Faustus's Extraordinary New Student, chapter 5

Faustus had proposed and set the wedding date for All Hallows Eve, but he quickly began to see what a silly idea that had been. Yes, the Dark Lord had mandated that they marry, and he was more than happy to do so, but there simply wasn't enough time to plan the wedding she so deserved. And so, the next morning he amended his proposal, to have them marry the same day next year instead.

Faustus had proposed, and while not exactly in the way she had thought he might, Freya was nonetheless excited and extremely happy. They were set to marry in a year’s time, and that left a lot of planning for them to both do. She was excited for it and couldn't wait for the day to come.

They settled into a comfortable routine together. She stayed in his chambers now, as his betrothed, and he made it clear to anyone who protested that it was the Dark Lord's will for them to marry. Of course, not many were many willing to question him.

Learning that the Hew girl was set to marry the High Priest of the Church of Night brought more whispers, more rumours, but now it seemed people were more likely to try to curry favour with Freya rather than ignore or torment her. Even Ursula had seemingly calmed her behaviour towards her.

Things were going quite well indeed, for now.

She had moved into his chambers and for now, things had changed towards her, and she thought it slightly funny. The rumours that she was set to marry the High Priest filtered through the school like wildfire and even the teachers treated her differently. A fact she prove when she got an answer wrong in class on purpose and the teacher acted like she had said the right thing. It made her want to laugh and upset her at the same time. But she made do.

Though, as she started to leave after class, she froze. She knew students were prone to gossip, but to hear what she heard inflamed her. Turning slowly in place, her eyes ablaze did they lock onto Ursula and her eyes narrowed. The girl had never given her much trouble after her…incident.

"What did you say?" She asked as she took a few steps towards her. The rest of the room growing deathly silent. "Say it again I didn't hear you."

"So, it is true then. You are fucking the High Priest? Figures….that he would stoop so low as to take a commoner like you." She had the audacity to giggle. "Tell me….when you are alone, are you his Bitch or his He, yours?"

Rage filled her, but she had promised Faustus not to rise to such and that helped hold her tongue. "I would watch what you say. Don't want it to get back to the wrong people." She managed to retort against the growing anger that built within her. It took all she had to walk away. She didn't care what people said or thought about her, but to hear such things about their own High Priest……ohhhh it made her livid! But she kept her word and walked away, being the bigger person and she was able to reign in her anger, slightly, by the time she made it back to their chambers.

"My dear, are you quite alright?" Faustus asked his bride-to-be as she returned. He sensed her feelings, so close had they become.

As soon as she set foot into his Office, which led back towards their chambers, she knew Faustus would catch her mood as she took up her seat in a chair just off of his desk to do her homework, same as she did every day. It was a gentle calm in a fast-paced day plus it let them spend time together.

"Nothing my Love." She shook her head to clear it of any remaining anger and leaned to kiss him lovingly. "I am perfectly fine." She didn't want to repeat what she had just heard. It was a disgusting thing to say, let alone think by 'children'. "It's really nothing, my Love. Just some girls being nasty. It isn't worth repeating, honest." She said honestly as she looked up at him, from her book and smiled faintly.

Faustus made a mental note to speak with his staff about allowing the students to insult his intended. He did not wish that she should receive special treatment academically but bullying her would no longer be tolerated.

She was proud of herself though, as she hadn't hurt Ursula for her cruel words nor even felt the need to retaliate in any way. Maybe Faustus was right on that too. No one could upset her unless she let them. "How did your day go, Love?" She asked as she cast her eyes back to her books and scribbled in some notes to remember for later. they usually passed the evenings this way. Him working on whatever paperwork he had to do and she, working on her homework and then reading quietly by his side till he was done.

"My day is much improved by your presence, my dear."

Freya blushed faintly herself, at Faustus's reply in answer to her question about his day. True, this was the favourite part of her day. Spending time with him as they both worked, or he worked while she read. Least she was near him, and it was a calming, soothing feeling that she couldn't describe if she tried. "You flatter me, as always, my love."

But as she was reading for one of her classes, something caught her attention and she glanced at Faustus and then back at her book, curious. "Faustus? Can you tell me….what Lupercalia is, please?" She asked quietly. She had read about it but as the time for it was close at hand, she had heard more of her classmates talking about it and never having been allowed to participate, she was instantly curious. But she flushed as soon as the words were out of her mouth and looked down, blushing madly.

Her question painted the lightest of blushes upon him.

"Firstly, there is the Matching, in which a random witch and warlock are paired." He explained the passionate, beautiful dance, round something quite like maypole. "When the music stops, you take a seat on the warlock closest to you.

"Next, you re-enact the courting. Each couple ventures into the woods, disrobes, anoints themselves, and lies under the blessed Lupercalian moon to absorb the essence of Selene. Abstinence is … encouraged, but not mandated. Couples must stay together the whole night and mustn't stray from the path, for all manner of lust-filled creatures roam the woods that night.

"And the final night…." Faustus trailed off, licking his lips.

She giggled softly before allowing her eyes to lift at hearing Faustus's explanation.

She lifted her head, ever so slightly, her eyes meeting and holding his, hanging onto his every word as he explained what Lupercalia was to her. She was enthralled by the very idea, for normally, when such a holiday had come around, she would be banished to her dorms, unable to even watch the proceedings since her father’s ideas of purity controlled every aspect of her life. But now….things just might be different.

"And…?" She asked, sounding eager. "The final night?" She tilted her head, watching Faustus and for some reason, the way he licked his lips was incredibly sensual to her and she shivered. "What happens then?"

She seemed so enthralled; it was truly endearing. Before he had met her, Faustus Blackwood had been concerned mostly with power and propriety, and he had thought a woman's place was to serve man. But now, he understood that a man's Satan-given strength was to protect and lead his woman.

This woman had not been protected. Instead, she had been imprisoned, enslaved, under the guise of "protecting" her purity. What! Such things as purity weren't so important, were they?

Yet she seemed so innocent. "The final night… the parties consummate their lust," Faustus said, in a whisper.

The way Faustus said those words, made a tremor of desire race through Freya's body before she could contain it, made her bite her lip as a soft sound tried to escape at such an idea. Only for a second though, before she caught herself and sat back upright, book once more in her lap rather than hanging from it.

"That sounds…amazing." Was her reply as she internally kicked herself for her lack of words due to her brain having cut off completely as her intended had spoken. "Is there…any chance, WE might partake in at least one of those nights?"

She threw out and blushed again, not knowing exactly where this boldness came from. "No need for the matching, since we are already perfectly matched, Love, but I would like to watch it. I have never once, seen one." She smiled over to Faustus as she spoke. Curious as ever.

"Normally I perform the duties of the Master of the Hunt, but yes, you and I can certainly participate in the second two events. We've come this far, haven't we?" he asked, leaning forward and thumbing her cheek tenderly.

Freya's smile couldn't possibly be brighter at Faustus's words and when he gently thumbed her cheek, she felt her heart leap in happiness as well as desire. "Yes. We have." She said softly, as she tilted her head lightly into his touch. "So far."

The very idea was exciting and only a few days away. She had no idea what to expect but she was suddenly looking forward to it. Very much so, and it clearly showed.