Alexa stopped by the side of the road and looked up at the modest church that a number of patrons were entering. A whispering voice came to her, urging her to continue on her way. She had no business being in a church.
Alexa had gone by churches a fair bit during her travels - which always drew her closer and closer to Tulsa despite her best intentions. Sometimes she had gone in, and sometimes she had let the voice talk her out of it. Still, there was something peaceful she found about going into the church, and she liked it.
She gave Sextus' hand a squeeze. The boy was tried. Sitting down for awhile might help, and some churches had morning tea available. Yes, this time she would join the service.
So despite the nagging of the inceasant voice, Alexa lead Sextus into the church. There were two young men standing on either side of the door and one greeted her.
"Welcome to God's house," he said with a friendly nod. "Would you like me to show you to a seat?"
"Oh, yes please," Alexa replied, unused to such curtosy.
The young man lead her to one of the pews. Comfortable ones, by the look of them.
"Bibles right there," he indicated.
"Thank you," Alexa replied.
She sat down, Sextus next to her.
"Don't turn into a chicken," she warned him.
" 'Kay," Sextus agreed, looking around at the church curiously.
The Church was as modest inside as it was outside. Plain curtains adorned the windows. There was a small stage with a handful of instruments for the band.
The band soon led the congregation into song, and Alexa was grateful for the projection system. Once she had entered the church, the nagging voice had gone.
Three songs later, the priest stood up and prepared the way for communion and the message. Alexa passed on communion. When she was a child going to church she always took it But now, as Medea's werequeen, she didn't feel worthy. Especially as nothing would change.
And of all the things for the priest to talk about, it was forgiveness. Not just forgiving your brother, or how God forgave us, but also forgiving yourself.
But how could she forgive herself? How? She still had the conseqences to live with. No amount of forgiveness could change that.
The service ended with a final song. Alexa stayed seated, but looked at everyone else to see where they were going.
"Hello," said a young woman, approaching her. "I'm Gwyn."
"Alexa."
"Nice to meet you. First time here?"
"Yes. Passing through."
Gwyn nodded.
"Mind if I sit down?"
"N-no..."
Gwyn sat down on the pew next to her and smiled at Sextus.
"Hi darling," she said to him.
Sextus just waved at her, and then looked to his mother for comfort.
"Are you okay?" Gwyn asked then, turning back to Alexa.
The question took her by surprise. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out, and she burst into tears. Gwyn responded by putting her arm around Alexa's shoulders. She felt a prompting at that moment, and sent a blessing forth from her fingers to Alexa.
As if a catalyst, the whole story flooded out. For a whole year now she had been holding in her secret. How she stupidly been lusting after a boy who didn't feel that way about her. How she made a deal with Medea, and how Medea had hidden the cruxt of the matter from her: the potion that would turn her into a werequeen. She had run away after the babies had been born and she had learnt the truth. Sextus was the only one she could take with her. And she had tried so hard to avoid getting pregnant again, but obviously, hadn't succeded there. She was also trying to avoid not going back to Tulsa, where Medea was, but was failing there too.
"I've never, never been able to tell anyone this before," Alexa said in amazement, tears still staining her face. "Never. I wanted help, but I..."
She shook her head.
Gwyn gave Alexa a hug.
"Well, you're here now, and you've told me," she said. "We'll help you."
Alexa shot a startled look at her.
"You will?"
"Anything we can," Gwyn affirmed. "Would you like some tea or coffee? Some cake maybe?"
"Oh... oh yes. Tea please," Alexa sniffed gratefully.
"I'll get some for Sextus also," Gwyn nodded. "Be right back."
She stood and made her way to the table, mouthing "don't let her leave" to the knight at the front door. She didn't know how Medea's magic worked, but she felt it was possible that Alexa had been programmed not to go for help. The reason she had been prompted to give her that blessing perhaps?
"Gwyn the young lady you were talking to?" Barak said intercepting her at the table.
"Alexa. Medea's turned her into a 'werequeen'? She ran away," quickly, Gywn summed up Alexa's story. "Can we do anything for her?"
Barak considered for a moment.
"The fact that she can walk in here and can receive a blessing from you with no ill side-effects suggests that she is not beyond redemption," he said finally. "Whether Medea's transformation can be reversed, I couldn't say. See if she will return to Cleveland with you."
Gwyn nodded.
"If you can talk her into it, I'll escort you," Barak went on. "I would assume that Medea's keeping a watch on her, and I wouldn't want her to decide to attack if she realises that Alexa is getting help from us."
"Okay," Gwyn replied.
Barak left her then, and Gwyn returned to Alexa and Sextus with the promised drink and cake.
"I have to go home to Cleveland tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?" Gwyn asked. "We should be able to keep you safe from Medea."
Alexa looked up hopefully.
"You... you mean it?"
"Yes," Gwyn said firmly.
"I would be ever so grateful. Oh but... I might not... I always seem to head to Tulsa no matter how much I try."
"I'll keep you on track," Gwyn assured her.
The look Alexa gave her was of a woman wanting to hope but daring not to. Gwyn gave her hand a squeeze.
"Okay," Alexa said. "I'll go."