It was a huge room we entered, with tall windows along one wall. Around the other walls were shelves piled high with old books, ma.n.u.scripts, scrolls and parchments. More of the same covered the desks, of which there were many. There were several gla.s.s cabinets with sheets of crumbling parchment presented for viewing and translation.

'These texts are under gla.s.s for good reasons, but you are free to handle everything else. There are paper and pens aplenty lying about, so if you desire to jot anything down, please do so,' Jenkins concluded, appearing eager to depart. 'Could I have some tea brought to you?'

I smiled gratefully. 'That really would be spoiling me, Mr Jenkins.'

'Then I shall see that it is done, Madame. Good day.' He bowed and left me in the middle of a historian's paradise.

'What to read first?' My head was swimming as I considered the choice. I looked at the open book on a desk beside me. It was a Latin translation of The Works of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. The Works of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. The book was open at a copy of a letter written by Bishop Clement of Alexandria to a friend, which dated the letter to about the year 200AD. The bishop was talking about the Gospel of Mark, or part thereof, that was to be suppressed because it did not conform to the church's teachings. The book was open at a copy of a letter written by Bishop Clement of Alexandria to a friend, which dated the letter to about the year 200AD. The bishop was talking about the Gospel of Mark, or part thereof, that was to be suppressed because it did not conform to the church's teachings.

For even if they should say something true, one who loves the Truth should not, even so, agree with them.For not all the true things are the Truth, nor should that Truth which seems true according to human opinions, be preferred to the true Truth preferred to the true Truth-that according to the faith.To them one must never give way; nor when they put forward their falsifications, should no one concede that the secret gospel is by Mark-but should deny it on oath. For not all true things are to be said to all men.

'The secret gospel of Mark?' I looked around at the ma.s.ses of texts and laughed at my chances of finding the doc.u.ment.

A knock at the door announced that my tea had arrived. It was wheeled in by an elderly lady who set it down on a small table that was free of paperwork and books.

I thanked her kindly, to which she gave a curtsey and a 'Madame' and departed silently with her trolley, closing the door again.

I did fancy a cup of tea, and it would allow me time to ponder which text would serve me best to read.

I poured my tea, and with my first sip the solution came to me-an itch on my left palm. 'Albray, Albray, Albray.'

An interesting predicament. The knight took a seat on the other chair at my table. The knight took a seat on the other chair at my table.

'And what do you suggest?' I sipped at my tea, a particularly good brew.

You wish to define which text destiny has brought you here to read. Why not use your new talent to will this text to you? Psychokinesis can be used for much more than just moving things about. This talent includes the ability to rearrange the atomic structure of any given thing. On your plane of existence, that is, he thought to add. he thought to add.

I baulked at his words.

Best that we just start with the book, that we just start with the book, he encouraged, realising that he'd unnerved me. he encouraged, realising that he'd unnerved me.

'I cannot change atomic structure by accident, I hope.'

Of course not. Albray didn't sound entirely confident about that. Albray didn't sound entirely confident about that. I'm sure no harm will come of it. I'm sure no harm will come of it.

'All right then.' I placed my cup aside, and wiped my sweaty palms on my napkin.

I took a moment to still my mind and calm my heart, then stated my will in my mind.

Nothing seemed to come of it, but then I turned to see a paper trail of parchments floating my way and as a piece alighted on my lap it crumbled to dust. 'Oh, Jesus, Albray, it must have come forth from one of the gla.s.s cases!'

A knock at the door set my heart racing and a hot flush filled my cheeks.

Mr Jenkins entered. 'Mrs Devere. How would two o'clock tomorrow suit?'

Thankfully, he waited by the door for my response. 'That would suit very well, Mr Jenkins, thank you.' Before I'd drawn breath he was gone again.

'Albray, what do I do?' I panicked as the priceless doc.u.ment transformed to dirt all over my frock.

What do you think changing the atomic structure of an object means? He rolled his eyes as I stared at him blankly. He rolled his eyes as I stared at him blankly. Just will it back together...will it to be as strong as hemp, Just will it back together...will it to be as strong as hemp, he suggested. he suggested.

My intent manifested as Albray had antic.i.p.ated and I began to breathe easily once more. 'Sorry.' I apologised for my little fit. 'That was very scary.'

I understand, understand, he confirmed, feeling all my emotional turmoil. he confirmed, feeling all my emotional turmoil.

