Re: [log: antique store - daniel/claire/louis]
A lack of strength behind those words pulled at the young girl's heartstrings. No matter the blood she had spilled over the years, Claire was a being of compassion and forgiveness. If they had met a few years ago, God's justice would have been meted out with no restraint. There was no time to think of that as the temperature plummeted and Claire tensed for attack, an instinctual reaction to the sudden unnatural change. When that attack didn't come, her shoulders relaxed and she let out a shaky breath she had no idea she had been holding.
"There is no need to apologize, Louis," she replied, sincerely, and gave him a small smile amidst wiping the icy sweat from her lip and brow with gloved hands. The smile was armor as Claire was drained and cranky, her body exhausted from weight of ritual magic and whatever effect it was that creature had on her. She needed to leave. She needed to hit something. She needed to go out into the woods and scream at the moon. She needed to tell God this was all too big. She didn't want it. How was she supposed to save the world when she couldn't be certain she could even save this one innocent person?
Doubt was an enemy of faith, but it had invaded into her brain like a tick under the skin. Left to its own device, doubt would swell and feast until it was gorged enough to be unable to ignore. Whatever thoughts that may have ran amok showed no evidence upon Claire's features. She was disciplined enough in these situations to not allow tells announced in blink of eyes or twitch of lips.
Those thoughts were selfish, especially when someone was suffering far more than she. "Are you alright? Do you need to rest? Some water?" The words were kind, and her eyes were lamb gentle, yet just beneath the surface bubbled distrust. The creature was still there, somewhere, and now it had time to listen and prepare.