Bill Randolph - The Sacrifice "...and the blood of a virgin shall cleanse the body and spirit of the priestess, giving her eternal life." Cindy closed the aged book and laid it upon the altar. The thought of eternal life had always been a fascination to her. She had studied and practiced the occult for 15 years, but had never ventured into anything as drastic as this. She glanced at the clock. It read 11:52. According to the book, the ceremony should begin at a minute after midnight, on the eve of the winter equinox. Her mind began to boggle as she started having second thoughts. What if the book's wrong? What if it doesn't work the way it says it will? She shook her head, as if to rid herself of the negative thoughts. She had to believe it was right. After all, the potion had worked exactly the way the book said it would. She'd tried it on Kim the week before. In less than a minute, Kim had become a human zombie. The trance had been so intense that Cindy actually feared Kim had died. She had stopped breathing, and her eyes never blinked, but she responded to all of Cindy's commands and questions with ease. As Cindy picked up the chalice and looked at the amber potion inside it, she felt an incredible rush of power. She knew that once she was in a trance, she could order Kim to do anything. Even to let herself be sacrificed. Cindy's anticipation peaked, as she heard Kim coming down the stairs. The candles behind the altar flickered as Kim entered the room and walked toward Cindy. She was wearing a long gown that was just sheer enough to reveal that she was nude beneath it. Cindy motioned Kim to join her behind the altar. They stood beside each other in silence. Cindy picked up the chalice and handed it to Kim: knowing what was expected of her, she drank the potion. The effect was almost immediate. Kim drifted into a trance and once again became Cindy's puppet. "Lie upon the altar," Cindy instructed. Kim moved slowly in mindless obedience. Cindy removed a silver dagger from its sheath. She slid the razor sharp blade under one of the straps of Kim's gown and quickly slit it. Then she reached across and cut the other strap. Following the instructions laid out in the book, she sliced the front of the gown down to the waist. Cindy could feel the power and control building inside her as she opened the gown and exposed Kirn's breasts. Her attention focused on the center of Kim's chest. Again, there was no sign that Kim was breathing at all; her eyes were open, but they stared straight ahead, fixated. Raising the dagger over her head, Cindy recited the words from the book. "I am your loyal sister. I beseech you, the masters of the Underworld, the princes of Darkness to accept me into your fold, so that we may live forever." Deliberately, she lowered the point of the dagger, till it was just above Kim's heart. "To prove my eternal devotion, I offer you this female virgin as a sacrifice that we may take away her innocence and feast upon her together." Again the candles behind the altar flickered, almost as sign of approval. Without hesitation, Cindy pushed down firmly on the dagger. The entire length of the blade penetrated Kim's ivory chest with a soft whoosh. As quickly as she had driven the sharp blade into the girl, Cindy pulled it out. Kim never reacted. Blood began to spurt from the wound. Picking up the chalice, Cindy tilted it toward the cut. Blood poured into the small goblet, filling it to its rim. Slowly she raised it to her lips and drank. Crimson trickles streamed down the sides of her chin and dripped onto her breasts as she consumed the bitter liquid. The warmth of the blood was soothing as it flowed down her throat. Closing her eyes, she emptied the chalice. Again she laid the chalice beneath the wound on Kim's chest and allowed the cup to fill. Using her finger, she pried Kim's lips open and poured the contents of the chalice into her mouth. Cindy smiled as she saw Kim respond and swallow the blood. As she set the empty chalice on the altar, Cindy looked down at the open wound on Kim's chest. It was still pulsating as Cindy placed both of her hands upon it. "Lords of the Underworlds, you have granted my request. We have violated the sanctity of this innocent being. Again consider my loyalty and devotion to you and the other Masters of Darkness, and permit our sacrifice to join us in the fold for eternity." Cindy pushed down as hard as she could on Kim's chest. She felt a chill run up her back and down the entire length of her arms to her hands. She knew something had happened. The book was right! Almost afraid to look, Cindy lifted her hands away from Kim's chest. The wound had completely disappeared. Kim's flesh was stained from the blood, but the incision made by the dagger was totally closed, perfectly healed. Kim's eyes blinked. She turned her head toward Cindy, smiled and sat up on the altar. As they held each other's hands, the candles again flickered and went out. The room went totally dark. *This story was adapted from notes made by Cynthia Dollish, in her personal diary on March 21, 1816. Ms. Dollish died on November 18, 1885, at the age of 109. No record has ever been found of the death of her friend, Kimberly McKool. - - - Bill Randolph - The Sacrifice m1nion scan #6 - - - m1nion scan #1: Sandman - Death The High Cost Of Living m1nion scan #2: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds m1nion scan #3: Everything But The Girl (Article from Arena Magazine) m1nion scan #4: J Gregory Keyes - The Python King's Treasure m1nion scan #5: Jack Russell - Channel 666