The Power of the Priest.

“Hello Darx.” The Priest got up from his chair to greet him.

“My Priest,” Darx said, bowing. He drew on the remnants of the feelings implanted in him earlier to pick his words and actions. He didn’t want the Priest to know he had broken his control.

“I expected to meet you one on one, Darx, yet Neku is with you.” The Priest said as he gestured to the lone chair opposite his.

“I want her here." Darx replied, remaining standing. "I knew her in Midnight Dawn, and she has proven her loyalty to me. Seeing that you trust her to watch over me, I am sure you have no problems with her hearing our discussions. Besides, your Friar seemed determined to get her in trouble for taking care of my needs, and I won’t have that.”

It wasn’t a hard ask. It would be difficult for the Priest to turn him down while pretending the church was there to serve him. The more power and freedom he could get them to hand him, the less control they had over him. Something he knew wasn’t lost on the Priest either.

The Priest paused for a moment, then smiled.

“I heard of your little incident, and I will make sure Neku isn’t punished. In the future, Darx, please do stay out of restricted areas. There are things that are dangerous stored in these walls, even to you. We’d hate for you to put yourself in positions where we couldn’t keep you safe.” The threat was palpable, yet delivered with a comforting smile.

“And just so you know," the Priest continued, "any disciple; Neku, the servants, anyone you desire is available to serve you. You don’t need to find a private spot, either. You could have used Neku on any of the tables in the library." Then with a smirk the Priest added, "I only ask that you try not to damage the books, they are valuable after all.”

Darx gritted his teeth, tried not to react. It was clear bait, demeaning Neku in front of him, making sure he saw her as some plaything the Priest gave him. Not the friend and ally she was.

“I will keep that in mind.” Darx replied, doing his best to keep his voice calm.

“Now, to the reason I asked you here today.” Darx felt it, the Priest was starting to use his ability again. It wasn’t as powerful as last time, but still, he recognized it. The room felt strange, the Priests words seemed like they were bypassing his ears and going straight to his brain. He did his best to tune out what the Priest was saying, to just nod when appropriate, but it was hard.

“You can’t trust the Royal Family, Darx. Their chief desire is not victory over the Demons that threaten our land, but holding on to their own power, their position which doesn’t belong to them.”

It was easy to nod and agree, it was hard to keep in his mind that it wasn’t true.

“They would use you and betray you. Tell you they care about you, all while trying to keep what is rightfully yours from you. Take Neku, she has been loyal to you, and that makes me happy. It makes us all happy. We want you to be happy, Darx, we want you to be a part of our family.”

Damn, Darx thought, he is good. He knows right where to hit. Lies and betrayal, losing the people and things I care about. Finding people I can trust, getting my family back.

“The Royal Family relies on Oblivion, Darx. They cannot oppose that treacherous guild. They already chose to look the other way while Kase plotted to destroy you. We suspect they may have even helped orchestrate your betrayal.”

That wasn’t true, was it? Darx knew Syvis returned to Oblivion at the guild leader’s request. Could it have been Kase that orchestrated it, with help from the Queen?

“We can’t openly oppose the Queen at this time, Darx. But I assure you, her time is coming. She will pay for her schemes and plots. She will answer for her attempts to sabotage you and your rightful rise to the throne.”

No, Darx thought, that couldn’t be it. The royal family working with Kase to destroy him because they saw him as a threat to their power? That didn’t sound right, but yet, he couldn’t deny how much sense it made.

“You’ll need to be diplomatic, Darx. Make her think you are friendly, not a threat. I know how much you want justice for all the things she has done to you. The harm she's caused to your family, to your mother. But please, trust me and be patient.”

Darx didn’t want to hear it, but it was true, he couldn’t fight the Queen right now. The Priest was right, he should be diplomatic, pretend to have a good relationship with the Queen. He had to bide his time, grow stronger. His **** would come, he just needed to trust the Priest.

Darx didn’t follow much after that, the Priest talking, but once again Darx found himself lost in the voice, not really hearing the words. Soon he was standing, Neku holding his left arm, a different woman took hold of his right. He looked at her, she was a Battle Nun. A different one than in the Library. Darx smiled. He’d always looked up to the Battle Nuns, wanted to meet one. Now he’d seen two in the same day. He wondered how many more were in the church here in Riledo. . .

“He needs to relax, we should get him a bath.” Neku’s voice was dry, emotionless.

