Heaven Is My Home

Morning Bells and Funeral Sermons

"Someone...please.." there was only darkness around me.

"I'm innocent! I didn't kill them!" I screamed in the courtroom, all eyes on me. Disgusted.

"There will be another trial held within forty-eight hours. Until then, lock her up." the sound of the gavel smacking against a wooden plate echoed in the room, everyone rising.

"Someone please save me. I'm innocent!" I felt as though my prayers were unheard. But that night in the cell of the prison, when everyone had gone to sleep, my prayers were answered.

"I know you're innocent Amelia." a warm voice, but unnerving when the 's' sound in 'innocent' was dragged out.

"Who are you?" I stammered the question, cowering up in the corner of my rat infested cell. I couldn't see anything.

"I am someone sent to answer your prayers.." I felt something touch my leg, then slither around and up it. My body tensed as my eyes adjusted to see the large snake wrapping itself around my body.

"What are you?" the snake made it's way to my neck.

"I'm a demon, but alas I wish to rise up to heaven you see." It wrapped itself around my neck, but didn't squeeze hard enough to choke me. I let out a gasp for air and gripped onto whatever I could, which happened to only be the snake. It chuckled.

"So why don't we make a little deal hm? I will grant you any wish your heart desires and in turn, this deed gets me to heaven."

——-

Bells.

Though I loved the ringing sound that echoed throughout the city, it was a startling wake. Cadmus had invited himself in, opening up my curtains to let in the morning sun. With a sigh, I lifted myself up, rubbing my eyes with the knuckles of my hands. I could feel his gaze questioning the terror that invaded my mind in my sleep. "Memories." was the only thing I spoke to him, and he showed his understanding by sighing the clearing his throat.

"The priest requests your interior designing expertise for a funeral that is to be held today at four o'clock." his speech impediment had been semi-fixed, par my request. The habit still captures him from time to time, but for the most part, remains to be a contained quirk. "And his illness, requires you to find a replacement priest." I thought, whilst sliding my body so that my feet dangled a few centimeters off of the wooden floor. Bringing myself up, a stretched out my arms, straining to pull my muscles awake. "Contact Father Lucas. I feel that his funerary sermons strike the hearts of those in mourning effectively."

His silence told me two things. The first that he agreed with my decision. The second, that there was more, and I wasn't going to like it. But really, it could only be one thing.

I rushed up off of the bed made of feathers, and grasped my friend's hands in my relatively small ones. I brought them to my heart, hoping the prayers didn't have to be said. "Oh Cadmus, don't tell me I have to go." with his sigh, I felt my knees buckle, and Cadmus slid his arm around my waist, pulling me to him in order to prevent me from falling.

Dramatic? Yes of course, but all for good reasons. "Father Paul finds that attending will help you gain further control over your empathy disorder." I couldn't stand it. Being in a room with overwhelmingly depressed and emotional people mourning over someone passed was sure to set me off. But if it is the request of the church..

I pushed myself away from Cadmus, forcing my legs to stand on their own. "If the church so insists." Cadmus nodded, releasing me from his grip.

I felt his slight pity, his aura radiating it into the room. I sat back down on the bed where Cadmus had placed my outfit for that day. The base of the dress was black, and white lace covered the skirt and lined the torso. Red ribbon accented the base and a single red bow was to be laid at the side of my hip.