Somehow, Myrddin found the courage to continue to speak. "Was I truly willing if I was unaware? None of this was EVER explained to me. I can't become a High Priest when I have no real understanding. Yes, I saw Azazael called forth, BUT I WAS A CHILD! When I returned to my uncle finally, it was not out of loyalty to Azazael, a being I knew nothing about, it was to KILL HAROLD. As you probably know already, I did just that!"

Myrddin maintained that he had forgiven his uncle. He had tried to make this his truth. Surely, he could forgive someone who was now dead and by his hand, but it was something he continued to struggle with. As he spoke, the years of simmering hatred and anger towards his uncle for his abuse, and towards his Christian father for his neglect, began to spill from him.

"I wanted to destroy him utterly for what he did to me! Do you think I liked it? I only studied under him to find the means of ridding the earth of that inflated worm. What he served was abhorrent to me! How can you ask me to be the High Priest for the very creature he cried out to as he hurt me? I begged him to stop, but he kept on and on, even though I was bleeding. He-he continued to hurt me until I had passed out. You want me to become a priest for a creature that enables the rape of children? I'd tell you people to go to hell if I didn't believe you already had first class tickets booked on Satanic Airways."

Myrddin was so angry now, he was trembling. As a result of his impassioned speech, but also due to the fear he still felt, his heart was hammering fast and loud. He saw stars and thought he would black out. Surely everyone could hear his heartbeat, louder and louder. The sound reverberated around the room. It was only when the congregation formed a circle around him and once again fell to their knees that he realised the sound was no longer simply within him, it was also without.

A blonde man in his mid to late twenties emerged from behind him. He knew intuitively that he had once seen this man as a baby, in the secret room in his uncle's house. He knew this was Azazael.

Azazael began to circle him, and as he did so a brightness seemed to emanate from his hands forming bands of light around Myrddin. The first band surrounded his pelvic region and the last formed a crown at his head. By the time this last band of light settled upon, him he felt completely at peace.

Azazael spoke, "How disappointing. After all the things I have taught you, you still do not see. The power is yours. I have set you free by showing you the way. Strong emotions will not kill you. Pain, lust, anger, hate, jealousy, they unleash the power within you.

"It was this power, that enabled you to obliterate your uncle. Nothing to ever trace the incident back to you. That was clever. That is power at its most impressive. Complete spontaneous combustion? Ingenious." He laughed. "All you had to do was a vacuum, report him missing and then wait seven years to lay claim to his estate.

"You are a powerful being Myrddin, why are you afraid of yourself? Think, what you have achieved, what you could yet do! You are angry with me because your uncle invoked me, but he had to break you before he could build you up. You should thank him. It was this that has made you so strong Myrddin.

"He knew that you would kill him in the end. He was prepared for it, knowing that he had passed on his legacy to the right man. You never need to feel weak again Myrddin. Join me and become a god."

"You-you're not going to execute me for killing one of your priests?"

"Why would I do that? You behaved logically. You acted with power, used the gifts I had given you. That is something to be celebrated, not punished. Come."

He led Myrddin away from the congregation. They descended an additional set of stairs, which revealed another room, elaborately furnished in gold, red and black. A pedestal featuring two gold goblets stood at the end of the room. Azazael picked up a goblet and began to drink. He invited Myrddin to take the other goblet, which he did. Mesmerised by the strange swirling motion of the red and white liquid within, Myrddin hesitated briefly, before sipping the mysterious draught.

"This, this is incredible. I have never tasted anything like it. What is it?" he asked.

Azazael smiled. "Your reward," he replied, "Tell me, how do you feel?"

Myrddin was filled with a warm glow. He skulled the remaining contents of his goblet. "I feel...I feel invincible," he replied.

"And so, you are." Azazael smiled at him again.

"That was delicious!" Myrddin grinned. He felt pleasantly tipsy. There was something he was trying to remember, something Con had said to him that disturbed his thoughts now.... She was — delicious.... What had they been talking about? He couldn't remember. It mustn't have been that important, so he let the thought slip away. He had to concentrate on the here and now, on this...this incredible feeling. He wanted it to last forever. "May I have some more?"

"As my High Priest, you shall have the Life Elixir in abundance, I will even teach you how to make it. Too much can cloud judgement, however. That is enough for today. Go home now. Rest. Study. You will need to prepare for Candlemas."

Myrddin's thoughts were fuzzy. Did I agree to become his High Priest? I suppose I must have....