'Now what is this?' I had the courage to take the sheet in hand.

It was an account from a bishop in Northern France to Pope Honorius the First and it told of a strange incident.

In the year 633AD a mysterious little boat sailed into Boulogne-sur-mer harbour. No person was on board the vessel, but it carried a statue of the Black Madonna and child, accompanied by several ma.n.u.scripts. The bishop regretted to inform the Pope that the local authorities were unwilling to hand the statue, or the texts, into church custody. However, the bishop had been given the opportunity to translate some of the ma.n.u.scripts. The bishop's translation read as follows: This is a truthful account of my life, yet to history I shall be as myth. All account of my days will vanish or be distorted to suit my oppressors-to whom women are valued below animals. It is my belief that if I am remembered at all, it will be as a wh.o.r.e and not as a Nazarite priestess, who was a wife and mother to the royal Kings of Judah.

'Oh, my G.o.d,' I gasped, 'surely this could not be what I think it is?' I searched through the other parchments which had floated into my lap to find the end of the account and here the bishop noted, for the Pope's information, that the ma.n.u.script had been signed MM.

'Mary Magdalene,' I dared to guess, and Albray nodded, having come to the same conclusion.

You should find her tale most inspiring. 'Indeed!' I read on. 'Indeed!' I read on.

I departed the library in a complete daze. So many things that I had always suspected had been confirmed, along with several other mind-boggling revelations about the life and character of Jesus Christ, King of the Jews. In fact, the account was so radical that I began to question the validity of the doc.u.ment.

Perhaps it is just a fantastic work of fiction, I suggested to myself, but Albray was still at liberty and keeping pace with me.

I don't believe so, he said. he said. For, if it were not true, everything my order stands for and believes in would be a farce. Moreover, you know in your heart that no bishop of that time would dare fabricate such a lie to the Pope! For, if it were not true, everything my order stands for and believes in would be a farce. Moreover, you know in your heart that no bishop of that time would dare fabricate such a lie to the Pope!

I needed the privacy of a carriage for this conversation and I flagged down a transport easily enough.

No sooner had the door of the carriage closed than I allowed my thoughts to come flooding out. 'Are you trying to tell me that Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross, but was instead rescued by a radical Judaic revolutionary who was supposed to be crucified on the same day?'

Yes. Barabbas, who aided in carrying Jesus' Cross to the crucifixion site, swapped places with Simon Zealot who was also to be crucified that day as a thief...although he was, in truth, a rebel and a High Priest of the h.e.l.lenistic Order, as was Jesus eventually. Simon was opposed to the segregated ways of the Jewish elders, a governing body known as the Sanhedrin. Both Simon Zealot and Jesus believed that a segregated Jewish nation would never defeat the might of Rome. But unlike John the Baptist and Jesus' older brother, James, who were more disposed toward the more conservative Hebrews, the revolutionary Zealots knew the Jews could not succeed in their mission if they continued to hold themselves separate from the Gentiles. would never defeat the might of Rome. But unlike John the Baptist and Jesus' older brother, James, who were more disposed toward the more conservative Hebrews, the revolutionary Zealots knew the Jews could not succeed in their mission if they continued to hold themselves separate from the Gentiles.

'Native non-Jews,' I stated, and Albray nodded.

The Sanhedrin council didn't appreciate having their personal dealings with Rome disrupted by revolution. The Sanhedrin had Jesus arrested, but as it was forbidden for the council to sit during the Pa.s.sover, the responsibility of trying Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate.

'But, according to the ma.n.u.script I just read, Pilate did all within his power to see to it that Jesus didn't die on the Cross. In fact, Pilate had his guard a.s.sist with the escape from the crypt.'

True, for Pilate had his own agenda. He had struck a deal with Herod-Antipas of Galilee where Pilate promised to see to the release of Jesus-it suited Herod-Antipas for Jesus to continue his campaign and provoke King Herod-Agrippa. However, to be hailed as the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus had to live up to biblical prophecy which stated that the Messiah would be a descendant of the House of David, which Jesus was; that he would be a revolutionary thinker, and as Jesus preached that the way to G.o.d was through service to others and the power of one, his was definitely a new way of thought .. . or at least a very old one that had not stirred in some time; and the third requirement of the Messiah was that he would have his blood drawn by his own people.

