“Thank you for that astute observation, Mister Hoddle.” Coolidge replied with a dry smile. “But right now I can think of nothing more than our honest prayers. Things will get better once we…”
“And when will than happen, old man?” A fat woman seated next to Hoddle sneered. “Just before we draw out last breath. Unlike you, we still have many years we would like to live. Tell us, Coolidge, when will things get better again? ”
“I am not privileged to have that information, Mrs. Danker.” Coolidge remained calm. “We can only hope that the Lo…”
“Hope will not save this cursed town.” A slim man to the left stood up. Megan recognized him as the butcher’s son, Willis. “It’s time we put our much tested faith into other means of salvation. Means that may work.”
“If you mean that charlatan who offered us…” Coolidge paled as he spoke.
“Yes, we do.” Huddle said importantly. “And we have invited one of his respected acolytes here to enlighten us.”
“But I have not been made aware…” Coolidge protested. “I am the mayor…”
“Not for long, Coolidge.” Huddle went on. “Now step off the pedestal and let Brother Norton of the vaunted Harrow Manor speak.”
Megan glanced sideways, noticing the eager looks on the faces of the people, including her uncle, aunt and cousin sister, Sondra. Everyone was expectant; they were desperate for something to save the town and by the look of this newcomer Megan could tell there was a high price to pay for the so-called salvation he offered.
“Good people of Gladstone Town. I am Brother Norton and I come in peace.” The slender young man with a receding hairline smiled at everyone from the pedestal. “Rejoice, my friends, for the Blessed Order of Lord Aldridge Harrow has come to save you all. We have saved many. The towns to the east of here, and the south, they were just as deprived as Gladstone not too long ago. We have done what was needed to bring peace and prosperity back to those unfortunate towns and now they all reap in the glory of their salvation.”
“What is it that you do?” Coolidge asked in an aggravated tone.
“Why, pastor?” The leering young man addressed the sickly old mayor. “You would know rather well what we do. We offer salvation from your past sins, we offer to absolve those of ill repute and set them back on the path of righteousness.”
“What sins and ill reputation do you think we of Gladstone have?” A deep voice from the back yelled. Megan turned back to look and didn’t really recognize the face of the man yelling.
“All of you, you fine people of Gladstone.” Norton waved his spindly arms around. “All of you are sinners in need of salvation, and that is why I am here.”
“What must we do, Brother Norton?” Huddle asked him in a voice of wonderment.
“Each of you must come to the Manor Harrow to be blessed and saved by his lordship, the chosen master of salvation… and only then will the town be saved and your fortunes be once more favorable.” The visitor said with elevated enthusiasm. “And each must bring with them a tithe, a little something that is dear to you, as atonement for the sins of your people. It can be anything, from a little copper coin, gold if you feel your sins are many, to a necklace, or a little weapon or even something living, like a pet animal of some sort. The tithe must be something very dear to the sinner, only then will the absolvent be fruitful.”
“We are ready to do this, Brother Norton.” The Sutcliffe woman said eagerly. “When can we go to the Manor Harrow?”
“Each day, you must send two of your townspeople at a time. Members of the same family or neighbors, or anyone, but two at a time.” Norton said with reverence. “It is best to send the young unmarried maids first, and then the young men. After them the rest may follow.”
“Why the unmarried maids first?” Coolidge asked with a furrowed brow.
“It is pertinent to begin with those that have lesser burdens of sin, pastor. You should know this.” Norton replied and Megan detected a hint of sneer in his thin voice.
“Then should not the children go first?” The mayor persisted.
“You have truly lost your mind, mayor, and I must ask the good townspeople to replace you before your ill-founded judgment does further harm to the town.” Norton laughed out derisively. “We all know that children are innocent of sin and in no need of salvation. Pastor Coolidge, you have disappointed all your people this day, and most of all yourself.”
“It is settled then.” Huddle stood up. “Coolidge is no longer mayor. The town council will vote in the next few days about who to replace him with.”
“Yes, so it is.” Norton replied and stepped off the pedestal. “Now decide who among the young maidens you will send first, the ceremonies of salvation will begin the very next day.”
The loud buzzing that followed of everyone talking at once left Megan with the urge to run away from this dismal place. It seemed everyone wanted to send their unmarried daughters first. She watched her fat faced uncle and his skinny wife haggle for prominence. She shuddered at the thought of being sent to some strange place for salvation she knew she did not warrant. But it was quite evident that the silly people of Gladstone had bought every word this man from the Harrow Estate had said and were ever eager to pay even more than they could afford.
Huddle told everyone that he would make a listing of names and draw lots. Everyone agreed to that, and then the rush to submit names followed. After some time and a whole lot of chaos, the squat man called out a name.
“Sondra Asbury.”
Megan stood quite still. That was her cousin sister’s name. And according to the requirement, only young unmarried maids should go, two at a time, preferably of the same family. Sondra’s younger sister, Esmeralda, was not even ten. That meant Megan would have to go to with her cousin. That very night. She was in no mind for going through any kind of ritualistic salvation for the wickedness of the people of this squalid town. But the look of pride and glee in her uncle and aunt’s leering faces told her that she had no say in the matter. There was nothing she could do than follow her cousin into the little carriage that waited to take them off to the distant estate of this Lord Aldridge Harrow, the savior of towns near and far.
