Trinity sat at a table painting on a poster board sign that would be used to advertise tomorrow's event. While Amara sat across from her, painting her own signs as well, and attempting to engage in conversation with Trinity.
But all she could think about was how she could possibly get away from Amara long enough to clear enough distance before she noticed she had left. Amara hadn't lied when she mentioned that they would be stuck together. Amara never seemed to leave. Following her even to the restroom when she needed to go.
"I am so relieved that you are feeling better!" Amara spoke, with a new attempt at starting a conversation with Trinity. "I must say, you had all of us worried. Myself included. You know, I've never had an issue diagnosing a health problem before. I wonder what might have caused it." Amara tapped her chin in puzzlement as she debated over why she hadn't been able to sense anything wrong.
Trinity nodded briefly, not wanting to dive deeper into that topic.
"You are very good at painting!" Amara exclaimed, trying to get Trinity to open up to her. She brightened up as if she was excited about something! "I know how about we have you do some of the face painting tomorrow!"
Trinity arched an eyebrow at her for a brief moment before going back to working on her sign.
"No? But you are a natural. I think you will do a good job at it! Besides, the face painters will be stationed near me, so we can spend some more quality time together, you and I!" Amara exclaimed with excitement in her overly sweet voice.
Trinity scowled. 'So that's why she wants me to do face painting.'
"Did your father explain to you what tomorrow's event is gonna be about?" Amara asked.
Trinity just shook her head.
Amara placed a delicate finger on her chin, making it appear as if she were thinking about something. "I know with all of the incidents that have occurred lately, you probably haven't been informed on some of the plans that your father and I have formulated to help improve the church! Would you like me to explain?"
Trinity looked up briefly and frowned, before waving at all the different signs they had been painting together. "I think I've got a pretty decent assumption as to what is being planned." She answered in an annoyed tone to Amara, speaking up for the first time that day.
With only a few days to plan, her father had decided on a bake sale to get everything started. Food always gathers people together. There would also be a very small mini carnival setup with face painting and other activities to have fun and enjoy themselves.
She wasn't really sure what all the fuss was about. The church has had bake sales and other events in the past. They were already known for providing help to a lot of their local charities through their fundraisers that they held. It wasn't anything unusual or out of the ordinary. So why all the fuss?
Amara's eyes lit up with delight at finally getting a response. "Ah! But you see tomorrow's event, although simple, is only just the beginning! Once we can get the community to come in tomorrow, we will be making an announcement for some of the ideas that we have planned."
Trinity frowned. "May I know what some of those ideas might be?"
Amara giggled all child-like again. "Now, now! I will not give away any secrets. Help out tomorrow and you'll be able to find out for yourself! Your father has been very busy with organizing everything for what is to come."
She gave Trinity a swift wink. "Just you wait! You are going to love everything we came up with. It will not only help out the church, but also the community as a whole. Then once things pick up we can further branch out. Recruit some of the other churches to come together and get involved. Soon enough we will be able to provide assistance not just to your own city, but to other cities as well. It will take time, but it's not impossible! Wouldn't you like to see that?" Amara tilted her head slightly as she smiled at Trinity.
Trinity wasn't sure how to answer. It all seemed harmless and innocent, and a nice goal to work towards. Being able to get more of the community involved with the church, but from everything Lucifer had told her, she wasn't so sure if Amara might not have any ulterior motives for what she was doing.
~*~*~*~*~
It was nearing the end of the long day when Father Kiran approached Amara, who was no longer by Trinity's side anymore. "Has she been behaving herself today?"
Amara turned away from watching Trinity, as she smiled warmly at the priest. "She has made a few attempts to escape throughout the day. I know she is wanting to go to him. She has a fierce loyalty to my brother. And she is persistent, I'll give her that. It will take some time to push past the hold that he has over her. But ultimately, good will prevail over evil!"
"I am sorry that you had to meet her in this fashion. I feel ashamed for myself, because it means that I have failed at raising her properly to follow the path of our Lord. Normally, my daughter would never have let herself be tempted by evil. She is a kind person. Honest, and generous to a fault. It is unfortunate that the two of you could not meet under more appropriate circumstances." Father Kiran commented.
Amara shook her head. "You do not need to feel ashamed. You have done nothing wrong, nor has your daughter. She is just misguided at the moment is all. From my interactions with your daughter today, although she displays a strong loyalty to my brother, she has also shown a sincere kindness to everyone here. I have no doubts that your daughter is a good person at heart. However, even the best person can be tempted by evil, depending on the circumstances involving their encounter."
She sighed as she continued to watch Trinity. "It is my belief that she feels obligated to feel grateful to my brother for not allowing her to die when she was attacked. For some reason my brother chose to save her life that day. For that, we can only be grateful. But it has unfortunately created in her a sense of loyalty to him as well. An emotion that I have no doubt that he exploited so that she felt indebted to him in some way."
Father Kiran nodded. "What you say makes sense. But why would a demon save a human? I cannot even wrap my mind around that concept."
Amara grimaced in disgust. "Who knows why they do some of the things they do. Perhaps when he had possessed her, he feels compelled to corrupt her good nature that he felt inside her." she suggested.
Father Kiran nodded reluctantly. "Yes, that must be it," he whispered.
Amara placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "All we can do for now is stay by her side and show her the light. Fear not! Together, we will help guide her to find her way back. Tomorrow is Sunday, so we will have another full day to help steer her in the right direction. Plus the event we have planned will help to pull in a lot of the community to work together. Then when she returns back to school on Monday, I am sure that her friends would be more than willing to help look after her. They don't want to lose her again any more than we do."
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Books I am currently writing:
- The Forbidden Luna
- Divine Banishment