Page 135 of Sins of the Heart

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rather a sacrifice to lure another sacrifice, to lure yet

another who might ultimately attract the attention of

the one they wanted. Layers upon layers.

Killing an innocent was more productive than killing

one whose deeds had already blackened their soul.

“She will traverse the twenty-one gates of Osiris, her

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heart will be weighed, she will be found righteous and

Anubis will allow her to proceed to the Field of Reeds.”

Again, Djeserit asked no question. She merely pointed

out that which she found obvious, believing her superior

intellect would sway him to her point of view. But he

heard what she did not ask.What is to be gained by her

death?

Pyotr sipped again at the bitter brew. He set the small

white cup on its matched saucer, taking his time, letting

her wait. “How do you know she will go to the realm

of Osiris? She may go to another afterlife entirely.”

A fleeting expression touched Djeserit’s implacable

features, surprise, perhaps dismay. “Your words are

blasphemy.”

“Not at all,” he demurred. “I only point out that the

Underworld has many gods, many lords. Endless territories. And I do not even touch on other possibilities

for the afterlife. Her soul may go to any one of thousands of places. But the unassailable truth is that it matters not where the lamb’s soul settles, only that it does

not remain in her current incarnation.”

She missed his point, but she was careful not to betray

her confusion. He let the silence grow and stretch, in no

rush to explain. Let her wonder. Djeserit saw only the

obvious. Despite her intellect, she was too literal to grasp

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