Beneath the Veil: Holy Hand, Hellish Intentions

Chapter 4.

I walked down the staircase gracefully, my phone pressed against my ear.

“What do you mean?” I started.

“I told you to clear everything on my to-do list for today, right?” My brow creased, and I paused to listen to what the person at the other end of the line had to say.

I continued walking down the stairs.

“Cancel all my plans, Sofia.” My aura shifted darkly. I casually placed my phone in my pocket.

Sofia had been my personal aide for years now, and recently her behavior had been pissing me off.

My mind drifted to my “little doll.” I was finally going to see her. I was still confused about why I couldn’t trace her background. I jostled my keys as I walked. I had waited a while to finally meet her. I opened my car and sped off, the location Tristan gave me was already inputted in my car’s GPS device.

I let my thoughts roam again. I pictured her beautiful brown doe eyes filled with disbelief. I wanted to know what else I could make her feel. The bittersweet sensation came with the kiss, her soft lips that tried to move slowly against mine. I remembered how perfectly she fit against my body, how soft her milky skin felt. I wanted her, I craved her presence.

I stopped my car right outside the orphanage, I swung the door open, and walked out. I saw my “little doll” immediately as I walked through the gate. She was resting on the wall, I didn’t know what I saw in her, she wasn’t like other girls, maybe. She wasn’t scared of me.

I walked towards her while staring at her intently, studying every part of her I had failed to notice previously. She seemed like she was lost in thought. I wondered what she was thinking about to make my presence go unnoticed. I folded my arms, studying every feature of her body.

Her brown eyes suddenly shifted, filled with panic. I followed her gaze and noticed the little boy lying on the ground. Anysia moved quickly, probably to go help the little boy up. I noticed her struggling to lift the little boy up. I chuckled lightly. I walked towards her, my aura emitting grace.

“Come on, I’ll help,” I said.

She looked up so quickly, I feared she’d get hypertension from how shocked she looked.

“Careful, little doll,” I said as I chuckled.

Anysia stared at my back as I helped Marcus up. I wondered if she thought she was dreaming in broad daylight. She moved backwards a little, studying every inch of my body.

I turned towards her with Marcus on my arm. My wide smile made her heart speed. I noticed her studying my facial features, so I used that time to study hers too. I imagined how her slim body stature would look against mine, her plump, soft, attractive lips, the ones I had been craving.

“Anysia?” A voice interrupted our thoughts.

Anysia snapped out of it as she looked at Sister Elżbieta.

“Who’s this?” Sister Elżbieta asked.

“No one,” Anysia said.

She shot me a warning glare as she grabbed Marcus from my arms and walked away, leaving Sister Elżbieta outside with me.

She put Marcus down and turned to look outside. I was just walking away.

Anysia

“What is wrong with me?" I thought inwardly as I sighed.

I grabbed my rosary and whispered a small silent prayer of forgiveness.

I smiled a little as I watched the children paint, they had a huge smile on their faces.

“Can you read me a story?” I heard a voice say and I felt someone pull my gown a little.

I looked down and saw a little girl tugging at my gown.

I couldn't help but smile and I bent down. “What’s your name?”I asked her.

“Arya,” The little girl said with a shy smile.

“That’s a beautiful name” smiles

“How old are you?” I asked her again.

I looked at Arya as she started counting her fingers to tell me her age. She tried to put all her focus on her fingers. After a while, she put on a big smile as she stuck out four fingers. She tilted her head, looking at her finger from a strange angle, and added an extra finger. I laughed. Arya quickly hid her hands behind her back and moved backwards.

“My name is Anysia,” I said, and put my hands out to give a handshake. Arya looked at my hands for a moment, then she brought out her hands and shook them with mine. She looked up at me and smiled widely. She removed her fingers.

“Can you read me a story?” Arya asked while fiddling with her fingers.

“Okay,” I said with a smile.

Arya ran off. I got up, wondering when Arya got here and what happened to her parents. She wasn’t here the week before. Arya seemed so sweet.

A few moments later, Arya came back hugging a book to her chest. She gave it to me with a full smile. I checked the book—it wasn't looking like a kid’s book, it seemed like a journal. I looked at Arya who already took her seat and asked, “Who gave you this book?”

“Mommy gave it to me!” Arya said with a wide smile.

“What happened to mommy?” I asked.

I felt bad for asking Arya questions about her mom, but I wanted to keep the journal where it would be safe. I couldn’t give it to the caretakers—they’d probably just dispose of it.

“She said she’d be back.” Arya said.

I stared at her. I felt sorry for her. Arya was waiting for her mum to come back, and that would never happen unless her mother was still alive. I stared at the journal and decided I was going to keep it.

“Come Arya, I’ll read another story to you. This one’s not yet for you but it will soon be, okay?” I said as I held Arya’s hand, leading her to the library. Arya followed without any complaint.

I got a book from the library and brought Arya back. I sat down on the couch and placed Arya beside me.

“Once upon a time, there was a very powerful Queen who always got whatever she wanted,” I started.

“ A real princess is soft, gentle without blemish,” the queen told her son.” I paused a little.

Arya looked at me with eagerly eyes waiting for me to continue the story. She looked so intrigued by the story already. I continued reading it to her while she paid attention to it.

“And they lived together happily ever after.” I ended and looked down at Arya.

“Mommy calls me princess,” Arya said

I gave her a smile. Arya didn’t interrupt me while I was reading but she still remembered the Princess scene.

“That’s because you look like one,” I replied, squeezing her cheek.

“Don’t tickle me.” Arya giggled out

I hugged her and asked, “Do you want me to call you Princess?”

“Yes!” Arya said in a little voice as she hugged me tightly. She wasn’t laughing anymore.

After a while, I could feel Arya’s tight hold loosen up.

“Sleep tight, princess,” I whispered.

“Don’t tickle me.” Arya giggled out.

Arya let out soft snores I found cute. I held her in my arms and asked a caregiver for her room.

The caregiver looked surprised to see Arya asleep but guided me to Arya’s room.

I placed Arya on her bed. Her hand was wrapped around my finger. I managed to release my hand, then Arya stirred in her sleep and murmured, “Sister Anysia.”

I paused for a minute. Even though we’d been attached by the hip all day, this was the first time Arya called my name. I smiled and sat at the edge of the bed, stroking her hair lightly

“She’s sleeping at last,” the caregiver said.

I had totally forgotten about the caregiver and looked up.

“Yes, she looks so cute,” I said, looking back at Arya with a smile.

“I don't think she has gotten proper sleep since she came,” the caregiver said.

“Oh,” I said, looking back at her, not knowing how to respond to what she had said.

“Would you mind if I talked to the Rev Mother about you coming here every day?” the caregiver asked.

“No, of course not,” I said and looked at Arya, smiling softly.

I stayed with Arya until it was time to leave.

Mother Magdalene had agreed to allow me to come to the orphanage daily. I gently got up, kissed Arya on her forehead, and left. I got into the bus we came with. I caught a glimpse of Luciano inside his car. I wondered what the pretty boy was still doing there. I groaned internally—I’m not meant to be calling him pretty.