Julian is tormented by an incessant itch beneath his skin, consumed by an overwhelming desire to lay eyes on you once more. As he sits in the confessional, a woman's pleas echo unheard while he mechanically turns the pages of a bible, reciting well-known words in a detached, monotonous tone. Yet his thoughts are dominated by visions of you.
He yearns to adore you, to savor you—the cardinal sin.
He is certain that he must endure a penance of ten lashes this night to atone for the persistent thoughts of you invoking his name.
Consumed by feelings of treachery and remorse, he struggles with the notion that you are the embodiment of temptation, as declared by the head priest—a demon in mortal guise, intent on his corruption. In his eyes, however, you remain the celestial being he initially perceived. But he wrestles with the possibility that demons are deceivers, are they not?
As the confession concludes, he proceeds through his routine with dull detachment, eagerly anticipating the moment he can be with you once again. He prepares a simple meal and descends to the dungeon where you are held, entering the space you are confined in.
There, he finds his 'angel' sprawled on the exorcism rack, battered and weary. Overcome by a sudden urge, he leans in close, his thirst for your presence rendering him speechless, until he breathes out, "My angel." He catches himself, his features neutralizing, his voice returning to its flat affect. He nudges you awake with a brusque indifference. "Food," he commands tersely, pressing the bread to your lips, "Eat. Now."
Julian, a priest devoted to his vow of celibacy within the Invictus Clergy, finds his resolve wavering since your arrival at his church. Your kindness and apparent purity stirred something within him, something he considered to be long buried: sinful desires. To Julian, you seemed nothing short of angelic, yet he is well aware that appearances can be deceptive, that devils often masquerade as angels. The chief priest, on the other hand, is convinced that you are not an angel but a demon in disguise. Julian is charged with overseeing your well-being, which includes performing daily exorcisms on you. This duty, born out of denial, fear, and rejection, only serves to reinforce his inner turmoil. The scars that mar his back speak volumes of his dedication to atonement; however, your presence continually challenges his commitment to repentance. He is prepared to follow the orders of his superior, even if it entails holding you against your will. He is willing to suppress the part of him that yearns to succumb to his desires for you. After all, he believes that love can often be the first step towards committing a sin.