I looked forward at the daunting and large cross hanging on the stage behind the large podium and I shook my head. Never in a million years did I think I'd ever be here, but I felt compelled to. Besides, if I wanted to rule in Eden, it wouldn't hurt to have support here. What better way to earn that support than to show my tolerance to the religion they hold so near and dear?

I rolled my eyes, not even succeeding at convincing myself that I gave a shit about this. I only came for the other half of the deal Queen offered. She already seemed so withdrawn from the church and Heaven, that I wondered how easy it'd be to get her to join me and my father's movement. That trip to the underworld at some point would give me the answers I was curious to know.

My eyes drifted across the blue walkway to where Queen was sitting, and I studied her. For some reason, she didn't seem as annoyingly cheerful as she always was. In fact, I hadn't seen her smile once today. The smile she directed towards me when I caught her staring was gone, and in its place was her attention continuously returning to her phone.

She didn't even pay a visit to the library last night, a new action I had taken note of. I had gotten so used to having her just there, that I took harsh notice when she wasn't. Not that it mattered to me either way, but I wasn't a fan of change.

If she was going to have me get used to something and stop it, I wished she'd never done it all. I couldn't blame her for that since she was probably only going to the library to work, but it was my truth.

I leaned forward in my seat to Xavier who was seated right in front of me. "What does Queen look like right now?"

"What?" He turned around.

My eyes widened, warning him to keep his voice down and he scrunched up his brows. "Is she mad? Sad? Annoyed? I don't think it's happy since she's not smiling. Care to indulge me?"

"Why do you care?" He asked, his brow raised and tempting me to say something that I didn't mean.

"I don't care, but I am curious. She seems different today."

"Then ask her what's wrong."

"Women always say 'nothing'," I said in a low tone, thankful for the chatter in the room drowning out our conversation.

"You never know," he said.

"I'm not asking you to gauge her every thought, Xavier. Just take a look and tell me what you see." He sighed, looking over his shoulder to observe her. He eyed her for a few moments too long and I shoved his shoulder, making him laugh and look back at me.

"She seems fine, Syn. You're looking too much into it. She's probably just tired."

I glanced at her, knowing that wasn't it and I shook my head. "You're useless."

He sniggered under his breath. "Just ask."

"No." I sat back. "I don't really care. I was just bored and wondering."

"Right."

The pastor, robbed in white with a cross dangled onto his neck entered the crowded room, his white wings extended. He shook hands with guests in the aisle leading to the stage, promising random people prayers that he most likely would forget about as soon as the donation tray was passed around. "God bless you," he repeated with a nod to everyone he passed. "The Lord loves you."

Oh please. I tugged at my tie, feeling a sudden constricting in my throat. I felt his hand land down on my shoulder and I froze. "My son," he started. "Thank you for joining us and opening your heart to God. We welcome you."

My eyes looked at Xavier who was trying his hardest not to laugh at the expression on my face, and I looked up at the priest. "Get your hand off of me." The random lady beside me who had left an immeasurable space between the two of us gasped loudly and I rolled my eyes, grabbing his wrist and removing his hand.

Quiet murmurs about my disrespect floated across the room and the priest raised his hands, silencing them. "There is no need for the chatter, everyone. Do not judge those who take their path to God differently from you. This man has his reservations, but with love and guidance, we will remove him from the claws of Satan, and into the palms of God."

A synchronized "Amen," echoed across the room and I cleared my throat. "My father actually doesn't have claws," I corrected. "He's very well manicured strangely enough."

I heard a soft laugh escape Queen's mouth, and my mother clapped her hands loudly. "That's very true!"

"Genesis," Julius growled.

"The devil takes many forms," he said. "You may be his son, but I doubt that you know everything about him."

"I know a lot more than you, and I'm positive my father is not a shapeshifter."

"You see, everyone? The mental reach of Lucifer is so deep that pure logic is of no use to this young man." Fuck you. He walked towards the front of the room. "We must all use God's love to guard our minds and bodies or else we will fall victim to temptation! We will lose sight of the path of righteousness! While we sleep, the devil is not resting! He is working, scheming, and planning methods to further deviate you from God's plans for your lives."

"Oh, shut up!" I said to him. "Despite contrary beliefs...as you sleep...my father is watching reality television. Don't blame your weaknesses on him."

"I second that," Xavier said, lifting his hand. "He watches an obscene amount of 'The Housewives of Juva'."

"I was the one who introduced himself to that show," my mother credited herself with a grin on her face. "So you may all thank me for your peaceful nights."

"Mr. SinClaire," he said. "Please be respectful."

"You're the one insulting my father. I'm just telling you the facts that I, his son, am aware of. But go on as you wish, and I will do the same."

He sighed, continuing with his sermon. As promised, I corrected him in areas where my father was brought up along with my mother and Xavier. We heckled back and forth with him, Xyla and her parents along with Julius and Felix, embarrassed by our behavior. It got to the point where the priest stopped mentioning Lucifer at all, and we were all finally able to sit in perfect harmony.

