Chapter eleven.

Manøvie.

I tugged at the old ragged door at the bottom of the stairs, groaning in frustration when it didn't budge. I had known this to happen but my mind still told me that perhaps those men wouldn't lock it. I dunted my head on the door,turning my back to it with my eyes closed.

How was I going to get out of here?

I pushed myself off the door and ran back up the stairs. I emerged into the tiny room again,looking about frantically for anything that could pry the door below open. I came to a disappointment,as there were no tools I could use at all.

I held my hips with a heavy sigh,still surveying the room once more. I could feel the beads of sweat dribble along my back line as I searched for an alternative way out.

I stood silently staring at the ceiling,groaning inwardly and throwing my head back and coincidentally spotted the small door, almost invisible within one width of the wall.

I scurried to it, quickly scrutinizing for the knob. However, there was none.

Angrily, I tugged at the flat door hoping it would creak and swing back from its cradle but it did not. "Urgh,come on!" I groused through gritted teeth, crouching to meet the small peep hole where the knob was supposed to be.

I plunged my finger into it and tried to twist whatever latch was inside inorder to pry this door open. My index suddenly caught on something that was mobile, I pushed it down forcibly and alas, the door clicked and slithered to the other side.

"Huh!" I laughed out at my decipher and stood up to proceed.

All the light from my face fell on the contrary when I saw a line of small steps leading down to another door.

How many doors were in this place?!!

I wanted to scream out in fury but my fists balled as I retarded every ounce of hot frustrated tears waiting to snap out. My ponderous breathe heaved as I closed the door behind me and headed for the other one.

This wasn't a good idea, one of my worst moves yet. If Lord Lucaí ever got to find out about this or my intimate encounter with Sobêiski, I'd be in enormous trouble.

I touched the metal door before me and my heart dropped. It was thick and rough at texture,giving me the picture that it was hard to penetrate through. There was no way I was going nudge open this door for it needed a special key alone- a key I didn't have or know about.

I was back to square one- again!!

My eyelids taped closed as I took the stone knob into my shaky and weary fingers. I tugged at it, ready to discover a drastic disappointment and demise but to my surprise it was open, the door was open!!!

My eyes flew wide as I pulled the heavy door back. I slipped in and peeked into the peculiar room I had come to from the long red drape that hung to the ground.

There was a large table in the middle of the room, no window or whatsoever. It was dull - with a sickening tinge to it. Noticing that it was empty, I came out of hiding and arranged the drape before pacing for the door.

My hip dunted the table but didn't stop to nurse the pain in fear of getting caught. All i wanted was to glide back, unseen or detected, to my room- take a long hot bath and fall straight asleep.

However, today wasn't meant to be my day.

The door I was racing for clicked and swung open and my dread met me. Lord Lucaí walked in absentmindedly, locked it behind him and drew a hollow sigh that flashed a hint of pedantic exhaustion on his nerves.

I stood there, becalmed as I waited for him to notice my presence or perhaps he wouldn't and I'd mysteriously walk out without gaining his regard.

Yeah...not really.

Lord Lucaí, froze when our eyes met. He was not  expecting to see me again like this, here in his office after I had left days ago and neither did I.

His eyes instinctively shot to the door I had emerged from, keenly studying it's semblance as if to check for any differences. My heart was pulsating, I could taste the bitter stinging adrenaline as I kept standing there.

"Ma-Manøvie," he stuttered, walking around to his table    "May I ask what you're doing here?" He corked an eyebrow dipped in curiosity and stiff suspicion.

" I-I wanted to speak with you," I fibbed, starting to calculate the number of lies I was going to make. I'd need later confession with LeoNaidus.

"Go on then," he sat and reclined to his solace.

I knew he must have noticed my jumped demeanor but never mentioned anything. Maybe he took that as I was always afraid of him- I'd stick with that subtle consolation.

"I'm sorry I was away for so long, I-I was just... y'know tired of being alone here so.. I went to.. the fields for a while," I concocted, staring straight at him so he would buy what I was selling.

This was true though.

"What ever you do isn't my concern, Manøvie. You have free will as you are the most prized possession of Modëus."

Did he just? Possession?!

I thrust a blank look his way, he always referred to me as a mere prize possession, a thing that would bring his village riches and what not.

"Didn't you hear me?" he asked my frozen self "You can do as so ever you please, Lady Manøvie."

I didn't know how to even display my reaction or words to say to him. Nevertheless, as excruciating as it was, I had always known this for that's what everyone on this island knew and expected me to be.

Another of their goddess' benedictions.

They just added alittle de lux because they thought perhaps I was their mediator with Härshänoäh and they wanted to please her wholly. Lord Lucaí had as ever been so explicit with me- always making it clear how I was only a material item.

Not able to speak up for myself, I sealed my lips and turned to exit. He was the high priest and I was just one of the other stones in magma cotted shells, though a human shell now.

I left his study with my head hanging low with all my once existing exuberance broken to bits. I had never felt so small for my short period life but Lord Lucaí had the prowess of bringing me such agony and I hadn't the power to demur.

