Snod didn’t feel any better when he was done. He calmly put his belt back on as he said, “Forgive
me, Father. I have put my sins to my flesh, and I pray the Lord will take them from me.”
“You are forgiven,” the archbishop intoned.
Such words used to fill Snod with warmth. He only felt empty now.
“I have a very special mission for you now, my son.”
“Anything,” Snod said eagerly. He wanted to get out of there and away from all of this.
“This vampire, he has affection for you?”
“I believe so,” Snod answered hesitantly, a sharp frown creasing his face. He didn’t like where this
was going.
“This is vital to the future of the entire Order,” Sanguis told him. “I want you to stay there with that
creature. I want you to befriend him. I want you to get close to him.”
“But, Father,” Snod protested, “I can’t do that. The Order forbids—”
“As of this moment, you are no longer a member of the Order,” Sanguis said briskly.
Snod’s heart stopped.
No, no, no.
This couldn’t be happening.
“You are being excommunicated for your foul sins of the flesh. The council wanted your life, but I
begged them to be merciful. They are allowing you to live, but you are now an exile. You may never
return to us—”
“My brother,” Snod pleaded. “What about my brother?”
“Your sins do not reflect on him, I promise you,” Sanguis said gently, “but you will never see him
again.”
“Father, please,” Snod begged, wringing his hands together desperately.
“Listen to me, my son,” Sanguis soothed. “Now that you’re no longer a member of the Order, you will
have no trouble fulfilling your special mission. This will be a way for you to come back to us.”
“What?” Snod was horribly confused.
“There is something we need from that vampire, and you’re going to get it for us. You can only do that
if you’re a free man. Do you understand?”
“No, Father, I don’t!” Snod was unhinged, shouting, “Please! Tell me! Tell me what you want me to
do!”
