Chapter 34 [Wabash Congregationalist Church]
Angie parked her Sentra in front of the ancient structure with a heavy heart. Her mind swam with a torrent of ideas and worries on that early morning. She knew Lori suspected that something else had happened and naturally would blame Dave for it. She worried about her husband hitting the roof over her exposing herself to danger (through Xena). She didn't want another spat between the two sides of his personality.
She felt the sword still strapped to her back. Granted it felt bulky and uncomfortable there but she could draw it fairly quickly if the situation merited.
I know I should've talked with Dave first but he can't go up against those creeps by himself! Even the Big Kid wants Xena there. If she can keep him in check, isn't that what's important? She sulked moodily and sipped on the coffee from her 'to-go' cup. "Why aren't these things ever easy?"
A sharp rapping at the window snapped her back to attention.
She jumped and looked to her left half expecting the sheriff or someone else asking unwanted questions. Instead she found Katrina smiling at her. She rolled down the window. "Katrina? Goodness! You startled me. Everything okay?"
"I am sorry, Angie. I was concerned for you. Are you all right?" Katrina inquired with concern.
"Antsy about last tonight and what's coming later. I figured Brother Tony would be great to talk to. He always is," Angie presumed while offering a bit of a smile. "How are you doing? I heard you banished Serilda."
"Cybelle and her sisterhood are a big help. Deirdre's been great. She's nice to talk to. You must be proud of her," Katrina presumed.
"Dave and I are. We wish that she could've grown up normally but given how things have gone, she's such a joy," Angie informed her with a proud maternal outlook. "Dee Dee is definitely a Daddy's girl though. She and I are close too but she so takes after him. Goodness me!" Angie undid her seat belt and got out of the car. "Care to join me in that conversation?"
"Indeed. Thank you," Katrina expressed as they climbed the stairs toward the sanctuary's front doors.
Even as the visitors climbed the stairs, Brother Tony set a small duffel bag along with his crucifix and a Bible by his lectern in the church's front section. He'd just finished speaking with his colleague, Brother Andrew, about the trip later that day….
…a trip he'd hoped never to make again….
He recalled some of the earlier trips to the central Massachusetts hamlet. As much as he enjoyed his conversations with the other minister, he dreaded the villagers' attitudes toward outsiders. Often he'd have to step between them and the resident pariah. How I wish they would forget the past. How I wish David would forget. Lord, work a miracle. He sighed deeply and forlornly drank from his lukewarm coffee. A quick check of his watch revealed it was 9:00 AM. Two hours until we leave.
The knocking at the door jarred him from his reverie.
Hopefully this is not another crisis. I hate to be neglecting the rest of the village but this matter does take precedence! He'd informed Hiram Cavanaugh and the sheriff of his impending absence. He guardedly opened the door. "Good morning, Angela and Katrina. Please come in. I just finished packing for our journey."
"We prepare as well, Reverend," Katrina agreed. "I met Angela on the road here. I needed some time to meditate."
"And I was looking for advice," Angie added hesitantly. She kept her eyes down toward the floor.
He recognized the pained expression well from Angie's youth. "Angela, what is it? Certainly you've done nothing wrong."
"David's upset about last night," Katrina revealed. "Cybelle showed me. Ichabod is overcoming his own natural sense of protective chivalry. David should as well."
"Fat chance. He doesn't want to lose me like he did Deirdre," Angie lamented. "He's worried that if something happens to Xena, I'll follow suit."
He understood the quandary. On the one hand, they needed Xena's knowledge, expertise and battlefield skill against Dahak and its coven. On the other hand, however, if something happened, they'd face a full rampage from the Destroyer….
…on the anniversary of the woman in question's being infected….
…and on a full moon Samhain to boot….
"Deirdre's your daughter though," Katrina noted.
"We named Dee Dee after her. Deirdre was his first wife. She was a priestess of Althanor as well," Angie explained.
"She was David's fiancée," he corrected.
"They secretly eloped," Angie countered gently. "They couldn't risk the sisterhood finding out. They kept the secret until that horrible night. Thankfully I wasn't in Tucson when it happened."
"Cybelle mentioned a priestess who couldn't be named…the Forbidden….Is that this Deirdre?" Katrina queried.
Angie wiped a tear from her eye. "Yes. I wish I could've dealt with the Child at that point. It fell to Deirdre to do that. They weren't allowed to fall in love. They did. Still Dave searches for his daughter with her."
"Lichtenfeld struck Deirdre down with the blue cancer fire," he clarified. "Angela, we must allow Xena to do her work. David knows the risk of this life. He needs to understand."
"It is the Child who will not understand, I fear. Ichabod struggles with allowing Abbie Mills and me to accompany him and David into that dark place," Katrina insisted. "They cannot win alone, I fear."
"He will change tonight. I know he won't like it but Xena will need to be there," Angie explained.
"There is the final point to make up your mind with, Angela. May the Lord protect us all. Have you both eaten? I was going to get something before the journey. If you'd like to accompany me, that would be fine," he offered.
"I would love that. Thanks," Angie accepted.
"As would I. My thanks as well," Katrina concurred. Her mind swam with the revelation about Deirdre. How will he keep control in that dark Hell? Ichabod and Xena, I pray you are up to the task!