I was so weak and helpless.

No wonder he took whatever chances he got to merit and crushed me to dripping negatives. No vitality or biting back hints from me.

That's where he always left me- weak.

I made haste towards the east of the elevated grand halls lit up dimly by glows of few torch bulbs, aiming to reach my chambers and interlude from everything that weighed ponderous on my shoulders.

My purposed adamance to escape into the confinement of my room was interjected when I heard a persistent call from the other end of the hall. I grimaced as from my peripheral vision, I could see Sobêiski erasing our breadth.

I didn't stop, I couldn't.

What did he want now? Didn't he know how hard it was for me everytime at his proximity? How I had to hold back whatever I felt at the floor of my heart, burying those suffusing emotions with other things- the small things that I couldn't seem to cradle down any longer.

"Manøvie! Manøvie, don't you dare run from me!" He clamoured, racing behind to catch up with me. "Manøvie, stop!"

I had barely touched my door knob when he pulled me back to him, pinning me on his hard chest. His right arm backling around my waist to seize my struggling.

"Stop fighting me! What is wrong with you?" His grip tightened. "Manøvie...."

I managed to snatch myself from him, standing at the other end of the wall and breathing heavily as now hot tears parboiled from my eyes, glistening and itching to be let loose.

Sobêiski didn't say a word to me, he just stared sadly at me. His face pinched in fury and concern as well. He attempted to take a step closer but stopped when I looked aside.

"Manny," he started calmly

His voice was soft- too soft. Just hearing him say my name, although in short, melted the fury and agony wailing behind my ribcage. All i desired was to be in his arms, sink into his rich priestly scent and cry into him as he soothed me to silence- whispering reassurances that all would be fine.

But I knew better, not all would be fine if we both accepted our passion for each other- he had a coming responsibility of which an entire village expected him to fulfill.

"Manøvie, I don't like this," he spoke up,coming close whether or not I wanted him to. Honestly, i did want him too- alot!

"I don't like what you're doing to me, to your self most of all. You're hurting yourself and I hate to think it's because of me and what I'm bound to become,"

I stood there in silence, not daring to look up at his eyes. Those deep sapphires that held alot of sentiment- what I wanted to claim!

I gasped when Sobêiski suddenly yanked me from the wall and dragged us into my room. He shut the door then led me to my bed and made me sit. My gaze lowered with his as he crouched Infront of me,rubbing his smooth palms on my knees.

The tingling sensation triggered by the awareness of his touch on my exposed thighs flamed my yearning core- my whole body in this sense. My lower lip fell open as I struggled to breath.

"Why are you doing this,mmh?" His fingers perpetuated their small circular actions on my raw skin, my toes involuntarily curling against the cold floor.

I had no reply for him. I had already explained my reasons to him. I was protecting him; this was for the better. He had to accept it and agree with me.

His hand moved to my waist slowly, his lustre sparking eyes never leaving mine as he advanced movement. I swallowed hard, feeling the scratching eagerness to once again taste his lips on mine- to feel him take control of my docility.

Sobêiski's hand came to the base of my neck where he started to lead my face down to his. Quivers of trepidation and nipping excitement planed all through my body, evoking my nerves endings with a raw stinging passion.

His face twitched with the same intensity as his gaze dropped to my parted lips and I knew he felt the same shudders of pulsating sparks of need.

Our lips were at the eve of touching, I could taste his breathe but my restraint clouded my vision. Stopping me from satisfying my true desires as I pleased. I gently placed a finger between our yearning lips and held Sobêiski's gaze once again.

"We...we can't," I told him, a tear pierced out of my eyes and oozed to my cheeks that were blemished by the heat pervading my skin.

His jaw visibly clenched as he connected our foreheads and sighed. I didn't want him to build his authority on lies and hypocrisy- teaching people the wisdom of honesty and integrity when his own life was veiled by untold sins.

I didn't want that for him.

"I can't do this any more, living without you by my side." He groused, standing to his feet.

"It's not easy for me either, Sobêiski but we have no choice," I elucidated

"I can choose to back out of this, I can tell Lord Lucaí that I don't want to be high priest."

I threw a horrid glance at him at his words. The elders would never forgive him! The village would see this as pure treason.

"Are you out of your mind! You'd be sentenced to death and I can't have that!" I jumped from where I sat to his side. "I'd rather we be apart but with you still alive,"

I now stood in front of him,taking his cheek in my palm. His balled fists loosened and he brought them around my waist, cradling me close to him as he leaned into my hand.

"I-I wish I had the power to change everything and maybe once I'm High priest, I can find a way to alter the rule that prohibits closer relation to all other high priests," he whispered in hope and ponder.

Maybe he could, just maybe.

I hoped to all heavens that it would be so but Lord Lucaí would never approve of it. He'd do anything to make sure it was never considered.

               ©

Dedicated to red_carnelian. Thx for being the best reader. Love you.
Applesfire💖