Leora was roused from a deep sleep by a chime; a ringing that had no origin in reality but sounded clear as crystal in her mind. She rolled over and untangled herself from her bedsheets. Her eyes felt glued shut as she rubbed them with her hands, freeing the sleep from the corners of each. 

In the month or so that had passed since Lucille gave her the sleeping remedy, Leora had had some of the best rest of her entire life. Every morning she woke feeling groggy, but it faded fast. Soon after waking she was filled with energy for another day in service to the Lord. 

She no longer had any dreams, though that didn’t bother her much. The dreams she had before using the sleep remedy did nothing but confuse her. Dreams that made her feel afraid. She shook her head clear of the memory, determined to leave it in the past. She was a fledgling sister of the exclusive Sacred Night Abbey now. There was no room for thoughts like those. 

Leora looked out the window in her quarters. The sun was just cresting the horizon, creating a beautiful orange-yellow filter over the landscape. She had woken just in time to get ready for the first service of the day.  

The daily schedule at Sacred Night was very easy to get used to. There were six services every day and the day always started with Matins Laud. Matins Laud involved a homily from Mother Corvina, of course, but also involved each sister offering their thanks for blessings and their goals for the day.  

For Leora, it was not hard to think of goals every day. Initially, her goals were ‘Serve the Lord’ or ‘Tend to the gardens’ or ‘Meditate and pray.’ It was especially nerve wracking to come up with something on the spot, in front of all the other sisters. After a little practice though, Leora had settled into a comfortable routine. On Saturdays, like today, she had plenty of free time.  

Each sister had a schedule of tasks, one for each day. On Leora’s schedule, for example, Mondays were tending to the gardens and Saturdays were for helping in the kitchen. Kitchen work was monotonous but kept her hands busy. Mother Corvina once told the sisters in a sermon, ‘Idle hands are idle minds. Sacred Night sisters should not give their minds the room to wander, for there are things in the darkness best left unthought.’ 

It was a lesson that Leora took to heart. She was not fond of the places her mind wandered when she let it. They were confusing and always made her a little dizzy. The focus on keeping her hands busy helped her complete the kitchen work quickly. Finishing early gave her extra time to spend in the library.  

Most convents didn’t have an extensive selection of books, but the Sacred Night was different. Mother Corvina - and the sisters - valued being as knowledgeable as possible on the will of the Lord. Leora had rapidly worked through a set of tomes compiling a series of prayer books of nuns in France. It was very interesting to see the difference in ideals and goals of their Abbeys and Monasteries.  

Recently, she had been infatuated with the history of the Sacred Night: particularly the origin of the Abbey and its name. As such, her goal for this day was to learn. Leora reached toward the sky with both arms almost as if to touch the ceiling, stretching her muscles and finishing off with a very cute sound of exertion.  

Something was slithering on the ceiling. Leora’s eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. She shut her eyes, covered them with her hands and hoped it would go away. The air thick with her fear, she stood there for what felt like minutes. When she opened her eyes again the snake-like-shadow was gone. Her heart rate slowed down as she took a deep breath, recovering from her terror.  

It may have been her imagination. Or a remnant of her sleep, perhaps? Regardless, Leora made a mental note to ask Mother Corvina about it when she got a chance. She was wise and knew of things few others had ever heard of. When she thought of Mother Corvina it was as if her fears melted away. She sighed in relief.  

‘Fear not, my child. Trust your Mother Superior to protect you and the Abbey.’ 

Leora knew deep down that Corvina would not let anything that could harm them on the property. She trusted her Mother Superior. 

With that comforting thought, Leora got ready for her day. She brushed her dark hair and pat the dust out of her habit before dressing. Once her habit was on and wrinkle free, Leora completed a quick makeup routine.  

Mother Corvina believed that Sacred Night sisters should better themselves at every opportunity, and as such, allowed the girls to wear some light makeup. Corvina even gifted each girl some burnt cork to apply as a shadow on their lids and some beetroot oil to stain their lips and cheeks as rouge. It was a privilege not many women - let alone nuns - were offered.

Once done, she worked on straightening her room. She had just finished making her bed as the church bell rang. A single chime for the first service of the day. 

Leora dashed out of the room filled with excitement for the morning service. When she arrived at the chapel all the other fledglings and sisters were seated in their places, a whispered murmur among them. Each of them exchanging the dreams they had or what they were planning on doing in their free time. Leora took her seat next to Lucille and they exchanged a smile.  

“Good morning, Leora! Another good night’s rest, I see?”  

Leora nodded. “Hello Lucille. Every night is more restful than the last, thanks to you. And Mother Corvina, of course.” 

She truly felt like a new woman. Her body felt refreshed and loose. Her shoulders were relaxed and the dark rings around her eyes had entirely vanished.  

