Vaela and Surah walked arm-in-arm down the well-lit street towards the church. Her stick tapped along the cobblestones, keeping time to her swirling thoughts. Now that she was finally going, she couldn’t get it out of her head: why did Kaverlna want her to join them so badly? Sure, she wielded Blood, but there were plenty of clergy members who didn’t. It was almost as if the priestess knew something about her. Something she didn’t even know.

“–and with that addition, it became the biggest structure in the city.” Surah waved a hand towards the steeple that jutted into the sky. “Vaela. Vaela, are you listening?”

“Hm? Oh, right, yeah, sorry.” She poked her stick at the steeple. “Awful lotta work just for one phallus.”

“It makes them the most prominent building on the block and thus draws attention, so it is a logical phallus, see?” He tittered to himself and drew his robe, which he had refused to change out of, around himself tighter.

Vaela groaned and elbowed him. “I get why you’re an expert on, well”–she knocked on her walking stick–“but the church?”

“I’ll have you know, I’m quite the scholar. Also, someone I work with told me.”

“Other, ahem, comforters know a lot about the church?”

“Well, more like someone I work for.”

As they drew closer to the church, Vaela took it all in. She nearly salivated at the polished white columns in the front, clearly a sign of the Church’s wealth. What kind of food they probably would greet her with!

“Wait, someone you work for? Like a priest or somethi–” Her stomach grumbled and she patted it. Just a little longer, buddy.

They stopped in front of the entrance to the grounds and Surah closed his eyes and lifted a leg in the air. “Well, here goes.” His robe draped over his leg, his bare thigh exposed in the lamplight. He extended the tip of his foot and touched the church grounds without placing any weight on the leg.

Vaela leaned on her stick, one arm steadying it, the other elbow perched on the top so she could cradle her head on her fist. “So, how is it?”

Surah peeked at her with one eye. “It’s-it’s not bad.” He shifted his weight as if easing into a hot bath and slid over fully onto the consecrated grounds. “Oh!” He bounced a few times, testing the ground, and then laughed and hopped on the grass. “It’s nice.”

“So you’re satisfied we won’t burst into flames?”

“Well, I didn’t, but you’re much worse than me.”

Vaela scooted laterally until she lined up with Surah and crouched. He took a step back and said, “Hey, what are you doing?”

“Diving in.”

“You’re going to hit me.”

Vaela grinned wickedly. “If I’m gonna burn, you’re going down with me.”

Surah’s eyes widened. He spun away from her. She called after him, “Get back here!” She sprinted after him and cackled as they ran across the lawn up to the church’s doors.

Surah slammed to a halt in front of the church and leaned back against the doors. “Stop, stop, stop.”

Vaela prowled up to him. She used the tip of her walking stick to lift the bottom of his robe. “Come here, my pretty. I’m–”

The doors opened and Surah tumbled backwards, knocking down the bald priest who had opened the door. A young blond woman, dressed in the same rust-colored robes as the priest, stared open-mouthed at them. Vaela hurried past her and helped the man to his feet. “Oh, sorry about that. We were, uh, trying to knock.” The entry room was large and lit by torches lining the walls. A musty smell permeated the air.

The priest huffed and straightened his robes. “Well! And what is it that is so urgent?”

Vaela dug the scroll out of her pocket. “Uh, I got this. And there was talk of food?” Behind the priest, Surah clambered to his feet with a groan.

The priest unfurled the scroll. “Hmph, food, indeed. No respe–oh!” His eyes bounced between the scroll and Vaela several times. “I see. You’re Blood-blessed.” He handed the scroll to the priestess and stepped to the side, gesturing Vaela into the entrance hall with a sweep of his arm. “Please come in.”

At the end of the hall, a pair of robed men carried a platter piled high with cured meats and fruit. Vaela swallowed a mouthful of saliva as they disappeared around a corner. She tipped her stick to the priest and stepped past him. Food, here she came! She winked at the young priestess.

Surah hastened to her side. “Ah, yes, and I’m also Blood… Lord Longstaff?” The priest jolted and whipped his head around. Surah spread his arms and stepped towards the priest. “That is you!”

The priest stumbled back and pulled his hood over his head. “You-you must be mistaken. There’s no Lord Longstaff here.”

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Surah caught his sleeve. “It’s me, Surah. From the Loin’s Den!”

The priest reeled back as if he’d been physically struck. He shot a panicked glance at the priestess. “No! We-we cannot allow such sin in our hallowed walls.” He grabbed Surah and Vaela by the arms and pulled them back to the doors. “Out! Begone, heathens!”

The priestess hurried behind the priest. “But Gerad, she has an invitation.”

“A forgery. An elaborate fake, I’ve no doubt. You, you can’t believe anything from these sinners.”

The priestess waved the scroll. “It has Kaverlna’s seal.” She scurried around them and stood in front of the exit, hands held up. “And if they are such sinners, shouldn’t we try to save them?”

Vaela glanced back in the direction the food had been taken. “Yes! Oh yes, we are such sinners. Please, help us. Feed our bodies or I fear we’ll succumb to our carnal needs.”

The priest released Surah’s arm and pushed the priestess to the side. “There’s no salvation for these two.” He shoved Vaela towards the door. “Out, foul fleshmonger!”

“Hey!” She caught herself and gestured to Surah. “He’s the monger, I’m just–”

“What is the meaning of this?” Kaverlna strode down the hall, her robes whipping behind her.

