Lilah Read Online Free PDF Page A

up the girl twirling her gently and smothering her with
kisses.
    I could not feel the same excitement. Not only
was I feeling poorly, for the first time I felt used.
    ‘You have done well my young friend.’
    Arianne would falsely claim that she came down
in the morning to pray and found the child sitting up in the coffin. When I
entered the chapel I was to appear amazed before kneeling, making a sign of the
cross, and repeating out loud my prayer of thanks for this miracle, to show
that I was in no way linked. We were aware that Sister Gertrude had been
viewing us both more keenly since the commencement of the minor wonders.
    But our performance was sadly not to be. A much
more threatening stage was being set while I remained in an unmoving slumber
for two days. From the shadows, while she ate her stolen food in secret, Sister
Nora had been watching me perform this act.
    The sisters could not wake me and while I
slept, charges for my unforgiveable crime of magic were laid. Sister Nora said
that she had noticed me unwell and sleepy every time a child was cured and that
this current stage of slumber should provide them with proof of my deeds, to
back up her witnessed account.
    After long hours of prayer for guidance, a
group of sisters, supported by Nora, surmised that it was the work of the devil
through me. Though, some did not find me abhorrent, feeling more pity and still
much tenderness towards me. They believed that I was possessed and unaware of
it. I was not allowed contact with the children while they decided my outcome.
    Arianne brought two more abandoned children to
the monastery also during this time only to be told to take them away again.
Sister Gertrude had decided that our beds were full enough and no new children
would be admitted that summer. It was the beginning of changes within the
monastery and it would no longer be just about the poor.
    Arianne argued for my case. She believed I
should stay; that I was performing holy miracles. The day of their small trial
I was asked to stay away from the chapel where it was performed. It was agreed
that the Papal Notary would not be informed, that they would handle the ‘little
incident’ themselves with everyone sworn to secrecy. No child ever witnessed my
action so the secret was safe.
    While they discussed me and
my apparent evil I ran into the forest and sat weeping. If only I hadn’t
listened to Arianne, and had shown enough fortitude to follow my own heart. I
spoke these words aloud through angry tears and vowed, if the sisters let me
stay, never to perform another healing.
    I felt a cool breeze ruffle the ends of my hair
and realised that someone was watching. A man wearing a long cloak stood a
short distance from me, his face and age undeterminable in shadow.
    ‘Are you alright?’ he asked.
    ‘Yes.’ I answered quickly wishing him away,
embarrassed at my discovery and afraid that he had heard my confession. I
walked a short way then turned to find him gone.
    Quickly returning to the monastery I was told
to report straight to Sister Gertrude. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and I wondered
at the seriousness of the trial that had been the cause of her distress. She
asked me to sit. She could not look at me at first, her hands gripped together
so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Then her eyes levelled on mine.
    ‘I cannot condone what you have done. This kind
of practice is against the teachings of this church. Though this grieves me
greatly, Lilah, for so many of the sisters have grown attached to you. You have
indeed been a tower of strength for the foundlings here. I have watched you
amuse and care for them selflessly.’
    Sister Gertrude sighed. ‘It pains me to think
that your gift is such a waste. You are a contradiction of everything I have
thought possible. You are so kind and willing yet you carry a curse. I very
rarely question our Lord’s motives but this incident confuses me. I have tried
to pray for answers but have received nothing.