POV: Jennifer Knight

The next day we went to The One Hundred Ninety Fifth Church of Saint Mercy. We were running just a few minutes late because Jesse wanted to go over everyone's outfit.

She wore what she called her Sunday standard, which was a suit dress similar to the school’s uniform that Melissa wore.

Melissa always wore her school uniform. She had over half a dozen sets, and that was all she had. I made a mental note to take her shopping one day soon.

I didn't have much more myself, but I had bought a few outfits from my old life. Like the cream colored dress I wore now. It was dainty and covered me from my shoulders to my knees. My mom always said it brought out my eyes.

Jessica wore her all black everything with blue jeans. Well, she also wore her jewelry. The ones that acted as some kind of anchor for her.

People were looking at us. It wasn't the first time this has happened, but it seemed different this time. It got more intense as we got closer to the church, and when the building itself was in view I knew why. The people watching us had marked us as fellow demi-humans.

When I finally saw the building itself it glowed with power. Its supernatural light burned my eyes and I quickly looked away. My vision was flaring around its unique spectrum and I could see the lines and waves of power that warped and wrapped around many of the other church goers.

One of them approached. Its body was cold and heatless. It was surrounded by a miasma of violence held together by a force made of willpower and something else. A something that I've come to recognize as whatever it was that made up the soul. The thing spoke to me.

“Jennifer, are you okay?” It said, and I started to focus my vision. I knew this thing well. He was my friend. I focused back to the real world. Back to real vision. To the mundane where Argento stood before me in his well crafted suit.

“Argento?” I said confused, “What are you doing here?”

Argento was a vampire, a predator of humans and even other demi-humans, but because of some greater dealing he and his family had immunity to sunlight and other vampire weaknesses by following Catholic traditions. One of which was attending mass.

“Officially, I am here as simple goodwill from House DelSegugio. I also brought Donovan with me.” He pointed behind him where Donovan stood wearing his own usual attire. A thick leather raincoat. “But in reality I'm here to back you up. Semy asked me to be covert though.”

“And you better stay covert.” Melissa said, stepping up, “Because I already told everyone that Jennifer can do this alone.”

“So you're just here for morale support?” Donovan asked dryly.

“Yes.” Melissa bit back with the word.

They both nodded wisely.

“If you need us, just whisper our names.” Argento said and then looked over his shoulder, “Jerry is here.”

I followed his gaze to find Jerry walking towards us. He was dressed in the finest suit. Sleek and elegant, it was a dark black with white under layer and a bright blue tie shined in complement to his naturally charming smile. He waved in greeting and I mindlessly waved back. Trying to keep nerves straight I took a deep breath to keep my heart and vision steady.

“Ms Knight,” he greeted, “What a lovely Sunday morning to see you. What brought you to service today.”

“Jesse talked us into coming.” I lied.

“I did?” Jesse asked, and my heart started to panic. I hadn't bothered to actually make a straight story with the other girls. I felt like a complete idiot thinking my cover was blown in a moment, but luckily Jessica saved me.

She elbowed Jesse, “Yeah. She whiddled us down, but we didn't feel like going across town. So we compromised.”

“I see.” Jerry nodded, “Sounds similar to my own day. In a way.”

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He looked over his shoulder to where another one of our classmates approached. His thin narrow frame also dressed in a suit that more hung onto his bones. Accented by a bright red tie that clashed with his bright, piercing blue eyes that shined from their sunken sockets.

“I didn't mark you as a church goer.” Said Abraham Prince, the overly skinny spellcaster of Jerry's team. I tried to think of a response, but then I noticed he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Jessica.

“I didn't mark you as a dirty Catholic.” Jessica said with a strange tone I couldn't figure out. I could tell it was aggressive though.

“Surprised you remembered.”

“How could I forget? After that passionate speech of yours.”

I had no idea what they were talking about. They were bantering around something that had gone down between them, but what I didn't know.

“Good to know my words weren't wasted on you.” Abraham sniped back.

“Of course not.” Jesse cut in, “I've really reflected on your words.”

