Chapter 2: The Sons

Marco stood at the door to Janna's house, hastily looking around the dawning day in tired alertness. Only when the streets were confirmed to be empty did he knock on the door. Knock knock knock. "Come on, Janna, come on…" He still had his roughed up priestly garb on, and the hot desert made him tug on his collar.

"Who's there?" Janna's muffled voice came through the thin double-layered screened door.

"It's Marco!"

"Marco?" A series of locks jingled behind the door, then it opened. "Marco! Geez, you look horrible."

"Thou shalt not use the Lord's name in-"

"Yeahyeahyeah whatever. So, you need a hideout? Lemme guess, parish finally caught up to you huh? They're probably branding you a heretic as we speak."

"Says you. Just… Please let me in. I need to rest."

Janna nodded and opened the screen door. Marco walked in and immediately crashed onto the couch, groaning into the cushions.

Janna sat down next to his head, the side of her hand touching his hair. "So, what's Daddy Diaz doing in my house?"

"I- wha- that's Father Diaz to you!"

"Heh, even taking the vows hasn't changed you."

Marco sat up. "Yup, it really hasn't... I still feel like a kid, way out of my league… Janna, I need your help."

"Aw, what? I thought you wanted to hang out with your favorite occultist!"

"Janna, this is serious. It's got to do with my work. I… I performed an exorcism. Completely solo. And I failed."

Janna stopped slouching. "You're… you're messing with me, right? I mean you, doing your first exorcism, solo?"

"I thought it would make me-"

"And you failed!?" Janna threw off her beanie. "What happened to you, what did you see!?"

"I- I saw Starfan. She was tied up, wouldn't respond to anything. Then- Then I began the rite, Respice Ad Me, you know? Then she looked up."

Marco went on to describe his experience. Janna clung onto him with her eyes.

"So I decided to go over to your place, and-"

"Marco. Not only did you release a demon onto the world, you made a pact with God to hunt it down. Dude, you're on a holy mission."

"I… I'll do it then. I'll fulfill my vow to God and hunt her down myself!"

Janna leaned in. "You understand what this means?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry that it happened, but I gotta-"

"'Sorry that it happened?' Man, are you kidding? This is awesome!" Janna grabbed him by his garb. "This means you and I are gonna get rid of this demon together! Oh, I'm already thinking of all the ways we could do it…"

"You and I? Together?" Marco pushed her. "No way."

"Oh, yes way. The Bible's are pretty clear on this." She leaned over and reached under the couch, pulling out an ancient grimoire. "'An inexperienced excorsizer needs at least one elder or two peers gathered in God's name to banish a demon.' Plus, not to insult you, but your track record is a perfect failure."

"I don't remember that verse… give me that!" Marco reached for the book, but Janna leaned back out of his reach. "What's the book and chapter, huh?"

"Nunya 3:4-20!"

"That's not Canon-"

"Nunya business!" Janna laughed as Marco crawled over her, swiping away the book.

"This isn't even a bible!"

"Oh Diaz, it's like you've got the cross taped to your back." She effortlessly plucked her book. "Witches aren't canon too, but here I am. You can't take everything the Vatican says as fact."

"What? Janna, aren't you Catholic too? I see you at mass!"

She shrugged. "I've got some pagan beliefs. Part of being in a Filipino family. One day you're willingly crucifying yourself, the next you're divining a chicken's liver."

"I- I thought-" He sighed. "You know what? We're getting off track. So, we'll need to gather one other person in God's name… how about Alfonzo or Ferguson?"

"They took the vows and both were sent to the east coast."

"Snap. What about Kelly?"

"Too busy petitioning for a new crusade."

"Come on, Tom?"

"He's literally a demon."

"Er… Jackie?"

"She's Mormon."

"Worse than Tom. Maybe we can find a stranger at the church to help us."

"Dude, I think you're missing someone very obvious here."

"Who?"

"Star Butterfly."

Marco turned away. "Nope. No. I'm not listening."

"Dude, she's your best hope. What's going on between you guys anyway? It's been a while since I've seen you two hang out."

"It's just… I don't want to talk to that… that… Protestant." Marco near-vomited.

"Oh lighten up. What, she preaches something slightly different? I can name Popes that were less holy." Marco stayed silent, nose turned up and arms crossed. "...Wait, is that actually why you've been ignoring her? Is that what this drama's over?"

"Hmph. Unlike you, Janna, I take my salvation seriously."

"Dude, you already hang out with me. I literally have a shrine to San la Muerte, pretty sure she's been condemned like a dozen times. Tell me the real reason why you're snubbing her."

Marco bit his lip. "You know what, Janna? You're right." Marco stood up from the couch. "Why let some stupid difference keep us separated? We should go get her. I think she's in Mewni."

Janna raised an eyebrow. "You seemed really against it."

"We should get her now. Who knows what damage that demon's gonna do?"

