Father Yei

They had put the princess in heavy silver chains. Her hands were bound and every step she took made a clanking noise.

Princess Anai refused to talk to me. She wouldn't even look at me when I came in. All she did was take a book, the same one titled "2 Fortnights" and read until she tired herself. It was always around midnight when I took my leave.

Three days passed but she refused to address me by name. I would come in and sit at her desk to read my Bible, then take notes. At midnight, I would leave a small cross by her bedside or pages to a prayer but the next day it would be gone or torn into shreds.

This wall of distance could continue on no further. I needed to know more about her so that I could perform the right expulsion.

She was in a bright red gown that made her skin glow the next morning. "And how are you this morning princess?" I extended my usual greeting.

"You can go jump out a window father" she says calmly.

"I know you are not fond of me"

"What a wise man you father Yei" she clapped mockingly. "I am a prisoner in my own palace because of you! I hate you!"

"Hate is a strong word" I caution her.

"I'm glad it is." She frowned, jumping back to her bed and opening her book. I paused and looked up at her, gently running my hand against my shaking thigh. I wish she would stop staring at me like that.

"So when will you be done visiting? I am done seeing your stupid face and tired of being locked in these chains"

I ignore her and  continued reading my bible.
"I feel the opposite princess." I say, looking out the corner of my eye. I saw her smile but she turned her head away quickly. She wouldn't let anyone see her falter.

"Well I still don't like you, even with all the flattery"

"And why not?" I close my book and turn to face her.

"First off you dress weird. And you smell like incense... and you are distant... as if you don't trust me" her lips purse into a timid smile.

I actually stood from my chair and walked over to face her as she said her last statement. "Princess... there is nothing you would like to learn about me. I trust you. It is you who shouldn't trust me." I admit. My past life had been one I was not proud of and I would do anything to leave my past behind.

"Why?" She sits up, her beautiful curls fell to her cheek.

"I am a tainted man, with tainted thoughts." I whisper, looking away and turning back to the desk to read.
I could feel her continuing to stare as I opened the Psalms.

——
The next day

The next morning I am let in her room and see her in a beautiful dark blue dress. The way it hugged her figure seemed to make her even more ethereal.
Every day her beauty seemed to grow.

"Am I only a nut case to you? A mission?" She blurted, turning quickly to meet my frame as I enter in.

"Good morning to you princess" I say, placing my bag on the left side of her desk table.

"Answer the question Father Yei" she snaps.

"I am here on duty. I was called by God to guide you and take the dark entity away. I see a woman touched by an evil entity and I wish for it to leave her. I want to save you princess"

"How noble of you" She frowns, tilting her head to the side in a way that made me realize her beauty.

"Look, I think we may have got off on a incredulous start. I am Father Yei" I walk over to her and extend my hand. She lifts hers up to eye level, waiting for me to kiss it. I take it and smile, pressing my lips against it.

"I am princess Anai, but of course you know that." She says, staring down at me.

===

The sun set and there was only darkness in the room. A small candle illuminated the the room as I hunched over my bible, reading the latest book of Thessalonians. It was almost a quarter to twelve and I was soon to take my leave.

I hear her footsteps behind me. I knew it was Anai. She walked over and sat at the desk, pushing the bible to the side.

"Yes princess" I sighed, my eyes still glued to the Bible. She pushed a knuckle beneath her chin and watched me.

"I am bored and can't go to sleep. Ask me your questions." She commands.

"Will you answer them?" I ask, not ready to entertain her.

"I will Fathee! Cross my heart" she says, pressing a finger to her heart and waving it to mimic a cross.
I already knew she was lying.

"Truthfully?" I clarify.

"Maybe, it depends how nice you are to me" she pouts, "and if I may ask you a question."

I took out my small book from my bag that had the instructions for preforming an exorcism and flip to the blank pages. "Fine..a question for a question"

She took the book from my hand and read it. "Number 1, ask the number and name of the possessing spirits." she reads.

I take the book from her and waited.

"The name? Hmmmm Mary" she smiles, "the name of the spirit is Mary"

"You said it was Lous? So you're lying?"

"I am not" she giggled. I couldn't help but smile with her. She had a beautiful laugh. "Fine Do not laugh at me if I answer truthfully"

"Who am I but a man? I will not judge you, only God can."

She nods and looked into my eyes. "I don't have a name..or names for them. But it is a voice..sometimes it is a mean voice...and sometimes, it is nice."

"Two voices?" I ask curiously.

"Maybe three" she shrugs.

I nodded and make a note. "When did these three...spirits enter you"

She played around with a string on the end of her dress before continuing.

"The first? When I was four. I was in the forest and it told me to kill a frog"

"The second?"

"When I tried to kill my sister...that one is the mean one."

"And the third?" I ask her.

"It comes when I want to kill myself with posinon or knifes..or...When i am being a bad girl." She whispers, avoiding my glare.

"I see" I nodded taking notes in my journal.
"And why? Why do they speak?"

"I don't know.." she muttered already shutting me out. I knew it was as far I would get today. It was progress nonetheless.

I closed my book and put it away, looking up again to meet her eyes. She smiled and looked to my lips. "Now it is my turn"

"Ask me anything and I will answer" I assure her.

"What called you into priesthood?"

"Well...I was..young and lost in a world of...sin"

"What type of sins?" She bit her lip, excited to hear of my tales.

"I thought we agreed a question for a question?" I smirk. She pouted then lifted her fingers to count some numbers. "We'll you asked me three questions father, so I get three."

"That is a fair point" I nod.

