(Private) On the Guiding Hand

[Aileen McFarlane]

After checking the schedule of the various rooms in the Chapterhouse, Aïleen had settled on that night to go and meet Brother Raluca privately. She had come to Sacramento with a purpose in mind, but had she gotten lost in the way ? Without her mortal parents, or Ashek, to converse with, the basis of her life were unavailable to support her through her uncertainties. But there may be other doors opening at the same time... Hopefully, Brother Raluca would help her see which path was the one she was to take.

The Mekhet walked into the Chapterhouse with a Bible and laptop in her backpack. She often went with her instinct on matters of Faith, more than the letter of the Book, but perhaps that was why she was now lost. Anyway, she needed someone to talk to, and he really stood out as the man to see now.

[Aileen McFarlane]

When she entered the Chapterhouse, Aïleen first worried there may have been some misunderstanding, since it seemed empty. In the silence of the huge mansion, she could hear the soft sounds coming from above, and walked toward them. it seemed there was activity above. Her soft footsteps barely made a sound on the stair, and she reached the Meditation Chamber in silence. It was then that she spotted Brother Raluca, and his work.

"Good evening, Brother. I hope I'm not interrupting anything ?" she asked, as she took it all in. The Impaled... it made no sense to her, but she had come to accept that there were many facets to the Kindred Society.

[Aileen McFarlane]

So this was Ms Bingen's ritual... it shed some new light on the woman, and one Aïleen found sinister. But who was she to judge ? "Is that so ?" was all she said, her tone more academic curiosity than revulsion. More, not instead.

Circling carefully around the tools and parts littered on the ground, she walked to the low seat that Brother Raluca had shown, and sat. She looked at the man's appearance, his grandfatherly outlook that you wanted to trust. She looked at him, and wondered where to start. Well, first things first, then.

"Well, thank you for receiving me when I can see you're busy. And thank you for your reply to my letter, it already gave me strength... Much needed strength." she admitted openly.

[Aileen McFarlane]

With Raluca sat, Aïleen could see him in the eyes, and she tried to peer into it for any sign of... of what ? Comfort ? Solace ? Forgiveness ? Direction ? It was hard to tell her needs apart, so she went on a limb, and tried to trust him, opening the latch of the door on her mind.

"Well... you see..." great start if she had ever heard one.

"I've been born and raised in a catholic family. While I've never really considered God as a constant support by my side - a crutch, so to say, I've always thought that... He had plans for us, and that so long as we did as He wanted, we would be fine." she didn't sob, but only because she took her time, and tried to speak as calmly as possible, from a distance, as if describing someone's else life instead.

"I still do, as a matter of fact. And I want to do what He wants, but that's what I fear I've lost..." there, she had to pause. There were still many things to explain, and she needed to brace herself. And to see whether Brother Raluca already had anything to contribute. She didn't really know what to expect from the man.

[Aileen McFarlane]

Since Teodor was all ears, and that she had started speaking in earnest, Aïleen went on with her story, smiling back now and then at the man's patience and kindness.

"I should explain some more. From a young age, I've had dreams, visions, hunches... call it as you want. It's been a burden more often than not, and I have long thought it was a hurdle put in my path by God, something to overcome and shape myself around to suit His purpose. It seemed to only make sense, and I diligently worked in that way.

But lately I've come to wonder... what if God had other plans, and I had been mislead by those Dreams, giving them a meaning they don't have. What if they had been sent all along to drive me away from my purpose ? How could I know if they've been sent by Him, or... not.

Do you see the quandary I'm in, Brother ? I've lost the path I should be treading from sight..." she said, her tone pleading.