Short Story: Father Thorne

"Welcome, Child."

Father Damien Thorne smiled benignly at their new guest, having heard the voice of an unfamlilar female, and departed his office to join Father Donahue to greet her.

By the time he'd arrived at the room, Donahue had already taken hold of the bag she'd brought in with her, and the young girls eyes widened when she saw the new man, attired in his woolen cassock. Unlike the rest of the staff of the residence, who generally garbed themselves in civilian clothing, Thorne preferred to wear those of his profession, both to remind his inferiors of their place, and the residents of his status as a man of God.

"Hello." The girl spoke softly, and couldn't hold his gaze as he stepped into the room, after having appraised her from

"Very pretty when she's cleaned up, and young. I know just the man who'd enjoy her." Father Thorne clapped his companion on the back, and smiled. "However, of course, I'll need to test the merchanise before I offer her up for sale. Now, why don't you return to your duties, I have some paperwork to finish up." The amused tone of his words left no doubt that he hadn't missed Jana being called into Donahue's office, or what those duties entailed.

However, Donahue had finished with Aisha for the time being, though it was fun to taunt her a touch by asking where they'd left off. As if she'd forgotten. He stared at her for a moment, with a questioning eyebrow raised, then slid a hand into the pocket of jeans, and withdrew a satched filled with white powder. "Thank you for your devotion, Aisha, as the good book says, the Lord will provide." The sachet flew from his fingers and landed on the floor at her feet, as he stepped around her, and spoke over his back. "Don't forget to kneel for him tonight, and do not mention my genorosity to anyone, otherwise God will surely display his wrath." Falling down into the seat behind his desk, the portly priest, smiled at the unfortunate woman, "And, as you well aware, so will Father Thorne. Now go give your thanks that we took you in, and didn't leave you out on the streets to