Faustus's Extraordinary New Student, chapter 3

The next day came way too soon for Freya's liking, but keeping to her promise, she rose, bathed, and dressed for the day and headed down to breakfast. Upon walking into the cafeteria, the sound lessened, but she paid it no mind and instead walked over to get her some food and taking her seat.

Anton came to join her, and she smiled up at him, as well as the two girls he had tried to introduce her to yesterday. They seemed nice enough and she conversed with all three while she ate. For some reason, the food tasted a lot better this morning and she cleaned her plate in record time, and sat sipping her milk, listening as Anton and the girls talked among themselves.

When the gong rang, she stood and went to clean up her mess and wishing Anton and the girls a good day, she headed to class. Which just happened to be Demonology.

Walking into the classroom, acting like nothing was different as she walked to her desk and took out both her books and notes from the class before. Though she would be lying if she said that she didn't feel a slight tingle of energy rush up her spine as she passed Faustus. She could get through this as she got through everything else. By regulating what was needful to the front of her mind and shoving everything else in the back of her mind. In theory.

Faustus appeared in the class perfectly composed, not acknowledging any one student. The lesson went smoothly, he went back to his office to fill out some paperwork, eagerly awaiting the end of the day. Thankfully, there was not another incident at lunch, and the rest of the day passed with relative smoothness and ease. After lights-out, he met Freya once again at the abandoned mall, and they continued their "lessons". This time they focused on offensive magic, and he "rewarded" her as before.

This went on for almost a month, during which things continued to go smoothly at school, until one day, Ursula, having noticed that Freya had become something of a teacher's pet, decided she had had enough.

Freya hung back after class a moment, meeting Anton outside the classroom, to talk about the lesson while secretly waiting for the High Priest to leave the room. When she saw Faustus leave and start to head for his office, she wished Anton a good day and headed the way Faustus had gone.

Ursula, watching Freya closely, followed a way behind her and turned the corner and saw Faustus talking to Freya and upon watching them, noted how he touched her shoulder and lower back gently. She also noted the look in Freya's eyes as they conversed, and the smile Faustus had upon his face, and it became truly clear to her just what was going on!

Backing away slowly, Ursula made her way to Sister Jackson and told her all she had seen. With one phone call, Freya's father was alerted and at first it he made it seem like he didn't care and said that that was not his problem. When in fact, he was enraged that his daughter would act in such a dishonourable way! He planned to act, but in a way that would not be directed at him. Not at first, at least.

Upon finishing her discussion with Faustus, Freya decided to skip her last two classes of the day and went for a walk. It was too nice a day, to stay indoors and she felt so free and light. Leaving the Academy, she took the path towards the Desecrated Church, fully intending to enjoy the rest of her day. Only as she got halfway there, did she hear footsteps. She paused and listened but didn't hear anything until she started to walk again. This went on for a few moments, until she finally realized she recognized the sound of those footsteps and had only half a second to register it before everything went black.

Three hours later, there came a knock on the High Priest's office door and a teacher poked her head into the office when called.

"Excuse me, High Priest, but have you seen or heard from Freya Hew? She was not in her last two classes, and I just did head count, and she is not in her bed."

Father Blackwood was on his feet in a moment. "And how exactly did this happen?!" he demanded. "You let a student just waltz out of this school? Do you realize how poorly that reflects on the competence of our staff? Find her, at once!" he barked.

The first thing Freya realized when she awakened was that she was cold. When her eyes fluttered open, she also saw that it was dark. Only a small lamp was left her, filling the space with its weak light. She looked about and realized that her hands were shackled in loose chains to the wall behind her. "What…?" She breathed out softly, before she realized where she was.

"You're awake, finally. Good."

Her blood went cold at that cruel voice as her father stepped into the weak light. "I have brought you home, Freya, because though we still don't see eye to eye, you are still my daughter. And as such, you are going to learn lessons now that you should have learned long ago."

