Straight from Heaven (Fallen Kingdoms I.)

Chapter 12 - Forbidden fruits are the sweetest...

Ethan's eyes widened. At first he thought he heard Morrigan wrong. But she stood up and leaned closer to him. Morrigan rested her tiny hands on his thighs, slowly turning the predator into a prey himself.

- I'm listening child. - Ethan said but his voice was hoarse due to the excitement. Morrigan tilted her head and said.

- You know... My life was really sad and full of hardships. I've never got to know what love is... I've been sold and used, lived basically in a wolves den while I tried to earn my living, cooking for mercenaries. The moment when I saw this building I knew...- she leaned even closer and whispered into Ethan's ear.

- That what I was craving for was waiting for me behind those robust doors. - Ethan grabbed her waist and pulled Morrigan on his lap, with her legs resting on both of his sides. He caressed her thighs and Morrigan started to unfold Ethan's robe. Her hands explored his chest and he bit the crock of her neck. Morrigan moaned and said.

- Father. I've been craving for something sweet all my life... - she looked into his eyes and knew, Ethan lost his mind completely.

- You seem to be made by something sweet, and to be completely honest, since I'm confessing right know... - Morrigan bit Ethan's earlobe and whispered.

- I've got a sweet-tooth Father. - he buried his hand in Morrigan's wavy hair and held her head from behind pulling her closer. The air was so tense between them that it was hard to breath for Ethan. He kissed Morrigan, with so much desire and hunger like a man in the edge of drowning tries to catch some air. He wanted to devour her and make her scream his name. He wanted to hear her moans echoing in the empty building and fill the place with the smell of love. After the kiss Morrigan smiled and clenched her hands around Ethan's neck. She giggled and pushed playfully her nose against his.

- Is this the love Father told me about?

- Yes child, but you can call me the way you did before. It is only the two of us.

- What do you mean? - Ethan grinned and he gripped her tight thighs.

- You called me Daddy before... Actually I really liked it. Call me Daddy, Morrigan! - Ethan said before he kissed her again. After their kiss Morrigan's playful brown eyes turned into black... That deep darkness seemed to be capturing every source of light, even the moon seemed to become weaker. Ethan felt the air leaving his lungs, he panicked and looked at Morrigan, whose face slowly morphed into her original form. Long, light brown hair, skin white as snow and a face as perfect as an angel's. The only thing that ruined the perfect picture was the darkness in her eyes and that frightening smile on her gorgeous face. Ethan tried to scream, but he had to fight for every breath.

Valerie got off of him and leaned against the confessional booth door frame. She watched as the man fought for air. When he was kneeling on the ground and clenched his hands together for a prayer, Valerie leaned down and grabbed his face, forcing him to look into her lifeless eyes.

- Don't you think it's a little late to try to curry his favour? - tears fell from Ethan's eyes. Valerie pulled him on his legs, he barely held himself. She wrapped his arms around her waist and giggled.

- What's wrong? You were so excited a few moments ago. Is there a problem with my appearance? Or is the problem that I'm not underage? - Valerie sighed and pulled Ethan after herself like he was a rug doll. She watched the moonlight throughout the gorgeous colorful glass windows.

- It feels, that when I'm in your big arms... My broken parts seem to come together again. Unfortunately, I've heard from a birdie, that I wasn't the first one, who you offered to teach God's love. - Valerie turned Ethan to face her. He was barely alive at that point.

- Don't worry, Daddy, I know what mercy is. - in Ethan's eyes hope shined, he thought for a single second that he might be able to escape from this nightmare. In his mind he promised to God, that he'll never commit a sin again. Valerie laughed and said.

- As I said I know what mercy is, for your worst luck, God doesn't have a single clue. And even in this moment, when your life is at stake, you are promising everything to him in exchange of saving you, when I'm the one who's deciding about that. Don't be afraid, where you are going, there'll be already someone waiting for a such a naughty boy like you. Sleep tight Cardinal Ethan! - Valerie smiled and blew a kiss towards Ethan, her kiss turned into a black butterfly that flew into his mouth and blocked the tiny whole he managed to breath through. Ethan's lifeless body fell to the ground with a loud bump. Valerie rolled him to his back and she pulled a perfect and blood red apple from her pocket. Before she disappeared with the first rays of sun she placed the apple on Ethan and turned into a black smoke which was blown by the wind that entered through the door when the priests arrived.

Valerie watched as police and the local Bishop came to the crime scene. There was a handsome looking detective between the boring policemen. He seemed to be in his early thirties, black hair, grey eyes, nice two piece dark grey suit, covered by a long black, leather coat. He entered after the bishop to the basilica. When they disappeared from her sight she stretched and headed to her next destination.

The phone rang uncontrollably at the police station. The captain picked up the phone just when the young detective Brendon Harrison passed in front of his office. The captain hang up the phone angrily and shouted at Brendon.

- Harrison, you are coming with me! - Brendon followed captain Morris and only in the car asked.

- What happened captain? It should be something of a huge volume since you are going personally. - Morris sighed.

- Our world is changing Harrison... These changes are not the ones I wished to see during my life. Cardinal Ethan was murdered last night. - Brendon listened carefully to his mentor and during their car ride, he could only think of what Morris said first... Their world was changing. When they arrived Morris called the priests who found the Cardinal for interrogation, while Harrison checked the body. He touched Ethan's hand and felt that the body was still slightly warm, also he immediately noticed that there was no obvious sign of a painful death. What brought his attention more was the single, perfect, red apple on the Cardinal. Morrison came back to him and asked.

- Any idea of what happened?

- At first sight it seems like he was poisoned. We will know more if we are allowed to perform an Autopsy. - Morrison frowned his eyebrows and Brendon liftrd his hands up in defense.

- I know captain hates these kind of things and that is really a new way of approaching crimes, but it seems to be effective. - Morrison sighed.

- Fine... If the Church allows it. But I won't be the one who'll try to convince them!- Brendon nodded and walked to the bishop. Bishop Marcelo was the highest rank in the Capital.

- May I have a word your Excellency? - Bishop Marcelo nodded and they walked a little further from the curious eyes and ears.

- My name is Brendon Harrison your excellency and I'm part of the investigation team. I'd like to ask you a few questions about the victim. How long did you know Cardinal Ethan? - Bishop Marcelo chuckled.

- Son, I gave nominated him to his title! I knew him ever since he was a novice.

- What kind of person was he?

- Devoted to the church and quiet. People loved him and as far as I know, he didn't have any enemies.

- Have you heard about the rumors that circulated in the capital lately, about the, let's call unique way of how Cardinal Ethan taught God's love to young disciplines? - Marcelo's glance seemed to turn into a blade when he heard Harrison's words.

- Those are just vile slanders! Cardinal Ethan would have never... - Harrison stopped Bishop Marcelo in the middle of his sentence and showed him the apple.

- Let me ask in an other way, have you heard of the Church's plague? - Bishop Marcelo nodded uncomfortably.

- The rumors this time might be true.

- In this case, let's discuss things further your excellency. After you...