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Only the wealthy had the luxury of minding things; the rest simply ducked their heads, bit their tongues, and did what needed to be done.
“Isn’t it strange how reading a book is a sin, but locking a girl in the stocks and leaving her to the dogs is another day of the Good Father’s work?”
Immanuelle could only imagine how dangerous a man might become when filled with a holy wrath like that.
But before Ford built the wall, those heathen cities were Bethel’s allies.”
A curse. There it was, then. The truth out in the open. “That’s what he thinks this is?” “Well, it’s certainly not a blessing,” said Ezra. “What else could you call it?” Immanuelle thought back to the cathedral, to the stained-glass window that depicted the Mother’s legions being burned and slain. She thought of the muzzled girl, chained to the market stocks. She thought of jeering crowds and flaming pyres. She thought of Leah lying prone on the altar, blood pooling in the hollows of her ears, a blade at her brow. She thought of young girls married off to men old enough to be their
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The Holy Scriptures had always made those conflicts seem like battles and wars, but in actuality, it was just a massacre.
I often wonder if my spirit will live on in her. Sometimes I hope that it will, if only so I won’t be forgotten.
True evil didn’t lurk in the depths of the Darkwood. It was not in Lilith or her coven, or even in any of the curses they cast. True evil, Immanuelle realized now, wore the skin of good men. It uttered prayers, not curses. It feigned mercy where there was only malice. It studied Scriptures only to spit out lies.
The Church, which not only excused and forgave the sins of its leaders but enabled them:
I have known the night and I have called it my friend.
I hate feeling that we’ve gotten this far only to become what others have already been before us.”
