At the church

"You look very dirty," Athena said as she picked the rabbit from the bed and threw it into the bathtub. Little Snow struggled to get out.

"Be a good bunny and stop moving," Athena said sternly as she removed her last clothing and got into the bathtub. She scrubbed it gently as it squeaked.

Athena smiled. "Just a little bit more."

Little Snow stopped struggling after a while and resigned to its fate. After she was done washing it, she loosened her grip on it. Little Snow immediately moved away from her. Athena laughed when it shot her an angry look.

She pointed at her chest. "What do you think? Is it big or small?"

Little Snow looked away. Athena pouted.

"Come on. Tell me."

Little Snow glanced at her briefly and looked away. It looked angry. Athena crossed her arms. "What do you want?"

Little Snow ignored her. She immediately pulled it into her arms. "Don't be angry."

Still it did not look at her.

Athena bit her bottom lip. "Will a kiss do?"

This time it turned. Athena laughed in amusement. Its actions were too human. She pressed her lips on top of its head for a brief moment. However it looked dissatisfied. Athena chuckled and kissed its nose. "Better?"

She got out of the bathtub with Little Snow in her arms after washing herself. She found a towel and dried the little rabbit.

She found herself a loose black dress to wear. She looked at the dark circles under her eyes and sighed. She picked up Little Snow and headed towards the door. Today was another new day.

Athena was quieter than usual. Trisha, Trevor and Lady Alisha noticed this but did not say anything. Everytime she looked into their eyes, her eyes would be filled with fear. They were confused. What's wrong with her?

Today, it was cold and tense at the table. Trevor stared hard at Athena, making her feel uncomfortable.

"Umm, where did you find Little Snow?" Trisha asked, trying to initiate a conversation.

"He was hiding in my room," Athena half lied. To be honest, she also did not know. She fed Little Snow an apple.

Everyone's eyes fell on Little Snow who was enjoying Athena's service.

They all doubted her reply.

"Do you know something that you shouldn't know?" Trevor suddenly asked suspiciously. The temperature dropped.

Athena was caught off guard by his sudden question. Her eyes wandered around, not sure of what to say. Trevor narrowed his eyes. "Why are you not answering?"

Athena shook her head quickly and stuttered, "No, not at all."

Little Snow's ears twitched and looked curiously at Athena. It could tell that she was hiding something...

Trevor banged the table hard, frightening her.

"Don't you dare lie to me..."

Athena's turned teary as she uttered. "I am not lying."

"Trevor, can you let her be?" Sophia spoke quietly for the first time since the time she sat down.

"But cousin..." he tried to protest but the little girl shot him a look, making him shut up. He stared hatefully at her. Athena was astonished by their interaction. Trevor actually obeyed this little girl? She looked at the mysterious little girl. Just who was she?

Everyone resumed back to eating. She gathered up some courage and spoke slowly, "Is there a church somewhere? I would love to go there."

She observed their expressions from the corner of her eye. They all appeared to be normal. "Oh, yes. Its just a few miles away from here," Lady Alisha said. "Sophia and Trisha will accompany you to the church after you are done eating."

Athena finished her meal quickly and dashed to her room to change. She wore a white dress with long sleeves. She tied her hair into two pigtails. She looked like an innocent fourteen year old kid. Trevor, who was talking to Lady Alisha paused for a split second and looked at her briefly before he continued to talk to Lady Alisha.

"Are you ready?" asked Trisha as she walked in with Sophia. Athena nodded. Lady Alisha had already arranged a carriage for them.

"Don't be late for your training," Trevor suddenly said. Athena bit her bottom lip hard but still nodded. With Little Snow in her arms, she stepped into the carriage and was followed by Trisha and Sophia. The carriage took off.

Lady Alisha watched it leave. "That lass is up to something."

Trevor did not say anything but deep down he agreed with her.

The carriage soon stopped and they all stepped out.

"This..." Athena trailed off.

"Yup, we have arrived and this is the church."

Athena pressed her lips in a thin line as she stared at the old looking church. The windows were broken and were covered with dirt. Vines covered the whole building.

"You said that this is the church? It looks like an old abandoned building," said Athena.

"I know," Trisha shrugged. "Only an old priest, his grandson and his two helpers stay here. Very few people come here. Most people here don't believe in God."

"Weird," Athena commented.

With Trisha taking the lead, they all walked into the church. To Athena's surprise, the interior was rather well maintained. The floor was sparkly clean and a young boy was moping the floor seriously.

"Umm, hello," Trisha said.

The young boy looked up. He placed his mop aside and bowed as he greeted them. "Welcome. Do you want to see grandfather?"

Trisha looked at Athena and Athena nodded.

"Yes," Trisha spoke up. Athena looked at the two sisters in bewilderment. If they were ghosts, why did they appear to be unaffected. Don't people say that ghosts can't enter churches because of the holy water found in churches?

The young boy nodded. "Can you please wait for a few minutes? I am going to fetch him," he said and immediately left.

"Is he the priest's grandson?" Athena asked. Trisha nodded.

Athena looked around. A few portraits were hung on the walls. The church looked like any other churches. This place gave off a warm feeling that can soothe one's nerves.

While waiting for the young boy and the priest to come, Trisha suddenly said casually, "So Athena where are you from? You never told us much about yourself."

