Father Simon, who had his hand on Father Santos, saw this. “Kiki, help him. He doesn’t understand fires that water can’t put out.”
“It could be electrical,” Kiki said. “Cid told me there is electricity in the human brain.”
“What do we have that can help you?”
“Baking soda. Bring me baking soda,” Kiki said.
Sister Sarah returned from the kitchen. Sister Olive took Kiki’s hands and formed a cup with them. The elder nun filled her hands with common ordinary baking soda. They watched as it was absorbed into the calloused hands of the woman.
Kiki appeared before Father Santos. “The fire is electrical. Water will make it worse.”
“You must do it,” Father Santos instructed. “Your salvation is literally in your hands.”
Kiki cupped her hands. White powder rose from her skin until her hands were full. She presented this to the priest. “This is baking soda. Bless it as you would water.”
Father Santos did so. Kiki then walked over to each ember and smothered them with the baking soda. She returned to the priest. “What do we do now?”
“Let the memory dissolve. It’s not your memory to keep. The evil that the elemental has left has been smothered.”
Father Simon watched as six thick drops of black tar oozed from Kiki’s eyes, nostrils and ears. They flowed down her face.
Sister Sarah caught the drops in white cotton cloth. She took the cloth to Sister Olive who held an open wooden box, made of the same wood of the chair, and closed it.
Father Santos stepped back. “Kiki, open your eyes.”
Kiki did so, squinting at the strong light that seemed to radiate off the priest. “You’re glowing.”
“Your eyes are just used to the darkness,” Father Santos said. “How do you feel?”
“Energized and happy.”
“Good.”
“Am I still a vessel for this entity?”
“Yes. Until it is destroyed, you will be a vessel it can return to. There no longer is any residue it can activate when you are near. I can give you protections to help you to know when it is around so you can protect yourself,” Father Santos said, turning around and washing his hands in the bowl Sister Sarah now held.
Kiki frowned. “Why did it pick me?”
“You were in charge,” Father Simon said simply. “You had control over the project.”
“I thought it picked me because I was flawed.”
Father Santos turned and made eye contact with her. “How are you flawed?”
“I’m not a good person. I’ve a bad temper. I’m paranoid, greedy and jealous.”
“Sounds like you’re human,” Father Santos said.
“You’re not what I thought you were,” Kiki said. “None of you are. Thank you for being kind and not judgmental.”
Father Santos smiled. “You needed help. This is why we’re here. If you want to work on your flaws, then do so. If you want to seek out a better understanding of God, then one of us would be happy to assist you.”
Sister Olive led Kiki back to the smaller room where she wiped down Kiki’s body with holy water before she allowed Kiki to get dressed.
Alan stared so hard at the stained-glass windows of the chapel that he thought he saw movement. Did an angel turn its head and stare at him? No, that was impossible. He heard a door open, and Kiki walked out. She spotted Alan and ran up the aisle to him. He scooped her up and held her tightly to his chest.
Father Simon walked up the aisle and past them. He unlocked the door and stood there patiently.
Alan put Kiki down and they walked swiftly to the door.
“I owe you,” Alan said.
“No you owe Him,” Father Simon said, opening the door. “May God bless you on your journey.”
Alan and Kiki walked out, and Father Simon locked the door. He returned to the vestry where Father Santos was giving Sister Sarah instructions.
“We need to burn the cloths, gown, chair, and the box. The demon residue will return to where it was born.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Sister Olive, we need to cleanse this room as if we had an exorcism.”
“Yes, Father,” Sister Olive said.
“Father Simon, prepare yourself. We will be called upon to go undercover soon.”
Father Simon looked at the elder priest’s hands and said, “You’re not going to fool anyone that you’re a stonemason with those soft hands.”
Father Santos grinned. “I better wear gloves.”
Alan took Kiki to his house. He had her sit in the kitchen as he put together a meal. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked her.
Kiki told him what she could remember. “I don’t remember the vision, but I remember baking soda being discussed.”
“I guess that’s a good sign. I thought I saw a stained-glass angel look at me.”
“It better not have been a female angel,” Kiki said.
Alan raised an eyebrow.
“I think I need to work on my jealousy,” Kiki admitted. “I will have to add that to my long list.”
“Don’t change too much. Remember, I fell in love with you the way you are and not who I thought you could be.”
“I think you too should seek out professional help. Maybe we could get a deal?”
Alan started laughing. He put down his knife and walked over to Kiki and kissed her.
“Thank you, Alan, for loving me,” Kiki said.
“You’re welcome. How about you peel the potatoes?”
“You’d trust me with a knife?” Kiki feigned horror.
“Not my good knife. I have on good authority that you’re a thief,” Alan said.
“Faye has a lot to answer for,” Kiki said. “I wonder what she’s
