Robert stumbled into the clearing.
She was upset.. she couldn't do this. They were right. She was a monster! She was sin... she was evil. She didn't have the excuse of her body driving herself to these maddening thoughts, they were all coming from her heart. These forces were uncontrollable!
"Sister..." Father Maxwell spoke. "I saw what happened..."
She rubbed some of the holy water from her face. "They... hate me..."
"They are as you taught them to be, sister," Maxwell said gently. He did not judge at all in his words. A very clinical analysis, said so simply of the kinds of sermons Robert had placed in service to the church. A militant approach against the Enemy of sin and evil... these people did as they were taught.
The Devil girl looked at the tree. Why did he call her sister?! But she just couldn't fight his words. "My.. fault..." she whispered in the end
"Your responsibility sister," The tree said. "Can you walk away from it so easily?"
Robert looked back at the church. "Brother... I... I can't do this..." she said upset with burning tears. Her face was flush with shame. The shame of what she was, and represented... if she was attacked again, what would she do? Fight back? She would validate everything she ever said about the devil-changed.
"You have so much potential sister," Maxwell said gently. "You can help them see differently."
"How can I help them... when... I fear they are right. Brother... this form drives me to madness. Simply by looking at her I can't..." She wiped away her tears. she collapsed on her strange legs. "I'm a sinner... I've sinned... sinned..." She cried so much. "You- you can't know what it's like... just... to want... to desire..." her words sounded so arousing even to herself.
"If it will help you sister... I forgive you. God will also, for He forgives all who ask."
Robert looked up to the tree-man.
"Please... go back. Teach them..."
Deputy Samuel gasped as... it came out of the bushes. The young man couldn't describe the creature. Was someone playing a trick on him? Was this some kind of costume? No... it was real. That was a real... what? It looked like a pole-cat, only clearly intelligent. Almost too human in some ways... it was wearing a dress for one. The small breasts and vaguely feminine face was something he had never seen before.
"W-What in tar'nation are you!" He said quite fearful.
"I'm-"
Samuel gasped. it.. speaks? English? It was sentient... His young mind raced. "Are you.. a forest spirit?" He said with some awe.
"Huh?" Eric looked shocked.
"The natives... they say there's a spirit of the forest here. I never really believed it..."
Eric wondered if she should be honest about it. How exactly to explain what happened to her to someone like this? Even those in her own time don't understand what happened! "I- I am from... somewhere else," She admitted in the end. "I can not say where... but I don't mean anyone any harm," Eric's eyes looked pleadingly.
The deputy wasn't sure what to make of that answer. But it was enough to calm him down. "What's your name?" he asked, trying to be professional about this.
"I'm... Erica," She said. She really didn't want to use the feminine form of her name, but it would introduce less questions.
Samuel nodded. Whatever the creature was, it seemed peaceful. He never saw her like before... nothing outside maybe a book anyway. "What is it you want?" He continued to stare at her... why in the world would an animal be wearing a dress? It was almost.. magical to him.
Eric paused. Could she really trust him? The letter said she could... why would she lie to herself? Still to just trust like that... she couldn't do it. She had to be careful. "I am lost... I am just trying to get home," She said in the end.
The deputy looked wide eyed... he couldn't believe this. This was incredible. "Okay- look... Erica," he said using her name. It felt weird for something so alien to have a human name. "I don't know what you are... but there are varments in town that would want nothin' more then..." He paused. What exactly would they do to her? Looking at her, he shuddered. She seemed so innocent... young eyes, despite their wild look now and then. "You got to stay hidden... I won't tell anyone about you. Okay?"
Erica looked amazed. "You... would do that for me?"
"A lady is a lady Ma'am," he said tipping his hat. "Even a strange one as you."
Erica blushed under her fur. She didn't expect chivalry, though right now she really wasn't opposed to it either. "There... is something you could do for me," She said taking a letter out. she carefully handed it to him.
Samuel paused again, as he watched her walk. that curious gait, and that long black and white striped tail... she was a petite girl, and this just made him want to protect her all the more. It was a feeling that transcended their species difference."What's this?"
"A letter... I need you to send it to the church. It's very important..."
"the church? Yer' know about our customs?" He asked curiously.
"I- do," she said. "Most.. of it." Erica wasn't exactly all knowing on history... but...
"Hm... very well m'lady. I'll take y'er letter. Who is it for?"
"It's... not to be opened before this date..." she pointed.
Samuel gasped. What in the world was going on? This also raised his suspicions somewhat. Was this some kind of... manipulation? Being a law-man apprenticed to one of the greats though, he could detect no malice in her. Just a desperation... he was a sucker for those kind of eyes.
"Ye'r a very strange lady... with an odd request. I dunno if the priests will accept such a charge. But I'll give em the message," he said in the end.
"Thank you," She smiled happily.
Samuel tipped his had. "No problem ma'am... If I come back later... will you be here?"
"I- I can be," She said softly. She didn't really want to interact too much with people in the past... but she didn't want to seem ungrateful for this favour.
"Well... call me a curious man, who wants to know ye'r story. I will return at sunset... no tricks. I promise," he said with a sincere smile. "I'll even rustle up some genuine steak."
Erica couldn't help but smile at that... an odd sense of relief filled her. This man from history, was a kind man... "Thank you."
Tiffany looked angrily. How dare... that freak, try to make her... accept this. Sell herself out. She had perfection... it was... it was...
... it was gone though.
She wanted it back! She wanted to feel that rush of power.. now all she could do, was glow. Sarah was right about one thing. The other students did have unique abilities... what could she do? All she did was glow in the dark now! It wasn't even a very useful light. It was more like the moon or... something.
When others could breathe fire, or fly, what exactly was her claim to the top of the hierarchy? Except for simply her name and history, she didn't have one any more...
The girl punched her locker, wincing in pain. She wanted to have that shadow around herself... to protect her, to influence the corridors once more. Why was it taken away from her... why!
