Timothy felt a single hot tear slide down his cheek.
"Too good a man, if you ask me." Kit punched his arm. "It wouldn't hurt if you were a little less calm all the time."
Timothy wiped the tear. Evelyn wailed behind the door.
"I will tend to her." Aunt Mae laid a hand on Timothy and Kit's shoulders. "There are hot cinnamon rolls in the kitchen. You both deserve a good nap after all that too. Off with you now."
"Ooh. I've never had cinnamon rolls. What are they? They sound good." Kit rubbed her hands together.
As Aunt Mae entered the chamber, Timothy glanced inside his mother's room. She still scrubbed at the floor with her worn rag.
Not even time can touch some things.
"Watch her dress." The man's breath tickled Sister Tera's ear. Timothy and the red-haired girl walked down the hall.
The scar on the man's cheek pulled her gaze too much. Tera tore her eyes away and followed the man's finger.
What was she thinking? She was a nun. She felt the hard whitewashed stone beneath her fingers as she leaned around the adjoining hall.
"I've never had cinnamon rolls. What are they?" The redhead asked.
Timothy kept silent.
"No need to be pouty, Timmy. You were not the one who had her hair pulled."
Tera glanced at the man beside her. He nodded. She turned back to the hall.
The girl continued to natter. Did her head scarf just move? "Hey. That smells nice. Is that the cinnamon roll thingie?"
"Yes, it is a sweet. One of my favorites actually," Timothy said.
Tera's breath caught. The redhead's skirt flapped and revealed what looked to be a red tail tipped with white.
"I like sweets!" Yes, it was a tail!
"That doesn't surprise me," Timothy said.
Tera turned, and the man's small amulet caught the light. The sister knew what the symbol meant. A cross flanked by a sword and a branch could only mean one thing: this man was a member of the Holy Inquisition.
"It is as you said," she whispered. "I saw a tail. It was red and had white on its tip."
"She is the demon I hunt. I need your help, sister. I do not want violence to come to this house of God."
"I will do whatever I can to help you, Inquisitor Tahd." Sister Tera swallowed her excitement, her voice quivering with it. A young nun in a faraway abbey actually doing something vital for the Church! She wondered if she was going to wake up to find this a dream.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Watch. We have to let the prey think itself safe," the Inquisitor said.
"I won't let this demon corrupt the abbey. Everyone needs to know!" Tera shifted to stalk away.
Tahd's hand clamped her shoulder. His smile lacked mirth. "A good sentiment, but letting everyone know will chase off the demon. Do you want it to corrupt a village? Your sisters are safe. There is no place better to stop a demon."
"I hadn't thought…Oh, I'm sorry. You must be tired after such a long journey. Let me show you to your room." Tera led the man away, struggling to walk with the grace becoming of a nun. She wanted to jump and sing. To think, she found the purpose she dreamed about in this out-of-the-way abbey.
Nothing ever happened here, outside of farmers taking shelter after a storm last summer. Tera supposed most abbeys were boring, but a nun could still do more than a wife. If she didn't leave her home, she would likely live in a hut with a baby on her hip by now. What could be more important than stopping a demon from threatening people? The memory of that tail sent chills through her. Only demons had tails. God granted prayers in odd ways. The rough man behind her had to be a gift from heaven itself.
Tera found herself facing a door and reined her galloping thoughts. "H…here it is." She pushed open the door.
Sister Grace straightened. The old nun gestured at a copper tray. "Ah! There you are. I left some hot stew. Stew is good on a chilly day. If you need anything—"
"I will be fine," Tahd said. "Thank you, sister." He slipped past Sister Grace. The two nuns left the man to his dinner.
"Did you see?" Tera asked.
"See what, child?" Sister Grace flowed down the hall. Tera had to slow her feet to keep pace.
"He is an Inquisitor!"
"Hmm? And you know this—"
"You didn't see the Seal of the Inquisition?!"
"I didn't see," Sister Grace said.
Of course she did not see. This abbey overflowed with blind women. How could they be content with being able to read, write, and pray but not use the skills for anything?
"He is after a demon. A fox demon."
