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The fear in their eyes was gone； replaced by one of fanaticism； bodies trembled； but now with an eagerness； a devotion to do the bidding of she who addressed them； she whose gaze burned their minds with a cold fire。
1 Lilith。。 。 Lilith。。。 Lilith。。。 ' the cry went up。
She held the bundle high and they saw tiny arms and legs kicking； heard a cry of terror like that of a wounded hare； made as if to surge forward but her flashing eyes stayed on them。 'Be patient； my disciples； for this night you shall all drink from the cup of Lilith and bee imbued with my power。'
The Fuhrer was on his feet beside Lilith； something in his upraised hand glinted in the moonlight。 She held the screaming baby towards him； one final agonised cry and then it was silent。 Something was spurting； splashing 。 。 。
'Behold the cup of Lilith 。 。 。 drink from it and pledge your souls to her。 。 。 ' The tall man stood there； a chalice in his hands； a shaft of moonlight encircling him so that his naked panion was merely a silhouette behind him。
The gathering came forward； a surprisingly orderly queue； taking the cup one at a time； drinking； making way for those behind them； seemingly oblivious of the thick crimson rivulets that ran down their chins and dripped on to their clothing； returning to their places in the hollow； staring fixedly at the shape that was Lilith； muttering their obedience to her over and over again。
The moonlight was dimmed by a passing cloud； brightened again； and this time it was Lilith who stood in its light； empty handed； the baby's corpse nowhere to be seen； her face a mask of exquisite beauty even in demonic fury。
'You belong to me；' she hissed； 'each and every one of you； ir this world and the one beyond； …whence I e。 Serve me and your rewards will be rich； disobey me and you writhe in the agonies of a hell beyond mortal belief；'
The watchers recoiled； whispered their pledge with lips that were still bloody。
'Good；' her lips curled； her voice rose； 'then go out and serve me。 Kill in the name of Lilith； and remain silent under torture if you are caught； for you know the fate that awaits those who betray me。 One of our disciples has been killed by those whom we seek to destroy and my revenge will be terrible。 This enemy is dangerous to our cause and no time must be lost。 Also the woman who helped him must die。 The Fuhrer will guide you to them； for before this full moon wanes I want the head of the man who calls himself Sabat brought to me； hacked from the shoulders； his headless body left behind as a warning to those who would seek to thwart Lilith； Goddess of Darkness！'
Then； as though manded by Lilith； a bank of dark cloud scudded across the face of the moon and when； some minutes later； the ethereal light flooded back； only the uniformed man remained on that hummock。
'You heard；' he turned on the gathering； 'you heard her words。 Go out and kill until the whole world trembles at the very mention of the Disciples of Lilith。 But two people in particular must die before many nights have passed。 A brothel keeper for her treachery … that should be easy enough。 But Sabat will be more difficult； for he too is reputed to have powers above that of ordinary humans。 But now that you have drunk from the cup of Lilith you will be strong enough。 I who have served her for many years know that her promises are fulfilled； while she does not tolerate failure she rewards success。 The one who brings her Sabat1 s head will be privileged to lie with her； as Adam once lay with her！
A pack of human wolves howled their lust at these words； baying into the night sky； growling their allegiance to her who had given them infant blood to drink。
CHAPTER FIVE
ILONA COULD not get Sabat out of her mind； few women who had ever known him intimately could。 In some ways he was frightening； so primitive in both love and hate。
She lay there on her bed with mid…morning sunlight streaming in through the partly open curtains。 The night before last had been like a nightmare but she knew that it had happened； Sabat's cold fury in her own basement room as he had taken a life for a life； more ruthless than that killer he had caught。 And when night came again he would be back in London's jungle hunting down the others。 Sabat lived by his own creed。
Ilona shuddered。 Most of her girls had left and she couldn't blame them； wouldn't have attempted to persuade them to remain there against their wilt。 Just Jackie and Emma had stayed； principally because they had nowhere to go。 No street was safe after dark。 Oh God； she wished Sabat had stayed； prayed that he would e back again soon。
She probably knew more than mosr about Sabat； what made him tick； but there was an awful lot she would never know。 She wondered how many other people he'd confided in。 Not many because basically he was a loner。 He screwed many women but there were very few that he became emotionally involved with。
She remembered the first time he had visited her house； a young priest with a conscience that had totally destroyed his arousement。 It had been an emotional encounter； a man who had literally cried on her naked shoulder。 That was when their understanding had begun； when Sabat had opened up to her； told her about that adolescent homosexual experience which had driven him to seek； penitence beneath the umbrella of the Church。 And he had failed。 An ultra…perceptive man； he had unveiled the hypocrisy which others were too blind to see； suddenly realising that his own faith was shattered。 He had once talked of taking his own life and possibly might even have attempted suicide if Ilona had not persuaded him that there were other things to live for apart from ideals。
After that he had visited her regularly； and in the early stages they had just sat and talked the night away。 Gradually she noticed his self…confidence returning； Sabat beginning to mould his own character。 Ilona had taught him love； shaped his fine physique to her own liking； had thrilled to the weight of his own body lying on top of her； his powerful thrusts that seemed to precipitate her on to another plane； a place where she whirled dizzily； floated ecstatically； and hated ing back to reality。
Then one day Sabat came to see her no more。 It was as though part of her life had been snatched from her and in due course she learned that he had left the Church。 A year went by and she had given up all hope of ever seeing him again until one night he walked in as nonchalantly as if he had never been away。 But he was changed； that personality had matured； hardened。 They made love； and once again she wilted to the sheer power of the man； basked in his dominance。 And afterwards as they lay limply； exhausted by the physical and mental maelstrom of a primitive yet supremely satisfying coupling of their bodies； he had underlined his faith in her by confiding to her his closest secret。 He had sought to erase the theological indoctrination in a total contrast of mitment； a service so demanding that only a handful made the grade。 The SAS。 And Sabat