Page 154 of Heartless Heathens

He yelled out in pain as I punctured the skin slowly, not pushing the knife in enough to stab but just enough for drops of blood to bead around the tip of the blade.

Such a calming shade of red.

Korina bit down once again.

“What else was I supposed to do with you?” He sobbed and I started to push the knife in.

“What the fuck does that mean?” Sonny stood.

“Her mother was a temptress, just like her.” He seethed and panted with every word. “I broke my vows for her.”

“Korina.” I said my mother’s name and his eyes widened.

“Then you know who you are.” The color drained from his face.

“What do you mean you broke your vows for her? What did she come to you for?” I asked, unsure if I’d even believe him.

“She needed someone she could trust.” He shook his head practically laughing at the memory, so I pushed the knife in, sinking it an inch deeper.

He coughed and blood spewed out of his mouth with his screams.

“Why would Korina Black trust you?” Sonny asked.

“Why would she not trust her priest?” He extended his neck away from the cross, practically spitting the words at me.

“What? Korina Black didn’t need a priest,” Felix gritted out.

“She was in my confessional every Sunday, praying for her father’s sins. She was possessed with demons, just like this vile girl. Only Korina wasn’t blind to it.” He sneered something villainous.

“Liar.” Felix yanked on the rope, stretching his arms too far.

“You want us to believe that Korina Black was praying for salvation in your house?” Corvin asked, putting a blade to the archbishop’s throat.

“The truth belongs to God,” he said slowly before resting his head against the crucifix once more.

“You said she needed someone she could trust. What did she need you for?” I asked.

He hesitated answering, so Corvin slashed carelessly down his shoulder, the blood poured out heavily.

“To give her a child untainted with sin. She was a heathen whore. Said she had a dream her kid would be the end of her father’s legacy. That she couldn’t let her father have the girl to corrupt, that she would be the weapon that brought down the Satanic Shrine. Once she died I realized it was all just feverish hallucinations from the virus and I was stuck with the child.” His face turned to the side and I froze.

The need to escape the moment was overwhelming.

But the only way out was forward.

“You’re lying. He’s lying to you Romina. You’re not her real father.” Corvin shouted like he was angry on my behalf.

“You brainwashed Korina Black!” Sonny took his gun out and shot a bullet into the archbishop’s leg. He howled a banshee-like scream. “Why is she dead?” Sonny asked, nudging Frollo’s chin with his gun, trying to get as many answers as he could, observing my shock and realizing I was spiraling in my own mind.

I pulled the knife out and he groaned, blood spilled out slowly from the small hole. He shook from pain and Korina coiled down his arm, plunging her fangs into his wrist.

“I didn’t brainwash her, she came to my door willingly. Korina was a light in the dark. She was pure. She was good. She didn’t belong to Arlan, she belonged to me. As do you, Romina. My child. My daughter.” It almost sounded like a curse coming from his lips.

Corvin pulled a knife from his own holster and without warning he severed Frollo’s ring finger off. Blood splattered everywhere and the archbishop flailed wildly with every pained sob he drew.

“You kept Romina up in that tower so that you could fill her mind with your sick little words and your depraved beliefs. So that you could turn her into what you thought was your own version of Korina,” Felix said angrily.

“Why is she dead?” I asked with a calm voice.