The Abbot was captivated by this child. She was so charming that he sometimes forgot she was his own flesh and blood. Dominique would literally kill him if he ever touched her, of that he was certain, but she was indeed interesting.
Since her accident on the wagon, she had gained so much confidence, he noted. Perhaps she was just growing up but something had changed. The Abbot was quite drawn to spending more time with Nicole. She had always treated him with distain in the past, but now seemed to welcome his attention, always managing to draw him into conversation, eager to find out more about him.
Nicole was as intelligent and well-read as her mother, perhaps even had an edge on her, making her a good conversationalist despite her mere eight years. He knew she did not have confirmed knowledge of his role in her conception but it was a small town. With rumors whispered and knowing looks exchanged, she was too sharp not to have picked up on any of the stories. Despite the potential damage to his own career, the Abbot refused to curtail his time with Dominique and Nicole. He truly loved Dominique; her strength and independence, although frustrating, was endearing. His offers of help were most often refused and while they were not altogether altruistic, they were intended, for the most part, to lighten her load.
Perhaps by ingratiating himself to Nicole, it would serve to get him closer to Dominique. When they were together, he always managed to tuck some coins in Nicole’s pockets and walk past the bakery so that she could pick out a sweet treat. Truth was, at this point, it was not just about Dominique, as he found himself thinking about Nicole more and more. He made excuses to go by their cottage, searched the town high and low for interesting books and offered to take walks with her to strengthen her palsied leg. Even her disability seemed to be more natural and less demonic than it had initially. Nicole actually seemed to encourage his involvement in her life.
It was on one of those walks in the woods towards the end of the summer that Abbot Ian had a revelation. The day had been glorious, the sun’s rays, though bright, did little to disguise the hint of the cooler temperatures that would come soon. As they walked through the woods, the leaves that had left their lofty perches crunched slightly underfoot. He could hear birdsong around his head and he was filled with a peace and happiness that had mostly eluded him since entering this Abbey.
He looked up at Nicole who had skipped ahead of him on the path. As their eyes met, she smiled coquettishly and started to limp slightly, which she had not done before. She must have noticed his questioning expression, as she donned her sweetest smile and begged, “Oh please Father Ian tell me again about the birds that live in the woods. You are so very clever and know so much about nature. Why, I do believe, you are the smartest person I know!”
The dark shadow of doubt fell across his soul as the realization dawned that he was being manipulated. He recognized the signs. Why, hadn’t he used the same techniques to get what he wanted from those around him? Hadn’t he used the same methods to get her mother to participate in his Confraternity? As the sense of dread spread over him, he searched his memory of the past months frantically. The changes in her response to him, subtle as they may have been, started after the accident. The Abbot realized with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that she had played him since then. Despite her tender years, she had been seducing him all these months with the prowess of a master temptress. Her behavior had been all but blatantly sexual with a knowing confidence that was not in her true nature, nor within her experience at eight years old. Of that much, he was sure. She had always been shy, mocked mercilessly by the village children and lacked the confidence to start behaving in such a manner.
There was an essence about her that was unrecognizable and impossible to reconcile with her personality. How could he have been so stupid not to have seen it sooner? What could possibly have happened during that fall from the wagon to explain this transformation?
A chill ran down his spine as Nicole locked eyes with his and hers narrowed slightly. He felt like she could see into his very soul. A cold, evil smile curled slightly on her lips. “What’s wrong, Father? Don’t you feel well?” she taunted.
Sweat beaded on the Abbot’s brow as he genuflected. Holding tight to his rosary beads, he edged out of the woods, never taking his eyes from Nicole. He needed to put as much distance as he could between himself and this demon, Jezebel.