Sanctuary Of Sin

Cassian

ELIAS’S POV

Few days Later.

I carried the bowl of soup and the bread down to the crypt. Riven sat on the cot and looked up when I came in.

The memory of how we f****d crazy the other night was still fresh in my memory. My ass still pained me. I blushed before talking to him.

“How is your side today?” I asked.

“It is better than before,” he said. “I can stand longer now.”

“That is good. But you still need to rest a lot.”

“I know. I do not want to tear the wound open again.”

“Please be careful when you move.”

“I will try.”

I sat near him and we ate the soup. The crypt was quiet. I could hear our spoons against the bowls.

“Cassian is coming again today,” I said after a while.

Cassian was a devout believer who was also my friend. He had come one day to visit and Riven saw him.

“I do not like that man,” Riven said. “He looks at you too much.”

“He is a man from the town. He brings gifts for the church sometimes.”

“Gifts are one thing. The way he stares is another thing.”

“I try not to notice.”

“You should notice. He wants something from you.”

I heard the door upstairs open. Footsteps crossed the floor. Cassian called out from the nave.

“Father Elias, are you here?”

I stood up. “I should go up.”

“I will come too,” Riven said.

“Stay behind me then.”

We went up the stairs. Cassian stood near the altar with a basket in his hands.

“Hello, Lord Cassian,” I said.

“I brought wine and bread for you,” Cassian said. “You look tired. You work too hard in this place.”

“Thank you for the gifts. The church can use them.”

“You can come to my house if you want real rest. I have soft beds and better food. You should not stay in this cold church all the time.”

Riven stepped forward a little. “He is fine here.”

Cassian looked at Riven. “Your cousin speaks a lot for a man who was sick.”

“He is getting better,” I said. “That is why he can speak.”

“He looks strong for someone who had a bad fever,” Cassian said. “Maybe the fever was not as bad as you said.”

“It was bad. He is only now recovering.”

Cassian stepped closer to me. “I can help you more if you let me. I can keep people away from this church. I can make sure no one bothers you or asks questions.”

“I do not need that kind of help,” I said.

“You might need it soon. The navy is looking hard for a pirate along the coast. If they think you hide someone here, it will be very bad for you.”

Riven spoke in a low voice. “You should leave now.”

Cassian smiled but the smile was not friendly. “I will leave for today. But I will come back. Think about my offer, Father. It is a good offer.”

Cassian set the basket down and walked out. The door closed behind him.

I let out a long breath. “He is getting worse each time.”

“I told you he is a problem,” Riven said. “He wants you for himself.”

“I know. I try to keep distance from him.”

“Keep more distance. Do not let him stand so close.”

“I will try harder.”

We stood there for a moment in the empty church. Then the door opened again. Lord Marcellus came in. He walked slowly and had a calm smile.

“Good day, Father Elias. And good day to your cousin.”

“Good day, Lord Marcellus,” I said.

“I heard the navy search is growing stronger. I brought papers that can help if someone needs to travel. They are under a different name. They look real and official.”

Riven looked at the papers in Marcellus’s hand. “Why do you help us?”

“I help the church,” Marcellus said. “I do not want trouble inside these walls. General Salman is leading the search now. He is a strict man. These papers can help a person pass the guards on the roads.”

“Thank you,” I said. I took the folder from Marcellus.

“Use them soon if you need them,” Marcellus said. “I should go now. Be careful, both of you.”

“We will be careful,” I said.

Marcellus left. The door closed. Riven and I went back down to the crypt.

“That man knows something,” Riven said. “His eyes stayed on me too long.”

“He seems kind,” I said. “He brought useful papers.”

“Kind men still have their own reasons. I do not trust him fully.”

“We may need those papers. The navy is close.”

“I know. We will keep them safe.”

Later that day I went outside alone to the side yard. Two men in rough coats waited near the low wall.

“We are looking for Captain Riven,” one man said. “We are from the Black Mercy. Have you seen him?”

I shook my head. “No. No one like that is here.”

“If you see him, tell him we are searching for him. The ship needs him.”

“I will tell him if I see such a man.”

“Thank you, Father.”

The men left. I watched them walk away. I went back inside. I did not tell Riven about the men. I was afraid he would leave at once if he knew his crew was near.

At night we sat on the cot again.

“Stay close tonight,” Riven said.

“I will stay,” I answered.

“I do not like the way Cassian looks at you.”

“I know. I saw it too.”

“And Marcellus. Something about him feels off.”

“He helped us. That is something.”

“Helping can have a price later.”

“We will be careful with him.”

“Yes. We will.”

We sat together until the lantern burned lower. The crypt was quiet. Outside the wind moved against the church walls. Riven’s hand rested on my arm. I kept the secret about the crew inside me. I said nothing about the men who came looking. I just stayed next to Riven and listened to him breathe.