Gene of Isis

The Sanhedrin council didn’t appreciate having their personal dealings with Rome disrupted by revolution. The Sanhedrin had Jesus arrested, but as it was forbidden for the council to sit during the Passover, the responsibility of trying Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate.

‘But, according to the manuscript I just read, Pilate did all within his power to see to it that Jesus didn’t die on the Cross. In fact, Pilate had his guard assist with the escape from the crypt.’

True, for Pilate had his own agenda. He had struck a deal with Herod-Antipas of Galilee where Pilate promised to see to the release of Jesus—it suited Herod-Antipas for Jesus to continue his campaign and provoke King Herod-Agrippa. However, to be hailed as the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus had to live up to biblical prophecy which stated that the Messiah would be a descendant of the House of David, which Jesus was; that he would be a revolutionary thinker, and as Jesus preached that the way to god was through service to others and the power of one, his was definitely a new way of thought .. . or at least a very old one that had not stirred in some time; and the third requirement of the Messiah was that he would have his blood drawn by his own people.

‘And the crucifixion achieved this. I understand all that,’ I said, feeling a little woozy—too much startling information too soon was obviously not a good thing. ‘But how could the church have suppressed the knowledge that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that she was actually three months pregnant at the time of the crucifixion! She claimed in the manuscript that they had three children, all born in France.’

The eldest of which was a daughter, Tamar, from whom you are descended.

LESSON 10

PHANTASMS FROM THE HONEYMOON JOURNAL OF LADY SUSAN DEVERE

Today we reached Paris.

It wasn’t easy to recruit Lord Devere to our mission, but I did. My husband loves me very much and I am a little ashamed of how I use that to advantage, but I strongly feel that we do have an obligation to find our dear sister.

My brother , Simon, volunteered to remain at the Chateau de Vere, with Catherine, and would send on any correspondence.

Our first stop in Paris was the Arsenal Library, not only because the literature stored there would be a magnet for Ashlee, but also because Mr Devere said he had acquaintances there. I assumed this to mean others of his brotherhood. I entered the L-shaped building with my eyes and mind wide open. Poor Lord Devere, however, was most bemused.

‘I think it’s shameful, when we are in one of the most exciting cities in Europe, that the first place we visit is an esoteric library.’ Obviously my earl was concerned about even being seen here.

‘Why don’t you go and secure rooms in a good hotel, and you can send the carriage back to collect us?’ Whilst giving him an excuse to leave, I made it clear that I intended to stay.

‘You don’t have to stay.’ Mr Devere unwittingly threw a spanner in the works.

‘Quite right,’ my husband agreed, eyeing the all-male attendants in the library. ‘This hardly seems a suitable place for a lady.’

I took a step backward to state my position. ‘I am in Paris to find my dear friend, and I shall go, and be seen, anywhere that my dear sister’s trail may lead me.’ I think they both got the message rather clearly.

‘I shall see to the accommodation.’ Lord Devere ventured forward to kiss my cheek and promptly left the building.

‘You don’t trust me, dear sister?’ Mr Devere asked, as he seated himself to await word of an audience with his colleague, having secured a gentleman at the front desk to see to his request.

‘You haven’t earned my trust, Mr Devere,’ I stated. ‘Let us see how our journey progresses, shall we?’

The gentleman from the front desk returned and we were asked to follow him to the curator’s office. ‘Don’t mind the drawn blinds. Mr Molier has a skin condition that is very sensitive to sunlight, hence the gas lighting.’

Mr Devere glanced sideways at me, as if saying this was news to him—he’d obviously never met this colleague of his. I was a bit apprehensive and I hoped this person was not going to be hideously deformed or something. I could not have been more wrong.

Mr Molier was a very handsome man, although his skin was so pale white and glowing that it almost appeared blue. This seemed very odd, as the long curls of his hair were dark, as were his eyes. Despite his skin condition he appeared a very fit fellow.

‘Mr Devere, at last we meet.’ Molier came out from behind his desk to shake my brother-in-law’s hand. ‘I’m sorry it couldn’t be under better circumstances. You’ve misplaced your wife, I hear?’

Devere was as shocked as I was.

‘How did you know?’ he spluttered, and then added more hopefully as he figured out the answer for himself: ‘You’ve found her?’

I breathed a sigh of relief when Molier nodded. One, we’d found Ashlee; and two, Devere had not broken our agreement to keep Ashlee’s disappearance a secret.

‘She should be arriving very shortly, in fact.’

‘That is a great relief,’ Devere confided, and then felt he should explain the situation. ‘There was a misunderstanding—’

‘I see that much has changed about you recently, Mr Devere.’ Molier grinned, as if he knew everything and more.

Was Molier psychic too? I think Mr Devere was wondering the same thing. My brother remembered his manners