What am I doing out here in the countryside in the middle of the night? Not for the first time, I looked up at the broken remains of a disused 14th century church and tried not to find it sinister silhouetted against the night sky. Sitting on the crest of a hill over a mile from the village it used to serve, it was surrounded by woods and pastures with only a few eco-holiday lodges as neighbours. Abandoned in the 19th century after a larger church was built in the village centre, the nave and tower became a mortuary chapel for the graveyard until being left to decay and becoming the haunt of body-snatchers. In the 1960’s it gained notoriety for desecrated tombs and signs of black magic. Recently the site had been made safe and secured, reinforced with positive Christian messages and guided tours up a newly constructed metal staircase to a viewing platform at the top of the tower. Still, rumours of lingering negative energy persist with reports of a chilly and oppressive atmosphere even during warm days and sightings of a ghostly monk. Maybe that’s why I was spooked being out here on my own. It was a stark disquieting place even in the daylight, but positively creepy at night especially when clouds obscured the moon with no street lighting and little noise.

What was that? Out the corner of my eye I thought I saw something move but when I swung my torch in that direction I saw nothing. Calm down, I was jumping at shadows. It was probably just an animal, there’s no such thing as sh*t! My torch light faded and gave out leaving me in the pitch black. A soft feminine chuckle nearly gave me a heart attack. Looking around frantically with my heart pounding too loud and fast, it was too dark to visualise an escape route that wouldn’t involve tripping over a gravestone and twisting an ankle or worse. “This place drains batteries” said a soft female voice in the shadows. In the gloom I saw a dark shape detach itself from a large ancient tomb. Jeez! I nearly soiled myself and was just about to run in fright when a soft warm light appeared and expanded. Spirits didn’t need candlelight to see in the dark as far as I knew and so tried to calm down. I now made out an old-fashioned lantern lit by a large candle carried by a distinctly female form. The light wobbled and flickered as the figure approached. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to give you a fright” the voice was soft and reassuring. I began to make out a headdress or cowl and a long coat or robe. As it got closer, the candle’s illumination revealed that this was a nun. “I should have brought a back-up. I was here in the daytime and the batteries in my camera and GPS drained even though they were new” I said trying not to show that I’d been scared half to death.

The woman held up the lantern and my first impression was that she was tall and slim, standing at least 6 foot 3 inches. A white tight-fitting wimple hugged the sides of her face on top of which was a stiff white piece with a black veil attached that flowed down her back. Around her lower neck was a white rolled collar over which was worn a long black coat. Even in the gloom I could see that she was a mature, good-looking elegant woman probably in her mid to late 50’s. A pleasant oval-shaped face of clear complexion studied me with small eyes over a long slender nose, with slightly flared nostrils. In the candlelight the vertical groove between the bottom of her nose and upper lip seemed pronounced as did the lines that ran from her nose to the corners of a thin-lipped mouth. Standing with her back regimentally straight with noticeably wide shoulders, a firm chin was slightly raised imparting an air of command that made it seem as if she was looking down at me with a smug look of superiority. Phroar! There was something about that hard smouldering severity on a mature handsome face that I found a turn-on. That unapproachable intimidating stare with her thin lips tight radiated a strict authoritative coldness that went straight to my groin. I instantly felt guilty about having that reaction for a nun.

“And did you see any ghosts?” the striking woman asked, towering over me while looking down in a condescending manner. “Actually” I began, feeling rather embarrassed. “I was here earlier in the day looking around and was just leaving down the footpath that runs around the back when I thought I saw a man in a brown robe in an upper window of the tower. It was just a quick glimpse but when I looked back it had gone. Strangely my wife, who was with me at the time, stopped and looked at the same time although I hadn’t spoken and swore she saw the same thing”. “Probably the caretaker from the eco-lodges” the woman remarked. “He told us that he hadn’t even unlocked the iron gate to the tower today let alone been up there” “I believe they project images to scare away the vandals” she suggested. “Not in the daytime. I don’t know what we saw” I admitted rather sheepishly. “Probably harmless residual energy. There are a lot worse things you could meet around here. Such as nuns” she added. For a moment, her face broke into a brief warm smile that pushed up her cheekbones and softened her features making her appear more attractive and friendly.

