Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Creature
"We always allow travelers to stay with us. It is a common thing to do. But you’ll have to announce yourself in front of Mother Reverend." The nun said.
"Of course, sister. We’ll do what needs to be done." Quinlan nodded.
Bas stepped forward and walked alongside the nun. "Say, sister. What’s your name?"
The nun looked up at him. Bas was much taller than her and from up there, he could observe the nun’s entire figure. His hungry eyes did not hide its intentions.
The nun didn’t seem to notice it and shared a friendly smile. "I am called Nora."
"Sister Nora. How long have you been here?" Bas said.
"I’m new here.I’ve been staying here for only a year. The others stayed here much longer than me."
"Oh... Do you do any recreational activity in the monastery, sister?"
"What do you mean, traveler?" Nora’s eyes were wide with curiosity, even invitation to the unknown, which made Bas completely heated up inside.
He knew those eyes. Those were the gaze of a bored aristocratic woman that wanted to have some fun. The kind of women Bas relished in seducing.
"You know. We can definitely keep each other’s company while I’m here."
Nora, seemingly unaware of Bas’s implications, nodded. "Of course, traveler. It is a bit boring in the monastery. Maybe you can share some exciting stories for me to hear."
"I will, sister. I will..."
Quinlan pulled Bas back and stared at him.
"Don’t mess things up. I do not want to sleep without a roof tonight." He whispered.
"Relax, man. I know what I’m doing. This type of woman is eager to do anything. Maybe you can find yourself one too. I bet there are other good-looking nuns inside this place." Bas licked his lips.
Quinlan rubbed his temple slightly. Bas was a reliable sellsword but he could barely contain the thing between his pants. Quinlan could only hope Bas would not do anything too outrageous and make them become the enemy of this kingdom.
They followed Nora to a chamber with a high ceiling. There were mats on the floor arranged at either side of the room for praying.
In the middle was a stone throne that a woman was sitting in. She wore black clothes with a thick silk covering her entire appearance. The pair couldn’t make out her face.
"Mother Reverend. I bring travelers that seek a place to stay for the night."
The figure in black nodded. "You can stand aside, sister."
"Yes, Mother Reverend."
The figure observed Quinlan closely. His appearance was unique and those bandages that covered his skin raised questions to the observer.
"And who might you be?" The figure said.
"Quinlan of Everia. House Carlisle. This is Bas, my companion. We’ve come to your monastery simply to look for a place to rest. We can pay for the night." Quinlan said.
The figure nodded. "Then it shall be done. But we don’t need the coins.
Nora, lead the travelers to the guest rooms."
"Yes, Mother Reverend."
Quinlan and Bas shared a look. They could feel something was odd but they didn’t know what. Maybe it’s because the head nun here was too eager to let them stay. Or maybe because the air of the monastery was extra eerie.
Quinlan lowered his head slightly. "We thank you for your hospitality, Mother Reverend."
And with that, Quinlan and Bas followed Nora to their respective rooms.
Quinlan entered his room first. Then Nora led Bas away. Before leaving, Bas looked back at Quinlan, his eyebrows jumping up a few times, signaling that he was going to advance at the unbeknownst nun.
Quinlan could only shake his head in disapproval. Bas was his guard but not his subordinate, he couldn’t control what Bas wanted to do.
Quinlan closed the door. He didn’t remove his bandage nor lower his guards. Life had taught him to always be alerted for his own safety.
Quinlan took a chair inside his room and blocked the door, making sure that no one could come crashing in.
He laid on the bed. His muscles screamed of soreness. His bottom was wrecked because of excessive horse riding.
To avoid any unwanted attention, Quinlan traveled by horse instead of a carriage. He regretted this a lot right now.
Quinlan found himself drifting into sleep. Occasionally, he could hear moanings coming from the next room. Bas seemed to have succeeded in his ordeal, another woman conquered by his brash seduction.
Suddenly, Quinlan woke up in the middle of the night.
"Something’s off." He said.
Quinlan sat up immediately and looked over to the door. It had been opened and the chair had been moved.
Light from the corridor pierced through the door gap.
"Bas!" Quinlan shouted as loud as he could. Bas’s room was right next to him so he should be able to hear Quinlan.
But no. There was no response.
Instead, a face peaked at the door gap. The eye glowed an amber shade and the skin was pale and rotting like a decomposing corpse.
Quinlan screamed louder. "BAS! YOU BETTER SHOW UP RIGHT NOW!"
Quinlan rolled over and grabbed the shortsword right beside him.
The door flung open and the creature lunged at Quinlan.
"Damn it!"
Bas was nowhere to be seen, leaving Quinlan to fend for himself.
The creature got on top of Quinlan, its stinky mouth pushed forward.
The sharp spiky jaw of teeth opened wide to take a piece out of Quinlan’s face. He stopped it by pushing the sword at its neck.
He hadn’t even drawn the sword out of a scabbard yet.
"HELP!"
Quinlan kicked the creature’s stomach, hoping to get it off him.
The creature was relentless. It bounced right back in and Quinlan had to block it once more. This time the beast almost got a piece of Quinlan, it tore away a tiny bit of bandages on his face.
Suddenly, Jonah swung at the creature’s head. He used a thick wooden stick as a temporary weapon.
The creature was swept away and dropped on the ground. Jonah had used all of his strength and it merely left a scratch on its face.
He held a torch in his hand and swung it in the creature’s direction.
"Get away! Get out of here!"
The creature hissed one last time before dashing into the corridor and disappeared.
"That was close!" Quinlan gasped. He clumsily got up from the bed. "Thank you for saving my life, friend."
"You’re welcome. But that won’t be the end of it. How did you get in here? We need to get out now!"
"What do you mean HOW? I went in by the main gate."
"Fuck..." Jonah let out a low grunt.