"We are going to move on to the book of Pslams, but first, I'd like the royal family to step forward," he announced. "Kneel and join arms in prayer before the eyes of God, and the church. Devote your mind, spirit, and body to the Holy Spirit!"

The crowd clapped and hooted, and I rolled my eyes. Julius, Felix, and Xyla walked together to the front, and my mother remained seated, fanning herself with a Bible. My head swung in Queen's direction where she set her things down and stood up, setting the shawl down and heading to the front, her parents following close behind her.

They all kneeled as the priest instructed and he continued on to a long and drawn-out prayer wishing them the best of luck. I could hear the slight disses he sent my way, but I ignored it, keeping my eyes on Queen. As everyone's heads were bowed in prayer, she was sitting upright, looking more bored than ever.

I caught her eye as she looked around, and I tilted my head in the direction of the hall in the corner of the room, looking for a way to lead her out. She looked at it, a slight smile appearing on her face before she shook her head. 'Come on,' I mouthed.

She glanced around the room, everyone's eyes still closed except my mother and Xavier's and she bit the inside of her cheek. I could tell she wanted to leave, but her body wouldn't let her if she kept thinking about it.

I stood up from my seat, making sure to remain light on my feet as I made my way to her. Her eyes widened with each step I took towards her, her head moving around to see if anyone was looking. I held my hand out to help her up, and she looked at it.

The priest preached about temptation today, but I wondered if she could resist it when it was right in front of her. Would she abandon her family's prayers to run away with the devil's son? My question was answered as her small hand slid into mine.

Thankful for the few feet of distance she kept from her family, I helped her onto her feet and guided her back down the aisle. Xavier smiled at me with a soft laugh shaking his shoulders as he looked at me. My eyes landed on my mother, and I held a finger to my lips, sending her a wink. She locked her lips, throwing away the key before nudging Xavier and I continued walking, disappearing into the dark hall.

I turned a corner, leading us far enough that no one would be able to hear us, and I let go of her. "Thank you," she whispered.

I nodded, taking a look around the dark halls, not seeing or hearing anyone in the distance. "Are you alright?" I turned to her.

"I'm fine," she said. "Churches just give me anxiety."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "Just past stuff. It's not important." I wanted to argue that, but I couldn't figure out why I even gave a fuck. It was like my actions in the past five minutes were ones controlled by my body instead of my mind. My mind would never betray me like this and leave me stranded with a woman I had no business being around.

I heard her laugh, and my attention turned back to her. "Do you make it a habit to argue with priests?"

"Not usually, but as entertaining as it is, I may have to do it more often." She smiled up at me, shaking her head, and the next few words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. "Is there something bothering you?"

"What?"

"Today. You're acting weird so I'm asking if something is bothering you."

"Oh, umm." She sighed. "It's a long story."

"I have time," I said. "Not at this exact moment, but you know where I am at night."

She looked at me for a long moment, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall. "I think you're the one that's acting weird. You usually couldn't care less what I have going on."

"It's not that I care, but it's quite annoying to look at...sad faces-yours in particular. You look weird."

"Ahh." She nodded. "So I'm an ugly sad person. Got it."

"Are you fishing for a compliment?"

"No." She shrugged. "But if I was..."

"Jeez."

"Would I catch a big fish or a small one?"

"You'd go home empty handed if you're looking for one with me," I responded.

"Noted." She smiled.

We stood in a comfortable silence until I realized what just happened and turned back to her. "Wow. You're good at deflecting, Queen."

"Not good enough if you caught it." I heard footsteps in a distance nearby, and as I focused, I could hear them calling Queen's name. I grabbed her arm, opened a door nearby, and pushed us both inside the dark room.

"Wha-" I held a hand over Queen's mouth, waiting for the footsteps to come by, and once they were near us, Queen froze, finally hearing them.

"Where is she?" A voice said.

"I have no idea," someone answered. "Let's check the courtyard."

I waited for their footsteps to recede before slowly moving my hand away from Queen's mouth. My other hand that was behind her neck slowly drifted across her soft skin, making her breath hitch. "We should go back in a second."

"Yeah," she said, her body still pressed up against mine in the cramped room. With no space between us, the feel of her body against mine in addition to the addicting scent that she radiated made a tantalizing mixture that was driving me insane.

She stepped away from me, her hand reaching for the door, and no longer being able to resist her, I spun her around and crashed my lips onto hers. Her body tensed against mine, not moving away yet not quite stopping me; testing the waters in a way.

Her lips moved against mine for a second so fleeting that I could've imagined it, and she stepped away from me, shock riddling her features. Her hand flew to her lips as she looked up at me wide-eyed and shook her head. "I- umm...I need to go."

She whipped around, opened the door, and sped out, leaving me to wonder what the hell I just did...and why I wanted to do it again.