Lucille grinned. “You have a very well-rested glow about you, sister. One of these days I’ll get you to take my gardening shift as thanks. I know how much you love tending to the gardens, after all.”  

Leora smiled and turned to the pulpit. Mother Corvina was uncharacteristically late this morning. Normally she was standing there, waiting for everyone to arrive… but today she was absent. Leora supposed that even if their Mother Superior seemed outwardly perfect, she was still human. Picturing the older woman sleeping in - all wrapped in her covers - made Leora giggle. 

It didn’t take long for Corvina to enter the chapel, only about five minutes really. She walked in with perfect grace as if it was the sisters who were early, not she who was late. Her long habit slithered behind her as she walked past. It reminded Leora of the strange vision she had had that morning. Lost in thought, Leora was suddenly brought back to reality by Mother Corvina standing directly in front of her. 

Lucille hissed at her. “Custody of the eyes, Leora! Look down!” 

Instead, she looked up directly into her superior’s eyes. Her attention was snared by the burning flame around Corvina’s irises. 

‘Tsk. You’re slipping, Leora.’ 

Corvina held Leora’s chin in her hand, her nails digging into the flesh near Leora’s throat. She pulled Leora to her feet with the barest touch. Leora felt like a puppet on string and- 

“Leora? You are staring.” Leora was seated again. Mother Corvina was at her pulpit and everyone was staring at her like she had cursed the Lord’s name. 

She turned bright red. “I - I’m sorry, I don’t - I.” Leora looked away, down at her feet. “Please forgive me, Mother Superior.” 

She heard everyone shift in their seats. Mother Corvina just laughed. A rare sound. “All is forgiven in the eyes of our Lord, child. Please do come see me before your afternoon scripture, yes?” 

It wasn’t worded like an order, but it felt like one to Leora. She all but cursed at herself, frustrated that she had such impure thoughts. In the chapel of all places… “Yes, Mother Corvina.”  

With Leora’s outburst out of the way, Corvina opened the book on her pulpit and began to read the morning’s homily. Leora did her best to listen. 

.      .      . 

First service went on without any further excitement. It was a standard lecture on the necessities of discretion when interacting with outsiders. Leora wasn’t bothered much by the need for discretion. She meant each and every one of her vows, and this one was no exception. Plus, there wasn’t anyone for her to talk to.  

The rule was particularly important for sisters who went on missions to nearby towns to heal and provide silent prayer. Leora was still too inexperienced to interact with people outside of the convent and as such, she enjoyed her time in the confines of the Abbey.  

She had no desire to see her family. Leora had fled from her family to join the convent. If she was honest to herself, she hadn’t even given them room in her thoughts. Not in months. Her parents fought a lot, and they certainly strayed from the word of the Lord. Leora’s sister was innocent, though, and she wondered if she could somehow convince her to join the Abbey.

‘Sinners. Best left in the past.’  

Blessed Corvina. It was Mother Corvina who saved her and showed her the light of Sacred Night. Leora was happier without them and there was plenty work at the Abbey to keep her busy. There was so much for her to be thankful for and she was taking it for granted.

After the homily, the sisters gave their goals for the day. Leora, according to her schedule, promised to devote herself to her studies as much as she could. Though, she realized her time was going to be taken up with her appointment with the Abbess instead.

As she walked to the refectory to break her fast, Leora’s mind glanced forward to the kind of punishments she could receive and the trouble she might be in. Dread filled her gut. She had been slipping up more. Small mistakes here and there, but mistakes nonetheless. 

She had been letting her eyes wander. To her sisters’ lips. To the Abbess’ eyes. Innocent enough on their own but Leora knew that it was a bad habit to keep. She had also been slipping up on her nightly prayers. She really struggled with staying awake long enough to perform them. As a Sister of the Sacred Night, Leora was expected to be nothing less than perfect. To be chosen to enter the convent was an enormous honor and Leora was petrified she had placed herself at risk of expulsion.  

Everyone turned to look at her as she entered the dining hall, their quiet murmurs of conversation falling to silence. Leora bit her lip and stifled back tears.  
 
All she could pray for was a lenient punishment. 

.       .      . 

Second service came and went, Third was a blur. Leora was simply unable to focus and listen due to her nerves. The other sisters were avoiding her, too, barely as much as acknowledging her presence. She had embarrassed herself and all the sisters by association.  

Her fears only grew as she completed her daily tasks in the kitchen. Each minute passing by slower than the last. It was excruciating. When the time came to meet the Abbess in her study, Leora was practically numb. Her hands were cold and clenched in fists. She walked with small steps and arrived at the door to Mother Corvina’s study.  

