text: "Are you in there at all, Sister Mariam?" Bev asked, advancing on the former nun with her silver sword held out before her.
  
  Mariam twirled her chain and laughed with all the contempt and derision she could muster. "Daevia woke me up to true freedom!"
  
  Mindy laughed back. The Native American cop circled the former nun cautiously, a sword — the twin of terrible blade Bev wielded — held in her hands. The two were trying to surround Mariam. But she had her chain, twirling over her head in a black blur of death to any one that touched it. "You're not free," Mindy derided.
  
  "Daevia woke me up from the shackles of my order!" Mariam roared, anger swelling inside her. "Because of the shame I was tricked into feeling for my lusts, I became a nun. I let those close-minded fools send me out here. I sacrificed my wealth, my sexuality, my life, and you say the Demon enslaved me? She gave me freedom!"
  
  "Then why is there a chain tight about your neck?" Bev asked, her eyes full of that weak emotion.
  
  "Why is there a cord around yours?" Mariam spat back.
  
  "I let Bill tie it around my neck. I can untie it at any time. You know that. You were bound to Bill once! Remember the difference!"
  
  A terrible memory flooded Mariam's mind. Bill taking her, fucking her, making her cum. You're going to be submit to me, aren't you? Bill's words cried from the depths of her soul.
  
  Yes! I'll be one of your whores! I'll help you fight the evil!
  
  The memory of her vow shook her. A chain was tight about her throat, choking her, forcing her to beat the memory back down. Anger filled her, a murderous rage that had to be satiated. She swung her chain with all her might at Bev's face.
  
  "I'll see you dead, bitch!"
  
  Bev raised her sword. "I'm sorry, Mariam."