Unholy Desires

[RoryN]

The town of Silvan. A humble place, with a few tall buildings but for the most part, thatch-roofed huts, and the occasional farm animal or fowl wandering about the unpaved roadways. This land was overseen by a Lord Damas who's keep stood a few miles away, and he'd asked for Brother Francis's presence to investigate certain claims bubbling around the town. Apparently, Silvan had been beset by an overwhelming bout of tragedy lately - children going missing, crops and animals dying on certain farms while others remained untouched and well, the stores of grains for sale in the mill becoming infested with rats and insects. And there were claims of a witch's curse.

Bother Francis had just arrived in town today and found that the reports had been vastly exaggerated. There had only been 2 missing children and one of them had been found while he'd made the trip here. The grains in the mill had not been stored properly and rats had been nesting there for a while. There was a few illnesses going around, but it was understandable for how rainy and muggy things had become this late Spring. There were no witches here. He just had to make his final report on the matter and then he and the other Brothers could head home to Aesolon.

Walking in the square, Brother Francis was on his way to the small church in the town, where he would write up a letter of his findings and a final edict to send to Lord Damas and be given to the town officials. A long evening lay ahead of him, but he accepted it with grace, standing tall, at a full 6'4", with a barrel chest and broad shoulders beneath his dark, woven robes covering him from neck to foot. And he wasn't a terribly young man, his hair graying and peppered from the dark black he'd possessed in his youth. But his face still possessed some of that youthful glamor with kind eyes and a strong chin.

 

[Lilytania]

Ariadne walked through the small town, carefully avoiding the various critters wandering the roads. She looked at the various homes, some of which were boarded up in an attempt to keep disease either out or in. Some believed a witch had cursed the town. Ariadne had her own ideas, but she still went to the old myths for confirmation.

Today, the pretty young woman was traveling to the church. She wished to pray for her ill mother. The young girl herself wore a brown dress, stained with age. She walked at a brisk pace, hoping to get to the church and back before sundown.

The girl arrived at the church soon, and found herself kneeling and staring up at the statues of their saints. Her red hair flowed down her back, and her emerald eyes were trained on the images in front of her. A good look at her face would prove her to be about seventeen, late for being wed. She was single, and didn't think she would have a suitable husband.

Ariadne bowed her head and silently began to pray.

 

[RoryN]

The modest church was cool and quiet inside, all of the stones made to build it having been carefully crafted to fit this heavenly house. Brother Francis walked down the aisle, his eyes first laying upon the sanctified images above the alter in reverence and then laying upon the person knelt before it. A young woman... with fiery locks.

Brother Francis' heart beat heavily in his chest and a deep heat burned inside him. Ever the devout priest, he'd dedicated his life to doing the Lord's work and had never once felt pressure for the temptations he denied himself. But seeing the beautiful innocence in the church this day, her hair and youthful form illuminated by diluted light coming in from the windows, he felt those stirrings now. Even as he urged himself to keep firm and reject these unholy desires, as he proceeded down the aisle to stand behind her, he felt himself already giving into what he wanted.

"Good afternoon, my child," he said in a deep, rumbling baritone, his voice smooth and comforting. "It's always good to see one as young as yourself praying to the Almighty for guidance." There was a soft glimmer of something urging him to do the same, but he shoved it away and smiled warmly down at her and allowing his eyes to wander over her delicate form.

 

[Lilytania]

Ariadne had returned to staring at the images of the holy saints. Her emerald eyes glittered in the light of the afternoon. Her red hair shone in the light. The fiery locks were an anomaly, quite different from most people's brown or blond hair. She took pride in her hair, though it made her different.

The cold of the stone was starting to seep through her dress to her skin, and her knees began to ache. Ariadne stayed in the kneeling position, thinking that if she did not endure a few hardships while she prayed, the Almighty One wouldn't answer her prayer for health. She sighed and bowed her head for a moment more, before lifting her gaze again.

