Romano wasn't sure what to expect when he entered the bell tower, but it certainly wasn't a dusty old attic space. Except for some ornate braziers, the chamber appeared to be deserted.
"You said there's going to be a sacrifice here?" he whispered.
Kelethia nodded. "Yes, very soon." There was a strange look in her eyes, as if she was trying not to smile.
Romano cautiously prowled through the room, keeping an eye out for traps. He worked his way around the edge of the chamber, then made his way toward the center, where a small set of stairs led up to a raised platform beneath the abbey's bells. Something was wrong here. He felt as though there was some hidden menace watching him, patiently waiting for an opportunity to strike. But where?
"There's nothing here," he said. He glanced toward Kelethia, but she was still standing by the entrance, her bright blue eyes following his every move.
"Up there," she whispered, pointing to the stairs. Again he saw that hint of a smile.
Romano crept slowly up the steps, gingerly testing each board before giving it his full weight. He reached the platform at the top, which looked curiously like an altar.
Then, from the corners of the room, there came soft scraping noises. Thin, dark snakes slithering toward him from the shadows with terrible speed. He drew his daggers just as something clamped down on his ankle. He cried out with panic and quickly stabbed downward, only to hear a loud clink as his blade was turned aside. It felt and sounded as though it had struck metal. He drew his hand back for another strike - but as he did so, something caught his wrist and held it. With horror, he saw that it was a manacle made of dark iron, attached to a long chain of the same material. He tried to chip at the chain with his free hand, but the metal was impervious. He only got in two more strikes before his free hand was free no more. Both his wrists and ankles were now bound, and though he struggled with all his might, it was no use. With unstoppable strength, the chains slowly pulled him backward, forcing him to lie face-up on the altar.
"Help me!" he gasped. But when he looked toward Kelethia, a new wave of dread struck him. She was approaching him with an unhurried gait, smiling as a spider might smile while it crawled toward its webbed prey.
"So you're one of them, after all," said Romano.
"I am," she admitted, slowly climbing the steps.
"Look, Kelethia, it's not too late for you. Help me get out of here. You don't want to see the Burning Legion destroy everything we hold dear, do you?"
The priestess gave him a quizzical smile. "Destroy? The Legion isn't here to destroy us. In a way, they're actually going to help us." She was standing beside him now, and her blue eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. "We've erected so many barriers to prevent us from getting what we want. They're simply going to remove those barriers. If I want something," she dragged her finger down his tunic, "then I will have it. No laws, no morals, no conventions will stop me. Why is that so terrible?"
"They're evil," hissed Romano. "They only want to ruin and enslave us. Don't you see that?"
Kelethia laughed and then gave him a look of mock concern. "Oh, my dear thief. You are so worried, aren't you? About the downfall of society, civilization, and all that? Well, let me help you with that." She began to untie her sash. "I'm going to make you forget your responsibilities, your loyalties. I'll make you forget everything...except how good this feels."
"No, don't..."
The robe fell to the floor, revealing the sensuous, creamy curves of her young body. He should have looked away; his mind screamed at him to turn away, but he couldn't. His eyes locked onto her beautiful breasts, her puffy nipples. She crossed her arms behind her head and smiled, clearly delighted with his attentive gaze. "You're going to help me, Romano. You're going to help the Legion rise."
"Like hell," he growled.
"Like hell, indeed." She whispered a few words in some strange language. There was a flash of light, and Romano gasped as a burning sensation blasted his entire body for just an instant. Then it passed, and he realized that all of his clothing was now gone.
"Much better," the priestess murmurred, studying his muscular form. "Now we're going to have some fun." She leaned down and began to explore his body with her soft, warm hands. "So strong, so handsome."