Chapter Thirty One :

Liar, Liar, Church On Fire /

"But Mirai had told me about you - and she said that you turned and let all the Corrupt out." I said.

"Mirai didn't know what really happened, because she didn't know 'your friend.'" Orpheus argued. 

"She was clueless despite all her visions?"

"Some evil can't be seen, even with the mind."

My head was too tired to try and make sense of this all, and I sat down in one of the wrecked pews. I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself. "Do you smell... Smoke?" I asked fearfully.

Orpheus didn't have to reply, because a thin cloud of smoke was pouring in from the crumbling walls and ceiling, and I could see the glare of flames through the stained glass windows. 

His eyes widened in terror. "Come on, we need to get out of here." I urged. "It's too late." He whispered, moving to cower beside me.

I could see its shadow nearing the door outside, and my heart raced in panic and confusion. All I could hear was the crackling of fire and Orpheus's shallow breathing. 

Old candles around the altar and pulpit suddenly lit up, casting an eerie flickering glow on everything. I was able to make out the strange patterns on the wallpaper and carpet, so I focused on that instead of panicking. The church doors remained untouched.

"Lavender." Its voice sweet like cotton candy. 

I whirled around to find it standing before me. Its eyes narrowed at Orpheus, and it reached out to grab him but I stood in the way. "You're not going to hurt him, are you?" 

"I wouldn't dream of it. What are you doing out here with him, anyways?"

"He... Told me some things." 

"Don't worry sweetheart, he doesn't know what he's talking about." My mind succumbed to its sugary voice, sticky like honey.

Orpheus looked at me with shimmering azure eyes, fearful. 

"Let's get you home, you need sleep." Dolion murmured. I didn't know what else I would do; my eyelids were weighted with anchors and the ship of my mind had already sailed. 

"Okay," I mumbled. Orpheus discreetly shook his head at me. 

Outside the church, the smoke blowing in the wind was overwhelming. The burning building crackled and hissed, raining ashes and spitting glowing embers onto the dry grass. After walking for a few minutes, I looked back. The entire church was ablaze, grey smoke pouring from it. Parts of the ceiling and walls were caving in, leaving it in ruins. 

I glanced up at Dolion, who wore no expression (as usual). "What happened at the house, before I left?"

"The Corrupt... And, why did you leave?"

I racked my brain, searching for some excuse. All I could say was the truth, even if it didn't make much sense. "Glowing butterflies. Little, glowing butterflies."

That small half smile on its gorgeous face. I almost entirely trusted it, I did.