Chapter 25: Reality Under a Gilded Facade

Vincent forces the door open to find a man having pinned a woman down to her bed on the far side of the room. The bang from Vincent's forced entrance having caused them to look in his direction.

"I suggest you get away from her.", Vincent threatens the man with his tone low.

He places his hand on his sword. Causing the man to swiftly get to his feet and back away from the woman. The fear and anger mixed in his eyes. Vincent steps closer to the bed with his eyes trained on the man.

"Leave.", Vincent tells him. The man hesitantly reaches for his shirt. Keeping an eye on Vincent as he does, however, the man's slothfulness quickly irritates Vincent. "NOW!", Vincent explodes at him.

The man scrambles for his things and to the door. He glances back to the woman behind Vincent when he reaches the door before leaving. When he is gone Vincent takes his hand off the hilt of his sword and turns back to the woman. She is sitting up in the bed and holding up her ripped clothes with her hands.

"Are you alright?", he asks her. She doesn't look at Vincent, yet her grip tightens slightly.

"I'm fine.", she replies quietly. "You didn't have to do that.", she goes on. Vincent approaches the bed side and squats down to eye level with her. The woman turns her head slightly more away.

"Of course I did. You asked for help.", he replies gently to her. She shakes her head slowly.

"I'm doomed either way. He will no doubt report me and have me taken away.", the woman says. Her voice thick with emotion and near tears. Though it's faint Vincent recognizes her voice. He reads her aura and verifies it's the woman he met earlier today at the tavern.

"Who was that man?", Vincent asks her tenderly. Though he suspects he knows already. The woman doesn't answer right away. Most likely building the nerve she just had to answer.

"He is a...priest...from the church.", she answers in a shaky voice. Vincent checks his suspension in his head as he nods.

"Is this his first time here?", he asks her. Shaking her head is her only response.

"Very well then.", Vincent responds, getting to his feet. "He will definitely be back, or as you say church soldiers will be. Do you have any place you can go?"

The woman turns to Vincent and he sees her face and the worry in her eyes for the first time. "My brother's, but...I can't go there. Not now.", she says. Vincent pities her.

"You can't stay here. It's not safe.", he urges her. Her eyes fall to the bed and she doesn't say anything. Vincent thinks for a moment before coming up with an idea. "I know a nearby inn. I can get you a room there if you come with me.", Vincent tells her, thinking of another option. He knows he has to get her help before doing anything else.

After a while she speaks up. "Okay. Okay, I'll go.", she decides. Relieved Vincent lets out a sigh.

"Alright. Get yourself together and whatever you need. I'll be outside waiting.", he says to her. She nods silently before Vincent makes his way out the door.

Closing it behind him Vincent looks to the sky. Night is gathering fast and Colin is most likely with Amelia now. Vincent takes his eyes from above and looks to his left then to his right. There is hardly anyone on the street with him.

Acting fast Vincent channels his aura into his hands and lifts them in front of his face with his palms facing each other. The energy gathers to form a flowing sphere into which Vincent slightly leans into. He conjures an image of Colin, himself, and a line of energy between them within his mind

"Colin if you're with Amelia get back to the inn now.", he whispers quickly into it before releasing it into the air. Just as he finishes the door opens behind him. He turns around quickly to see the woman emerge. "Are you ready?", he asks her.

"Yes."

"What is your name?", Vincent asks her.

"Angela.", she answers before they go to the inn.

Vincent purchases a room for Angela in his name and escorts her there. The room is across the hall from his and Colin's. The latter of which arrives just as Vincent is leaving Angela to rest.

.......

The next morning Vincent, Colin, and Angela head to the tavern for breakfast. Which is much busier and louder than yesterday. The three sit together at a table off to itself.

"You really didn't have to do this for me.", Angela remarks as they sit.

"Nonsense. I'm just glad to see you're in a better mood today.", Vincent tells her. A worker arrives with their meal of grits, eggs and toasted rolls. "It's a bit chilly this morning. I thought this would warm us up.", Vincent comments.

"Thank you.", Angela replies quietly. After having eaten for a while Vincent decides to start asking questions.

"Angela, you're definitely not in a good situation. I want to help you, but in order for me to do that I need to know what's going on.", Vincent speaks to her.

"Can I have another roll?", Colin interjects before she can respond. Vincent hands Colin one of his own as Angela begins.

"I'm not sure where to start.", she says.

"How about with how long this situation has been going on with the priest?", Vincent suggests. After a moment Angela nods and takes a breath before releasing it.

"About two months now, but...the story that led to it is…a little longer.", she replies. Her eyes drift down to her bowl in front of her. Angela is silent for a moment. Vincent lightly tapes the table as he attempts to think quickly of what to say. However, in the end, he can't. "My husband died earlier last year. We had two kids together; a boy and a girl.", Angela's words bring Vincent out of his head.