The young girl heard someone approach, but she didn't turn to look. She heard the voice and slowly nodded. "My mother always told me that prayer is the thing we should go to when in the most dire need," she said. She smiled gently. She felt like this was working. She didn't even think about the man behind her, didn't turn to look at him. "I feel like I understand that better now."

 

[RoryN]

Such beautiful... faith. In that moment, Brother Francis was completely smitten by this young woman. So dedicated and willing to show her obedience to the Lord. Briefly, he got an image in his mind of her showing him obedience and he swallowed thickly, trying to will the thoughts down. They did not fade.

"Such wise words," he said softly, coming closer to her and laying a hand on her shoulder. He just needed to touch her, a little bit, and he'd be able to keep these urges down. But as his hand lay upon her, his fingertips burned and itched to move further over the landscape of her body. Keeping himself in check, he merely rubbed her shoulder and squeezed it gently in comforting encouragement. Even that much was inappropriate for a man to do to an unwed woman... but he felt entitled with certain privilege because he was a priest.

"Are you in dire need?" he asked. Whatever she wanted, he would do it. Any blessing bestowed, any forgiveness granted. Anything. "Maybe I could be of some service? I have the authority to speak for the Lord and to do his will." The Lord's will was the farthest thing from his mind.

 

[Lilytania]

Ariadne was unaware of the attraction this man felt for her. It hadn't even crossed her mind. He and she both would be in much trouble if anything happened. She kept her eyes gazing straight ahead for a time, before she glanced to her side to look at him in her peripheral vision.

"My mother was quite the wise woman," she said. She shifted slightly as his hand rested on her shoulder. An unusal gesture, but he was a priest. He surely meant no harm. She smiled and turned her head to look up at the man fully. Her emerald eyes were quite bright in the dull light of the church.

"My mother is ill with the disease. She's a devout woman; I don't know why she would have caught such a thing. I'm worried she'll die. Can't you do anything?" She turned to face him in a plea. Her eyes sparkled with want, and she looked up at him innocently. The young unwed woman had no thoughts about this man, only about the safety of her mother.

 

[RoryN]

Those eyes. One look into those green pools - grown somehow both brighter and darker in the church's shaded interior - and he couldn't deny what he wanted any longer. The kindly expression on his face smoothed out to a more relaxed and cool one.

"A gift such as that doesn't come for free," he said, his deep voice rumbling softly. "But yes, I can do something to help her...for a certain price."

They were alone in here, secluded and safe. It would be prudent for him to continue the conversation in the priests quarters in the back, but here, standing in the chapel before the alter, he felt he had the most power and influence over her. "You're a beautiful woman," he said softly, his eyes wandering over her liberally. "Such fine red hair - not something you see a lot these days." Idly, he let his fingertips stroke some of the locks on her back. "A body and skin like yours should not go untouched. I will certainly help your mother and she will get well with the blessing I give her. But you have to give me something in return."

How willing was she? How far would she go to protect and help someone she loved so much? If they were caught together, it would surely be disastrous for the both of them but he was more than eager to risk it all. There was a subtle sickness in his gut from even thinking of taking advantage of her like this, but his lust was more powerful than his piety at the moment.

 

[Lilytania]

"A price? I don't have much money, but I can give you what I have!" She clasped her hands in a begging position. She wanted her mother healed, and she didn't understand what he wanted.

Ariadne frowned ever so slightly as she felt his hand go to her soft red hair. The touch felt strange. She knew it was wrong, but she didn't move. She didn't want him to change his mind. Maybe he'd quit after he got to play with her hair a bit. No one was around to see them anyways. She was safe from the probing eyes of the public for now.

"Give you something in return?" she asked, slowly starting to understand. Her unwed body had never been seen or touched. She lowered her hands and frowned. "No," she said suddenly. "I won't risk my own safety and reputation for my mother's health. My own faith should be enough." She rose off the ground, looking at him again. "Good day to you, Brother." She began making her way out of the church, not wanting to spend another minute here.