The Last Exorcism ( Devil's sentence 14)

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Dawn should have come.
Yet the sky above lingered in an unnatural twilight, stained in hues of bruised violet and sickly gold. The air was thick, charged with unseen forces, pressing down upon the city like a weight of divine judgment.
The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled, but their chimes did not echo in celebration.
They wailed.
Across Rome, people woke gasping, their bodies slick with sweat, their chests tight with an unknown dread.
And then they felt it
A presence.
Something ancient, unholy, writhing against the edges of reality.

The Vatican was at war.

They clutched their rosaries, their crucifixes, whispered prayers spilling from trembling lips.
In their homes. In the streets. In the cathedrals.
The faithful turned their eyes skyward, murmuring in voices soft yet desperate, filling the city with an invisible choir of pleading faith.
And above them, the sky split open.

The Sigil of Fire and Light

Inside the Vatican’s deepest sanctum, Malphas' rebirth was nearly complete.
Gabriel’s torso had torn open, his flesh barely holding onto what remained of him. Darkness spilled from the gaping wound, an abyss in human form.
And from within
Malphas crawled.
His limbs elongated, grotesque, stretching like a marionette with severed strings. His form was impossible to define, shifting, morphing an unfinished nightmare.
The priests encircled him, their voices rising, Latin verses clashing against the suffocating dark.
"Adveniat regnum tuum, fiat voluntas tua "
"Fiat lux!"
And then
The sigil beneath them ignited.
Fire rushed across the floor, spiraling outward in sacred patterns holy symbols interwoven, pulsing with ancient power.
The flames did not rise.
They burned downward.
Into the ground.
Into Hell.
A wound in reality a gateway carved open by divine wrath, waiting to claim the thing that should never have existed.

Gabriel’s Last Moment
For a single, fleeting breath 
Gabriel Cross was there.
His eyes, flickering between human and something less, locked onto the High Inquisitor.
"It’s… not too late."
His voice was weak. A whisper. A plea.
And then 
Malphas lunged.
The Vatican erupted in holy flame.



The sigil of fire and light blazed beneath Gabriel, its interwoven symbols pulsing as if alive.
The moment Malphas was wrenched from Gabriel’s body, reality itself convulsed a rupture in existence, a gateway to damnation.
The demon thrashed violently, clawing at the air, his form no longer fully human, no longer anything that should exist in this world. His mouth stretched open, too wide, too wrong, releasing a soundless scream that shattered the Vatican walls.
The flames of Heaven dragged him downward.
The sigil burned hotter.
Malphas reached out, his twisted, elongated fingers snapping, flexing, desperate to hold onto something anything.
His talons hooked onto the edge of the closing abyss, black nails raking across the marble floor, sending up sparks of hellfire.
"No."
His voice was no longer deep, no longer a growl.
It was a whisper.
It was fear.


The gateway snapped shut.
Like an iron guillotine slamming down.
Like a door closing on an outstretched hand.
Malphas let out a howl of rage and agony one last, defiant wail as his entire body was consumed.
His hand trapped outside the threshold was caught in the closing sigil.
The divine flames carved through flesh and bone like a celestial executioner.
With a sickening crack, the hand was severed.
Malphas’ form was pulled down into the abyss, into the consuming inferno, his screams echoing into nothingness.
And then 
He was gone.

The Lingering Horror
The chamber fell into silence.
Gabriel collapsed onto the cold marble. His body whole again. His breath his own.
The priests, trembling, looked at one another, daring to believe it was over.
But then
Something twitched in the shadows.
A single, severed digit lay on the marble floor, the blackened, clawed finger of Malphas, severed by the closing gateway.
For a moment, it lay still.
Then, slowly
It curled.
Twisted.
Shriveled.
The flesh hardened, the bone splintering inward, folding upon itself.
And then
It moved.
Legs sprouted from the blackened husk, bending at unnatural angles, delicate yet wrong.
The severed finger shifted, cracked.transformed.
A black widow spider crawled from the remnants, its tiny legs tapping against the stone, slipping into the cracks of the Vatican floor.
The priests did not see it.
The High Inquisitor was too focused on Gabriel.
None of them noticed
As it scuttled away into the darkness…
Where daylight did not reach.l Malphas was gone. But something of him remained.



