Chapter 2
Delilah
The books were not science books.
From what I could tell, the shelves at the used bookstore hadn’t been separated into science and fiction, but were two shelves loaded with a genre called science fiction, which was quite a different thing.
I felt a little silly for the things I’d said to the clerk, because she had been teasing me, though not in a mean way, I didn’t think. And I tried to tell myself that it wasn't my fault. I'd quickly realized that science fiction wasn't something the Elders of the Faithful of the Pure Path would have ever allowed.
However, to my surprise, I enjoyed the stories. Although they didn’t contain the anatomy lessons I’d hoped for, there was still quite a bit of insight into… other aspects of anatomy. The book I picked up was about an attractive alien doctor and the human nurse he hired. Oddly, they rarely encountered true medical tasks, and instead seemed focused on using his examination table for their intimate encounters.
It was pure, indulgent fiction, of course. I knew aliens weren’t real. A belief in aliens was only evidence that the devil had won a person over with his lies. But since I knew this book was pure fantasy and outlandish, I felt safe reading it.
To be honest, the only reason I could tolerate its absurdity was because it also offered insights into modern society. That was why I read it seven and a half times in the past two weeks.
Sadly, I hadn't had a chance to read it in over twelve hours, as our community's midwife, Elder Loretta, had kept me occupied with delivering a new baby. For once, I was thrilled to return home. Now that the delivery was over, I had a few more questions about how the doctor was breeding his nurse. Unmarried women in my community were not allowed to ask questions about how physical intimacy worked, so the books had me quite confused.
And quite flustered, but in a pleasant sort of way that made warmth pool in my core.
Ignoring my mother, who was busy in the kitchen, I hurried upstairs to my room. There was no way I could handle another conversation with my mother in this state.
The Barbarian Doctor was hidden under a pile of mending, and just thinking about its risque cover made me blush.
Looking around to make sure I was alone, I grabbed it and opened it up, tracing my finger over the muscular alien depicted on the front of the book, pondering his masculine anatomy. It was all in the name of science, of course.
There was a bookmark holding my place, but a passage just a few chapters before might be worth another read, one which discussed breeding in graphic—
Apphia burst into my bedroom, causing me to shriek in surprise. I pretended to be making my bed, hastily hiding the book under my blanket. I turned to face her, smoothing out my dress and forcing a fake smile onto my face. Apphia's radiant energy permeated the room as she plopped down on my bed. I cringed as she accidentally set her hand a bit too close to the hidden book, knowing its lewd contents would shock her.
"Are you ready for the last farmer's market of the season?" she asked. I realized that I hadn't told her about selling her bookmarks yet.
"I'm feeling a bit tired from helping the midwife today," I responded. "I wonder if I could just stay home."
"But you must go!" Apphia exclaimed. "It might be our last chance to socialize before winter comes. Who knows, you might even meet a handsome man and get married!"
Maybe if he was a seven foot tall alien... I shook off that ridiculous thought.
Judith appeared at the doorway with a stern expression. "Apphia, if your head wasn't attached to your shoulders, it would fly away. This is not an opportunity to meet men, but rather an opportunity to ward off the demons that plague Burns during this dreadful holiday."
I furrowed my brow, tilting my head in confusion. "It's a holiday?"
Judith nodded firmly. "Halloween, a pagan ritual where those who have strayed from God invite the devil into their hearts. I have a pamphlet if you'd like—"
"No thank you, Judith," Apphia interjected, shooting me a meaningful look. "We all know how dangerous it is for children to wear costumes."
Was my sister being sarcastic? It was something I had never suspected before, but there was a hint of humor in her voice that reminded me of the bookseller's banter when he joked about the risque books I bought from him. And speaking of the bookseller, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a chance to acquire more intriguing texts before the long winter nights set in.
Of course, it would purely be for research purposes.
"Fine, I'll go," I conceded.
Apphia's arms wrapped around me in a quick, tight hug before she bounced off the bed. "Thank you, thank you! Things are so much better with you there," she exclaimed, her curls bouncing as she practically danced out of the room. Judith gave me a curious look as we followed behind Apphia, both of us considerably less enthusiastic than our 19-year-old sister.
In the kitchen, my mother, stepfather, and stepbrother were gathering boxes to take to the farmer's market. We all helped load the truck. As we drove, I tried to catch a quick nap, but my stepfather kept droning on about the dangers of Halloween, a pagan holiday that many people in town would be celebrating. I looked at Judith, who was eagerly listening, and wondered if I might be more like her if I was born into the faith like my sisters, instead of adopted as a toddler. I barely remembered that time of my life, but perhaps it had changed me somehow.
"Don't forget it's Halloween," he repeated for what must have been the tenth time as we unloaded the truck and set up our reserved tent.
My stepbrother nodded. "On this day of all days, we must be vigilant. There will be numerous temptations from the devil."
"Elder Sutton created some pamphlets for you to hand out to potential converts," my stepfather said.
He thumped a stack of glossy papers onto the table. They looked similar to our usual pamphlets, except with pictures of witches and pumpkins. Curious, I picked one up and frowned at the glossy paper and professionally typed text. Was this, like my book, created with a computer, and thus defying God's will? Were pamphlets an exception to our strict rules, or was there a work around? Perhaps they hired someone to make the sacrifice, but that also didn't seem very godly.
"Delilah! Wonderful! Why don't you be the first to go out and spread the gospel among the crowd," my stepfather cheered.
My stomach churned with dread at the thought of preaching to strangers. How did they keep trying to involve me in their religion? But when I spotted an alley leading to a bookstore, I smiled. I was craving an opportunity to expand my collection of books.
My stepfather praised me as I nodded in agreement, picked up a pamphlet and basket of bookmarks, and started walking. I played it up, reading the pamphlet aloud so my family would think I was spreading the gospel, not buying lewd books. "When you celebrate Halloween, you're inviting demons to come inside you."
"I'm sorry, what?" A deep, gruff voice interrupted, and I looked up to see an extremely tall man with iridescent purple-blue skin standing next to a shirtless green guy who was more muscular than anyone I'd ever seen. My eyes roamed over his muscles, wondering if they were real or part of his costume.
Unbidden, my gaze dropped to their crotches, to the bulging protrusions in their pants, which were quite... interesting. Scientifically speaking, of course. I wondered if they were about to claim me as their mate. But that was ridiculous; aliens weren't real.
They couldn't breed me.
"Those are some impressive costumes." Nervously, I glanced over my shoulder. My stepfather was watching me. I turned back to the pamphlet, searching for the words I should have memorized. "I know dressing up can seem like fun, but it's actually tempting you towards sin and earthly pleasures."
"Carnal delights?" The green one asked with amusement.
My eyes flickered down to his crotch again, and I felt my face heat. Was he as well-endowed as the alien in my story? But this was just a human in a costume, right?
"I mean, we shouldn't give in to our carnal desires while wearing costumes..." I trailed off, biting my lip and meeting his unusual . How had he achieved that color?
“Of course not.”
"Do you often engage in sexual activities while dressed up?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. "Just for role-playing purposes?"
Oh no, why did I ask that? My cheeks burned as I focused on the pamphlet in my hand.
"Sexual activities?" The green one repeated, his lips twitching with laughter.
"You think we're wearing costumes?" The iridescent man asked, stepping closer with concern in his eyes. "Are you feeling alright?"