This is my first His Dark Materials Fic. Please be warned that it is strange and is rated M for a reason. If you are offended by sexual content, incest, pedophilia or prostitution do not read this story.
Summary: Jessie Lynn and her daemon were always in a hurry to grow up. When the Father President of the Consistorial Court of Discipline takes a liking to her and gives her a home, her daemon has already settled. She is only 14 but the Father President has plans for her.
I do not own anything you recognize.
Jessie Lynn and her daemon, Nealan, were walking down a crowded street. Jessie was 14 years old and Nealan had settled as a morning dove. His pearly grey feathers shone in the early morning sun. Unknown to Jessie or Nealan a man was watching them. This man was Father President Hugh McPhail of the Consistorial Court of Discipline. Father McPhail had been observing this girl for several weeks now. He had an experiment in mind and she was the perfect candidate for it. He wasn't going to tell anyone about it yet, for it wasn't exactly conventional. His plan was to first capture the girl, then he would worry about making her cooperate. It seemed she was an orphan and he was sure if he offered her a home, she would do whatever he wanted.
Suddenly Nealan swivelled his head around and stared at Father McPhail. Jessie whispered, "What is it, Neal?" Then she followed his gaze and saw the man Nealan was staring at. She saw him watching her. She went up to him.
"Excuse me, sir. Why are you staring at me?" She asked him. Nealan fluttered near her shoulder and watched the man. He smiled at her.
"Well my dear, I noticed that you don't exactly have a home and I wanted to offer you one." But while he distracted her with his words, his daemon grabbed hers. Nealan fluttered frantically. As Jessie was about to cry out Father McPhail slapped a hand over her mouth.
"You'll come with me without a fuss, sweetling." He whispered to her as he dragged her away. He stuffed her in a car and signalled the driver to drive off to the Consistorial Court. He tied her up as she struggled. He gagged her too. She stopped struggling but glared at him over the gag in her mouth.
"This is just a precaution, little one; I'm not going to hurt you." He told her.
Her eyes narrowed, but she did nothing more.
Father McPhail took this opportunity to continue, "I require you for a…experiment, so to speak. See, I have an idea in mind, but I require a pretty, and strong, young girl like yourself." He explained.
She stopped glaring at him and he removed her gag so she could speak.
"An experiment? What kind of experiment?" She was intrigued; maybe she could actually do something with her life, instead of wandering the streets, making a penny here and a penny there.
"An unconventional experiment." Father McPhail replied. Jessie smiled.
"I could work with that." She said. Now it was his turn to smile. This was easier than he thought it would be.
"Well, when we return to the Consistorial Court, where I am the Father President. I will get you settled in some rooms adjacent to mine; we will begin our 'experimentation'." He said with a chuckle. His eyes twinkled and she smiled at him once more. Then he untied her and she didn't struggle at all. She just sat calmly, looking out the window.
"Father President? Why me?" The girl turned to look and Father McPhail.
Father McPhail smiled.
"Well, for several reasons really. One, you're a street kid and no one would miss you. Two, you're very pretty. Three, you look very strong. And four, you seem to have a taste for adventure and an insatiable curiosity, both very good qualities for the experiment I have in mind." He told.
Now Jessie seemed more interested than ever and found herself trying to figure out what on earth this experiment could be. She wondered if she would like it. She hoped it would be interesting at least.
Finally, the car stopped and they arrived outside a big, imposing, church-like building.
"Is this it, Father President?" Jessie asked. Nealan sat on her shoulder and ruffled his feathers.
"Yes, it is. Welcome to the Consistorial Court of Discipline. Your new home." Father McPhail smiled at her. He got out of the car and held the door open for her. She climbed out, staring up at the building in awe.
Father McPhail led the girl through the building pointing out some things as they went. Finally they arrived at a set of ornate double doors. A servant opened them to reveal the most amazing room Jessie had ever seen. There was wood paneling on the walls and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Father McPhail went to the wall on the right hand side of the room and tapped a knot in the wood. A section of the wall slid aside.
"Wow!" Jessie gasped, staring at the wall with her mouth hanging open. On the other side lay a smaller, yet just as beautiful room with the biggest bed she had ever seen. There was a book shelf on the far wall filled with books. Jessie couldn't wait to read some of them.
"This room is yours, my dear." Father McPhail motioned for her to enter. It was then she saw the magnificent wardrobe. "The wardrobe is fully stocked with every type and colour of clothing you could imagine. It's all yours." He continued. Jessie stared at him with wide eyes and ran to throw her arms around him.
"Thank you! Thank you! I'll do whatever you want!" She cried as she buried her face in his shirt. She did not notice the gleam of anticipation in his eyes that should have made her nervous. He smiled and patted her back.
"You should get a good night sleep. Our…experiment…will begin in the morning." He told her. She smiled up at him, then entered her room.
"Goodnight!" She called. Then he closed the wall up.
"Goodnight, indeed." Father McPhail whispered to himself, chuckling a bit as he walked away. A smile crept over his face.