"Child, the Church took care of those demons when you were still in swaddling."
"Did they get all of them? How could they?" Tera stopped in front of the nun.
"Do you doubt the Church's word?" Sister Grace wore her patient lecturing expression. Tera knew that expression too well.
"No. No, but there could be some they missed."
"Possible. What does this Inquisitor say?"
She had to tell someone! She bounced on her toes. "We have a demon here. The redhead."
"Young Timothy's companion?" Sister Grace shook her head. "I suspect unseemly things. He is young, but she is no demon. Timothy was raised here. He would not be with a demon. Why, I always thought he would make a good priest despite his…antics."
"She is! I saw a tail! I do not lie."
"Calm yourself, child. I…I have a distaste for the Inquisition. There…you know even my old bones doubt. Even the Jews in the Old Word demanded proof of many witnesses. The Inquisition does not."
"But—"
Sister Grace held up a finger. "No more of this. We offered our hospitality. You will not break it. Nor will this Inquisitor without proof. My old bones are too tough for the Inquisition to burn. They will have to prove her a demon. Show me, and then I will believe. Leave it be, Sister Tera."
The old nun held Tera's eyes until Tera looked at her feet. Tera would show the old woman proof. She would not let this chance to do something important pass her. Sister Grace said something Tera did not hear and left to tend to her business. Tera moved through the abbey's silence with her mind whirring. She stopped at the dining hall.
"Cinnamon's sticky," the red-haired demon said.
Tera stalked into the spare dining hall. What was Mother Mae thinking? Even if the red was not a demon, these two were living in sin. Of that Tera had not doubt. What man could resist such an exotic creature? Red hair and the way the demon walked! Beyond her demonic nature, she was an obvious strumpet.
"Cinnamon's expensive," Timothy said. "I wonder how Aunt Mae…Sister?"
"I know what you are," Tera said. "I deny your power. I will reveal you. You will not take me. You made a mistake stepping into the house of the Lord."
"What I am?" Timothy asked.
Tera knew only a little about Timothy from the other nuns, but his stricken face and the way he looked at the strumpet told Tera everything she suspected.
"Why, shepherd, I do believe you are making the poor nun reconsider her vows." The demon turned her cursed eyes on Tera. "He is mine until I say I am done."
"I deny your power! You will not have me." Tera jabbed a finger at the red.
"Wait! You don't mean…" The demon laid a hand against its cheek. "Oh, dear me. I have heard stories about nuns, but I thought them too naughty to be true. I'm flattered. Really I am, but I like men. Well, Timmy somewhat counts as a man. I haven't looked yet."
Tera gaped. The demon thought it a joke! And to say such lewd things in a house dedicated to God!
Timothy watched the exchange with a questioning frown. Then his eyebrows lifted, and his cheeks flushed. Tera quivered and her fist clenched.
"Your tongue betrays you, fox. If only that were proof enough." Tera stalked away. The proof would be the tail. Not even Mother Mae could deny the sight of that. A plan started to take shape.
"I really should check to see if you are a man, Timmy," the fox said. "Just a pe
ek to make sure."
Chapter 7
The cool sun poked holes in the gray clouds. Timothy lounged on a stone bench in the courtyard. Birds chirped, and insects mourned the passing of summer. Sister Rae mucked the small stable across the courtyard. Timothy tried to ignore the questions rampaging through his mind and enjoy the peaceful moment. How could he tell Kit what he found? Did she suspect what the Inquisition claimed?
"Baa!" Cat bounced across the courtyard. Timothy scratched the lamb's head with a finger.
"How should I tell her?" he asked the lamb. "When?" He was not sure where Kit was. Likely eating or taking a bath. She spent the better part of the day grooming her tail when she was not visiting Aunt Mae.
"Baa," Cat said. She hopped a circle.
"Cat!" Sister Rae leaned on her pitchfork. "Come here, girl."
Cat scampered toward the sister. It would be nice if they could stay here. Few people visited the abbey. It took a good day's walk to find the closest cluster of farmers. The one visitor Timothy heard about had left before Timothy had seen him. A merchant staying for a night or two, he guessed. He leaned back and crossed his ankles, watching the sun push aside a few more clouds. He knew they could not stay, but it was nice to indulge that fantasy.
