POV: Jennifer Knight

I was trapped in my horror for the moment it took Jerry to cross the distance to Jesse. I had only seen Jesse give a prophecy once, and it still haunted me to think about. Her body started to shake and her eyes rolled back. Before long her body buckled and she fell. Back then no one was able to catch her, and so she fell hard to the ground. But this time Jerry was there to take her into his arms as she collapsed.

Jerry set her down and I regained enough sense to start making my way to her. Melissa and Jessica were ahead of me.

“What's wrong? Is she okay?” Jessica asked and Jerry lifted his hand for silence as she started to speak.

I couldn't understand a word she said as my headache flared out across my whole skull. It was sudden and unbearable. There was so much movement I lost control of my powers and my body. I wanted to scream and cry and then just die as the feeling of fire and ice ripped my skull apart. I had truly lost all my senses.

“You poor thing.” A voice cut through the chaos and became a beacon of sanity. I looked to see the impossible brightness that I recognized as Father Michael. He placed a warm feeling on my forehead and suddenly everything was clear.

Father Michael was standing in front of me as if he was just a mundane man. I looked around and saw that everyone else was perfectly plain. I could still see the little details that marked people as demi-humans, but I saw them with mundane detail.

Along with the wave of normalcy came a rush of euphoric relief from the lack of skull splitting pain. I looked up to Father Michael who just smiled back.

“Don't worry,” his voice lined with kindness, “it's only temporary, but I'm glad to help.”

“Hey! Did anyone get that?” I heard Jerry yell, “It wasn't in French or English. Did anyone recognize the language?”

“I did.” Father Michael raised a hand and walked from me and to Jerry and Jesse.

I saw Melissa was standing away enough that I could close in and whisper, “What happened? I was a bit distracted.”

“What!?” She quietly shouted back.

“My powers were flaring out, but I'm okay now. What happened?”

Melissa huffed, “I'm not sure. They were gathering for something, and next thing I know Jesse is in Jerry’s arms. What's up with that, by the way?”

“Jerry foresaw it and he rushed to help.” I explained. As Jerry helped Jessica carry Jesse to a backroom I grabbed Melissa's shoulder and shook her and told her, “Guess what? I did it! I made the contact and got Jerry to agree to an alliance.”

“Good for you. Does that mean we can leave now?” Melissa asked.

“What? No!” I snapped back, “It would be rude to just leave. Also, we can't just leave Jesse and Jessica.”

Melissa tsked, “Fine. I guess you're right.”

Father Michael called for everyone to return their seats, “The situation is being handled. Communion will commence as normal.”

Just like that the nervous air lifted and everyone seem relieved. Mumblings of sympathy came from a few of the other people who were clearly demi-human, or possibly fully other beings.

I saw as Jerry's mother walked up to us, “Jennifer, was it, Jerry told me to tell yall he and Abraham are going to stay with Jessica for the rest of the day. So ya needn't worry.”

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“Thank you.” I said before Melissa could bark something loud and mean out, “Could we stay with you for the day? We don't know anyone else here.”

She smiled with an impossible warmth, “Of course.”

We spent the rest of the morning with Jerry’s mother. It was fantastic. The entire room was filled with songs from a dozen beautiful voices. One of them being Ms Jarvis herself who sang like an angel. Even Melissa was acting like she was having a good time.

And all the while my vision stayed sharp, crisp, and focused. Not a pitch of shock or pulse of pressure went through my head. I was able to enjoy every moment without any problems.

After communion was done and the singing was over we decided to check on Jesse. Ms Jarvis led us to the back where they had a living area. She told us Father Michael lived in the church himself.

We entered a small kitchenette area with a couch that they laid Jesse on. She was still out cold. Jessica was sitting next to her with Abraham standing over them. Jerry was leaning against the kitchen counter. If I had my powers open I believe I would have seen those waves of strings going into his eyes.

“Out of my way!” Melissa shouted as she walked to Jesse with no one in her way. She stood next to Abraham and asked, “Is she okay?”

“She's fine,” Jessica answered, “but she won't wake up.”

“Why not?” Melissa asked as if someone knew. No one did, and the room filled with the silence of it. Melissa could only tsk and kick a nearby chair.

“My theory is that this time was just too much.” Abraham said, “I think the words she spoke were of such a great nature they overloaded her mind and she needs time to recover.”

“That's one possibility.” Jessica said with a bitter edge before taking a deep breath, “I think I could find the answer in The Black Book.”

Jessica said The Black Book with the weight one gives to a deathly plague spreading through a countryside. Nobody commented further until Abraham spoke up.

“If you want, I can try to-”

“No!” Jessica snapped back as she clutched The Black Book to her chest. Her eyes were filled with vile hatred at Abraham.

Abraham lifted his hands in surrender, “I'm saying, if you're not willing to do what needs doing.”

“You think it’s that simple?” Jessica stood up and stared the bony boy down. He was long, but far too lean. Jessica would have overpowered him in every category. But Abraham did not back down.

“You may have the upper hand in a fair fight, Ms Black,” Abraham said calmly through gritted teeth, “But if we add ruthlessness into the mix you will not win.”

The air thickened between them. Jessica clutched The Black Book. Abraham twitched his fingers. The rest became worried. Melissa stepped up in front of me as if to protect me. All the while I felt strangely calm. I heard the door open as Father Michael came into the kitchenette area.

“Who's hungry?” He asked, stepping in, “I'm making egg salad a la mode.”

“That sounds amazing!” Said Jesse as she bolted upright, startling everyone. She took a moment to look around at everyone, “What? What's wrong?”

We explained what had happened to Jesse as Father Michael cooked his egg salad a la mode, which turned out to be egg salad sandwiches. She wasn't scared, but she didn't know what happened. She was waiting for communion and then she was waking up hungry for egg salad.

“Well, you're alright now. That's what matters.” Jerry said with a smile. He took a bite of his sandwich casually.

“Yes, but we should take time to look into the prophecy she gave.” Abraham said with a scowl. He took nibbles of his sandwich.

“No need for that.” Father Michael said setting another tray of egg salad a la mode for the table, “it was just a standard end of everything prophecy. Nothing I can't handle.”

“What!” Melissa jumped in shock and with a full mouth spat egg salad everywhere. “How can you be so casual about this?”

“Oh Ms Odinson, this happens all the time.” Father Michael brushed her off and headed towards the door, “Now, I do have other business, so please see yourself out when you can.”

He stepped out the door and just like that he was gone. Moments later Ms Jarvis stepped into the room to gather Jerry and Abraham leaving me with just my roommates.

“Well,” Jessica shrugged as she grabbed a sandwich, “I see you made contact with Jerry.”

“I did!” I said with glee, “I made a deal to trade information. It was awesome! You should have seen me.”

“We did. Remember?” Melissa stuffed another sandwich in her mouth. “You did great. And all before Jesse had the chance to ruin it.”

“Hey! That wasn't my fault.” Jesse whimpered.

“I know! But try to warn us next time. That whole act was terrifying.”

Jesse nodded, “I know, but I can't help it.”

She went on to explain herself and Melissa went on to pester her. All the while Jessica listened, rolling her eyes in annoyance and I reflected on the day.

The next morning I awoke both disappointed and relieved to find my powers had returned to normal.