A God Damn Thing

(Day 44: Monday Night)

The next night at dinner Ben sits to his mother's right, as their guests sit across from them. Audrey sits directly across from him, her grandmother to her right and her parents next to her grandmother. As the food is brought out to them, Audrey's father comments, "Thank you for hosting this meeting. I know how short notice it was."

"Not to mention that you invited us to dinner at our own castle," Ben mumbles.

His mother sighs, "Phillip. Don't worry about it. If it makes things easier on the kids, then I'm glad to host the meeting here."

"Thank you," Aurora manages, but then Ben speaks again.

"Why are you here, exactly?"

Queen Leah's mouth gapes open, "Are you just going to let him speak like that to us?"

"Grandmother," Audrey uneasily replies, "it's fine."

"No. It isn't," she insists as she looks at Ben's mother. "You need to teach your son some manners."

"Ben," his mother quietly addresses, "I know this isn't the easiest time for you, but can you please stop being so crass and at least try to be patient?"

Ben continues to stare over at Audrey, "I just want to know why they're here."

"We will get to that," her father interrupts, "but first things first." He places his palms face up, "Let's say grace and fill our plates." before his mother and wife take his hands.

Ben watches as Audrey accepts her grandmother's hand, before she stretches her other out towards him. He stares down at it for a moment, and then he looks up to find his parents eying him. He takes a deep breath before taking Audrey's hand, and when he offers his other hand to his mother they follow his lead. Looking back at Audrey, he watches her smile, "Father of us all, this meal is a sign of Your love for us." and after he sees the others shut their eyes he shuts his own. "Bless us and bless our food, and help us to give You glory each day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you for family and friends. Thank you for times like these, where we can gather together, share in food, drink, and relax. Please bless this meal and all that it means. May the food nourish us, and may the fellowship enrich our lives. Most of all, may we always invite you into our homes and into our hearts. Amen."

Ben hears the echo, as he mouths the last word and opens his eyes. He watches as their families fill their plates, and he hears Audrey's family compliment her on the grace. "What does this meal mean?" He watches as her family turns to him and their smiles falter. "What are we supposed to be discussing?"

Audrey tries to keep her smile. "Oh. Benny— Ben." She tenses, "You have nothing on your plate. Wouldn't you like to eat something?"

He frowns, "I'd much rather like to know why you're here," as he focuses on her.

She lets out a breath, "I'm worried about you."

"So I've heard. What else?"

"Look." Audrey tries reaching for his hand, but then he removes his arm from the table and she looks back into his eyes. "You've been so different since those VKs arrived, and Mal… it's like she's got you wrapped around her finger." Ben pours himself a glass of milk. "I think she might have you under a spell." He snickers, trying to hold back his laughter. "This isn't funny. This is serious."

"Yeah." Ben retorts, "This is seriously insane." as he smiles. "I'm not under the influence of some love potion."

"We can't know that," she disagrees.

Ben slightly nods, "No. I'm pretty sure we can, and you want to know how?"

"How?" Audrey frowns in doubt.

He grins, "I know that I'm not under the influence of a love potion, because I'm not performing a dance number in front of the entire school, saying that I will give my kingdom away for a single kiss."

Her mouth gapes open, "So, she did spell you."

"It's a potion, not a spell," Ben corrects. "And secondly, it only lasted about a day. It wore off on our first date, when I went swimming in the enchanted lake." He nods, "Also, Mal gave me the anti-love potion before the coronation, because she thought it would be too cruel for me to still be in love with her after the villains took over the land. So, technically, I should love her even less than I do, but somehow I don't. I just still really like her."

Audrey huffs, "How can you like her?"

"Well, I liked her even before I was given the potion. So, there's that," Ben analyzes. "And then there's that she's just a very nice girl who isn't afraid to be real with me."

"Nice?" Audrey hisses. "She attacked me."

Ben looks down, "That was an accident."

"An accident," Audrey repeats as she furrows her eyebrows at him. "What? Did she just fall on my arms? All the things she said, was that just a slip of the tongue? Hey! Maybe she was drunk. Maybe when she moved in to kiss me she just thought I was you, with my nice, long hair and ruffled skirt." She hysterically smiles, "I could have just been you."

Ben falls silent, but he still manages to glare at her before her father interrupts. "With all due respect, Ben, I saw the video myself. You can't just claim it was an accident."

"She doesn't even remember it," Ben defends to him, before he glances back at Audrey. "And, no. She wasn't drunk."

"So, just because she doesn't remember it," Phillip continues, "is that supposed to make what she did any less horrible?" Ben doesn't speak. "Your girlfriend assaulted my daughter— and attempted to do worse. She attempted to kiss her. Aren't you upset at all?"

"Of course, I'm upset," Ben answers. "This entire thing is upsetting, but whatever Mal did— or tried to do— it was just for heat. It was for survival, and the only reason why she chose Audrey was because Audrey was hosting the event that caused all the hot water to run out. I'm sure that if Chad was the one hosting the event, then she would have tried to kiss him instead… and since he probably wouldn't even have minded, there probably wouldn't be a lawsuit for us to fight over in the first place."

