Excerpt from Sanctuary of Darkness The crowd grew quiet as I approached; I, the rider upon the pale horse, I, the bringer of death. They parted enough for me to get through to le´Ann, or what was left of her, looking on in fear and astonishment. At first glance of my beloved wife, I had to turn away. Her body was still burning, and it was an image I would never forget. Her body was scorched and melted to the stake, her head hanging down. The flames still danced around her, consuming the corpse that had once been my lover. My eyes started to glaze over as I tried not to cry. The damned hypocrites had killed her, and for what reasons. ‘He told the church I practiced witchcraft and had me exiled, threatening death if I ever returned,’ le´Ann's words returned to me. I clenched my hand into a fist as I stared at Louis. He was standing in front of the tabernacle, staring at me furiously. Did he think he was safe here? Did he think these mere mortals possibly stood a chance of defeating me? I turned back to le´Ann, knowing the lush wilderness that had once lived within her eyes was now gone from me forever. I fell off my horse and onto my knees at the foot of the flame, staring up at her. I wanted to reach for her and hold her again and let the flames devour us both. My life was now over as far as I was concerned, over except for vengeance. I would make all those involved pay for what they had done to her. The tears were now streaming down my cheeks, but they didn't seem to ease my pain. There was nothing I could do now to bring her back; she was gone to Heaven or Hell, or whatever came thereafter. The crowd started to gather around me and I knew it would be best not to stay down for much longer. “The devil is among us!” one of the men cried out, and then the people started picking up rocks, pelting them at me. When one of them got to close, I swiftly turned and grabbed him by the throat. He was holding a blade and was intent on taking my life. He tried swinging it at me while I had hold of him, but I managed to take his sword from him, running it through his chest for the crowd to see. They stepped back in horror and I tossed him to one side, mounting my horse while I had the chance. “Damn you!” I screamed at the people who had gathered, my words echoing through the night. “Damn you all straight to Hell!” I glared up at Louis, wanting to take his life then and there, when I heard a familiar voice behind me. “And I looked,, and behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.” Daniel was standing amongst the crowd, reciting these words from Revelations. “Kill him!” Louis shouted, pointing into the crowd at Daniel. “He is in league with the demon!” I turned back to face Louis, knowing the crowd was listening to my words. “No, you are the demon, and those who are in league with you shall feel my wrath, for I wear the face of death and justice shall be served by my hand.” A smile passed over my features as I pointed up at him. “And rest assured, I will come for your soul. I will take you to Hell personally.” With that I rode through the crowd, my horse trampling those who did not get out of my way in time. I would return, and vengeance would be mine.