A Ministry Tale: Redemption and Beginnings

Chapter 1

Several months later she was in the music room, with the door propped open, setting at the piano playing He Is. Being here these months with Cardi and the ghouls had helped her heal. She could enter his room, look at his things, smell the cologne on his clothes and not break down. She would always wonder what if she'd told him not to play cards that day. Ab would always miss him, but the pain was receding.

She was on the second run through of the song when familiar footsteps entered the room. Glancing up, she saw Cardi walking towards her in his favorite comfort clothes of t-shirt, sweatpants and hoodie.

"Come sing for me," she patted the bench beside her. He did and the rich tones and range of his voice soothed her soul.

When they had finished, he noticed a picture on the piano's music stand. It was of Ab with Omega on her left with his left arm around her, and his hand resting between her breasts. Terzo was on the right facing her, kissing her cheek with both his arms around her shoulders. Both men were in full Ritual attire, and she looked happy.

"I've never seen this before," he said picking up the photo to get a better look at it. "Where was it taken?"

"I don't remember for sure, but it was before they went on stage. Mist took it." She closed the lid for the keys as she had a habit of placing her elbow on them while talking. You know, there are four people that mean more to me than anything. One's dead. One's in the Pit. One's hidden."

Cardi looked up from the photo. "And the fourth?"

"You're sitting beside me."

"Awwwe." He replaced the photo and turned on the bench to face her. "I need to ask you something."

"Okay." Ab also turned.

"When I was still Cardinal, I heard something. About you." He gestured with his hands for a few seconds, trying to figure out how best to say it without pissing her off.

"That I fucked Omega?" She saw him nod. "Yes, I did, quite a few times actually." She knew him well enough to know that he was full of questions. She wasn't ashamed of her time with Omega, so she shared with him how it began.

He listened in silence, until she spoke of the man who grabbed her. Ab saw Terzo's rage in Cardi as he stated that Omega should have burned him to ash. His eyes then softened when she told how Omega had healed her arm, and Cardi held her hands. When she'd finished, they set in silence for a few moments, then he spoke.

"It's different here now. Would you allow Zozo to visit? I mean, I understand if you say no...." He hoped she would, and looked on as she pondered the request, knowing she was contemplating every outcome. Finally, she answered.

"I have two conditions. One, first time it's just an overnight, see how things go. Two, Saltarian or anyone else shows up, Terzo's to be placed in the Ghoul's Den."

"Yes."

Soon after leaving the music room, Ab was at the entrance to the Ghoul's Den. A thick, wooden door that sounded loudly when slapped with her palm twice. Swiss opened the door and smiled brightly at her before encasing her in a hug.