The priest was led out of Isabel's bedroom. He made the sign of the cross over his chest and said to Hancock, who was waiting at the door, "All right, sir. I've examined her. There are no traces of Holy Water Power remaining for now, but if you notice anything unusual later, please contact me immediately."
Hancock nodded at him. Though he was somewhat surprised that the priest had suddenly requested to inspect for residual Holy Water Power in the evening, he assumed it was merely a tactic for extracting benefits.
Mr. Nihrelet wrote a donation check for the priest's church. After handing it over, the priest did not decline it. He merely made the sign of the cross again and said, "I will pray for the young lady of this household, and for all of you. May God bless you."
Carrying his case, the priest slowly left Nihrelet Manor. Standing before the manor's black-gray gates, he looked back at its buildings before turning and pushing open the gate to leave.
Amid the swaying gray tree shadows on the horizon and the biting wind, accompanied by the Nihrelet Family's solemn bells, the car vanished at the end of the twilight road.
A pale little girl at the window watched him go. Clutched tightly in her hand was a slip of paper bearing a line in ornate English script: "Wait for me at the old place—Doctor."
Before the dinner began, Schiller came to the Nihrelet Family's garden. It was equally bleak: dark brown branches, deep green leaves from the wintry woods, and soil so dull it was nearly black. Schiller lowered his head and passed beneath willow branches shaped like ghostly claws, spotting Isabel on the swing ahead.
Isabel was still staring at Schiller with that fixed, unblinking gaze. Schiller did