Now I lay me down to sleep,
From my nightmares he will creep.
If I should die before I wake,
My eternal soul is his to take.
If I should live another day,
I pray that he will go away.
Chapter One
“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” - Charles Baudelaire
Raine Arceneaux didn’t believe in the devil, but if she did, she was certain he looked just like Sister Catherine. The ancient nun sat on her throne behind a massive ornate desk, her usually dour expression made even worse by the frown she currently wore. Raine had no idea which of her many “sinful” actions might have offended the headmistress of St. Mark’s High School, and she wasn’t about to volunteer anything, either. What Sister Catherine didn’t know couldn’t hurt either of them.
Finally, the nun let out a long-suffering sigh. “I simply don’t know what gets into you,” she said. “Your grandmother has provided you with a wonderful home, a high-quality education, and can afford to send you to any university you desire to attend after graduation. But your focus is horrible.”
“You’re right,” Raine said with a sweet smile. “I do have a charmed life. Want to trade places?”
The nun glared, but didn’t reply. Probably because even Sister Catherine knew her grandmother was a flaming bitch.
“You are one of the most intelligent students this school has seen in years,” the nun continued, “yet you don’t apply yourself to your studies. You could have a four-point-oh with little effort. Instead, you choose to waste your time and your body smoking cigarettes in the French Quarter.”
Aha. Finally, the reason for the summons.
“It won’t happen again,” Raine said. Only because I hated it.
“That’s not the only issue. Those young people you were smoking with are a bad influence. If their parents wish to let them roam the streets with no guidance or direction, that is their choice, but it is a choice the children will pay for. You shouldn’t associate with people who will affect your new path. You’re different than them.”
You think? The one thing Raine didn’t need was anyone else pointing out how different she was. She was quite clear that she no longer fit in with her old life and would never fit in with her new one.
“I’m not going to mention this to your grandmother,” Sister Catherine said.
Raine smirked. The nun may be uptight, but she was no fool. Not even the devil would risk a tangle with Martine Therese Arceneaux.
“Instead,” the nun continued, “you’re going to do community service work every day after school with Father Daniel. Two weeks, starting today. I’ll tell your grandmother that it’s your turn in service rotation so that we both avoid any…um…unpleasantness.”
“Whatever,” Raine said. Two weeks of pretending she cared about something was still better than dealing with her grandmother.
A knock sounded on the office door and Father Daniel poked his head inside. “Good afternoon, Sister Catherine,” he said as he stepped into the office and smiled at Raine. “Is my assistant ready?”
“She’s all yours.” The nun looked directly at Raine. “Use this time with Father Daniel to think about the path you’re on. Watch the impact he makes on the community and figure out how you can use your intelligence to make this world a better place. You have the ability. The choice is up to you.”