When no one speaks Ben's mother comments, "Accidents happen." as she looks over the guests. "We cannot view this as some black and white assault. She wasn't trying to fulfil some sexual desire. All she needed was heat, and… I don't think we can blame her just because she has to get that heat from a direct source. Do you?"

Aurora replies, "Are you suggesting that the only reason why my daughter was attacked by that monster was because it's a hybrid dragon?"

"She," Ben sternly replies. "But, yes. It is probable that if Mal had the luxury of generating her own body heat as the rest of us, then the incident may have never even occurred."

"Well, that's not the case, is it?" Leah reminds him. "No. My granddaughter was attacked, and I expect justice for that monster's actions."

"We will drop the case under one condition," Phillip eyes them over. "We just ask that Mal is sent back to the Isle of the Lost where she belongs."

Ben watches as his mother furrows her eyebrows in disbelief. "We're not doing that."

"Just think about it," he gestures.

She feels her husband touch her shoulder, as though willing her to accept the idea, and then she puts a hand up, "No. Absolutely not. That poor girl has been so guilt-ridden by this already. We're not just going to further that feeling by confirming her fault and condemning her to that island."

"Feeling," Leah responds in disbelief. "You honestly think that monster has feelings?"

"Enough to attempt suicide. Yes," she tears up.

Audrey looks back at Ben, "Is that true?"

He doesn't speak, merely confirming it with his eyes before returning his attention to his mother. "What Mal did… it had to have been out of some instinct. She didn't mean to actually cause anyone any harm. If she did, then she wouldn't feel as bad about it as she does."

It takes a minute for Audrey's father to reply, "Instinct or not, she is a danger to the people of our land. If you won't do it for my daughter, then do it for them. Please. Reconsider our offer… Who knows? Maybe it would be better for her to live on that island, to be free to live her life and fulfil her needs without any constraints."

"Mal's not a wild animal," she denies. "She deserves better than that. She deserves a life of comfortable living and a chance at opportunity."

"Is there no way I can make you change your mind?" he calmly questions.

She shakes her head, "No. I'm afraid not." before she slowly nods. "It was an accident. Mal doesn't deserve to be punished for something she had so little control over."

"Accident," Leah spats. "What kind of horrific, unholy sin has to go on around here for all three of you," she points, "to be able to call this an accident?"

Audrey touches her arm, "Grandmother. Maybe we should leave."

She stands from the table, "You will get yours. You may be able to hide your sins from us, but on judgement day— when Jesus comes down to save all those who are good and pure— you will not be able to hide from Him. He sees all. He knows all."

"And He's all-powerful," Ben interrupts. "So, why didn't he keep your granddaughter safe? You always say that the sins of the father fall upon the children, so what is it? Did you do something He didn't like? Is that why He let Audrey get hurt?" Ben smiles, "I mean, if He's all powerful, then why wait to save us? If God knows everything, then why couldn't He stop Mal from hurting Audrey? Oh, right!" He realizes, "This is all preordained, isn't it? God already drew His path out for us a long time ago, back when He made His grand plan. Which means He wanted this to happen. He wanted Audrey to get hurt. He wanted Mal to be a sinner."

"Blasphemy. God gave us free will. What your little girlfriend did was her choice." The grandmother glares at him, "If you were my son I'd have washed your mouth with soap and water before you were even able to finish that statement."

Aurora places her hands on her mother's shoulders, "We should go, before anyone says anything they regret."

After her family makes it to the hallway Audrey sadly looks down at Ben, "I'll pray for you." before she begins to head out herself; however, when she makes it to the wide doorframe Ben stands angrily to his feet.

He yells, "You think that I've never prayed before?" She turns back to him, they all do. "Your god must be deaf. Either that, or he just doesn't care. Because, I used to pray, and I prayed a lot: nearly all day, every day. But even when I needed Him the most, He was never there to help me. He didn't do a God damn thing."

Audrey calmly replies, "That's not how prayer works. You can't pray for yourself. You have to be able to pray for the wellbeing of others."

"Yeah. Well," Ben huffs, "none of those worked either." She doesn't respond. "Face it. God doesn't care about us. If He does exist, we're nothing but pawn pieces in His little science experiment. He's not going to save us. The only ones who can save us are ourselves."

His mother places a hand on his arm, "Honey." and after a moment he sits down.

Audrey watches as he wipes the tears from his face, "Like I said, I'll pray for you."

His mother lets out an annoyed noise after Audrey leaves, before she looks down and around to see his face, "Hey. You okay?"

He shuts his eyes, as he feels her hand in his hair, "I don't know." Her hand moves to his shoulder. "I'm just so tired of everything… When can this just be over?"

"Soon," His mother promises. "Soon. The hearing will be all taken care of tomorrow, and the trial can't take any longer than just a short few weeks."

"God." Ben places a hand to his forehead, "Mom. That's twenty-one days."