He notices she is looking at Colin who is intently focused on everyone else in the tavern. He is most likely trying to maintain his block. The look in her eyes is one of remensent. Vincent doesn't recall seeing any children at the house, nor any indication that children lived there. He wets his mouth in preparation to ask a question he fears the answer to.

"Are they…?", he begins, but trails off not wanting to make Angela uncomfortable.

"They are alive.", she answers, guessing his question. "They are with their uncle right now.", she adds before pausing. Her eyes falling back down to the table.

Vincent rests both of his arms crossed on the table as he leans forward. "After my husband died it became harder and harder to care for the children and the house alone. Our bank account ran dry and was closed. Luckily the house is paid for, but...other expenses still take a toll.", Angela tells Vincent a not so convincing laugh escaping her.

She finally raises her eyes from the table, but looks first to Colin then Vincent. Vincent guesses in his head that her kids are around Colin's age.

"I did what I had to do to take care of them. I couldn't bring myself to marry again and they are my children. My brother already has a family of his own to take care of, so…a friend and I…we used ourselves to get the money we needed.", though Angela makes a point to stand by her choices and defend herself Vincent listens silently and she finds no evidence of judgment in his eyes.

However, Vincent does remember the remark he made yesterday when he first walked into the tavern. He curses himself in his head. "I apologize.", he speaks regretfully. Angela nods understanding.

"You didn't know, and I am aware of people's impressions, but I know why I'm doing it.", she says.

"I suppose that makes it easier.", Vincent remarks. A slight dismissive laugh escapes Angela as she shakes her head.

"You would think so. It's not like that at all. When you first start...it's like...a piece of your soul gets ripped away from you, and it keeps happening until...one day...you just...become numb. Then it just becomes something you know you have to do.

It's like you just settle into your own darkness that constantly pulls and grabs at you.", Angela's voice becomes a mere whisper as she explains to the point Vincent barely hears her over the noise.

Vincent rubs his chin thoughtfully. His heart hurts for her and her friend who he can only guess would describe their forced occupation in the same manner. "And this was before the priest?", he speaks, deciding to remain focused as well as to get Angela through the memories as quickly as possible.

"Yes. My attendance actually increased when I started. It helped ease the torment, but...if only I would have known. Then again...I knew what was happening.", Angela says, her tone growing harsh. Vincent instantly recognizes the beginning of self blame and moves to stop her.

"Angela. Don't do that. Just slow down.", Vincent urges her strongly. His tone is firm. Angela takes a moment to gather herself before continuing.

"He often would hear my confession. Eventually he offered to help me in return for...certain favors. He told me that as long as it was done with him and no one else knew that God would not acknowledge my sinful deed, and despite my spirit, rather what is left of it, not agreeing, I still believed it. At least long enough to go along.", Angela admits.

"So you know now that what he told you was a complete lie?", Vincent replies.

"A part of me has always known, but I wasn't sure until I spoke to you yesterday. It gave me hope and the strength to find a way out, yet…", Angela trails off.

"Yet a part of you still holds on to his words. That's why you won't say the name of...your occupation or call yourself…that.", Vincent guesses yet chooses to respect her choice.

"I refuse to call myself that. That is not me.", Angela states firmly shaking her head. Her eyes burning with defiance. The sight causes Vincent to smile.

"That's good. You must be mindful how you see yourself. If that was all you saw yourself as how could you hope to be more?", Vincent says to her.

"Unfortunately there are more in a similar situation to mine that do place such limits on themselves. Thus have been or will be in this way of life a lot longer than I or others. Then again some stay merely because the money is good.", Angela shares with him.

"Is that so? If there are even more men from the church involved I'm sure it is.", Vincent comments.

"Hm, they're the ones you would see the most of.", Angela reveals. Vincent's eyes narrow his disgust and anger having been building slowly now.

"And they all use the same method, am I right?", he says matter of factly. Angela nods. Vincent finishes off his drink as an idea comes to him.

"Well then, there's only one thing to do.", he begins putting down his cup. "This evening instead of "working" how about we meet by the river. Bring your friend and whoever else that will be willing or wants to listen, and I will tell you the truth where others have told you lies. None of you have to be bound to any man by way of lies about your soul or God.", Vincent tells her. A curious look covers Angela's face.

"What are you going to do?", she asks him as Vincent gets to his feet.

"Nothing. Just give you the knowledge you need so that you aren't manipulated by someone who claims to know something you can't know for yourself. For those who want to that is. As you said other's situations are similar. Not exactly the same as yours.", Vincent answers. Angela thinks for a moment. Then realizes what Vincent means.

"You're going to teach us to pray and repent aren't you?", she says.

"Only if you would like me to, but I'm going to tell you now. Repentance doesn't mean to do wrong, asks for forgiveness, then does the same wrong again. It means to turn away. Keep that in mind.", Vincent tells her. "You can stay in the room for now if you like, but I hope you will consider talking to your brother. After God, the family should be the next ones always there for you."

Angela looks reluctant to do such a thing, but a part of her knows what Vincent says is true. "I'll think about it. Thank you.", she replies.