I lay on thefro-shouldered, tall, black-haired

He lifted two strong thick-knuckled white hands and drew his hood back off his head, revealing a huge e with pearly whites and pupils of jet, and his eyebrows, though very thick, were beautifully arched and curved over his eyes He was a vampire, as were the others, but he was one of unique beauty and ih he were h he expected to be the center of all eyes

A tiny shiver of thanks passed through me, that he seemed by virtue of these eyes and his smooth Cupid's bow mouth to be possessed of the semblance of human reason

"Will you serve God?" he asked His voice was cultured and gentle, and his eyes held no mockery "Answer me, Will you serve God, for if you will not, you will be thrown back into the fire "

I felt pain in all ht came to me except that the words he spoke were impossible, they made no sense, and I could therefore make no response

At once, his vicious helpers liftedof the hymn which had never ceased, "Into the fire, into the fire!"

"No!" the leader cried out "I see in him the pure love of our Savior " He lifted his hand The others released their grip, though they held s and arms spread out, in the air

"You are good?" I whispered desperately to the figure "How can this be?" I wept

He drew nearer He leant over me What beauty he possessed! His thick mouth was the perfect Cupid's bow, as I have said, but only now did I see its rich dark color, natural to it, and the even shadow of beard, shaven away for the last tiiving it the strong h broad forehead seemed made of pure white bone only by comparison, with full rounded temples and a peaked hairline, fro frame for his face

But it was the eyes, yes, as alitheyes

"Child," he whispered "Would I suffer such horrors if it were not for God?"

I wept all the more

I was no longer afraid I didn't care that I was in pain The pain was red and golden as the flah I felt it, it didn't hurt me, and I didn't care

Without protest, I was carried,feet of those who carriedand walls