“That’s what the wisdom of the world does,” I corrected her. “And what I experienced with Eli wasn’t a dream.”

“Are you sure? Is that what you’re going to tell Rose when they come for you? That Eli came back from the dead, showed up in your cell, and told you there is no fear in love?”

I didn’t respond.

“It sounds insane,” Bobbie said. “Because you can’t begin to believe that it’s possible to live without fear. Does that mean no one knows how to love? Because everyone lives in fear of something. Fear of being ridiculed, fear of heresy. Even God fears, for goodness’ sake. He fears for you!”

“My Father fears nothing, including my failure.”

“Not true,” she snapped. “What is true is that soon they’ll come to collect you, and we need to make sure you don’t mess this up.” She eyed me, clearly annoyed by my apparent dismissal of her. “Even if the boy is right, you won’t do anyone any good locked up here. Play their game. To the Romans, be a Roman. Speak their language. Repent. It’ll set you free to teach them all this love stuff over time.”

She made good sense, though what she meant by repent was very different from what Eli meant by it.

A thought blossomed in the back of my mind as I stared at Bobbie. You manifest what you believe. You create it. Whatever I did in fear only created more fear. Fury. But if I was in the love that held no record of wrong, more of that love would come. Regardless of what I did, I didn’t want to do it in fear.

Bobbie tilted her head slightly and gave me a questioning look. “What nonsense are you trying to believe now?”

The door at the top of the stairs creaked open. Bobbie and I both turned to watch as heavy boots started down the stairs, one pair and then another. Tanner and Marshall. They were coming to collect me for my appearance before the community, just as Bobbie had said.

“It’s time,” Tanner said.

Bobbie had moved to the side, her eyes still trained on me. “Use common sense,” she said. “It is the only way to ensure your protection.”

Marshall unlocked my cell and ushered me forward.

Bobbie was still present and speaking. “Protect yourself, Grace. Please, for my sake.”

For her sake, because her existence depended on me remaining in fear. She was of my own making, a Fury.

Tanner and Marshall kept me close as they guided me up the stairs and out of the basement. I squinted against the bright sun. It was already hot. The streets were empty as they led me to the Chapel.

Bobbie was suddenly in front of me, eyes drilling into mine. “Think of your baby!”