Satan's Hunger

9

Just as Kaitlyn expected, it was a long drive. They were driving fast, faster than they ought to be. And yet they didn't attract attention. They weren't pulled over. And Kaitlyn began to ruminate over Father Randolph's words: The Church is powerful.

They kept her comfortable, allowing her to eat and relieve herself along the way. The two men were quiet. Jacob was quieter still, content to let Kaitlyn voice her questions, though she was careful not to ask where they were heading. After what she'd done to Satan—had she actually pushed him?—she couldn't know what to expect in her dreams tonight.

'Did you know Father Bartholomew?'

'Not personally,' the priest replied.

Kaitlyn waited but he said nothing more. 'How much do you know about me?'

There was a pause. Behind her blindfold, she imagined Father Randolph's grey eyes peering at her through the rearview mirror. 'Word has spread. People are whispering. You are Satan's vessel, destined to bring him forth to the Earth where he will wreak evil upon humanity—unless we stop him.' His voice was surprisingly steady.

'And how might you do that?' Jacob asked doubtfully.

Kaitlyn heard the priest shift in his seat, as though he was turning to look at Jacob over his shoulder. 'The same way you are—by protecting the girl and keeping her hidden until such time she is no longer useful to him.'

'So you are willing to suffer me for years? Maybe even decades?' she said in disbelief.

'Yes. We have the resources. We have the manpower. What point is The Church if we cannot save people's souls?'

Kaitlyn leaned back in her seat. She had many more questions to ask but the long drives always made her tired. Her right shoulder was pressed up against Jacob's, her left against David's. There was almost no room to move and her body was aching. With a yawn, she leaned her head against Jacob's shoulder before finally capitulating; unbuckling herself, she lowered her head into Jacob's lap and spread her legs across David's.

It was a perfectly normal and innocent thing for Kaitlyn to do—she'd done it many times before—but she wondered what the two priests were thinking. And Kaitlyn realised that if the nuns had spoken to them, then they were probably aware of Kaitlyn and Jacob's unusual relationship. Or was it forbidden?

It's not done for an angel and human to be together.

It was starting to get cold by the time they pulled to a stop. Kaitlyn was dozing so heavily it was several moments before Jacob's voice registered.

'It's time to get up.' He laid his hand upon her shoulder.

Kaitlyn jerked up. Her back was aching; her neck was sore. Her legs were so stiff. It took her several moments to remember where she was and why she couldn't see. She'd almost ripped off her blindfold before she realised.

'Is it safe?'

'You're safe with me,' Jacob answered.

The car doors opened. She heard footsteps. Shivering, she bunched up close to Jacob. What she wouldn't do right now to feel the warm softness of his wings. 'It's night time, isn't it?' she said.

'Yes.'

Taking her hand, Jacob helped her out of the car. The slippers the nuns had given Kaitlyn slapped against a footpath. She could hear the whoosh of distant highway traffic. There was the roar of an engine as a car sped past. Something scuttled across the ground, maybe a squirrel. She heard it disappear into what sounded like bushes to her right. The air smelled of flowers.

She kept close to Jacob, his hand warm around hers. Crickets were chirping, an owl was hooting. On her other side was David. She could hear his familiar footsteps. She could feel his warmth. Behind her she heard more people following. Perhaps Samuel.