'And the crucifixion achieved this. I understand all that,' I said, feeling a little woozy-too much startling information too soon was obviously not a good thing. 'But how could the church have suppressed the knowledge that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that she was actually three months pregnant at the time of the crucifixion! She claimed in the ma.n.u.script that they had three children, all born in France.'

The eldest of which was a daughter, Tamar, from whom you are descended.

LESSON 10.

PHANTASMS.

FROM THE HONEYMOON JOURNAL OF LADY SUSAN DEVERE.

Today we reached Paris.

It wasn't easy to recruit Lord Devere to our mission, but I did. My husband loves me very much and I am a little ashamed of how I use that to advantage, but I strongly feel that we do have an obligation to find our dear sister.

My brother , Simon, volunteered to remain at the Chateau de Vere, with Catherine, and would send on any correspondence.

Our first stop in Paris was the a.r.s.enal Library, not only because the literature stored there would be a magnet for Ashlee, but also because Mr Devere said he had acquaintances there. I a.s.sumed this to mean others of his brotherhood. I entered the L-shaped building with my eyes and mind wide open. Poor Lord Devere, however, was most bemused.

'I think it's shameful, when we are in one of the most exciting cities in Europe, that the first place we visit is an esoteric library.' Obviously my earl was concerned about even being seen here.

'Why don't you go and secure rooms in a good hotel, and you can send the carriage back to collect us?' Whilst giving him an excuse to leave, I made it clear that I intended to stay.

'You don't have to stay.' Mr Devere unwittingly threw a spanner in the works.

'Quite right,' my husband agreed, eyeing the all-male attendants in the library. 'This hardly seems a suitable place for a lady.'

I took a step backward to state my position. 'I am in Paris to find my dear friend, and I shall go, and be seen, and be seen, anywhere that my dear sister's trail may lead me.' I think they both got the message rather clearly. anywhere that my dear sister's trail may lead me.' I think they both got the message rather clearly.

'I shall see to the accommodation.' Lord Devere ventured forward to kiss my cheek and promptly left the building.

'You don't trust me, dear sister?' Mr Devere asked, as he seated himself to await word of an audience with his colleague, having secured a gentleman at the front desk to see to his request.

'You haven't earned my trust, Mr Devere,' I stated. 'Let us see how our journey progresses, shall we?'

The gentleman from the front desk returned and we were asked to follow him to the curator's office. 'Don't mind the drawn blinds. Mr Molier has a skin condition that is very sensitive to sunlight, hence the gas lighting.'

Mr Devere glanced sideways at me, as if saying this was news to him-he'd obviously never met this colleague of his. I was a bit apprehensive and I hoped this person was not going to be hideously deformed or something. I could not have been more wrong.

Mr Molier was a very handsome man, although his skin was so pale white and glowing that it almost appeared blue. This seemed very odd, as the long curls of his hair were dark, as were his eyes. Despite his skin condition he appeared a very fit fellow.

'Mr Devere, at last we meet.' Molier came out from behind his desk to shake my brother-in-law's hand. 'I'm sorry it couldn't be under better circ.u.mstances. You've misplaced your wife, I hear?'

Devere was as shocked as I was.

'How did you know?' he spluttered, and then added more hopefully as he figured out the answer for himself: 'You've found her?'

I breathed a sigh of relief when Molier nodded. One, we'd found Ashlee; and two, Devere had not broken our agreement to keep Ashlee's disappearance a secret.

'She should be arriving very shortly, in fact.'

'That is a great relief,' Devere confided, and then felt he should explain the situation. 'There was a misunderstanding-'

'I see that much has changed about you recently, Mr Devere.' Molier grinned, as if he knew everything and more.

Was Molier psychic too? I think Mr Devere was wondering the same thing. My brother remembered his manners when Mr Molier looked my way.

'Allow me to present my sister-in-law, Lady Oxford.'

'It is a rare pleasure indeed to meet another female of Cavandish blood. Your aunt was very well respected here.'

Molier kissed my hand before I could prevent it, and the way his eyes stayed glued to mine as he did so made me feel uneasy.

With a knock on the door, a gentleman entered. 'Mrs Devere is here, sir, but as she asked to view the archives again, I took her there to await you.'

'Thank you, Jenkins.' Molier dismissed the librarian. 'I must ask you both to stay here,' he said. 'In all fairness to Mrs Devere, I should speak with her alone before I bring her forth for this reunion.'