“And I reflected on the beating I gave you.” Jessica said and Abraham scowled.

“Yes. Reflection is good.” Jerry said, trying to keep the peace, “That's what these services are about. Speaking of, let’s go find a seat.”

“I’ll be sitting in the back.” Abraham said flatly.

“I’ll join you.” Jessica smirked which made Abraham scowl harder.

“I’ll also be joining you. I guess.” Jesse sounded like she wanted to cry.

They walked off and towards the front door. Jerry’s smile was crooked on his face. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, “My blind spots never fail to jeopardize my day.”

“What?” I blurted out.

“I see Abraham every Sunday as I walk to church.” Jerry explained, “We have a brief conversation and move on, but today I mention that I saw you and your friends being here. Well apparently he and Ms Black still had some bad blood over their last encounter a few weeks ago.”

“Their last encounter? Did they have a fight? Over what?” I asked confused.

“It was the field day a few weeks ago. We were playing capture the flag, and Abraham and I tried to best Ms Black. We had good odds of winning, but again, blind spots.”

I remembered that day. I just sat around and did nothing as the others defended our fort. I did manage to warn them of an attack, but it didn’t matter in the end.

“Jennifer, this is my mother.” Jerry said and I snapped out back into focus to where he was gesturing to a beautiful brunette woman.

“Bonjour.” She greeted. She spoke with an accent that picture shows often used as a shorthand uneducated for characters, “Jennifer Knight is it? My son told me about you. I love hair.”

I felt myself blush which I hoped was hidden by my skin tone.

“You know,” She continued, “I have a cousin who is very dark skin. She often wears a blond wig though. Her natural hair is coarse and curly. I bet she would be down right green with envy if she met you.”

“Thank you so much.” I said politely, “You have a black cousin?”

“Oh ouais!” She nodded, “The Jarvis family is actually very diverse. New Orleans has people from all walks of life and more.”

From behind her another woman came up and hugged from behind, “Oh my! You have to bring me one day, Ms J!”

Jerry's mom seemed visually annoyed at this woman. She was incredibly beautiful and wore simple clothes that were well formed to her. She had very noticeable breasts. She nuzzled her into Ms J's hair.

Ms J gritted her teeth, “Lucy, as much as I tolerate your company, I have to ask you to get off of me!”

Lucy, I assumed, jumped back and raised her hands in surrender. After she turned her gaze to me and took a step to me, “Well aren't you an interesting one.”

“Yes she is,” Jerry stepped up to my side, “Jennifer, this is Lucille Prince. Abraham's older sister. Lucy, Jennifer Knight.”

Jerry introduced us and they started to say something, but by then my head was hurting too much. Lucy was projecting an aura that my eyes wanted to take a closer look, but I couldn't. I knew the spectrum they were reaching would leave blind to everything else. I could only focus my vision on the here and now.

“Speaking of!” Ms J stepped up and grabbed my shoulder, “We should be finding a seat. Jeremiah, Jennifer, come along.”

She pulled us away from a conversation I made mostly missed. My only context clue being the smug smirk on Lucy's face as we walked away.

“Don't worry about Lucy.” Jerry said to me with his casual smile, “Abraham is plenty capable of keeping her underwrap.”

“Oh, of course,” I said lamely. I was dropping the ball on this. I had to refocus. The team was counting on me.

We entered the church. The air vibrated. Again my eyes tried to see the everything of the room, but I controlled them well enough.

I saw Jessica and Abraham with Jesse in between them in the back row. I saw Melissa was sitting with Argento and Donovan. It was the first time I realized she wasn't standing right to me.

I saw other students from other classes and grades. I saw a few Irkens. I never knew them to be Christian, but here they were. I saw a group of people who were rather obviously wizards. They were mostly eyeing Argento. Over to the far side I saw my classmate Frank Paris with a man who must have been his father.

We got to the front and slid into a row. Ms J was on Jerry's other side and the spot next to me was cleared. Now was the time to try to make the contact. I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Just as I turned to speak the sermon began.