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No more did I search theNowithout pain to the victim, no more did I shield the wretched s

One night, I awoke to find ray-haired woman helped me from my coffin of lead and told me that I should come with them

Out under the stars ent together The bonfire had been built high, as it had been on the night my mortal brothers had died

The air was cool and full of the scent of spring flowers I could hear the nightingale singing And far off the whisperings and reat crowded city of Rome I turned my eyes towards the city I saw her seven hills covered over with soft flickering lights I saw the clouds above, tinged with gold, as they bore down on these scattered and beautiful beacons, as if the darkness of the sky were full with child

I saw the circle had formed around the fire Two and three deep were the Children of Darkness Santino, in a costly new robe of black velvet, ah, such a violation of our strict rubrics, came forward to kiss me on either cheek

"We are sending you far away, to the north of Europe," he said, "to the city of Paris, where the Coven leader has gone, as we all go sooner or later, into the fire His children wait for you They have heard tales of you, of your gentleness and your piety and your beauty You will be their leader and their saint "

My brothers one by one came to kiss me My sisters, ere few in number, planted their kisses on my cheeks as well

I said nothing I stood quiet, listening still for the song of the birds in the nearby pines,Heavens and wondering if the rain would come, the rain which I could s water allowed to entle and warm

"Do you take the solemn vow to lead the Coven in the Ways of Darkness as Satan would have it and his Lord and Creator, God, would have it?"

"I do "

"Do you vow to obey all orders sent to you from the Roman Coven?"

"I do"

Words and words and words

Wood was heaped on the fire The druun The solemn tones

I began to cry