Devere was clearly worried Ashlee would flee again. 'But she will not-'

'I understand your concerns. Truly.' Truly.' Molier was mysterious and convincing. 'Please trust me.' Molier was mysterious and convincing. 'Please trust me.'

FROM THE TRAVEL JOURNALS OF MRS ASHLEE DEVERE.

I was looking a little plumper today, as Nanny had made a special corset with several pockets that were padded each side. Our treasure was cushioned between the padding. Nanny felt that, since I was such a skinny thing, the corset gave me a healthier appearance. I had stuffed the precious Star vial in between my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and as I wore a very modest gown I had no fear of the vial coming loose or being spotted.

All the blinds in the library were closed today, but lanterns and candles were lit for my benefit. I wondered why Jenkins had not drawn back the blinds, but perhaps too much daylight wasn't good for the old scripts.

Once we were alone, Albray joked about Nanny's solution to our security problem. Do you feel like a million gold francs? you feel like a million gold francs?

I didn't feel his jesting warranted a response.

So, what would you like to destroy today?

'I told you this morning, and last night, I'd like to try and verify what I read yesterday.' I was startled by a tap on my shoulder. I was looking at Albray so I quickly turned and was confronted by a floating scroll. 'Oh my.' I was shocked that my will could be so powerful. 'I didn't even do a summons!' I took the item in hand and then spotted a mult.i.tude of doc.u.ments all floating in the air, waiting to be beckoned.

Thou art a true Master. Albray flattered me graciously. Albray flattered me graciously. There seems to be a bit more here than we have time for today. However, it seems you can rest a.s.sured that the account you read yesterday can be verified. There seems to be a bit more here than we have time for today. However, it seems you can rest a.s.sured that the account you read yesterday can be verified. He enjoyed making light of my disbelief, being such a strong believer himself. He enjoyed making light of my disbelief, being such a strong believer himself. Why are you so bothered by the fact that you are a descendant of Jesus, when you now know he was a very great, very enlightened man? Why are you so bothered by the fact that you are a descendant of Jesus, when you now know he was a very great, very enlightened man?

'I'm sure I won't have a problem with it once I separate the man from the inst.i.tution in my mind.' I'd spent so long blaming Jesus for the disgrace that was his church, it was hard to fathom that, not only had the church not been Jesus' doing, his bloodline had been repressed by the very church devoted to him. 'Is that what has you so cheerful today, Albray? All the explaining you don't have to do?'

No. He shook his head, still smiling. He shook his head, still smiling. Keeping your company each day brings its own rewards. Keeping your company each day brings its own rewards.

Was he flirting with me? He had ceased trying to charm me the day I married, but I guess he figured that now I'd left Devere, I was fair game again.

'I was interested to note in the ma.n.u.script yesterday,' I decided to sidestep the issue, 'that after being excommunicated by the Sanhedrin, Jesus' older brother, James, took the name Joseph ha Rama Theo...Joseph of Arimathea, do you think?'

Albray applauded. He eventually settled in England. He eventually settled in England.

One of the doors opened and all the floating texts ceased to defy gravity and dropped to the floor. Fortunately, the man who entered was wearing a large hood over his face, and did not see the cause of the thud that preceded his entrance.

He removed his head covering after closing the door. 'Bonjour, Mrs Devere.'

No, it can't be. Albray was extremely alarmed. Albray was extremely alarmed.

'I am Christian Molier, curator of this collection.' The pale handsome man came forward to make my acquaintance, and Albray's reaction made it very difficult for me to keep my focus on Molier. 'I apologise for the unusual daytime lighting arrangement, but my skin is very sensitive to sunlight.'

You're an abomination, Molier, Albray harshly accused, although only I could hear him and he was making me nervous. Albray harshly accused, although only I could hear him and he was making me nervous. Hereford must have released you from your imprisonment. Hereford must have released you from your imprisonment.

'That's quite all right, Mr Molier. It was very good of you to go to such pains to meet with me.' I allowed him to kiss my hand, noting that his light-body was very strange to perceive. His aura sparkled golden, whilst his chakra centres were bogged with darkness. I had to agree with Albray; Molier was an abomination of some kind.

You must leave, Ashlee, Albray insisted very pa.s.sionately. This Albray insisted very pa.s.sionately. This man is a vampire and he is after your blood. man is a vampire and he is after your blood.