Had it been cold last time he was outside? Luke couldn't think clearly as he moved throughout the village. He couldn't get his thoughts straight. The further he moved away from the demon, the more confused he got. He knew where he was going. He knew he had to avoid the eyes of the curious townspeople. He knew he looked a mess; their friendly neighborhood priest was in clothing they had never seen him in before.
He saw the church in the distance and a sense of unease came through him. How odd. He always felt comfort there. Luke took a deep breath and moved the rest of the distance with ease. His feeling of discomfort only growing the closer he got to his safe haven. What if they didn't let him back in? With a swift movement, he opened the doors of the church. Much to his surprise, it was empty. It was exactly as he had left it a few days back. Had no one been in here since then?
"Is anyone here?" he called out. He felt a stinging on his back as he moved deeper into the establishment.
"Father! What has come of you?" He heard a slight voice coming from the back of the church. Relief flooded through him. He wasn't alone. He knew the voice well, but his mind was so jumbled that he couldn't place a name.
"Help me, please," Luke croaked. He stepped up to the pulpit where the demon had taken him, it was still toppled over. Much to his horror, the small man did not take any steps toward him. The young apprentice just stood in the shadows, bright blue eyes bulging at him.
"
Father, son and Holy Spirit,"
the man whispered as he clung to the crucifix on his neck. "It got you, Father."
"Help me, son." Luke pleaded, once again. It was at that moment when Luke realized that the two of them weren't alone. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and as soon as it did, a searing pain ripped through his back. The hand on his shoulder went to the collar of the flimsy shirt he had on and tore it off. A collective gasp came from behind him.
"You have been marked by the Devil, boy." The voice behind Luke was authoritative, one he did not recognize. Fear coursed through Luke as the pain in his back grew in intensity.
"Help me, I beg you," Luke knew the words were pointless as soon as they came out of his mouth. He had to get out of here. He had to figure out a way out of this.
"You were weak enough to let a demon mark you, why should we help you? You are a disgrace. You fell to the sin of the flesh."
Ironically, the only 'safe' place he could think of was the cottage with the demon. She had left him to stew and that's when he made his escape. He should have listened to her when she said this would happen if he came back. Was he facing death now? All for carnal pleasures?
Lily chuckled as she watched the scene at the church unfold in front of her. The only thing that slightly shocked her was the mark on the Father's back. That she hadn't expected. What had happened between them that first night? She knew she had to get him out of the mess he was in, that was certain. He was in grave danger and something in her wouldn't let anything happen to him.
With the confidence only a demon woman could have here, she marched through the doors of the church that had carelessly been left open. No one seemed to notice her presence, not even Luke. He looked far too terrified at the formidable man standing in front of him. She could see the pain coating her Priest's features, she imagined it had something to do with the demonic mark on his back and the holy land they were in. She felt the pain here too. She tried to reach out to him with her presence, letting a little bit of her seductive magic roll through his body.
She could tell he sensed it. His body loosened slightly, and he looked wildly around the church for her. She wasn't here to hurt him, and she tried to convey that in her message. She stepped from behind the man interrogating Luke, and Luke finally laid eyes on her. There was no relief in his eyes, though, just terror. She wanted to let him know that he would be safe, that she would get him out of here. Lily knew that she could take on these men who were cornering Luke, but she didn't want to put him in any danger while she did it.
"Father," she said with a slight voice. The men holding him turned abruptly and glared at her. Luke whipped around again and locked eyes with her. He was pleading with her.
"Get out of here, Lily," he said softly. Why didn't he just give her up? The way his shoulders hung admitted defeat. Lily didn't like it one bit.
"No!" She said with a little more force.
"What is a noblewoman of your stature doing here trying to entertain a disgraced priest?" The other man directed his question at Lily.
"You have to help him, sir. He saved me from the demon, I only came to see that he made it here okay." Lily said, her eyes downcast. Luke looked at her with confusion, and Lily sent out a wave of warmth to him. This man would be no one's but hers. He was
