Robert sighed. It was starting to get late now.
She continued her chores. She found herself lost in them, much as she always did when doing a long period of work. She found a crack on a wall near the staircase and realised, the other side would be where the bell fell.
She wanted to pay a visit to the bell tower, where she started the fire. The devil spoke of some kind of 'connection' to another place here... could her church really have been blessed so greatly?
She examined the area, it was all singed and burned here. There was a lot of soot, and the smell of burned gasoline was heavy in the air. Temporary support structures were erected to make it safer.
She touched every place she could, for some kind of door... but there was nothing here. No evidence anything was here at all...
In a brief moment, she understood the enormity of what she had done. She had destroyed a connection unto a domain, that may well have been a bridge to divinity. How many legends foretold of such secret places?
She had betrayed her clergy... and destroyed something, they would have rejoiced in being part of.
She shook her head and made her way down the stairs. Her robes felt heavy on her body... she just wanted to get rid of them now. If she was to embrace some kind of new life... was that not the same as abandoning her old devout life? Was God... casting her out?
So many others of His children enjoyed a normal life. It would not be that bad... would it? Though what of her vows? Did everything she did... mean nothing?
Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door. Robert blinked. Could the police want another word with her? She knew she was not off the hook... she was on bail. It would not do well to avoid them though...
Opening the door, she saw a most unexpected sight. A woman, glad in some kind of silver garment. Her long green hair flowed enticingly, and upon her a strange set of ...antenna? The devil woman looked down realising the woman was even floating.
It was perhaps the strangest thing when they both did a double take on each other.
The devil woman cringed at that reaction, and that of her own. This might be just a sample of what waited for her, in the wider world. She recovered quickly though. "Sorry Miss, we are... not open," She said not going into the details.
Anneza looked uncomprehendingly. She pointed to one of the seats in the hall.
Robert sighed... the woman just wanted to pray. She had seen the look many times. Lost souls, just wanting some peace and quiet.. their church had not held sermons in a while since the sun changed. So many had gone to new religions based on recent events.
The devil-woman guessed she could spend more time cleaning up while this woman was here. "Okay fine... I'll keep the church open a little longer." She did not say 'my child'... as she would normally. She didn't feel like a priest any more, even if she had the robes.
Anneza gave a soft smile glad that she seemed to be getting somewhere. She floated herself down the isles.
Anneza remembered being here once, as a little boy. She recalled very small details, though she can not recall exactly why she came here. Perhaps it was a school trip? Whatever the reason, she remembered she swore off from religion at that point. How else was one to react when told God watched everything you do? As a child, she didn't feel comforted by that. It scared her.
Still with everything going on now in her life... a dark, and uncertain future, where else could she go? It seemed right to pay a visit here, even if she wouldn't get anything out of it.
"God? At least you can understand the words I speak," she said in her language. Well she had to say something while here. God's probably really busy these days. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I've lost my job... in a month I will lose my house. I have lost my livelihood.. my identity... my.... senses." She said looking down, thinking about all the events so far. Still it was not all bad.. she had made two friends. Admittedly one is just doing a job... but the wolf-girl seemed to care about her.
"God? I want to be myself again. I want to be a man... I want to be human..." her voice, almost musically echoed around the church. There had to be some way to return! To make herself back into what she was. She quietly realised something. If such a way existed, she was probably one of the few that could cover a lot of ground on Earth- and beyond. She could go to any place in the world... she could go looking for a cure!
But... where would she start? She started to sing her song of the stars, as she pondered.
Robert watched the lost girl. She did not know her language, but at least she seemed a civil person. It was just as well. The devil woman continued to clean up and do her work, occasionally making sure the girl was okay.
That song was... interesting.
Mark was so angry yesterday but put it behind her now.. Someone.. she wasn't sure who, but one of her sisters 'kissed' someone.
She was so shocked, and actually quite scared at what that would entail. She got very concerned when her sister became upset though. Could that have meant the kiss was not intentional? It was enough to make the angel girl worry. Today she decided that she would be the one deciding what they wore, and went for a very boyish look. She had changed into this a few hours ago.
The jeans were her old ones, and did not fit very well around her hips. She had to make some adjustments on her shirt. When she went to the mirror and saw the image of a lovely angel girl wearing her old clothes though... the effect was so weird she dared not do an in depth analysis. She wished she did not have to wear the bra, but it just seemed easier to have one then go without. Maybe a baseball cap would help the look? She quickly put one on, putting as much of her long golden hair under it.
She tensed slightly as she could feel the magic synchronising their look about to go off...
with a brief glow of her Halo, she knew it was done. Now all her sisters looked as she did, having the same cap from her favourite baseball team. She did not sense any objection to the addition.. just one or two confused vibrations. One even seemed to like it and she could sense some kind of... appreciation? A few others were ambivalent about the whole thing.
She could feel one of her sisters eating dinner, a few others were doing idle tasks. Instead of worrying what her sisters were doing.. why didn't she spend Sunday evening doing something fun? Maybe she could go to a club like she used to?
"Mark?" her mother called just before she made it to the front door.
Mark sighed turning around. Ever since her change she had.. got closer to her mother. (Maybe a little too close she thought, glancing down at her own breasts). "Yes mom?"
"You can't go out yet. Have you done your homework?"
"Yes mom," She sighed again.
"I want you to know... I'm... very disappointed in you. The police have enough trouble right now then to deal with this kind of thing."
Mark winced. She felt bad about the whole thing... she wasn't sure if that was because she was an angel now, or if she really felt bad.. but it didn't take away the genuine feeling of guilt. "I'm really sorry. I'm trying to make up for it..." She said honestly.
"I know you are dear... but it will be a long time before I can trust you again."
"Please mom. Trust me now. I want to go out, and just... relax. Please mom," she asked.
"Do you promise not to drink?"
"It doesn't affect me any more even if I tried," She explained.
"All the same dear... no drinking."
"Does that mean... I can go?" The angel girl asked hopefully.
"Yes dear. I'll expect you back before ten though."
The angel girl nodded. She felt so glad just to be able to go out now... "thanks mom."