"If I list every sin, we would be here for an eternity."

"I have time father." She reminds me.

"Okay. Father Abban found me when I was at my lowest. Drinking, gambling, adultery, fornication. He took me in gave me shelter."

"And you took an oath to absitence?" she asked.

"An oathe I ...hesitantly agreed upon." I reveal. Princess Anai didn't know it, but I was a deep philanderer, taking women wherever I pleased. If it wasn't for my ties to the Lord, I would have been in the princess bed the first night.

"I was obsessed with the good life until I  reached a breaking point. I had to turn away, lest I die"

"So you will never experience the tightness of virgin" she asks.  My heart raced as I heard her lewdness. So my feelings were accurate? I saw her sneak a glance here and there but I didn't think nothing of it.

"When you speak like that princess...it is not becoming of a lady of your...status" I said impatiently, gathering my bags to start my journey home. She giggled, almost mocking me, as if she knew my weakness.

"And what makes you think I care about a status Father?" She looks me in the eye before lifting the candle that was on the desk.

"I would advise against that. The wax is hot. It will burn you" I warned her.

She continued hovering her fingers above the flame of the fire. She winced but sighed in pleasure closing her eyes in calm. " I love to feel pain. pleasurable pain..." she said unmistakably, lifitng its base to my face "Don't you?"

"It's time for me to go Princess" I saw, sitting in the chair to push on my shoes.

She pushed herself into my lap, her thighs stradling both my legs. I tried to hold the grunt forming in my throat as she stared me, all my immoral thoughts flowed into my mind.

"The voice is speaking again Father Yei" she whispers seductively. The strength it took for me not to grab her waist was immeasurable!

"What are the voices saying?" I ask her, curious to see why she was the way she was.

"To burn you...to a crunchy crisp" she pouted, the fullness of her lips tempting me into submission.

"And will you listen to them?" I ask.

"Maybe? she shrugs, "but I think you are far too pretty to burn" she says nonchalantly before she lifted the flame of the candle to her tongue, silence was the only thing between us as she hovered it over the tip, letting the flame burn her tongue. It was so strange how she did not flinch, nor wince.

Why was this turning me on...

"Princess Anai." I say, trying to lead her off but she wraps her legs around my waistline, refusing to depart.

She continues hovering the flame over the tip of her tongue. I grabbed her jaw, forcing her to stop and pulling the flame away. She smirked as she saw me react.

"Father Yei? Are you scared of me?" She asked, pushing an arm around my neck and pulling her lips against my ear.

I grab her wrists leading her off me with regret. I didn't want too take advantage of her nor the situation.

She pushed her lips again to my neck, kissing my throat tenderly but before she could continue further, I push her away, letting her drop to the floor. 

She frowned and took the candle and dropped it atop my bible, purposely letting it catch on fire.

"Oops" she gasped, watching me as I lunged to dissolve the flames. The front of the book charred and a bit of the inside.

"I am sorry father! I do hope that bible wasn't a keepsake?"

"It was the first bible printed in this region but it wouldn't have mattered to you either way"

She giggled but immediately stopped, and ran to her bed, picking up a pouch underneath the pillow.

"Here" She pushed it into my hand.

I take it and opened the case. It was as shiny golden ball with a glimmering exterior. "I want you to have it to replace your burned book"

"Isn't this what your mother told you to never depart with?" I sigh. She was wearing my patience thin.

"No father it is a different ball." She lied so confidently. I had no time for her trickery.

"Good night Princess."

"No! Wait. You must tuck me in"

"I think you are too grown for that" I sigh, making my way to the door.

She runs to her bed and snuggles in the cover. "My father always tucks me in, reads me a story and kisses me goodnight"

"I will alert the guards to do so. Goodnight" I say, knocking in the door so the guards could let me out.

"You hate me! You hate me!" She screams, pretending to cry. I rolled my eyes as she continued her theatrics but I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for her. She was locked in this tower. All alone, with no one to keep her entertained.

Regretfully, I turn around and walk to face her.

"Okay princess. Fine. You got your way again. Come on." I say, waiting for her to wipe her fake tears. She is frozen as she sees me beside her bed.

——

"Aren't you tired? I am, come on" he says. I stare into his eyes, shocked he would turn around and do it. Servants and guards usually ignored me when I pretended to cry, but he didn't.
Why?

I press my head to the pillows, waiting for him to come closer. He was so beautiful. Pieces of his thick black hair had come undone from his bun. His eyes were deep and strained from the day but it made him look more manly.
I think I was starting to like him.

He will never fall in love with you.

He bent beside me and pulled the covers over my body, tucking the blankets underneath me. "Good night princess" he says turning to face the door to depart.

"And a story!" I shout, preventing him from leaving so quickly.

"You burned my Bible so the story will have to be for another time"

That's right. I did burn it.

"Okay...then my goodnight kiss" I whisper. My heart raced as I blurted the words.

You are so desperate!

He stopped and stared into my orbs, looking down at my lips. Cautiously he stepped over, bending down and pressing his lips against the crown of my hair. He lingered for just a few seconds before staring into my eyes. "Goodnight princess" he whispers. Taking the candle beside my bed and blowing it out.

I hear his footsteps depart and finally silence as the door of my room opens and shuts.

I was left in complete darkness. The silence of the room etching it's eerie sound into my ears.
I may have been going crazy. Well, crazier than before but I noticed the complete silence of my mind as the moon lifted into my window pane.
After he kissed me, I fell asleep and it was the best slumber I ever braced for it was the first night in a long time that I didn't hear the voices.

It sounded serene.