The Vatican stood scarred but standing.
Holy relics lay shattered, their once-radiant auras flickering into dim embers. The marble floors bore blackened veins, scorched by the infernal battle that had raged in the heart of God’s sanctuary.
Yet Malphas was gone.
His name, a curse upon the air, had been ripped from existence, swallowed by divine wrath. The gateway to Hell was sealed, bound in fire and light that no demon could undo.
Outside, the bells of Rome tolled again.
Not in mourning.
Not in fear.
But in defiance.
In the streets, in the cathedrals, in the homes of the faithful whispered prayers continued.
Not out of celebration.
Out of dread.
They had witnessed something beyond miracles.
And they knewmiracles are only needed in the face of something far worse.

The Shadow That Remains

Among the ruins, beneath the fallen crucifixes and shattered sigils
Something stirred.
A shadow crawled across the cracked marble, unseen, unfelt.
Tiny legs.
A glistening, blackened body.
A severed finger, now reborn.
The black widow spider crept into the depths of the Vatican, its body pulsing with the remnants of something ancient.
It moved silently, slipping through unseen cracks, into the hidden places where daylight dared not reach.
It would wait.
It would grow.
Because darkness never dies.
It only finds new ways to return.

"When the shadow falls, it does not scream. It waits, patient as the grave."
"And when men forget its name, it will whisper again from the dark."

The Devil’s Sentence is never truly over












How to find and apply for University of Essex human rights scholarships in 2025. Detailed eligibility, application steps, deadlines, documents, tips, and links to official pages." name="description"

How to Apply for University of Essex Human Rights Scholarships 2025 — Complete Guide

The University of Essex is one of the United Kingdoms best known hubs for human rights teaching, research, and practice. Its Human Rights Centre supports a cluster of LLM, MA, and research programmes and a range of scholarships and bursaries that target refugees, low income applicants, and students focused on refugee care, social and economic rights, and transitional justice.

This guide draws together official information and public scholarship calls relevant to 2025, explains who can apply, lists deadlines and documents, and gives a step by step application workflow and high value tips to improve your chances. All linked sources are included so you can confirm details on the official pages before you apply.

Why Essex for human rights

Essex has a long, visible track record in human rights teaching and scholarship. The Essex Human Rights Centre runs postgraduate programmes, research degrees, policy projects, clinics and public events. Many of the universitys human rights scholarships are targeted to students on specific taught programmes such as:

  • LLM International Human Rights Law
  • LLM Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  • MA Theory and Practice of Human Rights
  • MA Refugee Care
  • PhD in Human Rights

Essex is also active on policy and advocacy through research collaborations and centres that partner with NGOs and international organisations, so scholarship winners often gain research or placement pathways as part of the award.

What human rights scholarships are relevant in 2025

Below are the principal scholarship opportunities you should track for Essex in 2025. Some are administered directly by Essex, others are university partnership awards publicised through scholarship portals. Always confirm each scheme on the official Essex pages before applying.

1. University of Sanctuary Scholarships (Essex) 2025

Summary - The University of Sanctuary scholarship is designed to support students with asylum seeker, refugee or displaced backgrounds and those who pursue human rights related programmes. Public listings indicate a package that can include a full tuition fee waiver for the taught masters, a living support grant, and assistance with accommodation.

Example public listing: WeMakeScholars - University of Sanctuary Scholarships. For the canonical policy and allocation, check the Essex Student Funding Office and the Human Rights Centre announcements where the full eligibility rules and application form are normally hosted.

2. Essex Futures Refugee Care Scholarship

Summary - Targeted for the MA Refugee Care programme, this scholarship often includes a full tuition waiver plus a living support payment. The 2025 public call listed a deadline of 30 June 2025 for applications with notifications in late July. The award is typically limited to a small number of recipients each cycle.