"Child, I am only doing this to prove you have an overactive imagination," Sister Grace said. "You will apologize to the poor girl when all of this nonsense is over."
"I know what I saw," Tera said.
Sister Grace sniffed. "I'm of a mind to bend you over my knee for this foolishness, sister or no!" She gestured at the door to the washroom. "Go on. If one's going to jump in the mud, there is no point in tiptoeing to get to it."
Tera shoved open the door. The red-haired creature sat on the edge of one of the washtubs, a long white wash robe wrapped around its body. A towel formed a beehive around its head.
"What can I do for you, sisters? I was just about to take a bath, as you can see." The creature clasped the robe tight to her chest.
Sister Grace grabbed Tera's earlobe. "Just a little mischief from an overly imaginative sister. Apologize, child, and let the girl be. I don't know why I decided to indulge your fancy."
"She is a demon!" Tera pulled away from Sister Grace's vice-like fingers.
"Such nonsense is not becoming of a sister. You will apologize now and stop this foolishness. The abbess will know of your antics." Sister Grace planted hands on her hips.
"Do leave. You are letting in chilly air and cooling my bath." The abomination shivered.
Tera refused to be turned away. A Hand from the Inquisition itself asked for Tera's help. She twisted away from Sister Grace. The demon stood and bared her teeth.
Fangs! The demon had fangs.
No. She would not fear the demon. God protected her. She served a just cause. Tera grabbed the demon's hand holding the robe closed.
"Don't touch me!" The demon struggled against Tera's grip.
"Stop this at once." Sister Grace pulled at Tera's habit. "I knew I should have switched all those fancies out of you."
"You will see the truth." Tera yanked the demon's hand from the wash robe.
"I warned you," the demon growled.
"Tera! You will stop this now." The old nun heaved Tera back.
The demon lashed out with its fingernails, and fire burned across Tera's cheek. Her eyes watered, but she held on. Sister Grace toppled, pulling Tera down. Tera kept her grip on the demon's wrist and robe. She thumped onto the floor with the demon on top of her. Her head smashed against the floor tiles, and her vision swam.
Sister Grace gasped.
The demon's terrible green eyes widened. Rage glinted in their depths, along with something else. Demons did not understand fear. It could not be that. Tera grabbed a fistful of towel and pulled it off. White tufted ears slipped from the fabric.
The demon crushed Tera's jaw with a fist. The room wavered and Tera tasted blood.
Suddenly, the weight lifted. Tera staggered to her feet and caught the edge of the washtub before hitting the tiles again. The room spun. She forced her eyes to focus. Sister Grace wrapped her strong arms around the red-haired demon, and the fox tail bristled and slapped at the elderly sister. A low primal growl rumbled the air. The wash robe fell from slender shoulders. A pale muscular body that looked far too normal writhed in the sister's grip. That body mocked God's creation. It was unblemished and petite. God liked the perfection of imperfection.
Sister Grace roared and she held on. Tera knew the old nun had a strong arm, but she never knew the nun held this much strength. The demon twisted and kicked. The hall outside echoed with voices.
The demon sank its fangs into Sister Grace's exposed forearm. The nun bellowed but held on.
Three sisters, Abby, Nika, and Rebecca, froze at the sight of Sister Grace and the red demon wrestling. The demon kicked and clawed.
"Help us! She is a demon!" Tera shouted.
She didn't wait for them. She lurched in and grabbed a kicking bare foot. The other sisters rushed beside her. Abby grabbed the other foot. The others helped pry the demon off of Sister Grace's bloody forearm, forcing the creature down to the tile. The fox howled in fury, its ears pressed against the hell-fire hair. Tera knew ears like those could hear the commands of the demon's dark lord.
"What is all this racket! This is a house of God…" The abbess flowed into the room.
Sister Grace slumped to the tiled floor. "The fool girl was right. She is a demon! Sorry I doubted you, sister." The last word held a level of respect that surprised Tera.
