Chapter 30 - When Desires Are Confessed Part 4

“How was your night?” Marcus then asked, looking at her with depth. They were alone now in the waiting lounge with only a few students standing around them, chatting and laughing, and minding their own business.

‘Do you really have to ask that?!’ her mind chimed in.

“Fine, just—fine, ” Ysabelle croaked. She had to dismiss a sexy thought again that had slipped when she glanced at Marcus.

“Good, ” was his reply, observing with pleasure her obvious anxiety.

‘A dream. That was it. Just a dream! Why am I affected with it this much?!’ her mind blurted out, struggling to avoid breaking down.

“Uh, Father? How was the exorcism last night?” she managed to ask after trying to find a way to change the subject. “Were you able to exorcise the demon out of Mr. MacMillan’s body?”

Marcus’ smoky brown eyes changed from a tentative gold and blue-violet when Ysabelle wasn’t looking.

“Yes, I did, ” he answered after drawing a picture of the lifeless body of the caretaker in his thoughts, “and the experience was...invigorating.”

Somehow a chill crept up Ysabelle’s back. She gripped her camera tighter and readied herself to further her questioning, but she was interrupted when Mr. Grann appeared behind her.

“Father Marcus, ” he called, half relieved and half saddened.

H knew exactly why.

“Mr. Grann, ” he acted as if he didn’t know.

“Good morning Father, ” the assistant caretaker started, “I need to talk to you Father. There is a...bad news.”

“Oh?” Marcus cocked a brow. “What is it?”

“It is Mr. MacMillan, Father. He...he didn’t make it.” There was a sudden lump in his throat that he immediately cleared it up. “There was too much blood lost and when we arrived in the hospital, he was already pronounced dead.”

Ysabelle’s heart broke and she gasped, releasing her camera and pressing both of her hands in her mouth. “Oh, God, ” came her muffled voice. She looked at Marcus who appeared to take the bad news quite easily. She didn’t miss out on a sad tilt of his head though, but it was just tentative.

“I see, ” he spoke, eyeing the man with sadness — or acting like it in a believable way. “That is unfortunate to hear. Hemorrhage is always a problem when it comes to demon possessions like this.”

“It is truly unfortunate Father, but set aside these events, I would like to extend my gratitude to you, for your service and for trying your best. Right now, what had happened to Mr. MacMillan somehow opened up the point-of-view of the staff here in the castle. I believe it has strengthened their faith better than before.”

“But, Mr. Grann, what about Mr. MacMillan’s family?” Ysabelle butted in. As an immortal, she knew exactly what death means for a person and that is that someone, somewhere there is going to a family that would miss him and grieve for him. It was an undeniable truth. A truth she had tested and undergone for thousands of years. Hearing this news freshened the wounds and pain in her heart. It made her feel the taunting loneliness promised to her every day of her life.

The heavens knew how much she had bonded and cared for the many families that the brotherhood had appointed to her. Each family, each member was close to her heart. Though some were not so kind and accepting like Madame Regina and Master Alfon Rogratiatto, they were still thought of as her precious family. And like all others before them, she will grieve their loss once they die and she will be left alone in this world, again to adjust for a new family to live and make memories with.

“Oh, Ms. Ysabelle, Mr. MacMillan doesn’t have a family. His wife died without leaving him sons or daughters to be with, ” Mr. Grann replied with all honesty, clutching his hat and pressing it in his chest.

No one said anything for a long minute. It was Marcus, who somehow seemed distressed looking at Ysabelle’s saddened eyes, managed to break the silence.

“Please, leave us for a moment, Mr. Grann. I believe someone needs the sacrament of confession.”

“Oh, of course, Father, ” the caretaker said aware of Ysabelle’s mournful state, “please make your stay comfortable still. The castle will shoulder all of the expenses, don’t you worry.”

Marcus nodded and when the man left, he turned to Ysabelle who was already on the verge of crying.

H shared the same body with Marcus - the whole package so to say - and it, unfortunately, included his heart. Though his dark power would have shut off and suppressed all of the priest's human emotions, he was surprised to find out that a part of Marcus still lingered on the surface. The reason why — he doesn’t know once again.

His hands were itching to touch her. He — or the Marcus side — wanted to embrace her and console her. It was a strong pull and H despised it.

Ysabelle luckily was able to hold back her tears. She gasped a little when she saw Marcus’ hands stopped midair and clench. She knew he was restraining himself for any more physical contact with her. Though she would have wanted to be comforted, she was relieved that Marcus didn’t continue. She wouldn’t want to be lightheaded on this day because of his touch, especially that she had a whole class activity ahead for her to capture.

Stepping backward, she bent her head and apologized, “I’m sorry Father Marcus, I should go, ” and then went off with a heavy, heavy heart, avoiding eye contact with him.

This man... this man will also leave her. Marcus will also die sooner or later. And if she were to guard her heart with that and the pain that comes with his death, she will have to stop the growing feelings and desire she had on him. The question now is... how?

Oh, but she knew exactly how.

That’s what her last wish is for, to become mortal and to die so that she wouldn’t experience the pain of being left alone again.