Public listing: WeMakeScholars - Essex Futures Refugee Care Scholarship. Essex departments will host the official application form and assessment criteria.

3. Giulia Mereu LLM Scholarship

Summary - A named scholarship supporting students on the LLM International Human Rights Law programme. Public references indicate tuition coverage and a small internship allowance to support a short placement with a human rights organisation. Check the Essex Law Department page for exact terms.

Public listing: Advance-Africa - Giulia Mereu LLM Scholarship. Confirm the scheme on the Essex LLM or scholarships page before applying.

4. Africa Postgraduate Scholarship and Targeted Country Awards

Summary - Essex periodically lists regional awards, including tuition discounts or scholarships for students from African Union member states. These calls and deadlines vary by year and depend on partnership funding. Earlier cycles listed January deadlines, which may indicate a recurring annual timeline.

Public listing: UKScholarships - Africa Postgraduate Scholarship.

Important 2025 deadlines and timing notes

Deadlines change year to year and some lists below have passed for the 2025 intake. Use these dates as a planning benchmark and always confirm on Essexs official webpages or contact the funding office.

ScholarshipPublic 2025 deadline (example)Notes
University of Sanctuary Scholarship Varies - check Essex updates Often requires an offer to the relevant PGT course. Application windows open after offer issued.
Essex Futures Refugee Care Scholarship 30 June 2025 Notification usually by end of July. Requires an offer to MA Refugee Care.
Giulia Mereu LLM Scholarship Varies - check programme page Often requires application to LLM programme first.
Africa Postgraduate Scholarship 29 January 2025 (previous cycle) Country-specific; check current years call for updated deadline.

Eligibility rules common to Essex human rights scholarships

Although each award has bespoke rules, most of the Essex-linked human rights scholarships share the following eligibility features.

  • You must hold or receive an offer - conditional or unconditional - to the named masters or research programme at Essex (for example the LLM International Human Rights Law or MA Refugee Care).
  • Award categories often accept both UK/home and international fee payers. Some awards specifically target international students or students from particular regions.
  • Refugee, asylum seeker or displaced status is explicitly recognised in some schemes such as University of Sanctuary awards.
  • Academic threshold - many awards ask for at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree or the international equivalent.
  • Some awards expect a short supporting statement or essay about your commitment to human rights and how the programme will support your work.

Step-by-step application workflow

Follow this workflow to organise a complete, competitive application.

Step 1 - Choose your programme and secure an offer

Most Essex scholarships require that you first have an offer for the relevant programme. Apply to the target masters or research degree and secure your offer. See course pages:

Step 2 - Identify which scholarships you are eligible for

Use the official Essex student funding pages and the Human Rights Centre news page to find current award announcements. Third party portals sometimes republish details but always confirm with Essex. The Human Rights Centre homepage is here: Essex Human Rights Centre.

Step 3 - Prepare the documents

Typical required documents are:

  • Your offer letter for the programme
  • CV or résumé tailored to human rights work
  • Academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • Passport or ID copy
  • Short personal statement or scholarship essay (300-1,000 words) explaining financial need and human rights commitment
  • Two references - academic and/or professional
  • Any additional evidence requested - e.g. evidence of refugee/asylum status for University of Sanctuary

Step 4 - Complete the scholarship form and submit early

Follow the specific submission method in the scholarship call. Some forms are emailed to a department mailbox such as ppsdm@essex.ac.uk for certain awards. Others use an online application portal. Always save confirmation receipts and note contact emails in case of problems.

Step 5 - Follow up, prepare for interview

If shortlisted, you may be asked for a short interview or supplementary material. Respond promptly and prepare concise examples of your impact in human rights work.

How to write a persuasive scholarship statement for Essex

Use this short structure for a 400-800 word statement.

