Sanctuary Of Sin

I SINNED AGAIN

Elias’s POV

The next morning I told Riven I needed to go into town for supplies. Bread, oil, and clean cloth for his bandages were running low.

“I will come with you,” Riven said.

“No. It is too dangerous. Someone might recognize you. Stay in the crypt. I will be quick.”

He looked at me for a long moment. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

I left the church and walked toward the market. The streets were busy. People moved between the stalls. I kept my head down and bought what I needed. As I turned toward the harbour road, I saw two men in rough coats standing near a fish stall. They looked like sailors. One of them had a faded tattoo on his arm that looked like a ship’s flag.

I had never seen people around here that looked like them before.

One of the men noticed me and walked over.

“Father,” he said. “Can we ask you something?”

I stopped. “Yes?”

“We are looking for our captain. His name is Riven. Dark hair. Tall. He was hurt a few days ago. Have you seen a man like that?”

My heart started beating very fast. These men were from Riven’s crew. This was the first time I had met any of them.

I forced my face to stay calm.

“No,” I said. “I have not seen anyone like that.”

“Are you sure? Someone told us a hurt man went toward the church on the hill.”

“I am sure. No hurt man came to my church. You should look somewhere else.”

The second man narrowed his eyes. “If you are hiding him, Father, it will not end well.”

“I am not hiding anyone,” I said. “I must go now.”

I walked away quickly with my basket. My hands were shaking. I had just met Riven’s crew for the first time and I had lied straight to their faces. I decided I would not tell Riven about them. If he knew his crew was in town he would leave at once.

I went into a small side chapel that was empty and knelt in front of the altar. The guilt felt heavy in my chest.

“Forgive me,” I whispered. “I have been committing so many sins since Riven came. I hid a pirate. I lied to the navy. And now I lied to his own crew the first time I met them. I let him touch me. I let him take me. I broke my vows again and again. I am a sinner. Please have mercy on me.”

I stayed there for a long time before I finally stood up and walked back to the church.

When I returned, Cassian was already there. He stood in the nave talking to Riven. I stopped near the door and listened.

“You are stronger than you looked a few days ago,” Cassian said to Riven. “The fever must have left you quickly.”

“I heal fast,” Riven answered. His voice was cold.

“That is good. Father Elias works very hard. He needs less trouble around him, not more.”

“I am not trouble.”

Cassian smiled a little. “We will see.”

Then Cassian turned and saw me. His orange eyes softened in a way that always made me uncomfortable.

“Father Elias. You are back.” He walked toward me. “I was just speaking with your cousin. He seems protective of you.”

“He is still recovering,” I said.

Cassian stepped closer. His voice dropped so only I could hear. “You look tired again. You always look tired. If you let me, I would take care of you properly. I would kneel and kiss your feet if you asked me to. I would do it every morning just to show you how much I mean it.”

My face grew warm. “Lord Cassian, that is not proper.”

“I do not care about proper when it comes to you,” he said quietly. “I would kiss your feet and thank you for the chance. Just say the word.”

Riven moved closer. His eyes were dark. “He already told you he does not need your help.”

Cassian looked at Riven, then back at me. “I will leave for now. But think about what I said, Father. I meant every word.”

He left the church. The door closed behind him.

Riven turned to me. “He wants you more than before. I heard what he said about kissing your feet.”

“I did not ask him to say those things.”

“I know. But he said them anyway.”

We went down to the crypt together. I put the supplies away. Riven watched me the whole time.

“You were gone a long time,” he said.

“The market was crowded.”

“Did anything happen?”

I thought about the two crew men. I thought about the lie I told them. I kept my face calm.

“No,” I said. “Nothing happened.”

Riven stepped closer. He lifted one hand and rested it on the side of my neck. His thumb brushed my skin.

“You look guilty,” he said softly.

“I am fine.”

“Are you?”

He leaned in and kissed me once, slow and deep. When he pulled back he kept his hand on my neck.

“Tonight you stay down here with me,” he said. “No more going upstairs to pray until morning.”

I swallowed. “Alright.”

His eyes stayed on mine. The secret about his crew sat heavy in my chest, but I did not speak it. I only nodded and let him pull me closer.

M