“Of course,” The Nun responded. “I shall fetch Raina.”

The Nun let go of Darx and walked away quickly. Darx couldn’t help but stare at her legs as she walked away. Everyone here was so beautiful, and they all wanted to take care of him. The Priest really was treating him well. He felt good, even if he was tired.

“Thank you Neku.” He said.

“For what?” she replied, her voice sounded sad.

“For bringing me here, I’m happy here.” Darx meant it, he was happier than he’d been since before the day Kase came to Merton. It felt good, he could relax, trust the Priest. Let people take care of him.

“I know Darx, I know.” Neku said, patting his hand gently. She sounded like she was about to cry, but that couldn’t be right. How could anyone be sad here?

Neku led Darx back to his room, sat him on the bed and started undressing him. Darx watched her, saw the sadness in her. He didn’t understand. He just hoped he hadn’t hurt her feelings.

Soon the door opened and a beautiful woman in a Battle Nun habit with blue hair entered.

“Oh, excuse me.” She said, blushing as she looked at Neku taking Darx’s pants off. She hurried into the bathroom. Darx heard flowing water and after a few moments the woman walked back into his bedroom.

“Um, It’s ready.” She said, looking at them, her cheeks growing redder.

“Thank you Raina, you can go.” Neku said softly as she stood.

“Anything for the Blessed one.” The lady replied. She curtseyed low, then left the room.

“Who was that?” Darx asked, he’d never seen a mage used to fill a bathtub before. Let alone a Battle Nun.

“That was Raina, she’s a mage in the Battle Nuns. She has water and fire magic.” Neku said matter-of-factly. She helped Darx up and led him toward the bathroom.

“A Battle Nun, and she prepares baths?” That seemed like such a waste of her abilities.

“She does things like that for the highest-ranking people in the church.” Neku replied.

“Highest ranking?” Darx questioned. As far as he was aware he didn’t hold any rank in the church.

“Yeah Darx, they really want you, they are doing anything they can.” He heard the sadness in her voice as she choked back a sob.

Darx couldn't understand why Neku was sad. Darx was thrilled to be in a place like this. Here at the church everything was better. He was safe and well cared for. He smiled as he stepped into the bath and lowered himself down. The water was perfect, it felt incredible. His muscles started to relax almost immediately. He could see why people would want Raina to make a bath for them.

Neku walked over to a counter, grabbed a jar. When she turned back towards him he could see worry in her eyes.

He turned to face her. “What’s wrong Neku?”

Neku sighed. “I’m afraid we’re going to lose you Darx. Kase, your friends, they hurt you so much. The Priest has so much to work with.”

She took some thick substance out of a jar and put it in the water, it dissolved quickly, it smelled of wild flowers, the water felt slick and his skin tingled pleasantly as he soaked.

Darx thought about her words, remembered their conversation earlier, before they spied on the Priest.

“Neku I know the Priest isn’t someone I can fully trust, but I need him to help me fight the Royal Family, they can’t get away with what they’ve done.”

She started to cry, her voice shaky, “But they didn’t Darx, they didn’t do anything to you, that was the Priest, that was his ability again.”

“I know it could be Neku." Darx responded, "But think about it, Harold wanted my mom to come to Riledo. The Royal Family was pressuring Syvis to help them make the alliance with the Dark Elves, can’t you see? Even Princess Kathleen going to the Beast-Kind to make a treaty by marriage, it’s all to establish their power. To make sure they are the ones seen saving the kingdom. They don’t care about anything but their own power. They worked with Kase to destroy my life so I wouldn’t be a threat to them.”

“Oh Darx," Neku cried, "That's not true. They are working to save the kingdom. They want you to help them.”

“Yes, but only as a loyal **** of the throne." Darx continued. "I belong on the throne, not bowing to it. You said so yourself.” Darx couldn’t understand why she couldn’t see that. The Priest knew it, Darx could see the patterns, why couldn’t Neku?

“I don’t have enough time. I can’t fix this.” Neku was sobbing.

Darx was sorry to see her crying. He wished he could make Neku see. Make her understand what he understood now. He turned, took her face in his hands, gently wiped the tears from her eyes. He wanted to help her. To let her know he would take care of it, he’d make it right. It would just take time, he just needed to trust the Priest and be patient. She’d see, he’d show her. One day she’d understand. He just wanted her to stay by his side, be there when things were made right. He did the only thing he could think to do, he kissed her.

