Sanctuary Of Sin

The Strange Pirate


Elias’s POV


My hands were shaking when I pressed the cloth on his wound.

“Please wake up,” I said, but he still did not move.

Riven’s body felt very cold and he was so quiet that I thought maybe he was already dead. I put my finger under his nose to see if he was breathing and I only felt small breaths. Then I put my ear on his chest and his heart was beating very slow.

“Riven please. Open your eyes. Hello!” I said again.

He still said nothing. He was joking with me just a little time ago so I did not understand why he became so sick so fast. I put bandages on his wounds but I am not good at this so blood still came out. I was breathing hard because I was very scared.

“Should I call a doctor?” I asked myself.

I looked at the dark sky outside the window and thought it was too late and also I could not let other people know about him. But I did not want him to die. Not before I knew more about this handsome man who came into my church and said I was pretty. I took out my rosary and kissed it and asked God to let him live through the night.

After I prayed I sat down and looked at Riven sleeping. Even when he was sleeping he still looked dangerous and handsome. He had long dark hair, a sharp jaw, dark eyelashes, and a sharp nose. His chest was big and full of muscles and his stomach was hard. His legs were thick and strong. I kept looking at him for a long time and I noticed his body more than I should. I never felt like this before. I even wanted to touch him.

I moved closer to him. He was still sleeping and looked a bit better. I pushed some hair away from his face and held his cheek. My heart was beating very fast.

“What is wrong with me?” I said quietly. “Why do I keep looking at him like this?”

I quickly pulled my hand away and left the room. I told myself I would check him again in the morning.

In the morning Riven was still sleeping but he woke up before noon. I was looking at him again after I changed the bandages. When his eyes opened suddenly I jumped because I was staring too much.

“Priest?” he said with his deep voice.

The morning light made his face clearer. His dark eyes were strong and deep. I got lost looking at them and did not hear what he said at first.

“Father?” he called again.

“Huh?” I said.

“I asked what happened.”

“You… you passed out last night,” I told him. “I was so scared. Thank goodness you lived. I thought you were going to die.”

“Wow I fainted. How embarrassing,” he said.

I looked at him with a confused face and he laughed a little at me. He had dimples when he smiled and they made him look even more handsome. I shook my head because I knew I should not think these things.

Riven tried to sit up.

“Easy,” I said.

He made a pain sound but still sat up. In the light I saw many scars on his hard body.

“You need rest and clean bandages every few hours,” I said. I gave him water. He drank it but his eyes never left me. He looked at me the whole time.

When he finished the water he said, “You are either the bravest man I have met or the most foolish. Maybe both.”

“I am a priest. Foolishness comes with the work,” I answered.

He laughed a low laugh but stopped because of the pain. He leaned back on the pillow. After some time he spoke again.

“My crew is still out there somewhere. I need to find them once I can stand.”

When I heard that I felt a little sad in my heart. He wanted to leave already.

“You are still hurt badly,” I said. “The wound needs time to heal.”

“I’ve endured worse. I’ll be fine. I can’t stay here.”

“You can stay here. You have to hide. What if they catch you?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“No you won’t.”

Riven gave a small laugh and then said, “I think I like you, Elias Voss.”

“What?” I said. I was very shocked. My face became hot and red.

“What are you saying?!” I said and quickly left the crypt.

My face was still red and I felt embarrassed. Why did his words make me feel like this? Many people said nice things to me before but I never felt this shy. What was different about this man?

I did not go back to see Riven for a while because I was too ashamed. But when I finally went down again, he was gone.

“Riven? Where are you?” I called.

I looked at the empty cot and felt very bad. He did not even say goodbye. In the short time I took care of him I already felt attached to him. Does that mean I will never see him again? I wanted to see him one more time.

I lifted my robes and ran out of the church. Maybe if I ran fast I could still find him. My heart was beating very hard. I could not let him just disappear.

I only reached the first alley when a strong arm grabbed me and pulled me into the shadows.

“What the….” I started to say.

A big hand covered my mouth so I could not shout, and another hand pulled me back hard. My body hit a wide solid chest that felt hot even through the clothes.

“Hmmmm!” I made a sound and tried to kick and move.

I tried to say let me go but the hand was still on my mouth. Then I heard a low familiar voice near my ear.

“Quiet. They’ll hear us.”