The doors were intricate. Black with a gold inlay around the edges and a heavy frame. Each door adorned with a half-moon in snow white and when the doors were closed, a complete full moon was puzzled together. She had always wondered what was past these doors. A selection of tomes and books? A collection of perfectly tailored habits? A plush chair for the Abbess to rest on?  

Leora decided it was time to stop delaying. She took a deep breath, a slow exhale, and reached up to knock. 

“Leora? My apologies for being late. I do hope you were not waiting too long?” Mother Corvina’s voice came from behind her. 

Startled, Leora jumped out of her skin and into the skies above. Turning to face the voice with head down, she somehow collected herself enough to speak. “Good day, Mother Superior. I had only just arrived, actually.” Her voice cracked. 

“Thank the Lord for small blessings. I truly have been so busy, I am sorry for not having time for you sooner, child.” Leora heard the smile on Corvina’s lips as she spoke. 

The taller woman lifted Leora’s chin with a finger, pulling her eyes upward. Leora stared. Her head was suddenly filled with cotton. “I - Mother Corvina - I should not be staring. You - you should not be touching me this way. Please. What if one of the other sisters -” 

Corvina simply released Leora’s jaw and watched as Leora didn’t look away. “Should I not? Or should it be you who should not react the way you do to my touch?” 

Corvina’s eyes hooded halfway as she gazed down at Leora. It was a particularly seductive action coming from a woman in holy garb. Calmly and with a deliberate motion, she unlocked the doors and pulled them open. She practically floated into the room with perfect grace and looked to Leora to follow.  

Leora didn’t hesitate. She entered the room and heard the doors shut behind her. She wanted to know what the room looked like. What secrets were hidden inside the room? She desperately wanted to satiate her curiosity and look around but… her eyes were on Corvina. 

She couldn’t look away. 

“Sit, Leora.” Corvina gestured to a chair and Leora sat. Leora’s head was on swivel, following Corvina as she walked around the room to take a seat across from her. Leora barely managed to take in the details of the chair her superior sat on. It was a plush wing chair in a dark black dyed leather. It creaked as Corvina shifted into it as if it were holding up a weight too great for its shoulders. 

“Tell me, child, how has your time as a fledgling been going?” 

Leora opened her mouth to speak and yet nothing came out. Concern crept on her face as she struggled to find words. 

‘Speak.’ 

“My - I - You -.” The words flooded out as if they were scrambling to see who could be first. Leora took a breath to calm herself, collect her thoughts, and tried again. 

“Life here in the Abbey has been nothing short of perfect, Mother Corvina. All the other sisters are so kind and helpful, keeping myself busy is very easy and under your guidance I truly feel as if my relationship with the Lord is stronger than ever.” 

Corvina crossed one leg over the other and put her hands on her knee. “Then tell me, dear one, why do you falter? Why do I hear whispers around the Abbey about your failure to adhere to the rules we set for ourselves at Sacred Night? Why do I hear from one of your fellow sisters that you are making sounds in the night?” 

Leora was stunned. She was making sounds in the night? What kinds of sounds? It couldn’t be so. Leora was sound asleep every night until daybreak. 

“I am… not sure. I do not recall being awake past lights out, let alone making sounds after dark.”  

Corvina’s eyebrow raised. “If what you say is true, then you are accusing your sisters of lying… That’s a grave accusation, Leora. You know well what it means to lie as a nun.” 

Leora winced. She was trapped. Either she accept punishment for a sin she did not commit or sit idly while one of her sisters got stripped of her blessings and sent out into the world with nothing. It was this dilemma that finally allowed Leora to look away. Leora did not want her Mother Superior to see her tears. 

“You do not want that on your conscience, dear Leora. I do not want you to have that burden of guilt.” 

Leora nodded a small nod and bit her tongue. She had to remain silent. She didn’t want the guilt on her shoulders and she cared for her fellow sisters too much. The truth was not important. Her head was throbbing. She smelled smoke. 

“Look your Mother Superior in the eyes and tell her, were your sisters lying… or were you?” 

Leora looked up to meet the Abbess’ gaze. The fiery glow she was always so transfixed by in the older woman’s eyes was reflected in Leora’s. 

Monotonously, Leora spoke her first lie. “I lied, Mother Superior. I will accept the punishment you deem appropriate for my sins and transgressions. I have been slipping in the eyes of the Lord and tarnishing the sanctity of Sacred Night.” 

Leora felt something in her mind start to catch alight. With a smile and a blaze in her eyes, she fell to her knees. 

“Forgive me, Mother Corvina. I beg of you to forgive me. I have been up late into the night reading the Lord’s word. I have a thirst for knowledge that I cannot seem to quench and I thought it not a grave sin to spend a little extra time learning.” 

