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This was very bizarre.
I gaped at the smiling faces. At the people who clutched their worn books to their chest, completely taken by the words they spoke.
“I do not like church,” I whispered to Eden.
“Me neither,” she admitted freely.
“Don’t you feel it?” Catalina beamed. “There is a joyousness in the air here.”
“I do not feel joy here. All I feel is terror.”
This time, it was Olivia who burst out laughing. As soon as she started, Alicia, Sarika, and Eden all erupted in a fit of barking laughter. They all held their breath, trying their best to hold it in, but no sooner did one fall silent, another would start again.
The look Lulu shot from beside Catalina was menacing. It belonged here in this place. For once, it did nothing. Maybe this house of horror stole away Lulu’s powers. Maybe it gave them all to the lord they prayed to here, I wasn’t entirely sure how it worked.
“Shh!” a woman with cold blue eyes and white hair that had no business being that tall while also transparent shot a scornful look over her shoulder at us.
“Sorry… continue your conjuring.” I bowed at her, hoping it would be enough to appease her.
Her eyes widened as she scowled and turned in her seat, muttering.
“If you guys can’t be quiet and respectful, maybe you should wait outside.”
Olivia was out of her seat before Lulu finished her sentence. She left the pew and silently escaped along the hidden alcove against the wall. Sarika quickly followed before Eden wrapped her hands in mine and led me after them. I cast one last look at the church as the holy man stood there, continuing his intoning though his eyes were narrowed in disapproval. I sneezed once more before I was pulled through the heavy wooden doors.
None of the women stopped until they were outside on the steps. Sarika folded, hands on her knees as she barked out harsh laughter.
Alicia snorted, her hands on her hips as she dropped her voice low. “Sorry. Continue your conjuring,” she mocked. My mouth gaped. She was mocking me! “Can you believe he said that.”
Sarika finally stood. “You know what, he’s not wrong. It does feel very cult-like. Stand, sit, kneel. Repeat after me. Kneel.” She wiped a finger under her eyes. “I never realized it until right now. Not that I spend a lot of time in the Catholic Church.”
Singing echoed through the heavy doors. “And now they are singing. I don’t understand this one bit.”
Eden nodded through her laughter. “Church is a bit confusing. Most people don’t realize that because they grew up in there and they’re too focused on how it makes them feel.”
“Terrified?” Could there be any other way to feel while looking at the pained expression of the man on the cross?
“No. Better about themselves and all the wrong decisions they make in their lives. Most people see church as an eraser that undoes everything they did through the week,” Eden explained.
“D’Andre should spend all his time in church,” Olivia scowled.
“Who is D’Andre?” I asked.
Their laughter had ceased. Alicia and Sarika had settled on the first step, Sarika sitting with her back against the iron banister. Eden stood with her hip rested on the top of the railing.
“Her ex-husband,” Eden offered.
Olivia’s laugh completely left her face and a pout replaced it. “All that boy knows how to do is wrong.”
“He has wronged you?” I asked.
She nodded.
I looked over the group and their solemn faces. Pain and sadness flooded my chest and I bared my teeth against Eden’s emotions before I returned my gaze to Olivia. “Shall I kill him?”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“D’Andre. Should I kill him?”