The ride was a long and tedious one, all through the cold rainy night and to the next dawn before the high walls of the ominous Harrow Estate loomed up. The rain lessened to a refreshing shower as the rattling carriage came to a halt. The single work horse harnessed to it shivered in the cold mountain air as Megan peered out of the window. The worst of the storm was over but the old creaking boards and sagging roof of the carriage did little to keep the water out. The two young women were damp and cold, but Sondra smiled brightly.
“Yes, we have finally arrived.” The lovely dark haired girl gushed at Megan’s sullen expression. Megan was terribly miserable and she did not share her cousin’s jumped up enthusiasm to be there. The damp mist surrounding them and cold fleeting rain did not help either.
“Why must we be the first here?” Megan asked in a whisper, as the two young women stepped out of the grating vehicle.
“Oh! Megan, my dear cousin...” Sondra smiled widely. “We are here to save my wretched soul.”
“How would you know your soul needed saving?” Megan muttered, hugging her slender arms around herself. She looked disdainfully at the carriage turning to head back the way they had come. The driver urged the horse into a trot, eager to get away from the enveloping gloom.
“Oh my dear, dear cousin, I haven’t been the purest of the pure, you know.” Sondra laughed with a snort and briskly stepped towards the ancient structure. A short man in a hooded robe of dark tan material stood hunched at the tall Iron Gate.
“Welcome to the Manor Harrow. I am Brother Galen.” The squat acolyte nodded in greeting. “This is… a hallowed and sacred place.”
Sondra curtsied and replied. “We are blessed to be here, my good man.” And Megan gathered her wet cloak around herself and shivered the more.
“Come, you will f
eel sanctified and privileged to be in the presence of Lord Aldridge Harrow.” The acolyte waved them towards the foreboding doors of the monolithic edifice. “He awaits your graceful presence with much anticipation.”
The inside of the Manor was more dour and depressing than the chilly weather outside. Dimly lit candles on their tall iron stands were the only source of light and cast eerie shadows all around the gloomy hallway. Megan felt the urge to turn and run at every step as they followed the dark robed acolyte. He led them into a room no less cheerful than the hallway, where two other cloaked and hooded figures waited.
“You have the tithe for your salvation.” One of the hooded women held out a thick calloused palm.
“Yes!” Sondra nodded and handed over a small leather pouch.
The gold coins inside clinked softly. This was payment from the townsfolk to have their souls saved and fortunes recouped. To be once again the prosperous and bustling township that Gladstone had been before. Lord Aldridge Harrow was well reputed as being the man who worked miracles. Many a township his wisdom and skills had saved from the brink of utter doom. His offer of atonement for a small sum of trinkets and a session of cleansing was most accommodating. And all tended to agree to his wisdom. Then why was Megan feeling so ill at ease about all this.
“You will need to wear these holy robes.” The other hooded woman whispered and held out two folds of sheer white linen. “Now remove your tainted garments and prepare for the ceremony.”
“Uh, but it’s so late.” Megan feebly protested. “And we are exhausted from a long and tiresome journey.”
“This is the hour,” Brother Galen said softly. “We must cleanse your tainted souls at this moment.”
Sondra nodded and began to undress, much to Megan’s shock and astonishment. The beautiful brunette gathered the transparent little robe around her svelte naked body and looked at her cousin expectantly.
“What?” Megan choked. “I’m not getting naked in from to these...”
“You have no choice, my dear.” A warm soothing voice wafted in from the shadows beyond the billowing curtains. “This is the hour of deliverance. Should it be missed, your souls will forever burn in the nether and the good people of Gladstone shall forever suffer in their depravity.”
The young women whirled around to face the now parted curtains. Lord Aldridge Harrow stood there with a kind smile on his face. His bright blue eyes twinkled and he stepped into the room. Long black hair flecked with strands of silver and grey fell gently around his broad shoulders and his flowing white robe was untied, exposing his deep muscular chest, taut ridged belly and dark hairy groin. He gestured at the three members of his cult in the room and nodded. They seized Megan suddenly and tore off her damp gown and undergarments. A large hand on her mouth muffled her scream. She stared at Sondra with fright but her cousin looked on with a bemused smile. The acolytes dropped her naked to the floor and tossed the little white robe into her grasping hands.
“It is time, my dear.” Harrow held out his hand at Sondra and the curvaceous brunette willingly accepted. He led her to a wide stone platform in the middle of the room and helped her lay down on it. The platform was cushioned with red velvet and several lit candles and oil lamps cast a warm yet ominous glow all over the surface. The three heavyset acolytes removed their dark hoods and began a low, hypnotic chant. Megan peered at their faces in the dimness and saw the wanton lust in their burning eyes as they fixatedly stared at the flat stone platform. She shivered and wrapped the slight robe around her naked body tighter. Her small breasts sported goose bumps and her nipples ached with tautness from the cold.