Corvina glared down at the woman on the floor before her and smiled. She stood and offered a hand to help Leora up. Leora gently grabbed the hand and slowly stood, using her free hand to dust off the skirt of her habit. 

“I am proud of you for admitting the truth. It is not easy to learn to be humble and speak one’s mistakes out loud. Thank you, Leora. There will be no punishment for you today.” 

Leora blinked in surprise. It was truly not the reaction she was expecting. It wasn’t anger or yelling, nor was it a whipping and being removed from the Abbey. 

“I can see that you were expecting another reaction. I am not some fiery demon for you to fear, child.” She giggled. It was surprisingly feminine. “If you had remained steadfast in your deceit, things would have played out differently. Take this as a lesson, Leora, for I will not be as lenient the next time.” 

Leora breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “Thank you, Mother Superior. I will take this lesson to heart.” 

“Good. Now, about this late-night reading… It is hard to restrict a girl such as yourself from the pursuit of knowledge. I know because I was the very same when I was a fledgling.” Corvina led Leora to a window seat in the study and they both sat down. The window overlooked the quad filled with flowers. It was beautiful.  

“I spent every spare moment I could with my nose in a book, you know. Even now, I still read whenever I can. Our little meeting has unfortunately impeded on your time in the Abbey’s library.” 

Leora was taken aback and a little flattered. Mother Corvina had been paying attention to her weekly routines and noted that she made a weekly visit to the library. “Yes, Mother Corvina. Though this was far more important and -”  

‘And I would much rather be around you.’ 

Corvina smiled. “Well, how about I make it up to you? I have many tomes in my personal collection that I do not allow anyone else to read.” She gestured to a bookcase that spanned the entire wall. It was filled with books of different shapes and sizes, colors, and patterns. Some were even matching sets, their spines forming an image of a crucifix. 

Leora’s eyes sparkled with excitement, but still she paused. “Really? Your collection is incredible. Why only me?” 

“Because you have potential. One day I will grow old and no longer be able to run the Abbey. I see in you what my Superior saw in me decades ago and I see you as the future Abbess of Sacred Night. As such, I want you to learn. Drink deep of the knowledge in this room and in here.” Corvina tapped her temple with a finger. “You can always ask me anything you desire to know.” 

It was an incredible honor. Leora was so young and inexperienced but to be given this wealth… she could not squander it. She had to follow in Corvina’s footsteps as was expected of her. “Mother Corvina… thank you. I do not know what to say.” 

“You do not have to say any more than you already have. It was the Lord who blessed me with this wealth, it is not mine to hoard. Here.” She pressed a key into Leora’s palm. “The spare key to this room. You may enter whenever you are free of other tasks and obligations. You may even read here. It is where I like to read, looking over the flowers. The full moon is particularly beautiful from this window.” 

Without thinking, Leora hugged Mother Corvina. “Thank you. I will not let you or the Lord down, Mother Superior.” 

Gently cradling Leora’s head in her hand, she smiled. “Good. Now, it is almost time for afternoon service. Quickly, choose a book and I shall see you in the chapel shortly.” She released Leora and helped the smaller girl to her feet. 

Leora excitedly nodded and all but dashed over to the bookcase. One immediately caught her eye, a dark black cover with gold inlay. Opening the cover, the first page revealed it was a handwritten journal written by a Sacred Night sister over a hundred years ago. She clutched it to her chest and turned to the Abbess with a grin. 

“Thank you. Blessed be, Mother Superior.” Leora bowed gently and hurried out of the room. 

.     .     . 

Night had fallen, the dark and shadows winning the days war with the light. Leora was settling into bed. She was determined to read a few pages before shuteye. “No more than five. Ten. Fifteen. No more than fifteen,” she promised to the room. Sipping on her tea-remedy she started to read. 

The first few pages were quite boring. The daily life of the author, really. Strangely, there was no trace of the author’s name anywhere. Most journals are dated and signed by their writers. Peculiar, but Leora pressed on.  

As she got to the tenth page, her eyes were growing weary and swimmy with the remedy addling her mind. She had gathered that not much had changed at Sacred Night in one hundred years. It made sense, the convent had a strong sense of ritual and tradition.  

With a yawn she turned the page and saw an expertly drawn candle. Its wax was dripping and the flame was thriving. It took up two full pages, the candle split down the middle by the part. At the bottom of the diagram there was a title for the piece.  

It read simply, ‘Soul.’  

Leora was intrigued, confused. She tried to will her hand to turn the page so she could learn more about the illustration, but it was too late. The remedy took hold and Leora could fight it no longer.  

She collapsed into deep sleep, unable to witness the snakelike shadows reaching out toward her from the dark.