Wolves Among Us(70)

“You don’t want to die.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You want your son back. Dying won’t do it. Dying is no assurance you’ll see him again in heaven, either.”

Stefan swung the cage door open. Ava pushed herself against the back bars of the cage, cowering.

“Don’t do this to me, Father Stefan. You don’t have a child. You don’t understand.”

“I am beginning to understand, Ava. That is why I cannot leave you caged.”

“No, please, I would die a thousand deaths for my son. Please don’t stop me.”

“Only one death was ever needed. And it is not yours.” Stefan’s heart ached for her. He had learned so much about God since reading from the Bible, but there was no time to tell her of everything. He said a silent prayer that wherever she went next, someone in that village would have a Bible. And read it.

He stepped back away from the open door. “I should have done this a long time ago. Come out of there, Ava.” He extended his hand. “If God intended for you to suffer for your sins, why did He send His own Son to die for them? You must never again punish yourself. That is the only blasphemy you are guilty of, not witchcraft. This punishment, the condemnation you have heaped on your own head, these are the true blasphemies. Jesus died, and your sins are no more. You are beloved. Take your freedom, Ava, today. Do not wait. You are beloved.”

“You’re wrong!”

“I cannot force freedom on you. And you are still His beloved, even if you remain in this cage. Because you are forgiven, only you should have this.” He held out the key to the cage door. “I want you to come inside the church.”

Ava stared in horror at it, transfixed. She did not move. Stefan threw it inside the cage, getting it close to her feet.

“Good-bye, Ava. I cannot express how you have helped me. You were presented to me as a witch, but I saw a woman. I thank God for that.” He could think of nothing else to say and grinned at the irony of words failing him now. They had failed from the moment he took the priesthood, and this was as it should have been. He had learned so late the ways of the Shepherd. If only he had read the Book so much sooner.

As he walked away, he heard the slam of metal on metal and glanced back. Ava had pulled the cage door closed, crouching down in it, glaring at him. He bit his lip and kept walking. He hoped that the next time he opened the door for a prisoner, there would be less resistance.





Chapter Twenty-six


“Father.”

Mia heard the jailer greet Father Stefan, his chair scratching against the polished wood floor as he did.

“Would you do a priest a kindness?” Stefan asked.

“Yes, of course,” the jailer replied. “You made quite a sight sitting up there with Bastion. I rejoiced to see you join our cause.”

“Yes, well, there are more changes to come. Now, for my favor?”

“Anything.”

“Leave.”

“What?”

“You can return tomorrow. I haven’t thought through all the details of what will happen after the burning, but that should be right.”

“I don’t understand, Father. The burnings are in a few hours. I can’t leave the witches here without guard.”

“Please, son.”

“I can’t just—”

Mia heard a wet snap and a loud collapse, then Stefan’s voice. “Well. Throwing a punch is as easy as it looks.”

Father Stefan stood at Mia’s cell a moment later, peering in at her. He twisted and slid the lock across itself, pulling the door open.

Mia sat, unable to move. Dame Alice didn’t rise either.

“Are you able to walk?” he asked them.

Both women nodded.

“Good.”

“Where is Alma?” Mia said.

“Erick has her hidden. She will be safe with him.”

Stefan dragged the jailer into Mia’s cell. He deposited the man on the filthy floor. The jail was silent except for Stefan’s movements.

“He’ll wake within the hour, I think,” Stefan said, loud enough so all the jailed women could hear him. “It would be better if you were gone when he came to.”

Dame Alice stood, lifting Mia up, helping her to the door.

Stefan followed and locked it behind them. The women were in the corridor of the jail, all out of their cells, confused and anxious. Stefan counted eight women.

“My friends,” he said. He began to speak but broke off. There was no other sound. Mia looked at all their filthy faces streaked with blood and dirt. She could tell them apart more by the skirts they wore than their faces.

Stefan coughed to free the words. “The church. It’s your best hope. The law cannot touch you once you are inside. When I open the door to the jail, those of you who can run, do. If you can help one another, do that. But we must be fast. I cannot protect you if you are not in the church. Are you ready?”

“But where is Bastion?” Dame Alice asked. “He will stop us if he can.”

The women glanced at each other, nodding.

“He is asleep in the dormitory, and for a long time. Once you are inside the church, he can do nothing to you.”

Mia’s face looked pale and drawn; she would be too weak to get across to the church in her own power. Dame Alice did not appear much better. Stefan walked to Mia, his arms extended. Dame Alice began releasing her grip on Mia. Mia’s chin began trembling as Father Stefan wrapped one arm around her shoulders and one around the back of her knees, carrying her like a child.