consolidation cash could afford as he walked past Mary . Lush velvet curtains framed every entryway and door within sight , hand-carved mahogany trimmed every angle , marble statues on marble tables on marble floors . He would never understand why people valued such useless threads , trees , and rocks . He bemusedly shook his head at the thought . “ Human materialism , always good for business ,” he murmured under his breath with a hint of a grin tugging at his lips .
Anxiety poked at the edges of Mary ’ s consciousness as she watched Father Nicholas silently scrutinize her home . She closed the door , never taking her eyes off the priest standing in her foyer . He mumbled something she couldn ’ t hear and her unease began to swell . His eyes abruptly swung in her direction and the feeling abated instantly .
He forgot how ... persuasive he could be when he wasn ’ t careful . The potent scent of seared meat had nearly overcome him again . Nicholas ’ s gaze locked with Mary ’ s and she visibly relaxed . “ Um ... she ’ s ... Amy , my daughter ... upstairs ,” she stammered , transfixed by the Father . He couldn ’ t help but take pleasure in this little rabbit that he didn ’ t often get the chance to pull out of his hat . He detected the heat beginning to rise to the surface of her skin as her heart fluttered just a bit harder ; he could hear her mouth getting dryer as she stumbled over her words . Her confusion rolled over him and he snickered , breaking eye contact . He allowed her to get a hold of her faculties before resuming his business . “ Upstairs you say ?” he spoke , allowing the words to drape her like silk .
Mary ’ s head was a tangle of emotions and muddled thoughts . Her body was reacting to Father Nicholas in ways she hadn ’ t experienced since meeting Joe years ago . His eyes were a dangerous sort of black , the kind that could consume you . The urge to touch his olive skin overcame her . She longed to run her hands through his tousled blackberry tendrils . He was so much younger and more attractive than she had imagined when listening to the soothing tone of his voice on the phone . Then it was gone . What was she doing ? She shamefully looked away from him , like a child who was caught with her hand in the cookie jar . His voice melted over her , coaxing her away from her reverie . “ Uh-huh ,” she heard herself reply , then led the way up the winding staircase to Amy ’ s bedroom , all the while steeling herself for what was to come .
They stopped at Amy ’ s door . Father Nicholas stood patiently gazing at the broken knob as Mary figured out how to proceed . She finally turned to Nicholas . “ I know you ’ re used to things like this , I guess ,” Mary began . “ But ... I ’ m not . Prior to last night I was an atheist .” Father Nicholas did not react . She continued , “ I don ’ t know what happened , not for sure . What I do know is that my daughter is not my daughter anymore . So , if I have to believe in God to save her , I will .” Nicholas ’ s eyes rose to meet hers and she felt that tangle once more . “ It ’ s not God you should believe in right now , my dear .” He pushed past her and opened the door .
The room was a scorched shell of where happiness once lived . Every inch of every surface was covered in the residue of demolished joy . Something died here , burnt alive . The scent was intoxicating . The only untouched item was the young girl ’ s bed where Amy sat , the spitting image of her mother , grinning , waiting . “ Hello , Father . What a pleasant surprise .”
“ Greetings , pretty one ,” he said , unable to stifle his own smirk . “ It looks like you ’ ve made a mess of things here , Amy . You want to tell me about it ?”
“ Of course , Father . It all started when I was but a little sperm in my daddy ’ s nutsack ,” Amy said , cackling uncontrollably .
Her vulgarity startled the girl ’ s mother . Father Nicholas calmly walked to the edge of the bed and sat his bag down next to the crude child . “ What else ?” he asked , unflinchingly . Amy ’ s mirth ended precipitously . Her eyes glowed a deep red , like smoldering charcoal . He could feel the incalescence emanating from the core of her as the ire started to bubble . She growled . “ Are you ready to put on a show ... Old ... Nick ?” He opened the bag .
Father Nicholas lovingly withdrew the surplice and stole . “ Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you . Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith . Jesus Christ is the same yesterday , today , and forever ,” he recited , letting the soft linens caress him as he donned them over his cassock .
Mary stood , fixed to her spot in the doorway , paralyzed by the scene unfolding in front of her . She could feel a familiar warmth filling the room . “ Please stop ,” she whispered shakily , alarm creeping in . “ She ’ s getting upset .” Panic began to flower as a wave of calidity forced itself upon her . Her terror was inexorable .
“ I know , Mary ,” Father Nicholas sighed . “ That ’ s what I want .”
Calefaction rolled off the girl like tsunami surges . Father Nicholas pulled out his crucifixes one by one , kissing each and saying a prayer before placing them in a circle on the bed surrounding Amy . An ominous laugh escaped her throat . “ Oh , Father . Crosses ? Seriously ?” The laughter burgeoned , filling the house with loud , deep , demonic guffaws that shook the foundation . “ Come on , Old Nick . You can do better than that .” She spat . Father Nicholas placed the last crucifix at the foot of the bed then faced her . The aroma of brimstone filled the air as Amy ’ s simper faded .
“ Patience , child ,” Father Nicholas chided sweetly as he grabbed his holy water . “ The show hasn ’ t even begun .” He began unscrewing the top .
Mary ’ s heart hurt in her chest as she watched what came next . Father Nicholas raised the flask high in the air , speaking in a language she had never heard before . Her child began to thrash wildly . Mary screamed as she listened to her daughter ’ s skin crepitate with every accidental graze of a crucifix while she flailed fiercely . The Father then wielded an enormous Bible , the room seemed to visibly quiver with its mere presence . Bellowing more peculiar phrases , he then flung the contents of the flask down ; holy water rained on Amy ’ s writhing body . Steam arose and the child let out an unearthly wail that caused every window , mirror and glass in the house to shatter . Covering her ears , pain pierced Mary ’ s brain like a lobotomy spike and she collapsed , unconscious .