An angel, Cherubin, with a message from Geod

The man stepped through the door with agonizing slowness, revealing a hooded red robe; the robe identified him as a clergyman, though, at this odd hour and under these circumstances, it made him look more like a thief trying to hide his identity. Once inside, he shut the door... again, with terrible, teasing slowness... and revealed himself by pulling free his hood. Beneath, he was black, bald, and smiling, his eyes gleaming with white light despite the amulet matching hers that he wore around his neck. His face was chiseled and attractive, but right now, Clara was only annoyed to see him. He looked like a vision of godly inspiration, while she currently looked like a bawdy drawing from some faithful's private journal. "Greetings, Miss Fauxbright," he announced himself, placing one hand to his chest, and then bowing... again, with a terrible, dragging motion. Clara thought he was doing it for the sake of seeming theatrical, but it was unwanted at the best of the times, and totally frustrating in his case.

"Priest Cherubin. It's actually quite convenient that you've arrived, I-" she began, then noticed his eyes. "Oh... I see..." That gleaming light could only mean one thing... Cherubin had come to deliver her a message from Geod.

"You see the light? Well, see also the smile upon my visage," he explained, waving one hand over his gleaming white teeth, seeming awfully jokey for someone bearing a message from the creator. "Do not worry, the news is good. Geod is pleased... well-pleased. He has sent me to tell you to stay the course. The offerings... the faith... well, some have forgotten who exactly they are offering their faith to, but they have never been more fervent. Our town's barrier is the strongest it's been in decades, possibly centuries. New faithful are declaring themselves all over town! This is a most blessed period in Merridan's history..."

Clara sighed with relief, feeling newly at peace with her decision and smiling. "Thank you, Cherubin. It is most welcome news."

"It is my pleasure. He's provided many details as well-"

"Hm?"

"-About the specific activities you have used to promote the church-"

"H-Hmmmmm?"

"And the holes you have dedicated to the cause. Such devotion, Miss Fauxbright! Geod sounded very, very excited about it! I have to admit, it caused me to become rather interested myself!"

"Hmmmmmmmmmm?!" Clara questioned, her eyes bulging as she pulled the covers yet higher, to cover her nudity all the way to the chin. "I know I told Geod to watch over me, but he's watching way too hard!!" she thought to herself, glowing red from ear to ear.

"Geod says to stay the course and to seek your own counsel on the matter. He said that it is best that your... what were his words... 'precious naivete' play out its own course, unhindered by specific requests from him."

"I see. Thank you, Priest Cherubin. Now, to the matter of the sermon tomorrow... I-I find myself unwell... The holy fervor of today's activities took quite a bit out of me, so I was thinking that in my place, perhaps you would deliver the sermon yourself?"

The priest chuckled into his fist, then shook his head. "It is well, Miss Fauxbright. Geod provides. Even if you do not give the sermon, the faithful will leave with their faith reignited..." Cherubin spoke ominously in his deep, rich voice, his eyes seeming to flare stronger still with divine white flames. "Sleep well. But do not tarry long... Geod is eager to see your next performance..."

...

Once Cherubin left, Clara barely slept a wink. She huddled her sheets about her naked body and her pillow around her head, as she tried to think what Geod-worthy performance she could utilize in the morrow. She wished she could seek out Ursula for counsel... but if she was suffering from lack of sleep, the vigilant counselor was going to be feeling even worse tomorrow.

Clara awoke the next morning, instantly alarmed to see the position of the sun. She'd actually slept through the time for her usual sermon, for the first time in her long, long career as head of the church! Praying that Cherubin had been correct about the sermon being taken care of, she hopped out of bed, jumped into the shower, and hastily scrubbed the night's activities from her holy, but slightly-less-pure-than-normal flesh, paying special attention to the places she knew had been used the night before. For just a moment, she let her fingers linger above her slit... then retracted them, feeling bashful. "Geod... you really shouldn't watch all the time," she scolded her deity again, as she left the shower, toweled off, set her hair into its neat bun, then dressed into her splendid white and gold raiment (among other articles), preparing to start a new day's adventure.

Maybe if she hurried, she could still see how the sermon went without her...?