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ze where the stench was stronger； the screams louder。
Finally they came to a heavy wooden door and the bearded man lifted the latch； swung it back on rope hinges。
'See； Sabat； （he dungeon of the damned where the sentences are for eternity！'
Sabat recoiled at the scene which the flickering flame revealed。 A dungeon prison that seemed to go on and on into the black shadows； naked emaciated bodies that hung by their arms from staples embedded in the walls； the faces depicting eternal torment； mouths shaped into perpetual cries of terror。 Old and young； a motley assortment； rats scurrying away from the light； disturbed at their feast of living flesh； bloated like the vultures in the desert； those in the foreground shadows masticating as they watched； impatient to return and feed again。
'Follow me。'
Sabat obeyed because he had no choice； close on the heels of his panion along a line of squirming bodies； their breath cold and fetid。 A chorus of curses that vibrated on the brain as Quentin did when he sensed an evil ally。
'That is the one！'
The gaoler had picked up a whip from somewhere； a wooden handled instrument of chastisement； its lashes knotted at the ends； and held it out to Sabat。 'This is why you have been summoned here！'
Sabat stared； recognised the bloodstained； tear…streaked features of a woman who had once been beautiful although it was difficult to imagine her so。 Blonde hair that had turned to white； breasts that were no longer full； and sagged like empty pouches。 A leg that was twisted and useless； the ankle bone rattling against its iron。 Only the eyes were the same； an unmistakable blue and still trying to dominate with a power that was long spent。 Catriona Lealan！ Lilith！ It was she； rotting in a hell where there was no fire to warm； a Hades whose inmates were condemned forever to the Stygian blackness and the rats。
'You expressed a wish to lash her；' the gaoler's tones were emotionless； 'and for that reason you were summoned。'
Sabat winced and wished that somehow he could rekindle that hatred for Catriona Lealan that had once burned fiercely within him。 But he could not。 Nor passion。 It was just a job that had to be done and he had been chosen。 And that was why he would do it。
He nodded； raised the whip； tried not to look into those eyes。 Then the dungeons resounded with the tearing of flesh and the screams of a soul in agony。 For Lilith who was fashioned out of mud and filth had been returned to that place of darkness where even the evil powers themselves feared to venture。 Filth to filth for eternity。
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