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d on the naked couple in the centre of the circle。
'Sabat！' the voice was a hiss； like an angry cobra that has finally broken through to corner its prey。 'You are under arrest。 I must ask you to acpany me to the police station。'
Sabat's expression was one of mingled surprise and suspicion。 Something was wrong； this was no ordinary police procedure； more like an amateur actor reciting badly…learned lines。 'No；' he replied； 'I will not leave this pentagram for you or anybody else。 You can either stay and watch or else go away。'
The other advanced a few steps； halted。 Indecision。
'If you want me； e and get me！'
'You are under arrest for murder！'
'Whose？'
'A woman you killed a short time ago。'
'You have the body to prove it？ You can't charge me with murder without a corpse。'
The officer's swarthy face clouded。 He took another step forward； reeled back as though he had hit some invisible barrier and let out a cry of pain。
'You see；' Sabat laughed； 'you cannot reach me。 Furthermore； you are no policeman。 Certainly no mortal^
The light dimmed； a sudden rush of darkness and an icy coldness as though a gust of wind had swept directly in from the Arctic。 Sabat felt its force tearing at him； a miniature cyclone threatening to send him spinning across the room。 He clutched at Sheenah； felt her beginning to struggle again； twisting and trying to bite the arms which encircled her。 One of the chalices rocked； spilled some of the holy water； but miraculously it did not topple over。 Then； as suddenly as it had begun； the wind died down and the light came back to full strength。
Sabat's vision swam； he had to adjust his eyesight back to the blinding glare； thought for one moment that what he saw was an hallucination。 The policeman was gone and in his place stood a tall robed figure； barefoot； a Bronze Age Irish gold gorget around his neck。 On his head he wore a thick fur cap； the features beneath skeletal in appearance； the skin stretched across the forehead and cheekbones； translucent and torn in places。 Awesome indeed but most terrible of all was the expression of sheer malevolence which was centred on Sabat。
'Alda！' Sheenah screeched。 'My father； you have e to save me。'
'Shyaena； my beloved daughter；' rich whispered tones answered her。 'This man who holds you has destroyed my dearest Alena in whose womb you were conceived。 And for that he must pay the supreme penalty … death in this world； his soul condemned to wander forever in purgatory in the land beyond the shadows。'
And then Sabat laughed； a hollow sound that echoed in the confined space of the bare room。 Across the pentagram the two men stared hatefully at each other； one from the world of mortals； the other from the land of the old gods； a confrontation separated by an impenetrable barrier。
'You cannot harm me； Alda；' Sabat snarled； 'for my magic is more powerful than yours。 You are powerless； as is the one you call Shyaena whom I know as Sheenah。 Purgatory will be yours； for you must stand and witness her fate！'
Alda lapsed into silence； and in his sunken eyes there was a faint glimmer of fear。 He stepped back a pace as though he feared lest that psychic force that lived within the pentagram might strike him again。 Sheer terror； the awful realisation that in no way could he influence whatever Sabat had in mind。
Sabat turned back to Sheenah； read the same fear mirrored in her eyes that he'd seen in Alda's。 The dark forces had sought to destroy him but now the tables were turned。 Alda； the cruel Arch…Druid； slayer of a thousand victims on his turf altar； high…priest of the Lupercal Cave； was being forced to watch his own daughter's fate； a reincarnation in the flesh about to experience the agonies of a mere mortal。
'I ought to kill you； Sheenah；' Sabat hissed； 'but I want you to live on and remember this night； not just in this life but in all your lives hereafter。 You will never forget Sabat； that I promise you！'
A mere token resistance at first from the girl as he pushed her flat on the floor； pulled her legs apart。 Fierce and yet gentle； his fingers smoothed over her flesh； caressed the pink nipples so that they stood up firm and straight； stroked her softness until it became damp with desire； her breathing faster； her cheeks flushed in anticipation of bodily pleasures。 Her head was turned aside； her eyes meeting with Alda's； asking his forgiveness for now she did not want to be saved from this man。
Sabat grunted his satisfaction as the full weight of his body pressed down on hers； his lips seeking and finding her warm moist ones； his tongue thrusting； simulating the union of their lower regions。 Her arms came up and around him； pulling him close to her； her legs entwining around his body； clamping him to her； her rhythm matching his own。
Sabat glanced once in the direction of Alda。 The old druid seemed to have wilted； pathetic in his resignation to this union between spirit and mortal。 And after that Sabat forgot all about him。
Two people who cared for nothing else apart from the closeness of each other。 Their emotions merged； escalated； a fever that consumed them； lathering their convulsing bodies in sweat； muffled cries of delight escaping those crushed lips。 Until finally the volcano of lust erupted； limbs flaying wildly as they convulsed together。 But for Sabat there was no respite； truly a man possessed； a bucking robot which could not be checked； nor fully satisfied； it seemed。
Sheenah lay limply； submitting； a spent force。 She moaned softly； every nerve and muscle trembling。 The man on top of her was certainly no ordinary being； his strength and power far surpassing her own as he continued to thrust into her without a pause。
It was a long time before Sabat finally came off her and knelt there watching her intently； his long dark hair straggling and matted with perspiration； his body glistening in the artificial light。 Perhaps his breathing was slightly faster than normal； it was difficult to tell。
He turned； regarded Alda who had retreated to a far corner of the room； the tali druid bowed and broken； those old eyes misty with tears。
'You cannot harm me now； Alda；' there was a faint note of gloating in Sabat's voice； 'for I have mated with your offspring and perchance she will bear another in your line； who knows？ The son of Sabat； spawn of the Oke Priests。 。 。 。 '
'You are cunning； Sabat；' grudging admiration； moving slowly forward again。 'A dangerous foe； one who understands more than other men。 But I cannot forgive you for destroying Alena。'
'I had no choice。 She destroyed herself； for I mean the old religion no harm。 You were too hasty； attacking me before I had fully understood what was happening here。'
They shall not have our sacred ground； Sabat。 They are corrupt and； in reality； worship no deity 。 。 。 like your panion there。' Alda pointed to where Kent was just beginning to stir。
'You speak the truth；' Sabat replied。 'They are the corrupt