It was then that she noticed the whip he carried in his hands. A horse whip. "Did you really think you would get away with it? You and that…that…High Priest?! That I would really allow you the scandal to this family that action would bring. Well…no more." He took a step closer to her and she simply stared at him. Afraid, but not afraid. He father saw the look in Freya's eyes and smirked wickedly. "You really are his little slut aren't you? Let’s begin then." Stepping back, so he could get a good swing, Draven lashed out while speaking at the same time. "Lesson one, A Hew must always be PURE!" His words were accompanied by the lash of the whip. It hurt, but she bit her lip and made not a sound. "Two, A daughter obeys her father!" Another whip lash. He paused when she made no sound and came closer to stare at her. "You are going to your Aunt Agatha's this weekend, where you will be inducted into another Coven. There you will learn your place and you will NEVER see that….man again! If he shows up here, I will have him arrested and ruined for what he has done to this family!"

Freya couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her parents were very devout. They were not defying the High Priest by their actions, they were defying the Dark Lord, whom she sure, would agree to said match. Rage suddenly flooded her and for the first time in her life, she yelled back at him. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS! HE IS THE HIGH PRIEST!! THE EMBODIMENT OF SATANS WILL ON EARTH!!! HIS ACTIONS AND WORDS ARE HIGHER THEN YOURS EVER WILL BE!!!" She saw the rage fill her father’s eyes as she screamed at him. Madness etched over his features as he lifted his hand, time and again. She lost count after ten and bit her lip to the point of blood before he stopped.

"By the Dark Lord, Girl. You WILL obey me." Her father said breathlessly. "You leave…tomorrow night." He threw the whip into a dark corner and turned to walk back up to the upper part of the house, leaving her in the darkness. Alone and in pain. But all was not lost, for when she felt a sudden presence in the room, she stiffened and went very still at hearing a soft growl nearby. "Dark Lord?" She whispered as she saw his outline appear in the darkness. Was he here to help as well?

"Be strong young one." His voice growled out softly. "You are not alone….Help is coming." With that he faded back into the ether, and she felt herself feel a little stronger. Still hurt, but not as tired.

Faustus paced back and forth, considering his options. The teachers had failed to find the missing student. This could reflect badly on him and on the school, but more importantly, Freya, dear Freya, was missing. Why did it have to be her? Did the Dark Lord not approve?

Perhaps that was it. He was being unfaithful to his wife. She was expecting twins, and he couldn't— not that he had ever truly wanted to— with her, so he had perhaps become too enmeshed with this much younger woman. What a cliché, he thought bitterly to himself. And yet, there was something irresistible about her. He felt… protective of her.

This would do no good. He had to get his head on straight. Perhaps he could search the astral plane for her, just for a few moments….

She refused to obey her father’s will! Absolutely refused! He couldn't do this! So while the whole house slept, she tested her chains. He had chained her to keep her from running away, but she had been down here once before. Still though, these seemed to be new chains and they did not give so easily. After what seemed like hours of tugging at them did no good, she simply curled up into a small ball on the cold floor. She would not cry! She would NOT give that man the satisfaction.

Closing her eyes, she willed herself to try and sleep. Her eyes opened at again sensing another presence and upon sitting up, painfully slow, she saw the outline to the High Priest, and she felt hope surge through her, only a moment. "Faustus…" She called to him, her voice low. She was so tired. She knew he was astral projecting and that he had only seconds, so she told him as much as she could. "My father kidnapped me, right from school grounds. I am sorry, I shouldn't have gone for that walk! He is—sending me to another coven. He seeks to ruin you, he knows!" She sat up more, and it showed in her movements that she had been hurt as she winced but tried to hide it as reached out as if to touch him, but the chains stopped her. "The Dark Lord was here, he said help was coming. He gave me what comfort he could before he disappeared, so be mindful of him. Watch for signs." She trembled as pain shot through her entire body and she hissed softly. " I can't hold out against him, Faustus, not like this. Don't let him send me away…." The thought of never seeing him again just about killed her. She was growing tired and knew that he couldn't stay in this form for long. That he knew where she was, was enough for now, and that the Dark Lord watched over them both, was very comforting, for it meant, in his own way, he approved; or else he never would have showed up at all.

Faustus said, "Remember what we worked on," and went back to himself.

