Why, I'm here?

Liora's pov

"The children loved your story piece today." A fellow nun, Isolde, whispered as she walked past me.

I nodded with a forced smile and continued moving.

It had been four days.

Four days since I left the nightclub with trembling legs and a violated conscience. Four days of near silence and endless, desperate prayers.

I hadn't dared to step into the confession booth. I was too afraid, afraid the priest would hear the shake in my voice, afraid he would look into my eyes and know everything.

So instead, I prayed alone in my quiet corner.

I hadn't told anyone. Not even Mara.

I couldn't even look Mother Superior in the eyes. Her gaze, though firm yet kind, had begun to feel like a blade, slicing through every sin I'd been trying to forget.

Today, I wore my usual faded grey blouse and long skirt. After days in uniform, the softness of cotton against my skin reminded me of the night I wore that open dress. The fabric back then had clung too tightly to my body, too sinful.

My current clothes were a comfort. Loose, humble, and modest.

I had gone about the morning normally, absent-mindedly running my fingers across the crumbling crust of the stone archway. The ruins still stood despite age, chipped and weary.

But today, there was talk of someone, a benefactor, who might help restore it. Mother Superior had announced it over breakfast. She said someone with money and influence had been reached.

No one knew who it was, yet.

But I prayed they were generous. We needed it. Badly.

I was walking towards the kitchen, my stomach fluttering with hunger, when Sister Alima caught up to me.

"The Mother Superior wants to see you," she said,

I blinked. "Now?"

She nodded.

I wiped my hands on the hem of my skirt and made my way through the quiet hallway. The door to Mother Superior's office stood tall at the end of the wing.

I steadied myself with a breath, knocked softly, and waited.

"Enter."

I pushed the door open, bowing slightly as I stepped inside. "Good morning, Mother-"

I stopped halfway.

My heart jumped out of my chest and my legs almost gave way beneath me.

He was sitting across from Mother Superior.

The stranger from the club.

His eyes found mine immediately, recognition, and somewhat relief. I was confused, anxious, and nervous all at once.

I stood frozen at the door.

And for a moment, it felt like I was back there again, pressed against cold tiles, his lips on mine, his thigh making its way between mine.

My fingers curled tightly around my neck. Remembering that my crucifix wasn't around my neck.

Because he had it. And it was dangling in his palm, in front of Mother Superior.

My heartbeat was so loud in my ears that I thought that Mother Superior would be able to decipher it, but instead, she smiled gently and gestured towards the empty chair beside him.

"Liora," she said, "this is Mr Azrael. He is the generous soul we spoke about this morning. He came to see the ruins, and perhaps discuss how he might help us rebuild."

Azrael.

He was dressed a bit differently now. A crisp black shirt, buttoned down, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal the veins and vines on his forearms. His hair was slightly trimmed by the edges, clean-cut. His eyes, though, those sinful, knowing eyes, held the same glint they had four nights ago.

"I believe this belongs to you," he said softly, extending his hand across the table.

My limbs refused to work. I reached out slower than necessary,

Mother Superior didn't seem to notice the tension. "Mr. Azrael found it on the sidewalks at the town square," she said, "and somehow, perhaps by divine will, he recognized the emblem and brought it here."

"Divine will," he echoed, his gaze fixed on me. "That’s one way to put it.”

I finally sat down, careful not to meet his eyes again. My voice came out barely above a whisper. "Thank you for returning it."

"I like to return lost things," he said, "Even if they weren't meant to be lost in the first place."

I swallowed hard.

Mother Superior smiled, clearly oblivious. "Liora is one of our most promising young sisters," she continued, "she's been helping the children with their reading, and she leads our morning devotionals sometimes."

"Is that so?" His tone was amused now. "She speaks very....passionately."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat,

"So Mother Superior, is he...... donating?"

Mother Superior turned to him, her eyes seemingly hopeful. It seemed like they had talked for a while, like she had explained the situation and shown it to him. And it was left for him to decide.

A temporary silence filled the room, his chin rested lazily on his palm before he spoke up.

"I'm having second thoughts about this."

Mother Superior's eyes turned sad.

"Why Mr. Azrael, if I might ask?"

"You see...." he inched closer, his large palms clasped together on the table, but the whole time, instead of Mother Superior, his eyes were fixed on me.

"I am a businessman, I invest in things that will profit me in return."

"But sir, this is a donation to the convent, it's not a business deal. But I am sure that the almighty would bless your heart for helping us out."

"Investment favors my banks before my heart, mother superior."

At this point, I was somewhat upset. Our convent needed this donation, badly. And he was contacted with a plea to help, if he wasn't going to, then... why had he even come?

"So why did you come, to confirm if the convent is really losing its walls?" My voice was a bit raised at this point.

I could feel my mother's superior's grip on my arm, urging me to breathe in some calm. But no, I was tired of men like this.

"Anyone who knows the convent of Ikonde knows that the walls aren't holding up any longer; we are out of resources as well as finances. If the mother superior reached out to you herself, then it means that you are fully capable of donating without it making so much as a dent in your pocket."

I could see his eyes glow more with interest, as if he didn't expect the fire in me.

Mother Superior immediately thought he was upset and rose to appease him.

"Mr Azrael, please forgive Liora, she-"

He shook his head, a smile stretching on his lips. I closed my eyes and silently prayed for my heart to be rooted in place. Everything about him was disarming.

"You want to know why I came?" He asked.