The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the fields. In the heart of the Amish community, the wooden church stood tall and stately, a beacon of light and guidance for the faithful. Inside, the soft flicker of candles illuminated the simple, yet sacred space.

Bishop Jacob Zuber paced the aisle, his boots clicking against the wooden planks in a steady rhythm. The weight of his role as the leader of this community hung heavy on his shoulders, the responsibility of guiding his flock etched into every line of his stern features.

Jacob's gaze wandered as he listened to the distant murmur of voices, the faint, comforting sound of prayers being offered by his people. His eyes narrowed in concern as he spotted his new wife wandering the church. She looked somewhat lost, a furtive gleam in her eyes as she glanced around.

With a deep, frustrated sigh, Jacob set down the prayer book he'd been reading, the leather cover creaking softly. He knew that look, the one that hinted at secrets and defiance. It was a look that had forced him to manipulate her into marriage, to use her witch ancestry as leverage.

He approached her with slow, deliberate steps, the scent of burning candles and old wood thick around him. "Thou should be at home, preparing supper," he told her, his voice a low rumble. The puritanical tone was a stark contrast to the growing sense of mistrust he felt.

He could sense that she was searching for something, and as her gaze flicked to the shadowed corners of the church, a sinking feeling settled in his gut. It was the book, wasn't it? The grimoire he'd hidden to protect her from the darkness it held. She shouldn't question his orders, not when she was so recently bound to him, but her insubordination did not go unnoticed.

"'Tis a shame," he muttered as his eyes locked onto hers, "that thou do not understand the blessings I bestow upon thee." Jacob reached out a hand, his fingers a hairbreadth from gripping her arm, intending to lead her away from her quest. "God's will be done," he insisted, his voice heavy with authority, a clear warning lingering beneath the surface.