This is something of a departure from Morlis' timeline/storyline, a side story, if you will and a special project I've intended to finish for some time. I hope everyone enjoys it!
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The market place bustled around him in the warm glow of the waning afternoon sun, church bells in the distance calling the faithful to the services that would be starting shortly. He enjoyed the human bustle of the market, the anonymity it provided him as well as the reprieve from his chaotic household it represented. He rarely interacted with anyone beyond purchasing the occasional treat or the odd trinket but today was destined to be different and he knew it the moment he laid eyes upon her. She had the face of an angel and seemed to glow with the same peaceful serenity so often seen in the gentler of the angelic choirs. There was a glaringly obvious reason for her gentle demeanor (or perhaps was a result of it); she was a nun.
The vision that so instantly tempted him was garbed in a habit of pure white, the ebon hued rosary about her waist and carved wooden cross about her neck the only relief in the otherwise stark garment. The white veil attached to the small wimple covered her head but several tendrils of her hair managed to escape its confines to reveal that it was the soft pale blond most often attributed to small children. She was exquisite and while the ardor of most would have been doused at the mere sight of a nun's habit it only served to fuel his desire. Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest and he would not be the first demon lured by a member of the clergy or even by an angel; such conquests were highly desired. Even lusted after.
She passed him by, the church bells drawing her like a magnet, and as his eyes feasted on the angelic beauty his dark eyes fell to her left hand; a hand noticeably devoid of the ring that indicated she had taken final vows and was now an official Bride of Christ. A devilish smile played over his lips as a languid push of his shoulder against the wooden post he had been lounging against had him easing into the flow of foot traffic seamlessly. For several minutes he followed her as she wound her way through the crowd, black eyes taking the time to examine what he could of her body through the white habit she wore, his inability to really see anything of the figure it hid only whetting his appetite for the lovely girl.
It was when she paused to speak to a group of children who seemed to know her that he took the opportunity to move ahead of her, easing by her in the crowd so closely that he "accidentally" bumped into her, nearly knocking her over which of course forced him to reach out and grip her arm to prevent the good Sister from tumbling to the ground. He heard her soft cry of surprise as he steadied her, his hands remaining gripping her arms as she looked up to meet his gaze. Intent upon thanking him for his assistance their eyes met and her words froze on her lips, her face stunned as she stared up at him.
He had that effect on a lot of women.
"Please forgive my clumsiness Sister. I hope I did not harm you."
His smooth voice broke the silence, whispering over her like velvet on bare skin, the allure of his aura (the one unique to the incubus race) bled from him to enfold her in its sensual warmth, subtly enticing her, drawing her to him. Her blue eyes became slightly hazy as she gazed into his, her lips parting as her breath came a bit faster, her body even going so far as to sway slightly towards him. Just then the bells tolled a final time to announce the beginning of the evening church service and the sound drew her back to herself, her eyes blinking rapidly as a confused expression took over her delicate features, as if unsure what was happening to her or whether or not she could trust her own senses.
"No harm done, sir. I appreciate your help but I must be going...I'm already late as it is."
She moved to turn away but his smile stopped her, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks revealing that she was not completely immune to his charms, and he slid his hand slowly from her arm. "Until we meet again...Sister," he whispered, his dark eyes filled with the promise that they would be meeting again.
Still blushing furiously she turned and hurried toward the Church where the presiding Priest was waiting on the steps to admonish her for her tardiness. Morlis followed at a slower pace, his predatory gaze never moving from the soft sway of the girl's hips beneath her novice's habit. Now, contrary to popular belief, a demon can enter a church though retaliation from the angelic choirs is swift should that demon decide to harm one of the faithful while within. Ironically enough they would do nothing should he attempt to harm a non-christian and should one of the faithful willingly fall to him...they were fair game. An odd arrangement to be sure but it allowed him to slip through the closed church doors once she had disappeared inside.
Keeping to the back of the packed congregation he searched the crowd until he found her sitting at the end of the row of Sisters who resided in the adjacent convent. She looked upset, her pale blue eyes glassy with un-shed tears and he assumed it was over whatever chastisement the Priest had doled out. As he watched a much older nun leaned over and whispered something to the girl after which she rose to her feet and discreetly slipped away through a door partially hidden behind the Nun's pew. Intrigued he followed, slipping through the shadows behind the enraptured congregation until he was able to ease through the same door she had taken, moving swiftly lest he be discovered by the nuns guarding the entrance.
Once through he realized it must be the doorway that lead to the adjoining convent, the arched hallway extending in front of him before branching off into several directions. Relying on his instincts to guide him he focused on the brief physical contact they'd had and soon felt an answering tug in his gut leading him down the hallway towards his prey. Turning left where the hallway split he silently slipped deeper into the bowels of the convent until he came upon an isolated chapel, the muffled prayers heard through the oak door confirming that his quarry had run to ground here.