Faith in her Timing

Chapter 12: Turning point

Monsignor Howard still had no idea what was going on and got frustrated by the fact that Rio and Roman were having a moment of clarity, without him.

"Perhaps one of you would be so kind as to fill me in?" He barked, glaring from one to the other. This was not just the frustration from the moment, it was everything. Before today he and Rio had gone back to arguing, since Timothy was upset about Roman finding out about them. On top of that, there had been no change in Natasha's situation, which put Rio on edge as well. He had asked Rio to pick him up after the sermon today and she agreed, but asked why. She knew that Timothy rather keep her and Roman apart, which she gladly partook in. "To discuss our struggles. And perhaps take his solution with an open mind," was Timothy's answer. He had hinted towards their adventure with Natasha, but stayed very vague, causing Rio to become irritated again. The tension seemed cleared now, in one way, but intensified in others.

Rio noticed this as well and she cringed at hearing Tim's harsh tone. Roman just smirked at her, as if he was provoking her to prove what she knew.

"They didn't call you, did they? The other day? About Natasha?" Rio asked Roman, standing up while supporting herself by taking Timothy's extended hand. "The hospital?" Timothy interjected. "But then how did Roman find out?"

"Of course they couldn't have called you, because Timothy never gave them the number of the church, how would they have known where to reach you?" Rio continued, hoping it would become more clear to Timothy as well. But for now, he only seemed more confused. She almost didn't want to say what was going on, since it felt wrong to name, for some reason. But she continued to question Roman. "So if not by the hospital, how did you know? And how did you know in what hotel to find my parents? Because Pepper drove them there and only mentioned which one it was to Tony and me, when we saw her after that. On top of that my mom kept mentioning a letter that Pepper supposedly wrote. But when I asked her for the letter, she couldn't find it and forgot where she left it."

Roman was still smirking at her, narrowing her eyes as he started to circle her. The candles started to burn brighter and the storm outside got worse. If things took a turn for the worse, they'd be here for a while.

"You wrote that letter. To my parents. Natasha found out and you couldn't keep her under your control. That's why she had to disappear, didn't she?" Rio asked, following Roman with her eyes. She did her best not to seem too intimidated, but it was hard. "But how could you know? None of my friends knew. That means you are either the worlds best detective, or you are someone else. Something else."

"Rio, just tell me, what's going on?" Timothy urged her. Rio averted her gaze from Roman and directed it at Timothy. "Tim, how could he know? There are no records anymore, of Kara Black. I made sure to erase everything once I started my IT-education in New York. Would I be stupid enough to leave a trail somehow?"

"No, probably not." He reluctantly agreed.

"Thanks for that." Rio said, a tad sarcastic. "Well, anyway, since my boyfriend thinks I'm a total egg, I'll cut right to the chase." She paused, still hoping that Roman would speak up himself. But he said nothing.

"Tim, do you remember Mary Eunice? What she did to me back then? With the crucifix?" She asked the Monsignor. He stared into the void for a few moment. Then he turned to Roman. "Y-you...she did the same! Telling Rio not to peak! Why didn't I see it before! Mary Eunice...." The words dribbled out of his mouth but he still had trouble putting it all together.

Roman chuckled. "Mary Eunice. Don't be daft, Timothy." Suddenly his voice changed and it was as if they heard Mary Eunice's voice come out of Roman's mouth. Now he started to circle the two of them, as Timothy rushed to Rio's side to hold her in his arms, in a protective manner. "You seriously still think it's me?" He asked in the female's voice. "It wasn't me to begin with, Timothy! You condemned me during that exorcism, remember? In fact, you took some of it with you. It passed through you first, before it controlled me. Miss Taylor was a witness!"