Bad Habits: A Dark Anthology - Yolanda Olson Page 0,56
to your prayers then.”
I nod, turning and making my way back to the tree. I get down on my knees and clasp my hands in prayer. I was lucky this time. This thing, whatever it is with Priest and I, will have to come to an end, for both of our sakes. What Father Thomas did to be last night is only the tip of the iceberg. I know what he is capable of. I cannot let Priest deter me from my path. But is it not the Lord who said that we should give of ourselves, joyfully? I push that thought to the back of my mind.
“Confess and be cleansed, child.”
The woman’s eyes dart around the church when she hears Father Thomas speaking, then back to me. For the first time in the years I’ve been helping Father Thomas, I feel out of it. This woman is like a caged animal, nervous, shrinking into herself in fear of what’s to come. I cannot help but see the similarity in her plight and mine. Hannah is thirty years old, recently widowed, with no children.
“Forgive me, Father – f-f-for I have sinned.” she stutters. “This is my first confession.”
It’ll be your last, I want to warn her.
“Go on, child.” Father Thomas steps out of the shadows and sits beside Hannah. He places a hand on her back, rubbing small circles. I am merely a witness to this. I seethe at the way he looks at her. It’s been a week since the last time he hurt me. I have kept my distance from both him and Priest. I had to beg Priest to respect that I needed some space. I needed to heal, physically and spiritually.
“My husband was having an affair. The woman he was with fell pregnant.” she looks down at her own flat stomach when she says it. “I couldn’t have children, I got an infection when I was a teenager. It…” she trails off, swiping at her cheeks. “I can’t have children. I never will. And Andrew, he was going to have that, with another woman.” she looks up at Father Thomas who nods. “I just wanted it all to go away, to have my husband again. I heard him on the phone, telling her he was going to leave me.”
She starts to sob, her small body shaking. “Forgive me, please…”
Father Thomas stands, walks to the altar, and comes back with what I assume is a cup of wine from Holy Communion. “Drink, Hannah.” he tells her.
She takes the cup with shaky hands, looking at me again with the same wild eyes. She drinks it greedily, as if she’s been parched her entire life.
Father Thomas says a prayer, his hand resting on her head. “O Lord, we ask for mercy for our offences. Spare O God, this child who confesses her faults. Restore her, according to your promises ...”
Hannah sobs, no doubt hanging onto those words.
“I feel light-headed,” she says, placing a hand to her temple. Father Thomas wraps an arm over her shoulder, and in a few seconds, her head is lulling against his chest. He effortlessly carries her limp form to the altar where he places her down so carefully you’d swear he cared, that he wasn’t about to ravage her body until her very soul is drained from her. He waves me over, and I take slow steps toward him.
“Prepare her.” he instructs, walking toward the room we usually use as a changing room for baptisms. I stand over her body, her blonde hair splayed around her head like a halo. I slowly remove the blouse she’s wearing, followed by her bra. Her skin is pale, soft to the touch. I remove her skirt and tug off her panties. I look down at her and wonder for the first time whether we are the monsters here. Has my lust for this man blinded my reality? Father Thomas returns, a robe draped over his intimidating frame.
“Kneel, Celeste. Pray that Hannah’s soul is welcomed by the Lord.” He looks down at her, desire burning in his eyes. I do as I’m told while Father Thomas tugs a limp Hannah off the altar, positioning her on her stomach. He lets his robe fall then rams his cock into her ass with no remorse. He has a dark expression on his face, the same darkens I see when he looks at me. “Say a prayer.” he pants, prompting me start reciting Hail Marys. His thrusts are so vicious I