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emed to glow like hot coals； nostrils flared as though she delighted in the vile stench of this unholy room； full red lips parted in a smile that was akin to a hungry lioness that scents fresh meat。 Sabat saw the contempt in those flashing orbs as they fixed on Vallin； then switched to the tiny form which had begun to wriggle and cry again。
'Look at me； Pierre Vallin；' her voice crackled with the force of an electric storm。 'Feast your eyes upon Lilith and put your thoughts into words！'
Vallin mouthed his desires in hushed whispers； spittle forming on his lips； bubbles that burst and dripped； an old man grasping at youthful fantasies。 The baby was crying softly now almost as though it realised its fate and had resigned itself to death。
'But that is not all； is it？' Lilith's scorn cut into the cringing cowled figure like whiplashes。 'Above all； you desire power。 Power over other mortals； do you not？ The power to make their will yours； have them do your bidding； just as you do mine！'
'Oui。 。 。 oui； 。 。 oui 。。。〃 Pierre Vallin's voice died away； a wavering finger pointing to the small trembling sacrifice。
Tool！' she snapped。 'Do you not realise that I could have taken that child any time I wanted it？ You offer me what is mine by right。'
He was huddled on the floor now； realising the truth of her words。
'Nevertheless；' Lilith smiled； her features softening slightly； 'you have been a faithful servant over the years； Pierre。 You have done my bidding without question and for that alone you will be rewarded。'
Sabat saw the monkey…like face uplifted； relief kindled in those sunken eyes； an old man suddenly realising that all was not lost； muttering unintelligible thanksgivings； pledging his continued devotion to evil powers。
But the naked goddess now had eyes only for the wriggling infant； reaching across the altar； picking it up and cradling it to her breasts。 It had stopped crying； its toothless mouth open and going in search of those inviting nipples。 She bent lower； let it suckle her。
Even Sabat had no inkling of what was about to happen next； the full shock and horror of it almost causing him to lose hold on the overhead beam and e fluttering down； Lilith's head bent forward； the action of a loving mother about to kiss her baby as it fed from her。 But those lips had neither love nor affection as they pouted； fastened on the tiny neck like a bloodsucking leech。 The child cried out just once； a flailing of arms and legs that became limp and drooped； a gurgling squelching sound that came from within the unholy embrace； a noisy drinker sipping hot tea loudly from the rim of a cup。 A steady drip drip； a splattering and splashing of dark fluid on the floor。 And when finally Lilith raised her head her lips were smeared crimson； her eyes a dull glow as though her terrible lust was satiated。
The baby sagged； a bundle of bloodsoaked clothing； unrecognisable for what it had been； still dripping steadily。 Lilith held it out at full stretch； impatient for Pierre Vallin to take it from her； a drinker handing back an empty cup。
Take 。 。 。 drink 。。。〃 her words the ultimate in blasphemy； 'for this is my body； my blood； and power will be yours； Pierre Vallin！'
The pathetic wretch on the floor grabbed at it eagerly； so weak after his ordeal that he almost dropped it。 Clumsily he pulled it to him； his lips searching frantically for the open wound in the tiny neck； finding it； sucking even more loudly than Lilith had done； drinking the dregs which she had left for him； until finally the last of his strength waned and the bloody bundle thudded to the floor； rolled over and lay still； that strange ethereal light seeming to focus on the gashed neck。
'Power is yours； Pierre Vallin；' Lilith glided back until she was in the shadows again； a silhouette； her features indiscernible。 'You are imbued with my own powers for all time； in this life and the next； and each successive one thereafter。 You will die and live again and perchance sometime we shall meet again。 Who knows； for such matters are withheld even from me。 But you will continue to serve me and when at last I rule supreme over mortals you shall sit by my throne in a position of honour。 Do not fear death for we shall both live again。'
And suddenly she was gone； the room dark again but no longer cold； Pierre Vallin grovelling on the filthy floor； pulling that dead pitiful bundle towards him； trying to drink again the elixir of life； vile sucking sounds because the vessel was empty。 Laughing insanely to himself the whole time。
Sabat had decided to leave； wished that he had done so earlier although what had transpired between Vallin and Lilith had confirmed his suspicions of these past few weeks； Vince Lealan and Catriona born again to serve the dark powers； an allegiance which even now threatened the whole world。 Sabat lingered there in his moth form； dwelling on the awfulness of it all and as he did so he heard noises outside in the street。 Angry voices； the tramping of many feet； a thudding on the door below； the window lit up by a flickering yellow light which could only have e from burning torches。
'e out； Pierre Vallin！' a deafening shout that seemed to vibrate the whole house。 'Your magic cannot save you this time！'
Pierre Vallin was on his feet； whimpering； dragging that bloodsoaked bundle around the room as though he was seeking a place to hide it； whimpering to himself。 Down below woodwork cracked and splintered； the stairway creaked under the weight of many bodies； the smoky fumes of their torches preceding them and filling that upstairs room。 And as one the crowd burst in； the foremost awestruck and horrified at what they saw by the light of their flickering braziers； alone each of them would have fled screaming from this place of bloody sacrifice but united they found the courage to remain。
'See；' a young man with staring bulging eyes pointed； 'did I not tell you？ Pierre Vallin has sacrificed his own child to Satan！ And there 。 。 。 ' all eyes were riveted on that jar with its grisly contents of severed flesh。 'Vallin the physician who circumcised men so that he could feed their foreskins to his evil spirits！'
〃Burn him！ Destroy him now before Satan es to save him。 Let him feel the flames on his body； a foretaste of the hell in which he will find himself before morning！'
Hands seized Pierre Vallin； ripping the satanic robes from his body； shedding them to expose the lean and filth…grimed frame beneath。 Broken fingernails clawed at his face； gouging the withered flesh； streaking it with blood。 Fists pummelled him； feet drove into him； shattering frail bones； and screaming for mercy the wizard of Montmartre was dragged from his stinking home by the fear…crazed angry mob。
Sabat followed them； flitting through the night air； saw the familiar cobbled square； brushwood and items of unwanted furniture piled high in readiness； a chanting crowd already gathered； shrieking their wrath when they saw the advancing column。
'Vallin the physician who stole our bab