Claimed By Sin: Father Levi

Chapter One: Kanara

Kanara

Rain pelted down on the limousine as Jayce, my body guard drove me to my destination.

I stared blankly out of the window as we passed the church I used to go to. My breath hit the glass, fogging it up. I wonder if Father Levi got my invitation. It’d be nice to see a friendly face amongst hundreds I don’t know. Might ease my nerves.

Sighing, I turned back facing forward. I clasped my hands together in my lap while I chewed my lower lip. Today is the day I get married to Dmitriy Mikhailov. One of the top leaders in the Mikhailov family. They run the Bronx in New York city, and my father, Clyde Smirov, one of the richest men here, married me off to repay an old debt.

Scoffing, I turned to face the wedding dress that sat next to me. Funny, being married off in 2050– You’d think these practices died with the old city ways. But yet here I am, a twenty six year old being carted off to repay a debt.

My mind drifted off to the church I entered a couple months ago. I went to pray, to pray I’d be saved from this horrible fate. The only answer I got was Father Levi.

“God doesn’t give you challenges you can’t handle, child.” His voice… it did something to me. It gave me hope, but it also stirred something unsettling within me. His touch on my shoulder, his piercing green eyes. He was handsome for a priest.

The car jolted to a stop, making my mind snap back to the current moment. Dread washed over me, my chest was aching as Jayce stepped out of the car, popping open an umbrella as he opened my door.

My lips pursed together as I stared out the car’s opening. My lungs screamed at me as my heart slammed against my chest.

“J–Jayce…” I whispered, looking up at him pleadingly. “I…can’t do this.” My words came out broken. His hand tightened against the handle of the umbrella, and for a moment I thought I found my savior.

“Ms. Smirov, we can’t keep the Mikhailov family waiting.” His words left his mouth like a stone leaves an assaulter's hands. Blunt, harsh and painful. My lip quivered as tears pricked the corners of my eyes. Of course he’d side with them. No one was on my side.

Taking in a sharp breath, I reached out and grabbed my laced prison. I turned to slide out the car, Jayce's hand stooping down to help me. I reached out, my fingers skimming his. As his digits went to close around mine, I smacked his gesture out of the way. I refuse to let this bastard help me.

Hauling myself out of the vehicle, I stood straight, adjusting myself.

“I don’t need you. Go back to my father.” I spoke coldly, emphasising my words so the sting would penetrate his stone structure. His jaw tightened, as he reached out, covering me with an umbrella.

I scoffed, continuing forward at a pace to avoid the coverage. The rain dropped down on my head, flooding me with a cold I will memorize. If they expected me to go down without a fight, then they were wrong to assume so.

I stared blankly ahead as the water ran down my brow and into my eyes. My clothing quickly became soaked and clung to my body as I ascended the stone steps to the Mikhailov mansion.

“Ms. Smirnov! Please wait!” Jayce hollered as he caught up to me, finally shielding me from the cold shower that cascaded on me.

“Oh, now you care!?” I halted in my step, turning and snapping at him. He froze.

“I’ve known you since I was a child, Jayce! A CHILD! And you–” I poked his chest with my index finger, hard. “And you’re sentencing me to my death Jayce!” I sobbed, grasping his shirt in my free hand. Sorrow spilled over the dams of my eyes, but I didn’t have long to mourn.

“What’s the meaning of this?!” A shrill voice rang out over the patter of the rain. I turned, looking over my shoulder. There was an elderly woman dressed in what appeared to be a maid outfit.

“If the underboss sees you touching… another man…” She lowered her tone to a hushed whisper that barely hit my ears. “Things will not end in your favor Ms.. Smirnov.”

My gaze stayed locked with hers as she hurriedly approached me, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Jayce.

“Come, we need to get you dry and dressed! The ceremony starts soon!” Her voice layered with a sense of urgency made the ball in my pit drop more.

The looming wooden doors hung above me as she pushed open my jail cell doors. There were biblical scenes etched into the wood. Really? They’re going to use god to make their crimes seem ok? Sucking in a breath I turned my gaze to the massive hallway in front of me. It was decorated with paintings from all different ages. I could tell, because of the way the strokes differ from each other. Some had the blotching, others had single strokes. All typical styles of art that are displayed in a rich person's house, to tell their guests, they're rich. Typical.

Our footsteps echoed down the marble flooring, each step reminding me of my lost freedom. We approached the end of the hall, where I was turned sharply to the right and dragged down another corridor. More art, along with vases with flowers lined the wall. We halted at a door that landed on my right.

“Here we are, your dressing room. Come, come!” She pulled on me again, yanking me forward. The door opened with a click, and we entered a vast room that was lined in bone white coloring. Everything seemed so plain, the only pop of color was the golden mirror set in the corner of the room. There was a plain makeup station sitting to the left of it and an entrance to only what I can assume was a bathroom.