The demon went limp. The red-haired fox mocked what a woman should look like. Tera felt the urge to ward against its evil. The skin under her hands felt like normal skin, but it was a lie. No normal woman had red hair like this or ears and a tail. Tera kept a tight grip as the demon panted. She refused to fall for that. Demons did not get tired. She dug her fingers into the demon's skin. The Inquisitor said hell spawn like this one were tricksters.
"Mother," Sister Grace panted. "This girl…"
"Get off her, sisters. I can see what is before me. I trust she will not be going anywhere with all of us here. Let go of her."
Abby, Nika, and Rebecca released the creature, sharing an anxious, proud look. The abbess bored her eyes into Tera's.
"Fine." Tera let go and backed far enough to avoid another fist. Her jaw ached. Blood from her cut lip tasted like the last of the Lenten soup.
The creature staggered to its feet and swept all of them with baleful eyes. The twin green fires lingered on Tera, and the nun raised her chin. The creature crossed its arms beneath small breasts. It didn't even bother to cover itself. What sort of creature wouldn't want to cover itself with so many eyes looking?
The abbess held a hand to her forehead. "I can see you deceived us, deary."
A partially robed shoulder shrugged. "You didn't ask. It shouldn't matter." The demon sniffed. "You humans are always swift to curse those who are different. So much for the compassion your God teaches."
"Only the foolish among us are swift to curse those who are different." The abbess turned to the sisters. "Sister Grace, you and Sister Tera need to be tended to. The rest of you can escort our guest her room. You will behave, won't you? Good. Nika, go find Timothy, please."
"What! You are not going to do anything?" Tera stomped up to the abbess.
"I am going to finish my bath." The red tail swished. "I need to wash off the feel of your groping."
"I need to consider—" the abbess said.
"What is there to consider? It is a demon!"
"My bath water is cold now. I am not in the mood for your foolishness, so don't think I will be easy on you this time." The demon bared fangs.
"Just because she is…different doesn't mean she is a demon, sister." The abbess waved a hand as Sister Grace opened her mouth. "You two need to have those wounds tended."
"Close the door behind you. I prefer to bathe in private," the creature said.
"You will promise me no trou
ble, deary." The abbess skewered the demon with a glare. The demon replaced the wash robe. "No trouble for Timothy's sake. Do you hear me?"
"For the shepherd's sake. I won't cause trouble."
"Promise me, deary."
"Fine! I swear I will not cause trouble. Can I finish my bath now?"
"We will talk later, sister," the abbess told Tera. "For now, see to your face and stay out of trouble." Tera opened her mouth. The abbess raised an eyebrow. Tera shut her mouth.
"Later," the abbess said.
Tera sighed. Fools.
Across the courtyard, Cat lay in Sister Rae's lap as the sister stroked the lamb's head. A few notes of a tune she hummed hung in the air.
He should just tell Kit. It was best to just be out with it.
A dark-haired nun about the same age as Timothy skidded to a stop. She panted and gulped.
"What's the matter, Sister Nika?"
The nun shot Timothy a look he could not decipher. "The…abbess…needs you in her office. Now."
Timothy stood. So much for a peaceful day. "Did something happen to Evelyn?"
The sister shook her head. She slumped to the stone bench. "Important. Needs you now," she managed between gasps.
It had to be Evelyn.
"Rest awhile." Timothy left the nun. It must be something for Aunt Mae to deem it important. Most of the time, Evelyn's antics were not worth bothering about.
The interior of the abbey held the quiet activity of daily chores, and the normalcy eased Timothy's anxiety a little. If it were serious, the nuns would not be working as usual. Gossip traveled faster than prayer.
He rapped knuckles on Aunt Mae's worn door. How many times had he been to her office for his drawings and pranks? At least as many times as the pleasant visits.
Timothy doubted this time would be pleasant.
He rapped his knuckles on the door again. Maybe Evelyn broke out of her insanity. Not likely.
"Come in."
The bare walls held a single icon of the Holy Mother. She seemed to accuse him. The Holy Mother witnessed all of his antics, so Timothy understood the accusing look. The desk held its usual clutter of papers and the ever-present, battered tea set. Aunt Mae eyed Timothy over her teacup.
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