Their faces pressed together, Neku responding to his kiss with passion. Darx gently held her face as her hands found and explored his bare chest. When they broke their kiss, Neku stood, slipped out of her clothes silently and climbed in the tub. She straddled Darx as he looked up at her. Her sad eyes called to him. He wanted to make her feel good, let her know things would be okay.

She lowered her naked body to his, “I’ll follow you always Darx, no matter what. I’ll never give up on you.” She whispered as she kissed his neck. “One day you’ll set this all right.”

He smiled, the feeling of her breasts pressed against him, the muscles of her sides as he ran his hands over her, her strong legs rubbing against him as she worked her labia against his shaft. She felt incredible, but even more wonderful than that was knowing she was with him. He knew she didn’t understand yet, he could see the sadness and fear in her eyes, but she was still here, she was still his.

She positioned herself over him, the head of his penis resting at her entrance. “Do you want me Darx, not like before, for real?”

He smiled thinking of the incident in the library. He couldn’t have imagined being with Neku for real then, but now, here she was, offering herself to him.

“I want all of you Neku.”

Neku pressed herself down, sliding onto him.

“Oh Darx, oh that’s nice.” She said.

He took a moment, watched as she started to move on top of him, her breasts wet, glistening in the golden light, heaving up and down as she slowly moved on him. Her eyes were closed, her head back. She was gorgeous, entrancing.

“Oh Goddess, Darx, you feel amazing.” She cried.

Darx pulled himself out of inaction. He grabbed her waist, ran his hands over her hips as she moved up and down on him. He sat up a bit and licked her breast, she tasted good, wildflowers and a bit of sweat. She looked down at him, biting her lip as she took him deeper, all the way. With a moan she leaned forward, pushing her large breasts towards his face. He took her nipple in his mouth, sucking on it, flicking his tongue against it, pushing and teasing. She tensed on him, warm pressure, soft and firm. Neku was a dream.

“Yes Darx. More, please, give me more.” She softly cried.

He moved his hand to her other breast, teasing around her nipple as he kissed and sucked the other. He felt her legs tense, squeezing him.

“Mmmph.” She moaned, low and needy. “More.” She demanded.

He moved his hand to her other breast, teasing around her nipple as his mouth assaulted the other. He felt her legs tense, squeezing him.

“Mmmph.” She moaned, low and needy. “More.” She demanded.

With his free hand he reached and grabbed her ass, driving her down and up more forcefully as he continued sucking and teasing her breasts.

“Darx, mmm, if you. . . Unnngg.”

He felt her tense again, harder. She whimpered, looking down at him, **** and overwhelmed. He felt her cum. She clenched and shook, her head tipped back, her inner walls pressing in on him. The look on her face as she came, the pressure from her orgasm, it sent Darx to his own orgasm and he came inside her.

“Oh, fuck, Darx.” She said, collapsing onto him. She kissed his neck. “I’ve wanted that for a while now, ever since you rescued the fairy, when I saw you watching me.”

Darx remembered, remembered the Priest and Neku. . .

“Neku. . . the Priest.”

“I broke his control over a year ago, I fake it now. I don’t think he knows. His power exerts such a subtle control Darx. It reshapes how you think about only a few key things, but that colors every decision you make. In every thought and feeling, it’s there.”

“But that night. . ." Darx started to ask, remembering Neku and the Priest together.

“It was the only way to save the fairy Darx, you needed time.” Neku explained.

“And this?” He asked, hopeful.

“You mean us?” Neku bit her lip as she asked.

“Yes.”

“Darx, I don’t know if you will believe me.”

“I don’t care.” Darx answered. “Trust me, all I want is the truth. After everything I’ve been through, please, just tell me the truth.”

Neku looked him in the eye, touched his face, her eyes showing her inner debate. Finally she nodded. “Okay Darx. But I need to tell the whole story.”

“I’m listening.” Darx said, apprehensive.

Neku pulled off of him, let herself sink down next to him in the water, she grabbed his arm, pinning it to her chest. Her legs rested gently on his in the water and she rested her head on Darx's shoulder.

“When I went through the ritual, the church had me join Midnight Dawn, because they knew the heir to Zrephia was coming, that he was going to join Midnight Dawn.”

“How did they know?” Darx asked.