"Well..." Athena cleared her throat. "... actually there is nothing much to know about myself. Snowflake is my hometown. I live with my foster parents and a rather irritating sister."

"That's all?"

Athena nodded. "I spent most of my time at home because of..." She lowered her head before she continued. "... my illness. I am sure that Lady Alisha had once told you about it." Trisha nodded and was about to say something when the priest's grandson came in, followed by the priest.

They all bowed as they greeted the priest. He had a handsome mature face that had fine wrinkles. He exuded a calm aura. His eyes shone with wisdom. He seemed to be in his late fifties. The priest greeted them back. He whispered something in his son's ear and the boy immediately left. The old priest then looked strangely at Little Snow but quickly averted his gaze and looked at Athena and said "Follow me."

Athena turned to look at Trisha. Trisha nodded, "We will wait for you here."

Athena handed Little Snow to Trisha. Little Snow struggled, looking displeased. Athena patted it. "Be a good bunny. I will be back. If you behave, I will reward you with a kiss later."

Little Snow immediately stopped struggling but it still did not look pleased.

Trisha raised an eyebrow, finding Little Snow's behavior a bit strange but did not say anything. She exchanged an understanding look with the quiet Sophia.

However Athena did not see anything wrong with its behavior. She smiled at it and immediately followed the priest.

"I know why you are here," the priest suddenly said.

"You know?" Her eyes glimmered with hope.

"You are looking for answers to what is happening to you."

"How do you know?"

"You have been seeing strange things lately," the priest continued to say, ignoring her question.

He led her into a dark room. Two women seemed to be tidying the room. They stopped what they were doing and bowed deeply as they greeted them. The priest nodded in response and said, "You may leave."

The two women immediately left leaving them alone. Athena looked around. The place was filled with books. The walls were like made of books.

"I am sorry to say this but you have come to the wrong person."

"Huh?" Athena said in confusion.

"I can't give you the answers you are looking for."

Athena felt disappointed and all the hope she had was shattered.

"But I know a person who can help you."

Athena's eyes lit up.

"Only one witch can help you."

"A witch? Don't humans hate witches especially priests? I mean most people hate witches because they practise black magic and are dark creatures, right?"

The old priest turned to look at her. "I never said that I hate witches."

She blinked a few times. The priest sighed heavily. "People have different views, young miss. As for me, I don't think all witches are bad."

Athena tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.

"I believe that there are good witches out there but no one gives them a chance to prove themselves. What those stupid humans always do is to burn anyone they think that he or she is a witch. Innocent or not, they just kill," he explained. "Also not all witches use black magic."

Athena fell in deep thought. "There is always goodness in everything," Rebecca's voice rang in her mind. She had once told her this when she was twelve years old.

"Anyway, as I had said before I cannot help you but I know a person who can," the priest said as he gave her a sapphire bracelet. It looked old but it was beautiful. Athena stared at it.

"This is all that I can do for you. This bracelet can help you ward off evil creatures. You have to wear it all the time."

Athena put the bracelet on her wrist. It felt heavy.

"Don't ever take it off," he warned her.

"Thank you," she said gratefully. At last she could have some peace of mind.

"You have to look for that witch quickly. This bracelet cannot help you forever."

"But how can I find her?"

"She lives in this town. No one has ever seen her face, not even me. I had seen her once but she was wearing a veil."

"Oh, what's her name?"

"Her name... I don't know," the priest said.

Athena scratched her chin in deep thought. Isn't she the same witch that Lana directed her to? Why was she so mysterious?

"I have just remembered something. She goes by the name Red Petal."

"Red Petal?"

The priest nodded. "That's all I know. You can now leave."

Athena thanked him again and headed towards the door.

"Wait," the priest suddenly said.

Athena paused and turned to look at him. He was holding a dusty old book. "Take it."

Athena accepted the book curiously. "This..."

"I want you to read it."

"Thank you. I will return it in a few days."

"No," he refused. "There is no need to do that. It's a gift."

Athena nodded in delight. "Thank you. I will now take my leave."

"Your soul is tainted, young miss. Your heart is filled with darkness... Don't let it control you."

Athena was puzzled by his words but still nodded and left.

Athena was rather quiet through out the journey back to the Robson's home.

"Your soul is tainted, young miss. Your heart is filled with darkness. Don't let it control you," the old priest's words kept on ringing in her mind. His words seemed to have somehow triggered something within her. She felt restless like something was trying to come out.

"Are you okay, kiddo?" Trisha said, worriedly.

Athena looked up and offered her a stiff smile. "I am fine."

"You don't look fine to me," Trisha said. "You look like somebody who has been fed horse shit."

"..." Did she have to be so crude?

"Did that old priest do something to you?" Sophia asked.

Athena shook her head. She just felt strange. Something was trying to come out. One thing that she knew was that it was not something good. Little Snow rubbed itself on her and it successfully gained her attention. It looked expectantly at her with big cute black eyes.

"What is it?" she asked as she caressed it.

"Umm, I assume that he is asking for his reward that you promised earlier," Trisha said.

Little Snow seemed to be agreeing with her. Athena chuckled and kissed its nose. "You have been a naughty bunny lately."

Although Athena was full of smiles now, deep down she was still bothered by the old priest's words.