Claire and her mob of followers slowly marched down the dirt path. It went across rolling hills and grassy plains. When Woodlot was out of sight, Claire continued praising the mysterious reverend. Calling him a wise mind and his sermons moving, she could barely remember them and left dazed and disoriented. Mary, being the inquisitive older women in the group began to question the value of this reverend, and Claire herself.
"Who is this reverend? And which village rectory are we going to?" Claire and a few other women giggled at her question.
"He is a travelling reverend who has spread his word to places I do not even know of." She spun around in joy. "Today he will be at his own personal rectory in the countryside, with no village to govern it." Mary winced at the sinful display Claire was giving the group, but kept going to hear this peculiar reverend. She walked in silence while the others persisted to converse loudly, quite unorthodox. She gave the occasional small prayer for safe travels and to bless the souls of the rebellious women. Eventually, noon had come near, and Claire piped up to the whole crowd once more. 417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzGKLE3QU1
"We're nearly there, ladies, stay strong, his word and looks can be quite off putting at first, but he will change your life." Mary rolled her eyes, assuming Claire was now just exaggerating. After a few more paces, the reached a tree in the mostly empty valley. Under it was a small crowd of women circling a goat.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp0ZkjVcjh
"Welcome, everyone," Claire began. "To the rectory of the Reverend Bizarre." The other women ogled at the sight of the rectory. Mary was wholly offended and took a step backward with a disgusted look.
"Who on earth is this 'Reverend Bizarre!?" She yelled, gaining the attention of the crowd. "This is no rectory, this is just open air and a tree!" She scolded Claire with these words, mostly.
"Oh, my child you do not understand." Said the soothing voice of a young man. "My rectory is all the earth and it's bountiful land." It was not until then she realized it was the goat talking. It turned to her, standing upright like a man. He lent out one foreleg like an arm towards her, as if it were an arm. "I am Reverend Bizarre, my child." Mary's eyes widened and she clenched her heart, nearly falling backward. The reverend himself was a tall goat with black fur and a long goatee. He had large and twisting horns that added a fifth to his height. This was no sermon or teaching, no, this was a Witches' Sabbat, the ultimate ritual for Satan.
"Sinners, heathens, witches!" Mary screamed at the top of her lungs. "You shall all burn for this, you'll see! Boyle will have you hanged!" A few other older women moved toward Mary, similarly taken back by Bizarre and the witches. Claire chuckled and the reverend stepped out of his circle of followers. "How old are you, pious one?" Bizarre asked Mary. With good posture and strength in her tone, Mary answered.
"Forty-seven, you must be Satan I presume?" Bizarre shook his head.
"Your age explains your ignorance, almost too loyal to God." Bizarre grinned like a man. "Almost. And to answer your question, pious one, no, I am not Satan, I am simply a figure of his word." He sits back down at the circle, gesturing with his hooves to the women still standing. "Come, sit, we have much to learn and commit to." Bizarre's eyes flashed a bright white as he looked at Mary, she became compelled to stay for a while longer, and fought to be in the first row. In fact, all the women couldn't keep their eyes off of him. "Ladies," Bizarre began, throwing his arms outward like a man could. "God is lying to you." The whole congregation gasped and twisted in fear. "He has given you the illusion of being blessed, of freeing you of your sins." He hunched down to be at head level with the women. "But, you see, your sins are your freedom, your freedom to be who you wish. God shall restrict you with laws and injustice to your body." Bizarre paused for minutes, Mary anticipating on him to continue. "But I wish to make you free, free from God, and all the things he calls sins." He rises back up, swirling his hooves to his horns, from it an olive branch crown appeared, floating around them. "Please, women, be free of your sin! Act as you wish, do what you want for this hour!" The crowd went into a mad frenzy. Some yelled at the top of their lungs. Others ripped their clothing apart and ran around dancing and singing. Mary looked around with bewilderment, still not estranged from God. Claire approached her, kneeling down to be level with her. Claire gave a devilish grin as their faces became closer.
"Now, my children, I shall free your souls!" Bizarre levitated four feet into the air as he said an incantation in Latin. Mary still onlooking with little emotion. With the last phrase, the reverend yelled. "Be free for all eternity from the clutches of God, Ave Sathanus!" The women contorted and twisted into awful poses as the spell was cast. Claire moved in and locked lips with Mary. Mary convulsed, the light in her eyes disappearing into the air. The combined power the women gave up to Bizarre transformed into a mighty pentagram in the air. The Sabbat was complete. As the pentagram dissipated, Bizarre returned to the ground and the women calmed down, huddling back around him. Claire lifted from Mary and stood beside her. Mary stayed perfectly still, her right eye twitching.
"That was the first incantation of many to free yourselves from the likeness of God." Bizarre said. "The next one shall be next Sunday, deep into the nights. You shall sneak out under your husband's nose. You may leave now." The crowd dispersed in multiple directions, Claire lifting Mary to her feet. They began to slowly make their way back to Woodlot. Claire began to whisper into Mary's ear.
"You are now one with the Reverend Bizarre, but I do think you shouldn't tell your husband." She swayed her hand in Mary's direction, another spell that clouded her mind.
"Do not worry, Hubert will know nothing." Mary said expressionlessly. Claire giggled excitedly.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkbB8REH2c
"Good, good, more fun awaits." She maniacally rambled as the two hobbled down the path.
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