The baby was born, as it was conceived, on the night of the full moon. It was a beautiful child, born with a thick head of black hair and coal black eyes. And he was called Aleister, after his father.
He was brought into this world during a sacred mass, which to outsiders might have had the appearance of an orgy. The first sound that greeted his newborn ears, after the cries of his mother, were the groans of passion of the celebrants who attended the birth.
He was immediately wrapped in a sacred velvet robe, and from the moment of his birth, he was treated with the greatest reverence by everyone.
"We must have a governess for the child," said Aleister. "I have made arrangements for a young girl to come here to care for the child."
"She is eighteen. She has red hair. She had recently been orphaned. She arrived today at the station. Billy and Kurt will greet her."
"Does she… does she know about us?" asked Vanessa. "Does she know about the Church of Earthly Desire?"
"She will," said Aleister. "We will initiate her as you were initiated, for her role as governess to the new high priest."
For the first time in many months Vanessa thought about where she had come from and what she had been through since her mother's death.
Aleister looked at her perceptively. "You don't regret anything do you?"
"No," she said thoughtfully, "though sometimes I wonder what would have become of me if I had never laid eyes on you." Aleister leaned forward and kissed her tenderly on the mouth.
"Oh, Vanessa, my darling… don't you know that in life there are no ifs. There is only what exists, not what could have been."
"It was strange at first," she said, pensively. "It is still sometimes strange to live by a different law than the rest of society."
"Yes," said Aleister. "All that is beautiful is strange."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Lily went to answer it. Moments later Billy Butter led a shy redheaded girl into the living room. Vanessa was struck by her innocence. She walked over and stroked the girl's smooth red hair. "Welcome to our home," she said. "But you must be very tired from your journey."
"Yes," said the girl, "If you please… I would like to rest up a bit."
"Of course," said Vanessa. She turned to Billy. "Show the young lady to her room." Then she spoke again to the girl. "Perhaps Billy can bring you a nice cup of tea and some honey cakes."
"Deep dreams," said Aleister.
"Deep dreams," they all said. Deep dreams, thought the young girl. What a curious expression.