"I—" She lets out a breath, "I know… but take it from someone who had to endure an unwanted situation for a long time." When Ben turns to her she wipes the tears away, "If you spend your time wisely, doing things you enjoy or which let you forget what's going on, then soon enough all the time that's passed will feel like nothing."

"Just focus on your schoolwork," his father suggests, "and make time for your friends."

Ben doesn't respond, merely staring back down at his empty plate. "We should finish dinner," his mother notices. "We have cheesy potatoes. I know how much you like those." He shakes his head. "Honey. You should have something."

"I know," Ben manages, "and I will." He stands from the table, "Just not now."

After they watch Ben leave the room Adam comments, "He's just stressed, but don't worry. You know how he is. In a couple hours he will go into the kitchen and find a big bowl to mix all of this into." He wraps an arm around her, "It will be fine."

"It's a school night," She retorts. "And they have a curfew. He can't just show back up there at one in the morning."

"Shh," Adam hushes as he moves his hand up and down. "I bet that curfew is never enforced. It will be fine."

"I know," Belle sighs, before she leans her head on him. "I just wish he didn't have to deal with so much stress all the time."

"He's a strong, young man," Adam reminds her, "and he's got your wonderful mind." He kisses her on the head, and then she smiles. "You don't need to worry. I think he'll be just fine."

"Audrey. What's wrong?" her father asks as they ride in the car.

She hesitates, "Do you really think Mal tried to commit suicide?"

"What do you believe?"

She remembers the look in Ben's eyes, "I think it's true."

He slides forward, "Look, darling. I will stand by whatever you want to do, but I'm going to be the first to remind you that your feelings matter too. What she did to you, the pain she caused you, it doesn't lessen with the knowledge that she regrets what she did. Does it?"

Audrey looks down, "No." and she takes a couple unsteady breaths before looking back up. "But I'm supposed to be able to forgive her, aren't I? I mean, that's what a good Christian does, is offer forgiveness." She gulps, "And she tried to apologize."

"But she hasn't atoned for her actions," Audrey's father reminds her. "In order to be truly forgiven, you not only need to acknowledge your wrongdoings. You also need to be able to offer yourself up to the judgement of the Lord."

"Or the legal system," she recognizes.

"If she truly regrets what she did, then she will be granted mercy. And then, her transgression will be forgiven."

Audrey begins to cry, "I— I don't know how to." and her mother wraps an arm around her. "I want to. I really do, but… how can I just accept it was an accident?" She takes a couple deep, slow breaths, as the realization hits her. "She's not the only one."

"What?" her father questions.

Audrey wipes the tears from her face, "Ben's mother. She said it was instinct, that Mal only did it out of some hybrid instinct."

"I know that's what she said," he carefully begins.

"And if that's true." She shakes her head, "If that's somehow true, then Mal isn't the problem here. It's because of what she is. If she really only did what she did because of what she is, then there's got to be more hybrids out there who can't control themselves. There could be more people out there, like me, who've been hurt by those things."

Her grandmother asks, "What are you saying?"

Audrey's quiet only for a mere second, as she nods at how right the idea is, "If any hybrid can be just as dangerous as Mal is, then locking her up isn't going to solve the problem. We deserve to know when we're in danger, not just realize what one of these hybrids are after they attack us. I want them to have to make themselves known, not just hide and pretend to be human like Mal did." She shakes her head, "Make them wear something or something so that we can tell when one is nearby." She glances around at her silent family, before she unsurely looks back at her dad, "What do you think?"

It takes him a moment to comment, "I said I would support whatever you decide. If this is how you get closure from what happened, then I'm here for you."

"We're all here for you," her mother responds.

Audrey partly smiles as she looks over the three of them, "Thank you. So much." before she laughs and hugs her mother. "You're the best family I could have ever had."

- Personally, I think it's okay when a Christian prays for you... I mean, it's not like it's going to hurt you. All it can do is make them feel better about things. However... There are times when it can get to the point where they solely rely on prayer. There were times when my mom would force me to pray with her nearly every day, because of everything that was going on. All I wanted was to be able to go to her and be like, "Please. This is horrible. Can you help me?" and the first thing she did was have me pray with her. Sometimes nothing even came after that. All I wanted was to come up with a solution to stop the problem, and all she had us do was pray. It was so nerve wrecking. I hated wasting time on that when such horrible, stressful things were happening... Really. It just made things worse. I think there may have even been times where I questioned asking for her help or telling her what's wrong at all... I understand religion has a purpose for those who worship, but when it comes to important things... You just can't rely on God for everything. You need to be able to help yourself too. When someone is asking for your help, they're asking for your help. If they wanted God's help (assuming they haven't already tried) then they'd just ask for His. Unless you're a pastor or priest (or some other denomination), then when someone asks you for help you should just help them... I feel like having God help the person instead of you would be like, "Hey. Person I hardly know, can you help my best friend here? They asked me for help, but I think you would do a much better job at it." It's like WTF. You don't even know them. You've never spoken to them face to face before. They could hate my guts for all we know. Why are you asking them to help me, when I specifically asked you (someone I trust) to help me? I mean, seriously.