“So you came back at night for better sight of the spirit?” the handsome nun asked. “No. Actually I’m a private investigator here on business” I replied before adding “I’m Jim Priest by the way, and you are?” “Someone a God-fearing man wouldn’t want to meet at night” she answered with another smile that made me warm to her. She held out her hand in greeting “Mother Superior Jacqueline Stone”. “Mother. Sorry, I feel awkward calling you that” “Reverend Mother is the correct form of address” she explained “however, you may call me Mother Jackie”. “So what brings you here in the middle of the night if not hunting ghosts, Mister Priest?” she asked. “Jim. Please call me Jim” I said with a little smile and glad to receive one in return.

“Something has been attacking the local kids here at night” I told her “They come here for a scary thrill but get more than they bargained for”. “Not ghosts” I put in before she said it “Something dark, physical and vicious. Several such things that emerged out of the shadows and attacked boys and girls alike”. “Teenagers in scary costume, I expect. They can be uncaring brutes at that age” the Mother Superior said. “That was my first thought too but the kids swear that the beasts came out of nowhere and melted away back into the shadows. They were robed with animalistic faces, which suggested masks to me but they said not, and spoke in a low guttural voice saying that they knew where the kids lived and where they went to school, so they better watch their step. Understandably their parents freaked when they heard that and called me in” “I would have thought they were better off calling The Police than some two-bit private eye. No offense meant” she added without a smile in a tone which suggested otherwise. “The Police didn’t want to know. Budget cuts mean they concentrate on easy wins like motorists instead of catching criminals” I had to pause as I felt myself getting worked up. “I’m sorry I’ll get off my soapbox” I apologised and was surprised to receive another friendly smile. “As a woman of the cloth, I can assure you that there is nothing paranormal scaring the kids” she told me. “So I thought, so I came here to see for myself” I told her. “Forgive me, but you do not look like a man of violence. How would you see off any nasties without a nun to protect you?” she asked with a hint of sarcasm. “I’m not” I admitted. “I guess I didn’t expect to see anything. Which appears to be the case.”

“Anyhow. What brings a Reverend Mother out here in the middle of the night?” I asked. “Don’t you know that nuns are friends of Batman and bats like to hang out in dark spooky places?” the tall woman asked with another smile. “It is getting rather late. Could I impose upon you to drive me back to the convent?” she asked with a beguiling smile that made me forget to ask how she got there in the first place. “Of course” I told her “but we have to walk back to the village as I didn’t fancy parking on dark unlit narrow country lanes” “I am perfectly capable of walking” she replied “Besides, I am the one with a working lantern”. She had a point there.

After nearly 20 minutes of careful walking by candle-light, we reached street lighting. I had found that Mother Jackie provided enjoyable companionship. She was very easy to speak with, something that I normally struggle with until I know someone quite well. Warm and engaging, she had a knack for making me feel at ease which was probably part of the job description. Clearly intelligent, she also displayed a keen wit and pleasant laugh. Reaching the car, I unlocked and held the passenger door open for her. The ‘welcome home’ interior lighting gave me my first view of her in better light. She was indeed a handsomely attractive woman with small hazel eyes, surprisingly outlined by a light touch of black mascara and naturally thick eyebrows. I also noticed a tight smile upon her thin lips and a shock of brown hair escaping the white wimple. The mature woman caught me looking and gave me an arrogant stare that could melt rocks and of course that went straight to my loins. In that instant I noticed a medium sized upper body with broad shoulders and a nice-sized bust, that tapered in along a lanky upper body to a slimmer waist before curving out to her hips. Closing the door, I walked around to the driver’s side.

After being guided down dark country lanes and back roads, we came to a place that I had never noticed before. Turning off onto a long private drive we arrived at the convent house, the main building clearly medieval, hidden from the road and with no signs of its use. She imperiously remained seated waiting for me to get out and open the door for her. “Come with me Jim. You will find the answer to your threatened children within” she insisted. Before I could tell her I should be getting home, she slipped an arm firmly through mine and proceeded to lead me towards the entrance.

“Welcome home Mother, may I take your coat?” a nun in traditional black religious habit met us at the door. “Thank you Sister Sarah, please attend to Mister Priest first” the tall woman directed. Back in her normal working environment she had taken on an imperious manner. As she waited for me to remove my coat I noted that the sister stood around 5 foot 6 inches with a medium sized figure. With a large oval face of pale complexion with small blue eyes, a nicely shaped mouth and a sharp prominent nose, she was pleasant looking. A hint of freckles and faint eyebrows suggested she was a red-head. She had the sort of nice girl next door look although lines around the eyes suggested she could have be in her 40’s. As she turned to take the Reverent Mother’s coat I saw that the sister wore soft black slippers almost resembling ballet slippers.

