Absolute Reality

Nightmare Night

(Warning ahead for rape.)

Jude enjoyed cooking. The sister found few auspices of her former life pleasant, but cooking remained a constant. And tonight, she was cooking something special. For special guests. Beef bourguignon.

The labor in the dish was intensive, but she found it rewarding. Especially when the two men eating it were so appreciative. Timothy Howard and the Archbishop had spent the entirety of their day at Briarcliff. They'd toured and estimated and assessed all day, and the Monsignor had specially requested a Jude meal.

He loved her cooking. And that made her happier than she'd been in a long time.

So she was smiling when they sat to the table in Briarcliff's kitchen. She'd pressed the tablecloth and napkins. Removed spots from the glasses. Polished the candlesticks. And it was all worth it.

"As usual, Sister." Timothy raised a toast to her. "You have outdone yourself. To a spectacular meal."

She blushed deeply, modestly. "Thank you, Fathah."

"Truly." Archbishop Aaron Ames raised his glass, as well. "You are a credit to this institution, to the church, and to the kitchen, Sister Jude. This is a God-given talent."

"I will agree with that, Archbishop." Jude nodded. "And I am forevah grateful far the gift."

"You express your gratitude through deeds. Like Christ, feeding the hungry." Ames winked at Timothy. "You're a lucky man, Monsignor. She's a rare bird, this one." The Archbishop was an almost devilishly handsome man. Dark haired and olive skinned. His eyes could have been black were they not flecked with bright green in certain light. And his hair was long, especially for a priest - sleek and secured with an ornate fastener. Jude might have found him irresistible were she not already smitten with another holy man.

"I'm quite aware, Brother." Their eyes on her were almost uncomfortably warming. "I consider Sister Jude my right hand. In every sense she is indispensable."

"She certainly has a knack for administration." Aaron leaned toward Timothy. "You know. I learned something truly fascinating on my last trip to the Vatican, Brother."

"What is that?"

Jude was curious, too. She'd never traveled outside of the United States a day in her life, and the idea of the Vatican - of Rome, of Italy - was fascinating. The archbishop welcomed her interest, gesturing her to lean toward them, as if he planned to share a great secret.

"The priests at the Vatican - the Cardinals who quarter there?" At their nods, he continued. "They are allowed and even encouraged to cohabitate with their own chosen Sister of the Church."

"Cohabitate?" Jude blinked. "As in -"

"They live together?" Timothy finished.

Ames chuckled. "Indeed." His hands raised defensively. "In the most holy of matrimonies, of course. So to speak. They tend toward nuns not unlike you, Sister Jude: loyal, faithful, and eager to serve." He shrugged. "I met quite a few of them."

Jude was having difficulty processing. That the Church would allow a nun and a priest to share rooms seemed quite...scandalous, really. "The nuns?" She asked. "What were they like?"

"Kind." Aaron nodded. "Quiet. They know their place."

"Their place?" That rubbed her...the wrong way. A little.

If the archbishop noticed her bristle, he ignored it. "Dutiful before God, Sister. Although..."

"Although?" Timothy prompted.