Page 42 of Prayer of the Damned

“Lower your voice at once!” he barks at me. “The Council orders you to let it go.” His voice drops, a warning.

“The Council…” I draw the word out. “The Council or Libretto?”

“Librettoisthe Council.”

“And soon you’ll be one of them,” I spit out in disdain.

“Soon,” he replies.

I hang up without another word, and toss the phone against the wall. I’m so mad that the insane events of this night have slipped from my mind. My father’s become the Council’s lapdog, forgetting all his commitments to me as a father. From the moment it all went wrong I thought I had the father I’d been praying for my whole life, and all that’s null and void now.

The realization that I’m on my own sinks like a stone in my stomach, and the pain of loneliness makes me curl up. I’m drowning in the sea of sorrow that’s closing in on me.

I go to the window and open it wide. A storm is raging outside, and I let it invade the room and envelop me. My hair flutters in the wind and I whisper a prayer for the first time in my life, so anyone kind enough to hear. “Give me a sign that I have the strength to face whatever’s coming, or… put me out of my misery.”

Loud thunder rends the heavens, and rain pours down on the entire campus. The sound of the raindrops falling from the sky are so strong, like the storm raging inside me. Lightning splits the sky, lighting up the heavy clouds.

I stare at the rain for long moments, hypnotized by the sound of the many raindrops. Small puddles form across campus, andI wonder if it’s God’s wrath as he plans to wash away the sins of the campus residents.

I wipe my nose and close the window, certain I’m catching a cold, and I feel a little sad when I realize that’s impossible. I dry my cheeks and realize the skies aren’t the only thing weeping tonight. For the first time since becoming a demon, I’ve managed to shed a tear.

Someone out there is listening to me. Someone out there is on my side.

I’m not alone.

Chapter Seventeen

Bellcolor

Iwalk into Introduction to History and take the same seat as yesterday. The spot next to me is empty, and I search for Valentina. I find her sitting by Tyra’s desk. I turn back around, not interested in forcing her to be around me if she doesn’t want to. I have no intention of ratting her out either, that would make her another enemy of mine.

The phone next to me buzzes, and I pick it up. It’s an incoming call, probably from my father, but I can’t answer him. I smashed the phone screen last night when I threw it at the wall in a fit of rage. I’m so stupid.

I need to get back to him so he’ll order me a new phone, but I can’t even call… along with the screen, the touch interface is gone too. Just great. I remind myself to go to the secretary’s office and ask them to call my father. I haven’t had to do that since elementary school. Things just keep getting better and better in this place.

The bell rings, and students hurry to take their place as Dr. Abano walks into the classroom. He puts his leather briefcaseon his desk and examines everyone seated there. When his gaze reaches my desk he raises an eyebrow, then turns to look at Tyra’s desk. He seems surprised at the change in Valentina’s position.Same here, buddy.

He doesn’t linger on the subject longer than necessary, and pulls the Old Testament out of his leather briefcase.

“Good morning, everyone,” he greets us without looking up from the book. “Yesterday I asked you to read the third chapter of Genesis. Have you all read it?” Every head nodded at once. “Excellent. Then let’s dive in. Who can briefly summarize the chapter?” He scans the hands raised in the air.

“Yes, please say your name first,” he gestures to a student sitting near the stage.

“Pearl, Dr. Abano. The chapter describes the banishment of humans from the Garden of Eden. The serpent tempted Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, which was forbidden, and then Eve tempted Adam. God exiled them as a result.”

Dr. Abano is fully focused on Pearl’s answer as she sits up straight, reminding me of the students who’d sit in the front row of every school I’d ever been to. Smart but arrogant. “From whose point of view is the story told?” he asks.

“The narrator’s?” She’s not so sure of herself anymore.

“Who is the narrator?”

She stares at him, wide-eyed, and forces herself to blink.

“Honestly, any kindergarten child could tell me that. Think of the point of view. Look around you, where are you? At Sunday Mass, or an institution meant to train you to become worthy demons?” His tone grows harsh, clearly disappointed in Pearl’s answer as she shrinks in place, openly ashamed.

Dr. Abano nods towards the student sitting behind me, and I turn to see it’s Valentina.

“Valentina, Dr. Abano. It’s the story of Satan’s first subversion of humanity’s descendants. God was too arrogantand thought He was omnipotent. You know, created the world in a week and all that shit, until he found out he wasn’t all-powerful after all. They say the Devil’s in the details, and this story proves it. Even in his perfect Garden of Eden.”

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