  1. Opening: One-line mission statement that connects you to human rights practice (why this field matters to you).
  2. Evidence: Two short but concrete examples of past work or study that show commitment and impact.
  3. Fit: Why Essex and this specific programme will enable your next step and how you will use the scholarship to achieve impact.
  4. Need: A brief but factual sentence on financial need if the award requires it.
  5. Future: One sentence on your intended post-degree pathway and how you will contribute to human rights in practice or policy.

Example opening sentence: I am applying for the Essex Futures Refugee Care Scholarship because my work with local refugee advocacy groups exposed me to structural barriers that I want to address through legal reform and clinical practice.

Selection criteria - what assessors look for

Typical assessor priorities include:

  • Demonstrable commitment to human rights or refugee protection
  • Academic ability and potential to succeed on a masters or research degree
  • Quality and clarity of the scholarship statement
  • Evidence of leadership, initiative or community impact
  • Financial need where the award is need based

Practical tips to boost your chances

  • Apply early for your course. Many scholarship deadlines require you to hold an offer.
  • Tailor each statement. Dont recycle a generic essay; mirror the scholarships priorities and language.
  • Use referees who can speak to your human rights experience specifically.
  • If you are a refugee or asylum seeker, attach official supporting documentation and a short cover note explaining any complications with normal paperwork.
  • Keep files clearly named (e.g. Surname_Transcript.pdf) and ensure PDFs are searchable and not password protected.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Missing the offer requirement - many scholarships require a conditional or unconditional offer before you can apply.
  • Late references - give referees at least three weeks notice and a one-page brief about the scholarship.
  • Vague statements - avoid platitudes. Use concrete examples, numbers and outcomes where possible.
  • Ignoring small print - some awards disqualify candidates who have already accepted alternative full funding.

FAQ

Q: Can international students apply?

A: Yes. Many Essex awards explicitly include international fee payers. Some scholarships are targeted at specific national groups or regions so check the eligibility criteria carefully.

Q: Do scholarship winners get a living stipend?

A: Some awards include a living support amount (for example the University of Sanctuary listing referenced a living grant of around 6,000 GBP). Exact amounts vary and may be conditional on the award year and funding source.

Q: Is the Giulia Mereu award open every year?

A: Named scholarships depend on donor availability. If you are interested, contact the Department for Public Policy and Social Development or the Human Rights Centre for current status.

Where to confirm and ask questions

Always verify details on Essexs official pages and contact the department directly for clarification. Useful links:

  • Essex Human Rights Centre - https://www.essex.ac.uk/centres-and-institutes/human-rights
  • LLM Economic, Social and Cultural Rights course - https://www.essex.ac.uk/courses/PG00541/1/LLM-Economic--Social-and-Cultural-Rights
  • MA Refugee Care course - https://www.essex.ac.uk/courses/PG00814/1/MA-Refugee-Care
  • LLM International Human Rights Law course - https://www.essex.ac.uk/courses/PG00633/1/LLM-International-Human-Rights-Law
  • University of Sanctuary scholarship public listing - https://www.wemakescholars.com/scholarship/university-of-sanctuary-scholarships
  • Essex Refugee Care scholarship listing - https://www.wemakescholars.com/scholarship/essex-futures-refugee-care-scholarship-at-university-of-essex
  • Giulia Mereu scholarship listing - https://www.advance-africa.com/Giulia-Mereu-LLM-Scholarship.html

Final action plan - 6 items to do this week

  1. Apply or fast-track your masters application to Essex so you have an offer in hand.
  2. Download the specific scholarship call and checklist from the Department or Human Rights Centre pages.
  3. Draft a focused 500-word scholarship statement using the structure above.
  4. Contact two referees, share your statement and the scholarship checklist, and confirm submission deadlines.
  5. Scan and collate transcripts, passport and any evidence of refugee status if relevant.
  6. Submit the scholarship form at least 72 hours before the deadline to avoid last minute technical issues.

This guide compiles publicly available details for scholarship opportunities linked to the University of Essex Human Rights programmes in 2025. Scholarship calls, exact amounts and deadlines change from year to year. Always verify on the official Essex webpages or contact the departments listed above before relying on any deadline or award amount.

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