Second Chance Church
The door to the small office tucked away in the church opened quietly and one half of a conversation spilled out into the hallowed halls. The Reverend and a young local woman stepped out. The unfocused eyes and blatant serenity on her face could almost be mistaken for ecstasy, but the congregation had long lost any notion of any suspicion of the Reverend. He was a devout man who could make the people feel His presence within them. Throckett spoke in a practiced hushed tone: it gave the feeling of a private, intimate conversation, even as he gently guided the woman through the nave. "I will ask one of the alter boys about our discussion. I believe Matthew is also on a similar path. Speak with Josephine in the morning, I'm sure she'll be able to arrange something." The woman thanked him profusely, her words echoing in the quiet room, before the reverend quieted her with a hand on her shoulder. "Psalm seventy eight, fifty two".
Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Many of the congregation joined him in his short prayer. Even the woman he was speaking too seemed to mouth the words even as he spoke it. The voices all blended together into a sort of hushed mumbled choir, as soon as the Psalm was over however, the rest of the parishioners went back to their private prayers. "Only by the grace of God have I been blessed by such a faithful flock. There is no need to thank me, only Him. If you are ever in need, He and his people are here to guide you to salvation. Go and be merry." With that he opened the vestibule door and bid the woman a good night. Miranda is such a pleasant soul. He thought to himself, scanning his gathering. His eyes fell on two rather new attendants. A rather striking woman and what seemed to be her attaché. Judging by their looks, it was unlikely that they were here for worship, and Throckett briefly pondered if they were wealthy donors looking for a tax shelter.
He made his way towards them, sticking his gloved hands into his cassock pockets to fumble the handwarmers he kept hidden there. He hoped against the latter, as he always felt uncomfortable taking money from strangers; especially when they weren't devout. Once he reached the woman he extended a perfectly warm and welcoming hand to complement his warm honeyed tone. "Welcome to the Second Chance Church. I am Reverend Richard Throckett. I apologize if you were here for the sermon tonight, due to bereavement evening mass has been cancelled this week. Perhaps if you were to come in the morn-" The Reverend noticed the familiar predatory glint in her eyes. It caused his perpetual smile to falter in surprise for just a moment before his pearly whites returned in full force. "I see. Please, come into my office. We can have privacy there." he said, gesturing towards the room he had just exited from mere minutes ago. The open door showed a rather mundane looking office.
What were they doing here? He wracked his mind, but was certain that this woman was not there that horrible day. He also doubted that she was the new Prince. After what happened last time, he was certain that the new one would bring far more protection, if there even would be a new Prince. It was very possible that the group that murdered her; the "Anarchs", had already taken over (as ironic as that would be) and had sent this woman to make sure that he would be brought to heel. He prayed for the safety of his herd and had faith that whatever reason why she was here, it would not lead to violence, at least tonight.