So then. She was at her father's, chained up like an animal, and would be sent away tomorrow. The thought infuriated him… but… perhaps something could be done to save her. Was it the Dark Lord's will that she remain? Only a fool would go against that. But how to prove it?

He went round and round in his mind trying to come up with various solutions.

The Dark Lord was not someone you wanted to cross, and Draven Hew was one that had crossed the line one to many times. When he had started with his experiments in magic, the Dark Lord had been interested, but then when he had dived deeper down into the darkest realms that he had no business with, the Dark Lord had written him off and forgotten about him. Until he began to mess with other members of his Domain.

So, now he was forced to act because Draven was fancying himself the Dark Lords equal! So, after visiting the young witch, who he was enraged to see being treated worse than an animal, he made his way to where his High Priest was seemingly worrying about her. That was…enduring. If he cared, he just knew that he had plans for those two, and nothing and no one would interfere.

Remaining unseen, but he leaned over Faustus's shoulder and whispered softly into his ear. "Why do you tarry, Priest? Do you not fancy her? You know where she is. Summon the members you trust implicitly and go for her." His voice was so deep, guttural as he ordered his High Priest into action. "You will be rewarded amply, and this is my will. Go!"

So saying he faded back into the ether to await with Freya, the High Priest's coming. He would be there to let him know of Draven's lies.

That was all the encouragement Faustus needed. Quickly he rallied those he trusted and apprised them of the situation at hand. With no time to lose, they set out for the Hew residence.

Draven had been about to head down to the basement where he was keeping Freya, when there was a pounding on his door. Upon opening it, he wasn't at all surprised to find his High Priest, along with other member of the Coven, standing there.

"Yes, father. What might I do for you?" He asked in his most polite voice, trying not to sound as irritated as he seemed.

The Dark Lord made himself visible; only to Faustus as he stood behind Draven and nodded as if in answer to an unspoken question before disappearing. Only to appear, fully formed by Freya's side. Kneeling beside her, he reached out a clawed hand and lightly, almost tenderly, caressed her cheek. "I need you to scream, pretty one….and scream loudly!" So saying, he dug his claw into the flesh of her body where neck meets shoulder, eliciting a shrill, high pitched sound of pain from Freya's lips. "Just like that my darling…again. louder this time. Your High Priest must hear you…"

This time he raked his claws down her stomach, causing a very loud, painfilled shriek to echo through the basement. "Good. I told you help was coming." He said softly as he healed her of his wounds, and his wounds alone. "I will see the both of you very soon. Be strong, little witch." And with that, he was gone.

Father Blackwood drew himself up to his full height. "One of our students has gone AWOL. As I'm sure you can imagine, this has caused no small amount of hassle." His voice was clipped, his tone polite— until he heard her scream.

"Yes. I thought she might be here." Without another word, he and his associates stormed in. Faustus went towards the screams, and when they stopped, he went towards where he remembered them coming from.

"MISS HEW," he called.

Lifting her head, Freya heard Faustus shouting her name and she grabbed up the chains in her hands and banged on the hook she was tied to. Having sense enough not to shout his given name as she called out for him to hear her.

"FATHER! FATHER BLACKWOOD! I AM HERE!"

She heard more than just his footsteps though and knew he wasn't alone and that gave her a small spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, things will be different. Maybe this time, she would be spared. She gave a loud growl as she pulled once more against the chains that bound her, but with the severity of her wounds and the lack of blood she had already lost, she didn't have much strength to spare.

Draven had no time to respond as he heard Freya's shriek and cursed under his breath as The High Priest pushed past him and entered his home. "Now wait, just a moment. I have no idea what you plan to do here, but Freya is MINE. My daughter and I decide what is best for her." He walked over to where Faustus stood and pulled himself up straight, glaring at the High Priest. Challenging, once again, another High Priest's rule. All the others had quailed before him, what would be different this time?

"She may be your spawn, Draven Hew, but she is my charge, in my coven, and it is for the Dark Lord to decide her fate, not either one of us," Father Blackwood growled out, drawing himself to his full height and looking Hew straight in the eye.

