Agnes smiled to Muriel.
"She's a perfect little girl," she said looking at the card. She placed it on a shelf carefully.
"I know," Said Muriel. "How are you and Dad coping?"
"His.. change has certainly made our lives interesting" She said quite mirthfully. "I'm just glad you and Jenny did not suffer a drastic change under the sun. What about you?"
Muriel thought about it. "Being... a mix can be different. But..." Muriel sighed. It was not that she was vain... but a transformation as hers, one had to be strong willed and accept what they were quickly, or get angry. She didn't mind her change though... it was just different.
"My daughter is still beautiful," Said Agnes hugging her. "You are judged by actions.. not something as shallow as appearance. You saved a little girl... and helped the community many times over. Though I do fear every day you do your work... I am happy for you to be happy."
"Thank you mom... did dad ever get over it?"
"He kicks up a fuss now and then. You are his little girl still. However he is also very proud of you." She said with a smile. "He believes you have a lot of his genes."
Jenny returned holding something. "Grandma what's this for?" she asked.
In her hands there was a strange key.
"You know? I can't remember. I suppose it's for something here... but with so many doors and so many years one tends to forget. Why don't you try and find out?" She said smiling.
The little girl looked at the key in awe and giggled. This might be fun! This old house had so many doors... where would it open? Where would it lead to?
"Go on dear, search around" She gave a little wink.
Robert returned back to the church. The smell of smoke was still heavy in here...
He looked at the stain glass window, that was the very image of the woman with that devil-girl. What purpose did the Lord have in bringing this artwork to life, only for her to risk corruption on their sinful world?
She went to the altar, sighing. She looked at her blood red hands, and fiery locks of hair, with quiet confusion. She could have become anything under the sunlight.. Father Maxwell became a tree. A certain epiphany of thought came to the new devil woman. Father Maxwell, was physically incapable of any kind of sin. As a tree, he simply is. The only evil could be from the words he might speak.. but he was not angry at his situation. He lived comfortably, bathed in sunlight giving him food and sustenance...
But it was not a human existence... and she was closer to a human existence then that father. Yet, so much closer to committing an act of sin.
That is what it came down to... wasn't it? She had committed a sin... and this was punishment? Yet Father Maxwell insisted it was not a punishment. What else could this be?
She knelt, in reverence casting her eyes down. She winced as she felt her breast jostle to the motion. "Forgive me God... I have sinned." She said, her voice echoing through the halls of the empty church. "I...I only wanted to show purity... and strength against your Enemies. Many people I have aided in their struggles against the dark... People trusted me to carry your Light into this world..."
She did help... didn't she? People asked her many questions of the after life and of their existence in this world. She answered them all, clearly. It was all there... unquestionable. All one had to do was read the holy words, and be comforted. The knowledge that God would be with them...
... Was his sin hubris? Perhaps... because he felt, he knew it all... Perhaps this form was forced upon her to question again... If so, it worked. She was full of questions once more, as when she was that young boy years ago seeking answers in a world where none presented itself...
"Lord? I... will be here and I will listen. I believe..." She stopped. What did she believe? So many questions... even to her faith now. Even that stone had been shaken. This was her darkest time...
She glanced around the church, noticing the specks where the fire nearly came upon the rest of the church. She didn't mean it to spread so far. Yet it did... she began to realise, she could have died...
The image of that naked devil girl descended on her mind again... the red skin, the evil tail the... eyes. What was wrong with the eyes? She looked at the reflection of her own face on a shiny surface... her eyes... were just like that girls.
... human.
Her heart felt heavy. She... didn't understand any more what the truth was. She was in no position to answer questions relating to God, when she didn't understand herself. She looked again at all the debris...
..She will first clean the church...
..from the fire she started.
