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'You are alone in the house？' His tone conveyed that he knew she wasn't； a subtle means of interrogation。
'No。 Jackie and Emma are in their rooms upstairs。'
'I see。' He smiled； but there was no humour in the parting of his lips which displayed twin rows of even white teeth。 'I understand that you have an 。。。 er； shall we say； a delectable chamber of delight for those who appreciate the pleasures of corporal punishment。'
'Yes；' she nodded like a puppet on a string。 'Down below。 It used to be a cellar。 I had it converted。'
'Shall we take a look at it then；1 an order that it was impossible to refuse； the man known as Lassiter already on his feet but there was no hint of an amusement inside his tight fitting trousers； so unemotional that she shivered。
Ilona turned to lead the way。 A sensation of dizziness assailed her so that she had to support herself with a hand on the wall of the corridor。 She hadn't been down there since Sabat had 。。。 oh God； she didn't ever want to go down there again！ But some force was pelling her； driving her as though the man behind her was pushing her； but he hadn't touched her； at least she didn't think he had；
She swayed on the narrow steps that led down to her underground chamber； blinking in the stark fluorescent light。 Lassiter was pushing her now； urging her to descend to this place where men writhed with pleasure； cried aloud for pain and more pain。 And where a youth had died horribly less than forty…eight hours ago。 Guiltily her eyes scanned the walls and floors but nowhere was there so much as a smear of blood。 As in everything else he did； Sabat was a perfectionist。
'Would 。 。 。 would you like me to 。。。 to change into something 。 。 。 suitable？' She motioned towards a curtained alcove in the corner which hid a variety of bizarre clothing。 Maybe once her visitor was a helpless prisoner in some form of bondage she would feel easier。
'No； my dear；' he laughed softly； 'just take off all your clothes。 That will be quite sufficient。'
Ilona found herself obeying； not a demure strip for the delight of some lusting voyeur； but disrobing herself because she had not the willpower to disobey。 Naked； she cringed； her mouth dry； her flesh pimpling with the cold shiver of fear that slowly crept up her spine。
Lassiter did not speak； merely leading her to the nearest wall； expertly securing her wrists and ankles in the steel manacles； and throughout there was still no hint of arousement。 So callous； so efficient； the stoic features a hideous mask。
'Good；' he grunted and stepped back to survey his handiwork。 'Is this the place where Sabat drained one of the Disciples of Lilith of his life's bloodT
She shuddered； his words ing like an electric shock； her whole body trembling。 She wanted to lie； to yell 'no； it isn't。 Nobody has been killed here。' But instead she nodded； a mute confession because it was impossible to do otherwise。
'A foolish thing to do。' Lassiter delved inside his jacket； his hand ing out holding something which was only too familiar to Ilona … a syringe gun identical to the one which Sabat had taken from her attacker last night
Now she wanted to scream； attempted to； but only succeeded in making a hoarse sound which was scarcely louder than a whisper； a croak that died in her throat。
'Your escape last night was only temporary；' he moved close to her； 'perhaps it would have been better for you had you died then。 Now you will suffer a thousand times worse！'
'Who are you？' she whispered。
'I am the Fuhrer！' Those eyes took on a maniacal； fanatical gleam。 LA reincarnation of he who died before his work was finished； Adolf Hitler I And I have my enemies just as he had them then； in a past life。 And those enemies must be destroyed if the Disciples of Lilith are to rule supreme！'
Ilona wanted to close her eyes； shut that malevolent face out； but the lids were paralysed。 She wilted before the power of his gaze； felt herself mentally apologising to him for her part in Sabat's plans。
'Already people are learning to fear the name of the Goddess of Darkness。' Lassiter's face was only inches from her own and Ilona smelted his breath； mint flavoured as though he had been chewing gum recently。 'But we have only just begun！ The streets will be littered with bloodless corpses and our minions will resort to open anarchy as they realise the extent of our power。'
She wanted to shout 'you're crazy' but had difficulty even in thinking it。 Her mind was no longer her own； if this man who believed himself to be a reincarnation of the mad Austrian…born painter had asked her to join forces with him she would have obeyed meekly。
'You must pay for your crimes；' he laughed softly。 'But； as I said； your death will not be as swift as others we have slain； and as you die you will know why the sentence of death has been passed on you and you will beg humbly for forgiveness which will not be granted！'
He stooped and almost instantly Ilona experienced an excrutiating pain on the inside of her left thigh； felt that razor…sharp needle plunging into her soft flesh where in the past many men had kissed her tenderly。 Almost immediately the instrument was withdrawn and as she writhed in her manacles she saw her tormentor cross quickly to the wash…basin。 He held the 'gun' over the bowl； released a catch； and thick crimson fluid spurted sluggishly into the bowl。
Ilona almost fainted； but unconsciousness was denied her； saw him ing back； stooping in front of her again。 This time she managed a scream as she felt the agonising penetration in the opposite thigh and again he retracted the needle and shot its contents over the waste pipe。 Something was oozing down the inside of her legs； forming into a sticky pool around her feet。 And she knew without any doubt that it was her own blood！
Now she was screaming hysterically； but her bondage did not allow her more than a flexing of agonised muscles。 His fingers touched her arm this time and she braced herself for the inevitable 'injection'； tried to turn her head away in case she caught a glimpse of the sadistic mutilation。 The wound was somewhere on the inside of her right forearm； again a small quantity of blood taken and ejected； then the left arm。 Bleeding to death； hearing the mocking voice of her murderer； tiny rivulets of blood running at all angles down her body； being thicker； wider rivers all converging in the sickly sea beneath her。
Oh Jesus God； kill me and get it over with！ She made unintelligible sounds which only brought another smile to the face of this unknown sadist。 As he had said； she was pleading； asking forgiveness； having it rejected。 Dimly she wondered how long it took the human body to bleed to death； she'd read somewhere once that an open artery emptied the blood supply in under ten minutes。 But this devil had extracted maybe half…a…pint from the veins； leaving the rest to ebb from the wounds。
Then she caught a glimpse of the bloody nozzle of his weapon； saw it ing at her； knew that th