Janna smirked. "You tryin' to beat me at my own game? While I'm proud you're finally growing, you can't beat me at my own game, Marco."

"No games here." Marco raised his right hand. "Plus, it's a sin to lie."

"Ooh, you're better than I thought. Maybe your entire priest schtick is an alibi."

"Hey, i'm actually serious about-"

"Alright Father Diaz. Lead the way to Star. But remember, I'll have my eyes and ears on you."

"You always have."

"Heh. Touchè, tocuhè."

Marco squirmed in his cushioned theater seat. Janna was next to him, scrolling on her phone and sipping on a cup of coke the size of her forearm. Marco had his concessions in the chair cup-holder, completely untouched. He had his normal clothes on, and his hoodie was up to try and muffle the sound of heretics gathered all around him.

"Starting soon. Ya sure you don't need to go to the bathroom again? I haven't seen you that sick since you had to kill that fly a few weeks back."

"I think I can handle this place now…" Marco took a tiny sip of his supersized drink. "Ugh, tastes like Communion Grape Juice."

"Lighten up, this merch is pretty cool. I got some holy water for my rituals, they're weaker than what you get me but it's easier to control. Also…" Janna pulled out a comic book from her jacket. "Judges, 13th edition. It's metal, man."

"I don't think that's accurate to what Samson did… is that Delilah holding his leg...?"

The lights cut out with a rumble throughout the walls. The whole building went silent, and everyone took a seat immediately. Marco slowly took off his hood, finding the silence refreshing.

"Huh. I thought it was gonna be that noisy the whole time. You know, maybe this mass won't be as bad as I-"

"MEWNIIIIIII!" Star's voice screamed and shook the building's foundations. "Are you ready… to ROCK. FOR. JESUS. MEWNI!?"

The crowd stood and cheered. Marco put his hoodie up again.

"Are you ready… for some WOR. SHIP. TUNES!?"

The crowd cheered again. Janna couldn't help but smirk.

"Then look to the sky, and get ready to praise god!" Finally, the music kicked in. An ungodly amalgamation of rock, country, and gospel. Somehow, it sounded awesome.

Marco looked up, trying to escape the crowd. But hanging from the ceiling, was Reverend Vicar Star Butterfly. She was swinging around, legs holding the rope and hands holding an electric guitar. A mic was taped to her cheek, pointed towards her mouth. He shot up from his seat.

The spotlight followed her as she jumped down to the stage, doing a cartwheel and backflip much to the amusement of the crowd. She immediately broke into song, while the rest of her band rose up from beneath the stage with an excessive amount of special effect smoke. Multi-colored lights danced across the stage as Star did more acrobatics.

Janna started getting into a little groove, smiling. Marco kicked her in the shin. Janna ignored it, instead saying, "Heh, you Papal Party Pooper." as her little jig was unbroken.

Marco groaned and sat down defeated. He caught glimpses of Star, waiting for all of it to be over, dreading his coming conversation with her.

Marco and Janna were out in the megachurch parking lot. Janna was leaning on a light post, while Marco was sitting against it exhausted. It was near 3am, and the mass had finally died down. At this time, Star wouldn't be crowded with fans when she made her way to her tour RV.

"There she is. Hey Star!" Janna waved to a tired Star, who immediately perked up.

"Janna? Jannana Banana?" Star threw off her guitar and rushed towards them. "Janna!" She hugged her tight, leaving no space between them.

"Woah, calm down rock Star." She casually pushed her off.

"And Marco!" She looked down as he stood up. "Marco…"

"Star…" He stuffed his hands in his hoodie pockets. "Your mass is crowded, congrats."

"Thanks!"

"Yeah. So, I just wanna say… no hard feelings?" He scratched the back of his head.

"Come on Marco, I can't hold a grudge against you for that long! No hard feelings."

Marco smiled, relieved. "Thanks. Uhm, apology hug-?"

"Apology hug!" She jumped on him. "It's been so long, Marco! We gotta do something!"

"Heh, yeah, about that…" Marco paused, relishing the hug, before pulling away. "We need your help with something. I don't know how to explain this, but-"

"We're doing an exorcism." Janna said. "We need your help. It's time sensitive, we'll explain on the way."

"Oh. Sure, I can help you guys out!"

Marco raised an eyebrow. "Really? Don't you need time to think about it first?"

"For you guys? I'd move the Mewman Marshmallow Mountains to help you. I just need to talk to my manager first, take a few days off. He's just over there. I'll be back!" She skipped away to her Giant RV.

"That was easy." Janna stood next to Marco.

"Yeah, classic Star. Still, I'm surprised she forgave me."

Janna sighed. "I still don't know what's going on between you guys."

"It's all in the past. You don't need to know, it won't come up again."

"Do you know who you're talking to? You're just tempting me."

"Heh. Touché touché."