The Vessel

By Marie Morin

Raina had no idea of who she was or where she came from, but the four seraphs that captured/rescued her said she was the vessel—and they were there to supply the seed.
When all of the elements came together they would produce a force powerful enough to save the world. She was the light—the giver of life—the flame of creation. They were Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.

She was pretty sure they were nuts—beautiful but looney.

On the other hand, it transpired that they could do some pretty amazing shit ....

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
• Release date: Jun 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005979287

Book preview

THE VESSEL

By

Marie Morin

© copyright by Madris DePasture writing as Marie Morin

Cover Art by Jenny Dixon

ISBN 978-1-60394-

Smashwords Edition

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Chapter One

Raina was in the process of putting away her pathetically meager belongings when she heard a knock on the front door of her apartment. It sent a jolt through her—a bolt of fear.

She didn’t know anyone.

Literally—not just in the apartment complex either.

Period.

No one at all in the entire world—except the people that had cared for her during her convalescence and she didn’t really consider that she ‘knew’ them beyond their professional capacity.

They wouldn’t have come to see her settle in, she was convinced.

When the knock came again, she tiptoed to her door and peered through the peephole, half fearful she would encounter an eyeball on the other side.

Or maybe the barrel of a gun.

What she saw sent another jolt through her and a wash load of doubt—a priest’s collar.

The guy was really tall or he was standing on something.

Between her hospitalization right after she’d been found near death in a snow bank and her recovery/rehabilitation, she’d spent months in a catholic facility so it wasn’t as if she wasn’t familiar with the garb of the priests.

The guy was definitely dressed like one.

She just couldn’t figure out what one was doing at her door.

It’s alright to open the door, Raina, the man said, amusement threading his voice. I don’t bite.

Raina wasn’t convinced, but then she recalled that she’d only put initials on the mailbox that had her apartment number on it.

He must be from the hospital or the convalescence center, she decided. Hesitating with her hand hovered over the doorknob, she finally unlocked it, but left the security chain on and only pulled the door open far enough to peer at the man standing just outside.

He was handsome enough to bowl her over and scatter her wits—especially when he smiled. I’m Father Gabrielle. May I come in?

Raina struggled with wariness and good manners and finally closed the door and removed the chain.

Yes. Come in. I’m sorry. I ….

He waved her explanation off. I know you have … trust issues. You should. It’s a dangerous world. I apologize for bothering you, but the new owner of the building requested that the church send someone down to bless the house.

The comment sent her into shocked chaos. Raina gaped at him. They … uh … still do that? she asked blankly.

He chuckled, apparently not insulted in the least. They do he whispered conspiratorially, leaning close enough to her ear she felt the warmth of his breath and inhaled it. The effect was to make her skin pebble all the way down to her nipples—which instantly stood erect.

She folded her arms over her chest as casually as she could. Oh. Sooo … you’re here to bless my apartment?

Yes—to keep your safe, my dear.

From …?

Demons, Raina, he said gently and with perfect sincerity.

Oh … ok, she said uneasily.

He didn’t look insane, but obviously looks could be deceptive.

What a damn shame! He was a priest and insane!

All that beauty totally wasted!

He chuckled and she looked at him curiously.

The glint in his eyes looked very un-priestly. There was warmth there, she thought, that went beyond friendly—way beyond.

It made her really, really warm.

He seemed to dismiss it, however.

Sadly.

Moving into the kitchen, he set a bag down that looked sort of like an old fashioned briefcase or a doctor’s bag. Opening it while Raina watched curiously—and a little uneasily—he removed some very unthreatening looking things and laid them out along the counter.

He had some sort of incense looking thing and a … well it looked like an ordinary bottle of water.

It was definitely an incense burner. He lit it and then held it by the chain on top and walked all around the kitchen swinging it so that he was fanning the incense around and murmuring something she couldn’t understand.

Raina retreated to the living room to stay out of his way.

She didn’t actually have any furniture. She’d picked out a couple of things at the Salvation Army and they were going to bring them when they could, but they hadn’t yet.

So she sat on the floor and watched him as he moved around the kitchen and then started in the living room.

It didn’t seem to bother him that she was watching, so she did—almost mesmerized by the sound of his voice—because she didn’t have a clue of what he was saying even when he was close enough she should’ve been able to.

Because he wasn’t speaking English.

She did like his voice, though.

He looked like he must be built really well, too—nice and trim, no extra bulges in the wrong places and his arms were just wow.

Nice butt, too.

He whipped a glance at her at that moment, looked like he might say something, and then apparently decided against it.

In a few minutes, he moved out of sight down the hallway—to bless the bathroom and bedroom, she supposed.

He wasn’t gone long.

It was a tiny apartment.

And she could still barely afford it.

But she actually liked the fact that it was so small she could stand in the middle and see almost the whole thing when the doors were open—no chance anybody was hiding.

When he returned, he headed into the kitchen and set his little incense ball down and picked up the bottle with water.

He dipped his finger into the top and flicked tiny drops of water around as he had the incense, chanting as he had before, although it sounded different.

When he’d covered the entire apartment he returned and crouched in front of her.

And then something really, really strange happened.

He took the water and marked a cross on her forehead and then she felt like she’d dropped away from consciousness—not completely. She had awareness, but … no will, no fear.

He removed the loose t-shirt she was wearing and dropped it to the floor, and then he dampened his finger again and marked another cross over the strange mark on her breast.

This will protect you, Raina, when you are not in here—but it is far weaker than the spell I have woven here—inside the building. Do you understand?

She blinked, stared at him like a drunk trying to make sense of their surroundings when their mind was roving. Yes, she said finally, sensing he was waiting for that.

Go out only if you must.

She nodded.

He set the bottle down and took her shirt and put it on her again, and then touched her chin to tip her head up. You are a beautiful man-child. I feel desire for you also. But you are not meant for me. Those who have been created especially for you will come for you when the time is right. And you will know them. You will feel the pull. I am your guardian, little one. It is my honor to watch over you—and to die for you if I must.

* * * *

Raina was so cold she was shivering when she woke up.

She was sitting on the floor, but, to save her life, she couldn’t remember how she’d gotten there or why she’d sat down where she was.

Fear swept through her when she tried to get up and discovered she’d been sitting on the floor so long she was so stiff she could barely move and every movement hurt—something.

When she finally managed to get to her feet, she was so dizzy she almost passed out. Placing a hand on the wall to support herself, she bent almost double to get the blood surging into her brain and then straightened when the swarm of darkness departed.

She still felt weak, but she headed to the door and checked it.

Both locks were engaged—thankfully.

At least she’d managed to lock the door before