With coat removed, Mother Jackie was revealed to be wearing an elegant modern interpretation of a nun’s habit. A light-weight hip length tailored jacket emphasised a long inverted triangular upper body while a long billowing skirt with large pleated sections came down to just below her knees with simple black slip-on low-heeled shoes on her feet. More surprising were matte black fishnets with a small diamond-shaped knit that accentuated the long sweeping curves of her slender lower legs with a close-fitting grid. “This way Mister Priest” she directed, heading towards a large old oaken door without looking back. I followed on behind and was astounded to see a high slit at the back of her skirt that went all the way up and under the tails of her jacket. It was incredibly provocative, sexy and an irresistible eye-catch to leg-man like me and I just couldn’t stop staring, although I felt guilty and would probably burn in hell! That was not the only distraction. The back of her long lower legs were very slim and tapered to quite substantial but not overly large calve muscles. The fishnets seemed to accentuate their muscular definition as they flexed and waned in a sensuous manner as she walked, momentarily becoming quite rocky, defined and strong. It felt wrong staring at the back of a nun’s legs but they were beautiful in motion and I’m sure she knew I was looking.

The door opened before her with another nun welcoming her as we entered a large hall that must have been the refectory. Tables and benches were moved to the sides to create a large central space with large rubber exercise mats on the floor. Mother Jackie paused waiting for me to catch up. “Do hurry along, Mister Priest” she told me with a hint of impatience, her clear hazel eyes glaring at me. Lined up forming a central square in the middle of the floor were nuns of various ages dressed in full religious habit. Opening up to allow us to enter, the Reverend Mother strode confidently into the centre with myself following, as the wall of nuns closed up behind.

Mother Jackie’s steely gaze travelled around the line of nuns with a hard stare of her handsome but strict face. “Greed” she spoke loud and clear “Avarice” she paused between words, slowing scanning the women who stood silently and stoically. I couldn’t take my eyes off her sexy muscled calves as the fishnets emphasised the hard muscle heads as they pushed out the pattern of the mesh drawing my eyes like tractor beams. “Blasphemy” she commanded complete attention with her voice and authoritative presence. She stared at the women silently for a few seconds, her slim mouth set firm. “All are condemned in Holy Scripture” Another silent pause then she turned her gaze upon me sending shivers down my spine.

To my surprise, the stern woman began to unbutton her jacket and handed it to Sister Sarah. This revealed a tight black top that clung like a second-skin to her upper body with sleeves that just covered her elbows. Around her neck was a stiff white collar which I had originally taken to belong to a blouse. This too was removed leaving a rounded high modest neckline that exposed a slender taut neck and prominent well-defined traps sloping down from the back of each side of the neck. It also emphasised broad shoulders with noticeable well-rounded shoulder caps hidden beneath the top. The inverted long triangle of the sides of her torso down to her waist were taut without love handles while her belly was flat and firm-looking, possibly a benefit of a strict religious diet. I know I shouldn’t be looking but her fair-sized bust thrust firmly forwards.

Wandering back and forth between four walls of silent nuns, the authoritative woman held their rapt attention. Without breaking pace, her hands went to her skirt and removed it with smooth elegance and grace. If I’d been surprised by the tight black top, I was now gob-smacked to see her standing before me in a one-piece black leotard cut daringly high well above her hips. Although I found that quite shocking for a nun to be wearing, I couldn’t stop staring. She had a staggeringly beautiful pair of long legs sheathed in the fine-gauge fishnets I noticed earlier. Her sleek long thighs were much thicker and stronger looking than her lower legs. While not overtly muscular, there was a hint of sleek strong outer and inner thighs like those on a dancer. Looking sensational, they caused a reaction I shouldn’t have for a Mother Superior. “Those who propagate untruths and falsehoods against The Lord will not go unpunished” she stated while adopting a seemingly random walking pattern around me with her hands placed firmly upon her exposed hips. When she turned away from me, my incredulity increased at the sight of a barely visible thong travelling the crevice between a pair of wonderfully tight rounded buttocks. Orrrrr with that moving around right before me, I couldn’t help but be aroused and prayed no-one noticed.