Addeline: The Darkness at the Heart of My Love [Papa Emeritus IV]

Kis the Go Goat

The familiar faces of Sister, Papa Nihil and Psaltarian sat at the helm of the chapel along with some others Addy had not yet become acquainted with. She had seen them around, but she knew they weren't the ones pulling all the strings. She and Papa sat in a pew in front of them.

Addeline felt as though she were on a scaffold, blindfolded and kneeling before an executioner who was eager to chop her head off. Sister, as usual, beamed at the Cardinal. Addy could see it. She couldn't understand why her beloved didn't see the favoritism that the woman held for him.

"Let's get started," Sister said.

The clergy became silent waiting for Sister Imperator to commence the meeting.

"Cardi, dear boy, your little Elizabeth is so precious. Congratulations," she said.

Addy rolled her eyes.

"Well," Papa paused, "Well, thank you. She is special, just like her mother."

This made Addy smile.

"Yes, well although we adore her so very much, we need to remind you of certain duties that remained unfulfilled—"

"—Elizabeth isn't a boy," Nihil coldly stated, "Sister needs you to have a boy. Girls are useless to her. I on the other hand," he continued, "I love the little tike. It means we can get rid of you."

Sister cleared her throat, signaling for the old man to put a cork in it, "What he is trying to say is it would be nice if the two of you began trying again. We need you to produce an heir as quickly as possible."

Addeline couldn't believe they were discussing the fate of her reproductive system. Not only that, but they were also talking about her daughter as though they wanted to send her in a basket down the river.

"Do you think I get to choose?" she asked, unable to be silent any longer, "Do you think I get to choose what I become pregnant with?"

"I didn't say that, Addeline," Sister assured her.

Nihil chimed in again with unwarranted advice, "Just do better next time, ok? It is really not that hard to have a boy. I had 3?"

Papa, growing irritated with Nihil's venomous remarks finally spoke up, "Hey, man. That's not cool, alright? And where are these three sons? I see them nowhere."

This shut the man up quickly. He knew that he and Sister had them executed so that the Cardinal could take over, but he did not want to mention it in a room full of peers.

Psaltarian was laughing at the spectacle. He knew every time Nihil and Papa Emeritus were seated in a room together, things turned into a comedy show.

"Something funny, Mr. Psaltarian?" Addeline asked, tired of being put on display for the amusement of the ministry.

Nihil blurted out, interrupting crudely once again, "Perhaps all his swimmers are females."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Sister banged on the wooden stage in front of her. She addressed Addy formally, "You're to present this clergy with another child, preferably a boy, by the end of the year."

"End of the year?" Addeline screamed, "Elizabeth is only a month old! I'd have to get pregnant this month to have a shot in hell of fulfilling that request! How am I going to get pregnant that soon?"

"You know how babies are made, young lady. I suggest you do that, or we can find someone who can."

With those words, the woman adjourned the meeting. Addy stomped out of the room in a fit of rage. The Cardinal saluted the Clergy and bowed his head towards Sister. When rising, he made the comment, "You know, you should be a little nicer to her. Now she's going to yell at me."