Nephilim and the Nun

•Chapter Eighteen•

Adina
The loud banging on the door woke me up from my peaceful slumber. A groan of displeasure slipped out of my lips as I sat up in bed, frowning. Again, the banging continued, making me curse in annoyance. Hurriedly, I hopped out of bed and hightailed for the living room. On opening the door, I was greeted by mother Theresa's presence.

I hissed, my annoyance and rage doubling. Without glancing at her, I attempted to shut the door on her but she quickly shoved her foot in, grabbing onto the door firmly, her pleading eyes landing on mine.

"Please, hear me out, just this once,"

Her words only increased my fury.

"And why will I do that? So you could make an excuse for your failure?"

"N-not that," she stammered. "I have a message for you and I have something for you, from the prisoner that was in the basement."

At her mention of Uriel, my expression softened, my hand falling from the door. I'd never heard anyone talk about him after that incident that it almost made me believe he was never real, except the sketch of him that I had with me on the day he disappeared.

"I promise, Adina. I won't take your time, please let me in,"

For the first time in a year, I listened to her pleas. Releasing a sigh, I pushed the door open and stepped out of the doorway for her to get in.

Her eyes roamed my small living room that barely had any furniture in it.

"Have a seat," I pointed at the only sofa in the room and she moved towards it while I stood by the door, leaning against it.

Yes, I'd rather stand than share a close space with the woman. It was already too much that we were breathing the same air.

"Adina..."

"Get to the point," I snapped not ready to hear anything other than the reason I allowed her into my home.

As though she's been dragged back to reality with my words, she gave a clipped nod before dipping her hand in the pocket of her habit and pulling out a folded piece of paper she handed to me. I stared at her outstretched arm in question but she slowly nodded to me to take it.

Although I was wary of the contents of the paper, my curiosity got the best of me. My eyes were on hers as I slowly opened it to see it was a handwritten note. Ignoring her for a minute, I read the words on it.

By the time I was done with the note, only one sentence rang in my head;

I need to tell you about your parents.

The note was from father Aaron and he was claiming he had some information regarding my biological parents.

"M-my parents?" I croaked out, swallowing the lump that has suddenly formed in my throat.

Mother Theresa nodded in response.

"H-he's known them all along but kept it from me?"

Silence descended upon us and she averted her gaze, glancing out the window. Her silence was all I needed to know.

"Y-you were aware of it,"

Her eyes darted to mine, glistening with unshed tears.
"It's a story I can't tell you all by myself, Adina. If you'd come to the parish as he's requested, we'll answer all of your questions,"

Fresh anger brewed in me on hearing her softly spoken words.

"You're still so selfish after all you've done, aren't you?" I shook my head in disbelief. "At this point, the least you could do is give me the information I need to locate my birth parents but no, you're insisting on dragging me to that fucked up place,"

She gasped when I cursed at her but I didn't care.

"If he wanted to see me as badly as he's trying to make me believe, why isn't he here with you, huh?"

Fresh tears slid down her cheeks but I rolled my eyes. She was quiet the actress.

"He... he's a bit sick,"

"Of course, he'd be sick," I laughed bitterly.

Ignoring me, she dipped her hand into her pocket again and brought out a beaded necklace, stretching out her palm to me.

"For the prisoner,"

My eyes dropped to the necklace, scanning it. My heart leapt but I was too cautious to touch it.

"H-how did you get it?" My voice was barely above a whisper but my eyes returned to hers.

"It had been on him the first time he was brought to the church. But the general ordered to strip him of all his wears and Aaron had done so, taking this necklace from him,"

I cocked my brow at her.
"So why are you giving it to me now?"

A small smile crossed her lips as if she knew a little secret.

"I knew you were a bit infatuated with him, Adina,"

"What..."

"I saw you sneaking into the basement to share your food with him, and you didn't do it once or twice,"

My cheeks heated up in mortification and I dropped my gaze from hers.

She'd known all along. But...

My eyes returned to her in question.

"I was only trying to make you get back to your senses but you were always a stubborn child and again, I saw how happy he made you. I couldn't take that from you, but I only realized how much he'd meant to you when I entered your room after you w-were taken to see paintings of him everywhere,"

Again, she looked away from me and I grabbed the necklace from her palm, squeezing it tightly in mine. A shaky breath left me.

"I'll... I'll come to the parish,"

Her face lit up.

"Don't get any ideas. It's just to hear about my parents. I don't think I can let go of how y'all failed me and made me live through a nightmare,"

Her smile dropped, shoulders sagging. She nodded in acceptance before rising to her feet.

"Thank you for letting me in,"

I nodded curtly as she walked towards the door and exited my apartment. As soon as she was gone, I slumped into the sofa, cradling the necklace to my chest, while reading the note from the priest over and over again.

Was I finally about to trace my family roots after twenty-three years of being alive?

I couldn't help thinking how surreal is sounded.

Or was it just another ploy to get me back to that parish?

I guess we'll have to find out.