exsanguinatedserenity : MONSIGNOR PRUITT.
What does it say of him — as a priest, as a community leader, as a man in general — that he watches the very symbol of his connection to his God crumple between the tight fist of TRUE DIVINITY, with little more reaction than a chill that hops down his spine as her finger swipes across his throat. Swift and angry and threatening. She could smite him where he stands and it is nothing less than a MIRACLE that she continues to keep him breathing ; a thought that causes the column of his neck to burn red. He swallows and he nods — No, he bows, not intent on insulting this Goddess any more than he has merely by his presence in her domain. And to a more selfish degree, he can only think of how he does not want to disappoint her, to so quickly strip himself of this opportunity to serve her.
The GIFTS of the divine can seem otherwise like CURSES for those who are simply not yet equipped to receive them. Monsignor John Pruitt finds himself HELLBENT to prove that he is not such a case.
“ Thank you, Madame Dimitrescu. I will not fail you, ” he swears to her with a ragged exhale. The potent concoction of equal parts terror and captivation still sweating out his pores and giving his bones a shake-down. And those eyes — a gaze as sharp as her claws, as if she could tear him to ribbons with only a glance of disapproval, awakens his compulsion to SPEAK once more. Ever eager to demonstrate his use to her sooner rather than later.
“ — A-And I may already have a lead. About the missing barrel. ”
Head made heavy under the astounding weight of her stare, his dark eyes feel dizzy — a glare alone feels like a blow to the temple. And he cannot help but recall how the physical presence of angels and Gods would terrify those blessed enough to bear witness to them. AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD THE BLACK GOD SHONE ROUND ABOUT THEM, AND THEY WERE SORE AFRAID. He swallows the tremor of his voice back down. Fear, it seems, may very well be equated to respect in her eyes and rightfully so. But his babbling would surely waste her precious time.
“ The villagers whisper of their daughters disappearing to the castle, and their blood fermented with the grapes of the vineyard. ” A cursory glance around the main hall alone tells him that these are not rumors but facts. And still, still, he tells himself that if this miracle of the Good Mother Miranda, this Goddess towering over him has willed it, then what is otherwise horrible can only be good should it serve her. “ One man seems to be causing quite the UPROAR about it. Gathering a resistance of sorts — of the maidens’ fathers. It is a small group, but I know they had plans to damage the supply chain. And I know where they’ve been gathering. ”
“ it is not failure you should fear, ” came the lady's sharp interjection, as callously as she had crumbled the piece of paper in her hand and tossed it into the fireplace, “ but the depth of my wrath should you neglect to find the perpetrator. my daughters do so love entertaining men. ”
the scent of tobacco and blood lay heavy in the air as she blew smoke into his face. alcina dimitrescu, feeling vindicated at her suspicions, elicited a faint cackle and flicked the end of the cigarette above his crest of dark hair. it missed skin and fabric by a beat but burned itself into the leather of his shoes.
“ one man to build a resistance and another to tear it down. ” one man who had succeeded in deceiving not only mother miranda but all four lords. one man who would cost her her head if she were to allow him to continue his foul treachery and lead his resistance into a war.
[ her thirst for violence was timeless as the countess herself. she would flay the manthing, tear his head off his shoulder and parade the battered remains around the village for everyone to see. ]
as if on cue, alcina extended her claws, deliberately nicking the priest’s right cheek. it was a small cut, but one to serve as a reminder of his duty.
“ if you succeed, however, ” her voice had quickly gotten rid of its rigour, leaving behind lilted words and fingertips [ retracted into its original shape ] almost tenderly brushing over the man’s face. “ you will be rewarded. by me, by mother miranda, by the black god. ”