The woman released my arm, turning and grabbing my dress from me.

“Bathroom, now. Get dry then come out so we can do your hair.” She pointed to the opening I saw when I entered. Tucking my head down, I did as I was told.

I entered the hollow room, flipping on the switch that was on the wall. I was met immediately with my reflection. My jaw tightened as my eyes landed on myself.

I was pale with dark black hair that had a blue hue under the sunlight. My mother wanted to call me Ravina, but my father insisted on Kanara. Kanara was meant for how sweet I sounded. I think I would have preferred Ravina– Sighing, I lowered my hazel gaze from the image that stared back at me.

I closed the door, then worked on peeling my wet clothing off of my skin. The fabric made a faint plopping sound as it hit the floor. I scanned the wall for a towel rack and found it pretty quickly. Reaching out, I grabbed it and pulled it down. The material was soft, making me get lost in its feel as I ran it over my body. I closed my eyes, trying to find some comfort in it. Flashes of Father Levi flew through my vision, causing me to drop the towel on the floor. My eyes flung open, my heart slamming against my chest.

This wasn’t the first time I’ve had this happen. As a matter of fact, it happened quite often since I met him. But he’s a priest. Maybe if I would have shot my shot anyways I wouldn’t be in this situation.

“Hurry up Ms.. Smirov!” I jumped to the maids voice as she knocked on the door. I quickly bent down, grabbed the towel and continued my wipe down. After I was dry, I wrapped my hair up into the fabric and headed out.

“Come now, off with the bra.” The maid said, turning me and unclasping my undergarment.

“Hey! W–wait!” I stammered out as my underwear hit the floor. My breasts exposed as she looked me up and down. She shook her head.

“You are too– fat. You shouldn’t have these…” She reached out, grabbing my hips. “Too much meat. And your breasts.. no no. Dmitriy likes them on the bigger side.”

My heart sank. I’ve never been subjected to this type of humiliation. I–I thought my body was fine. Curvy in the hips and I landed at the perfect C cup.

“Here, we’ll put on this sticky bra and adjust it…” She grabbed a bra that was sitting on the makeup stand, coming back to me. She pulled my arms up and slapped it on harshly. I winced as she pulled it together, clasping it in the middle.She then turned, heading back to the stand, pulling out a brush and some brown powder.

“We'll make them look bigger for now.” She beamed as she slapped the brush on my cleavage and went on to contour them to look bigger. I kept my mouth shut, my lips pursed into a thin line as she finished. She then guided me to the chair in front of the vanity and forced me to sit. I stared as she went to town on my hair, pulling, ripping and yanking it. My scalped screamed at me as she did so. The torture continued once she had my hair neatly pulled up into a bun, which was no easy task due to its length. She then moved onto my makeup.

She painted my face aggressively, dabbing my eyes with eyeshadow and blotching my cheeks with blush. She did try to keep everything natural looking on me, which helped. My complexion doesn’t do well with certain makeup styles. That’s why I wished I was able to do it on my own. Once I looked like a doll, she spun me around and helped me up. Throwing a slip over my head, then helping me get into my dress. It fit like a glove as she zipped up the back. I winced as I was pinched a few times.

“Wouldn’t have that problem if you lost some weight…” She murmured out as I smoothed out the fabric on my princess cut. The white fabric was laced with an intricate design of flowers that was an off silver. It almost matched the white my dress was, but the color change was breathtakingly beautiful once it hit the proper light. I wish I didn’t have to waste this on–this horrid man.

“Here, Dmitriy had these brought for you. He is six foot three and you are five foot three. You need these to be somewhat tall for the ceremony." The maid approached me with a pair of strap-on stilettos. My brows furrowed.

“No. I– don’t wear those kinds of shoes.” I firmly said. The maid’s face went blank.

“You wear what he tells you to wear.” Her voice was like stone, hitting me harshly. My breath froze in my throat as she grabbed me, dragging me to the seat we did my hair in. She lifted my frill up, grabbing my ankle and sliding the shoe on. She then strapped it onto my ankle, the material digging into my skin.

“It’s–too tight!” I said through clenched teeth.

“Beauty is pain.” She slid the other shoe on, making it just as tight. I struggled up onto my feet, the pain shooting up my ankles.

“Smile! No frowning.” She tapped my cheek, my scowl unmoving.

“I will not.” My voice stern as I hiked up my skirt. She furrowed her brows at me, folding her arms.

“Attitude won’t get you anything but beatings here Ms. Smirov. Best leave…” She paused, gesturing at me up and down. “ Whatever you call this in this room.”

My jaw tightened as I glared at her. She took in a deep breath, turning her lips into an unsettling smile.

“Come, time to bring you into the family.”