" You listen to me, and listen good!" she shouted, shocking me. " I am not evil because I have a thousand years of demon smut on my soul!" she exclaimed, the tips of her hair trembling and her face flushed. " Every time you disturb reality, nature has to balance it out. The black on your soul isn't evil, it's a promise to make up for what you have done. It's a mark, not a death sentence. And you can get rid of it given time." " Ceri, I'm sorry," I fumbled, but she wasn't listening. " You're an ignorant, foolish, stupid witch," she berated, and I cringed, my grip tightening on the copper spell pot and feeling the anger from her like a whip. " Are you saying because I carry the stink of demon magic, that I'm a bad person?" " No..." I wedged in." That God will show no pity?" she said, green eyes flashing. " That because I made one mistake in fear that led to a thousand more that I will burn in hell?" " No. Ceri -" I took a step forward." My soul is black," she said, her fear showing in her suddenly pale cheeks. " I'll never be rid of it all before I die, but it won't be because I'm a bad person but because I was a frightened one. "