The priest cringed and wrung his hands. “High priestess. I was exorcising these–”

Kaverlna cut a hand through the air and Gerad flinched and fell silent. She beckoned the priestess and the woman ran to her. The young priestess murmured to Kaverlna and Kaverlna examined the priest for a long moment. At last, she walked up to Vaela. The young priestess thrust the scroll out, head bowed low. Kaverlna clasped her hands behind her back, ignoring the scroll, and stared down at Vaela. Vaela tipped her chin up and met her iron gaze. Kaverlna closed the distance between them until their faces were only inches apart. “You’ve returned.”

Vaela snorted. “Never been here before.”

“Blood always returns to the heart.”

“Guess you’ve never had a nosebleed.”

Kaverlna’s eyes narrowed. The younger priestess audibly gulped. Kaverlna stepped back and turned back down the hall. “Bring them.”

The priest and priestess broke from their positions. The priest hurried after Kaverlna while the priestess flapped an arm, ushering them after him. Vaela exhaled and took a deep breath. She cocked a smile at Surah, meeting his unsure look, and mouthed “food”. She followed after Kaverlna and the priest before her own uncertainty crept into her eyes. It’d be okay, they’d be fine.

Surah fell in step with her and leaned in. “Are you sure about this?” His eyes darted between the priest and Kaverlna.

Vaela squeezed his arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll feast and duck out.”

He nudged her in the ribs and shot her an accusatory look. “You didn’t mention the priest lady.”

“Yeah, but who cares?”

“She’s scary.”

“Come on, what about me? I stared her down. And did you hear that nosebleed line?”

He chuckled. “That was good.” They turned the corner and the hall opened into a large room with a long table. Three platters lined the table, laden with a variety of meats, cheeses, fruit, and bread. Several men and women, all in robes, stood around the table facing Kaverlna. Surah caught Vaela’s arm and pulled her in. “Vaela. Just… be careful.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, and nodded. They walked to the table and Kaverlna gestured to them. “We’ve guests.” She looked at Surah and pointed to an empty seat. “Sit.” He edged towards the seat and Kaverlna looked at Vaela and the priest, Gerad. “You two. Follow me.”

Vaela exchanged a glance with Surah. She waved to the food. “But what about–”

“You’ll eat. Later. First, your education.” Kaverlna set off back down the hall. Vaela groaned and waved Surah back to his seat. She fell in line behind Gerad, who shuffled behind Kaverlna, his head ducked low.

They walked into the bowels of the large building, twisting and turning down several hallways. Where in the Pits were they going? After a few minutes, they came to a stop in another hallway in front of a door. She pointed Vaela in. “Wait here.”

“What? What am I supposed to do in there?” Kaverlna turned away and Vaela called after her, “Couldn’t I at least have gotten some food??”

Kaverlna and Gerad exited the hallway through a door at the end. Beyond it was a large room with several more doors. As soon as it shut, Vaela sprinted forward and pressed her ear to the wood. Their footsteps traveled across the room and a few moments later, another door shut. Vaela eased the door open and hurried across the room. Gerad’s muffled voice was audible from one of the rooms on the far side. The door had a keyhole and Vaela knelt down to it.

“–was a mistake. I’m weak, please forgive me.”

Kaverlna silently pointed to a chair and he stumbled down into it. She turned away from him and pulled part of her robe away from her body. Underneath, she wore a belt with several vials filled with red liquid. She pulled one from its place and uncorked it.

Blood. Vaela’s heart pounded. She’d worked long enough in Madame Gavora’s shop to recognize a vial of blood at a glance. What was Kaverlna doing carrying blood around? She didn’t seem the mystic type. Far from it.

Kaverlna raised the vial to her lips. Vaela’s breathing turned shallow. She wasn’t going to…?

Kaverlna tipped it back and swallowed the contents. Vaela clapped a hand over her mouth. Gerad, completely unaware, continued his stream of pleas. Kaverlna held a hand in front of her face. “So… you like the heat?”

“No, no. High priestess, please, I–”

Kaverlna’s hand glinted and Vaela blinked. It was almost like light…

A small Flame became visible between Kaverlna’s fingers. Vaela leaned in, her forehead thumping into the wood as she pressed her eye as close as possible to the keyhole. It wasn’t possible. Kaverlna was a Blood Charmer like her, not a Fire mage.

Kaverlna dropped the vial and it clattered to the floor, interrupting Gerad.

“No… no, high priestess, please! Have mercy.”

Fire light reflected in Kaverlna’s eyes. “Take off your robe.”

“Mercy… please…”

“Now.” Kaverlna’s body blocked Vaela’s view of Gerad, but all she could stare at was the glint of Fire reflecting in Kaverlna’s eyes. Gerads’ robe rustled to the floor and Kaverlna bowed her head. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to your holy vestments.”

“Please, please, have mer–”

Kaverlna spun and hurled the Fireball at Gerad. He let out a scream and fell to the floor, the chair clattering onto its side. Gerad’s screams bounced off the floors and walls as he rolled back and forth. After a few moments, his screams tapered off to strangled groans. Kaverlna stepped to the side and picked up Gerad’s robes. He laid on the floor, chest weakly rising and falling in shudders. He was badly burned, the skin in the center of his chest charred with a widespread area of blotchy redness extending outward.

Kaverlna stood over him and held the robe over his body. “You will tell no one of this. If you do, I’ll be forced to reveal your visits to that Fire whore and how they got… out of control.” She dropped his robe, obscuring his face. “Now, Priest Gerad, you must excuse me.” She turned and walked towards the door, crushing the glass vial under a boot on the way. “I must attend to our guests.”