“Prophecy.” She answered. She could see his dissatisfaction with that answer, and continued. “I can’t tell you more, Darx. Not yet. I’m sorry, you will learn that in time. But my mission there was to keep you safe, to bring you to the church when it was time.”

“To seduce me?” Darx asked.

“Actually? No.” She answered. “Remember the cave, Darx? When I told you I’d keep you safe? My mission was to watch over you. To give my life for yours if necessary, to make sure you came back. Then you disappeared. You were gone and I couldn’t do anything. The Church went to look for you, they couldn’t find you Darx. I had failed. The most important mission of my life, and I had failed it. Then, when you re-appeared, when it was clear that you really were the heir of Zrephia, something changed in me. Suddenly I had hope, real hope. When you helped us rescue the fairy I knew you were the one. The one Imris promised would come. The one who would fix the church, bring us back to the Goddess and her truth, the one who would unite the land and defeat the demons.”

“Neku, I. . .” Darx interrupted.

“Let me finish Darx.” She said, putting her hand on his chest. “Since you were attacked, we’ve been together every day. To be frank, you’ve brought my faith back to me. I truly believe again. The Goddess is with you Darx, and so am I. In any and every way you need, or want me.”

Darx was taken aback. It was too much. He loved that she was devoted to him, but like this? A religious zeal that made her accept him as a lover? He didn’t know if he was okay with that.

Neku sat up, touched his face, gently pulled him to her, placed his head against her breast. Darx’s mind felt so heavy, so slow, so tired.

“No matter what happens Darx, I’m here for you. I’ll follow you anywhere, everywhere.” She said, comforting him as she stroked his hair.

Darx sighed and let his worries go. He laid there in the warm water, resting his head against Neku’s soft skin. He slid his arm around her slender waist, sleepily kissed the top of her breast, then let himself drift from consciousness.

. . .

“You really are a determined sucker, you know that Darx?” It was Cal’s voice.

“I don’t need this, can’t you just leave me alone?” Darx replied, he still felt slow, like his thoughts were weighted down. Even his dream world was showing the effects, everything was less clear, less real. He was sitting on the hillside, looking over the town, but a good amount of it was obscured by fog.

“You watched her fuck the priest, Darx. And yet here you are thinking she’ll never betray you, that you can trust her.” Cal sneered. “If you are that determined to be cuckolded, Darx, you don’t need her, you have plenty of options.”

Cal went too far with that one. Darx took a swing at him. It was slow and missed badly. Darx tried to get up, to fight, but he was sluggish.

“Well that hit close to home, now didn’t it.” Cal sneered.

“Shut up Cal!” Darx yelled, still trying to stand up, he was dizzy.

“You are only mad at me because I’m right, Darx.” Cal added.

“I’m done listening to you.” Darx shot back as tears started streaking down his face.

“You are with the church Darx, why?” It was the voice of his dark form.

Darx’s strength failed him. He sat back down. “I’m weak, I need protection.” Darx sputtered. “Kase, the dark energy, I’d be seen as a monster, they’d kill me.”

“You are weak?” Dark Darx grabbed him by his shirt, pulled him upright. “You are only weak because you refuse to take the power that is yours. You sit around here trying to make friends, looking for people to care about you and take care of you when you should be out there, dealing with things. You want to make these people to like you. You are **** to trust them, to rely on them. Yet you have the power to not need any of them.” His dark form let out a growl. “You are weak because you choose to depend on others, Darx. You choose to give them power over you. You choose to let them hurt you.”

“I won’t take your path.” Darx cried out. “I won’t hurt them, I don’t want that.”

“So what? You go to the castle tomorrow, talk to the Queen? Try to convince the Priest and Queen to get along, to work together?”

“I don’t know.” Darx replied. “I’m just trying to survive, I need time to figure things out.” Darx couldn’t think straight, but all he wanted was to be safe, be with people he could trust. He had that at the church, the Priest, Neku, it was what he wanted.

His dark form released him, pushing him to the ground. “You’re pathetic Darx.” It said as it loomed over him. “But you don’t have to be. We can be so much more than this. So much stronger than this.”

“I know.” Darx replied, lying on the ground, looking up. “But you want me to kill the people that hurt me, **** others to serve me. I can feel it, I know what that part of me wants.”

“Then embrace it, embrace that power and make the world yours.”

“No. I won’t do that. Never.” Darx said.

. . .