Page 23 of The Fallen

A brief pause, and then she continues.

“This freedom will last for a period of fourteen hours from seven pm Eastern Sector time on October thirty-first until nine am Eastern Sector time on November first. Please note: This is for Sector Five only. Since the number of registered omegas in Sector Five has far surpassed critical level, it is now safe to suspend Alpha Ordinance Twelve, Dynamic Interbreeding Permissions Act, for this one night. It is our goal that this one night of reprieve will help with the growing unease and allow you to bleed off your need to hunt and capture. May you find freedom in this Game Night and make this experiment a success.”

Freedom.

It feels more like a prison sentence. With a gentle nod, Mother Superior motions for us to clear the table. None of us say a word as we bring our dishes to the kitchen and head to our rooms.

The closing of the doors thunders in my ears, making my heart stutter for a moment. As I walk over to the window to look outside, to maybe catch a glimpse of the horrors they’re talking about, I find that I cannot see out of them. Heavy boards cover every inch.

Seems as if they’ve thought of everything. Boredom flits along my veins, making me feel heavy and wooden. Normally after dinner, the other Sisters and I play some games or talk. Being confined in my room feels more like a punishment than a protection.

The bells have chimed enough times that I really should consider either finding something else to do or making myself sleep. Unfortunately, my options are rather limited. All I’m doing is putting off the inevitable.

With not much else to do, I slip into a sensible set of pajamas and slide into bed. Getting some extra sleep won’t be a bad thing. And the sooner I go to sleep, the sooner I can wake up and see Father Draven. Only sleep refuses to come.

From outside the windows, terrified screams, horrific growls, and lusty moans seep in from around the barrier. They should overwhelm me, fill me with fear. But they don’t.

All it does is cause the lustful feelings to surge until I can’t help but reach between my thighs and stroke myself. What would Father Draven say if he knew what I was doing right now? Would he be horrified to know the cause? Would he punish me even harder?

As if I conjure the devil himself, a manic howl of anguish and need rises from the floor. It had to come from underneath. It has to be Father Draven.

What if he’s hurt?

No longer do I care about my carnal needs. If he’s down there with no one to help him, it could be catastrophic. Hurling myself from the bed, I fall down to the floor and press my ear against the wood. There. It’s faint, but I can hear him.

He sounds like an injured animal chained up. This is ridiculous. He shouldn’t be cast aside like this, left to suffer alone when we ostensibly have each other. At the very least, I need to make sure he’s okay.

Easing out of my room, I listen for sounds coming out of the other Sister’s rooms. Soft smatterings of snores greet me. Seems as if I’m the only one awake. How fitting. The lone watchman with the lantern while the others snooze.

I pad over to Mother Superior’s door and rap on the worn wood. No answer. I wait a minute or so before knocking again, but still she doesn’t come to the door. My fingers tremble as I turn the nob and slip inside. There, on her bed, she lies asleep with a small lamp to illuminate the space.

Thick pads reside over her eyes, and headphones sit snugly over her ears. No wonder she didn’t hear me. Frustration slithers through my veins, spurring me forward. There has to be something I can do.

Though I don’t wish to wake her, I’m not sure how else I can have her check on Father Draven. As I creep closer, I notice something odd sticking out from under the edge of her pillow. Metal, by the looks of it. Far too thick to be a rosary.

With every breath in, I slide it out, using her snores to help hide any minute jostling. Soon, I free the set of keys from their confines. This has to be what’s holding Father Draven hostage.

My heart skips a beat as I force my steps to be slow and steady, not wishing to rouse her. What I’m doing is wrong. I know it deep down in my heart. Thankfully, I’ll have Father Draven to absolve me. This is, after all, for his benefit.

I stop at the door to the steps, my heart and mind at war with what I should do. Though I know the correct answer, just go back to bed and forget all about this, I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to see an Alpha under this affliction. Granted, I’m sure Father Draven will not be like any of the monsters they spoke about.

Pressing onward before my nerves can get the better of me, I push open the door and make my way down into the catacombs. Cool air swirls around my ankles, sending a chill through mybody. His plaintive moans are far louder now, drawing me deeper in his lair.

Despite the age, there’s still a sense of modernity. The lights buzzing around me, lighting my path, are so at odds with the ancient stonework. It’s a dichotomy, as if this space itself is a gateway, a portal of sorts.

As I come around the corner, I stop short. There, pacing in his cell, is Father Draven. His hair sticks out around his face, making him look wild and dangerous. My clit throbs as every movement exudes sexuality.

Without his normal priestly clothes, he looks even more alluring. He looks mortal, like a normal man, and not a vessel of God. I can’t stop my body from responding to him, no matter how hard I try.

This was a bad idea indeed.

His lips part as a dark chuckle erupts from his lips. “Well then, it seems as if my sacrifice finally appears. Come, lamb. Release me, and I will show you heaven even as I drag your soul down to the pits of hell.”

Chapter Fifteen

Father Draven

She stands before the bars, her body trembling as she puzzles through the correct answer. Anger and lust swirl through me as I wait, helpless, as she decides what she wants to do. I detest being this powerless.

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