“This is the hour of your salvation.” The Lord of the Manor said softly as he looked down at Sondra. “We must cleanse your tainted soul.”
“I am ready.” Sondra breathed, her large green eyes expectant with fervor. Megan couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
With an expert flick of his wrist, Harrow yanked the flimsy cloth off Sondra’s body. The brunette’s young and blossoming sexuality was laid bare before his lustful eyes to feast upon. He offered some whispered prayers to gods unknown and slowly poured a slick dark liquid over her quivering belly and breasts. Expert hands began leisurely spreading the oil over her pallid yielding flesh. Megan watched wide eyed at the abuse of her cousin’s nubile young body. She wanted to scream out but the strange odor emanating from lamps burning dimly overhead dulled her senses. The three acolytes beside her began to sway to their rhythmic chanting in unison.
Oblivious to watching eyes, Harrow continued his ministrations on the nubile form before him. Slowly his caressing fingers traipsed from her quivering belly to the underside of her tender breasts. His eager hands explored her supple bosom and taut nipples, aroused to aching hardness. Sondra’s soft moans grew louder with every caress and she began to buck her rounded hips. She bit her lip and reached out to caress his naked thigh. “This is why I am here.” She said in a throaty voice. “My poor cousin and my town full of simpletons think that this is a sacred place and we are here to have ourselves saved. I laugh at them and their ignorance while I let you, Lord Harrow, my wonderful beast of a man, give me pleasure beyond any I will ever know back in that dead town.”
Megan felt her heart stop. Did she hear her cousin right? Was she out of her mind? Did Sondra really want to be ravaged by a strange old man? She found all of this beyond her ken and her head began to pound heavily. The intoxicating odor of the candles and oil lamps began to make her feel lightheaded. Everything looked surreal, as if she was in some dream.
“My Lord Harrow. My dear savior.” Sondra looked desirously up at the older man. “Save me, save my errant soul and make me whole again. I beseech you… take me under your care. Cleanse me!”
With a wide smile of approval, Harrow planted passionate kisses on her breasts and belly. He slid his hands expertly downward all the way to her oil slick thighs and slowly he spread her legs apart. His fingers snaked over her pulsating pussy and as he caressed her swollen clit, Sondra’s body shuddered with pleasure. Her moans became louder and more recurrent. Megan felt sure now she was dreaming all of this. But how would she even dream in detail of such things she had never even heard of, let alone witnessed. And what if it was all real? Was it going to be her next, after that slut of a cousin of hers, she shuddered inwardly.
“My child, you will be saved.” Harrow whispered. “I have made a pact with the ones who matter and they approve of your soul’s salvation.”
Sondra moaned lustfully in appreciation and arched her back. Her firm young breasts pushed up at the eager man’s leering face. Her nipples stood out like hard little cherries, longing for a hungry mouth to close over them. Megan found herself yearning for those little nubs and she felt her own nipples begin to stiffen anew. The chanting of the acolytes beside her began to sound more and more enticing and she felt her body move to the rhythm of their voices.
“Never have I had one so willing, so full of lust and wanting,” Lord Harrow’s deep voice said with satisfaction. “Sondra, my love, you are lovelier than any I have saved. And as long as you and your naïve kind are willing, my virile seed will be forever sown.”
“I cannot take it anymore” Megan suddenly screamed, fighting the dullness in her mind. “What in hell is going on… is he going to force himself on her?”
“Hush, fool girl!” The acolyte beside her admonished harshly. “Lord Harrow frees her soul from evil.”
“I… what… this is evil…” Megan choked, her tear filled eyes fixed on the thick erect manhood jutting out from the charlatan’s open gown. Harrow’s erect cock twitched twice as if to acknowledge her enraged stare. But the more she looked at the thing the more she felt her body react in a manner she had little known before.
“Uhhh! Ooohh!” Sondra thickly groaned in wanton heat as she writhed on the platform before Harrow. “I want more, my Lord… take me. Fill me with your big hard cock.”
“The hour is upon us.” Harrow said somberly and dropped his ro
be. Naked and with his thick cock throbbing wildly he climbed onto the platform and straddled the lust sodden young woman lying on it. The long haired man started to rub his blood gorged cockhead on her swollen clit and Sondra’s moans grew louder, as if she were possessed by some lust craving demon. Megan felt several shivers run through her body as she drank in the vision playing out before her widened eyes. Harrow breathed heavily and thrust the thick head of his rock hard cock into her sopping fissure slowly, as if to enjoy the tightness her young pussy offered. ”You are as firm as a virgin, my dear” He told her hoarsely. “Even though you are far from one. All the more better, I feel. And this is a night of extravagant pleasure. I grow tired of frightened and resistant ones that usually get dragged here by their dim-witted folk hoping for salvation. You, my dear, have come by yourself willingly… and I must make you stay here a while.”
“Yes, you must, my lord.” Sondra sounded as if she was drunk, drunk with lust. “My soul is in need of desperate salvation and one night is not enough, perhaps a week…”
Lusty Historical Erotica Stories Page 21