Draven stood toe to toe with his High Priest and for a moment, it looked like he wouldn't back down either, Till he quailed, only for a moment, before his eyes averted from Faustus's only for a second. This High Priest was not like the others, and he could sense that. He knew better then to fully challenge one who showed more power than him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out and tossed a key at Faustus and pointed. "Basement…take her and get out!" He growled in return.

Father Blackwood caught the key in one hand and swept down to the basement.

He was infuriated and devastated to see his dear Freya in such a state when he got there. "Freya, what has he done to you," he muttered, unlocking the chains. "You look like you can barely stand. Can you walk, or shall I carry you?"

Freya lifted her head at the sound of the basement door opening and at first, her heart stopped, thinking it might be her father, come to gloat about having sent Faustus away. But that wasn't who it was and upon seeing Faustus, her tension fled. No more adrenaline meant she wasn't able to fully support herself.

"Faustus…" She kept her voice low, for his ears alone. "You came for me?"

"Of course I came for you, you silly girl," Faustus muttered.

She winced as he unlocked her and took hold of his hand, at least attempting to stand on her own, but her knees buckled, and she nearly went down again. "Sorry…" She said softly. Her breaths came in short gasps as she tried to remember to tell herself that she was fine. She was safe. Faustus had found her, and she was sure he would never let that man hurt her ever again.

He caught her as she stumbled "There you go… Easy…" He hoisted Freya into his arms.

 "The Dark Lord….he was here." She said softly. "I saw him." Her words whispered as she felt the last of her reserves fading. Her body slowly going into shut down mode now it knew she was safe. But no…she couldn't! Not yet! The Dark Lord had said they both would see him again, and she was determined to be awake for that. "Can we go home? Please?"

What she said next surprised him not. "Was he?" he asked, more as an acknowledgement than anything. "He spoke to me as well but did not choose to reveal himself. I suppose what happens next is truly in his hands."

And with that, he made to depart with her.

The Dark Lord waited till all were safely away before revealing himself to Draven Hew and came up to stand before him, he grabbed him up and growled deeply in his throat. "You dare to defy my will, Peasant! You have crossed the line, one to many times. Now, you will suffer untold amounts of pain." Draven pleaded and begged to no avail. With a wave of his clawed hand, Draven was sent to the darkest, most painful realm of Hell to suffer as he had made his own flesh and blood suffer. For the Dark Lord to feast upon time and again.

Freya wrapped one arm around Faustus's neck as he picked her up and leaned her head against his chest as he made his way out of the house. She closed her eyes a moment and allowed herself to rest as he walked. It felt strange and yet right, being in his arms and it made her relax fully.

Only, on the path to the Academy, right in the middle of the road, the Dark Lord waited for them.

Father Blackwood lowered his head in a polite bow. "Dark Lord. What a pleasant surprise."

Freya opened her eyes and saw the Dark Lord upon the path, and she managed a slight nod in his direction. "Dark Lord…" Why was he here?

The Great Beast stood before both his High Priest and the member of the High Priest's Coven. His dark eyes flaming as he looked back and forth between the two. "You have served me well, Priest, and I promised you would be rewarded. However, such a reward, also will come with a price, for my will be done regardless." He came forward and reached out a clawed hand towards Freya and tilted her head back to look into her eyes a moment. Growling softly. "I heal you, Freya Hew. When you wake upon the marrow, it will be as if this never happened." Letting her go, he tilted his head back and looked at them both. "I know what you desire, Priest, and you both have my Blessing, as long as you promise that when the time comes, you will take Freya Hew to wife. If you can make it through what happens next, no force on earth will part you." He reached out and upon both Faustus's and Freya's shoulder, marked them. The cuts would not heal until the price HE demanded was paid, but his blessing, they had. "Now, get her home, for the Academy is now her home. Her place, by your side. SO MOTE IT BE!"

And with that, the Dark Lord vanished, and with that, Freya's world went black.

Father Blackwood was, in a word, awestruck. He and Freya had the Dark Lord's blessing, and to marry, no less! Words could not express his thanks, and before he could even nod, the Dark Lord had vanished.

He did as he was bidden, brought Freya back to the Academy, and saw her to bed. She was his. They were blessed. He had been blessed by the Dark Lord himself.

Still reeling, he headed to bed himself, wondering what tomorrow would bring.