Chapter 4: 3. Restitution and Retribution
Cade woke in the morning before the rooster could crow. The night was dark and the shadows filled the room still. Crickets could still be heard outside in the star filled night.
Cade grit his teeth as he forced himself to sit up. His back screamed at him from the beating it had been put through. His eyes held slightly dark circles under them as he reached for his robes to dress. He needed to be up before the Abbott to make sure the abbey was clean.
He tried his best to move so his back wouldn't hurt so much. But his efforts were futile as his back was already protesting from him simply standing. He slowly found his way to the hallway closet whee the mop and bucket were stored along with other cleaning supplies.
His wrapped his fingers around the cracked wooden handle of the mop and flipped it so the mop head was at the top and he could use it like a walking stick for support. His other hand grasped the bucket for him to draw water from the well in the courtyard.
Cade did his best to move about quietly as he didn't need to wake up Emily and he certainly didn't want to wake the Abbott. That would only be asking for a scolding. Or even worse. Purification.
He made his way out the doors and into the courtyard. The well was maintained and the rope was just replaced recently as the old one had just snapped last week.
Cade quickly tied the bucket to the rope and dropped the bucket down till he heard the customary splash of water being struck. He slowly pulled up the bucket. Now heavy with water it was a task for any 14 year old to try.
After his tired and sore body hauled the bucket out of the well he had to haul it inside again to start cleaning. The mop wouldn't be able to help him as it would be slick with water and would only lead to disaster.
He slowly began to swish the mop across the stone floors of the abbey. The water making the dusty and cold stones even darker amid the shadowy morning. And with every swish of the mop another swath of stone turned ever darker like a polished mirror.
By the time Cade finished cleaning the floors the sun was peaking over the horizon. It's rays of light danced through the windows sending colorful lights drifting from the stained glass. Cade finished checking the floor before moving on to the dusting which he put on an apron and a face cloth before grabbing a poor holey rag which honestly seemed to scream to destroy it.
Its mottled surface was dark and the material didn't even absorb water anymore. But the Abbott insisted it be used for the dusting. Which only made cleaning harder.
But it was something Cade was more than accustomed to nowadays. He quickly flicked the cloth. The air forcing the dust out of the alcoves and cracks along the wood and stones. His movements were practiced as he seemed to hardly move his back and instead bent at the knees. Which showed all the more how often he had cleaned after receiving his "Purifications."
It was when the sun fully bloomed in the sky that Emily walked into the chapel where Cade now settled for his scheduled morning prayers to the Gods of Plague. Even if she didn't always pray she'd kneel and lean on his shoulder before possibly drifting off into a sitting slumber. After all. Who's really good at getting up in the morning when it's really not needed?
The Abbott hadn't attended morning prayers in the past couple years. His aging body wouldn't allow him to kneel on the cold stones without requiring help to get back up again. And so it was a precious time for the two children as it was the few times in a day when they felt the most at peace.
Much to their surprise though when a loud knock echoed through the chapel from the large double doors. Cade was startled out of his prayers as Emily sleepily rubbed her eyes in an attempt to fully wake up.
Cade patted her head as he stood up to open the door. It's large oak frame dwarfed the poor boy as he reached for it's iron handle. The chilled metal showing how cold it was outside despite it being a summer morning.
He struggled to pulled the door open before peeking out to see a man dressed in dark overcoat and tophat. " Good morning sir. Is there something our Abbey can do for you this morning?" He asked with the door still not fully open.
Then mans head tilted downward till his face could be clearly seen. His face was rough and had a scar running along his jawline. His hair was dark green and his eyes were the color of jade. "I don't remember the Abbey ever having kids in the halls. But I guess being gone for a few years allows things to change. My name is John and I'm looking for the Abbott."
Cade looked John up and down a couple times before opening the door wider. "He is currently resting. And it will take some time to meet him. You can wait in the pews until he's able to meet if you wish." Cade said as he gestured to the pews behind him.
The man nodded. "I am willing to wait. Simply fetch the Abbott for me. And if he doesn't comply, just tell him John Colderoy is here to see him."
Cade raised an eyebrow as the man passed him to sit in the frontmost pew close to the altar. "Who is this man for the Abbott to remember his name? He normally just calls people brother, sister, son, or daughter because he's too lazy to remember their names." Cade thought to himself as he pushed the door shut with a creaking this before rushing off to the Abbott's quarters.
When he got close enough to the door Cade quickly checked the state of his hair and robes to make sure he was presentable before knocking loudly on the door.
"Sir Abbott! A John Colderoy is here to see you!" Cade called through the door.
A loud groan echoed through the door as one could hear the Abbott struggle to move. A minute or two passed before the door slowly creaked open to reveal a dishevelled Abbott with an angry glare in his eyes.
"Cade. You know not to wake me before mass at noon. What is the meaning of this?" The Abbott growled.
Cade gulped down saliva nervously. "A man came to the Abbey. He says he knows you and if you aren't willing to see him to mention the name John Colderoy." Cade said slowly trying to avoid the Abbots angry gaze.
After a moment of silence and not feeling any strikes or pain Cade glanced back at the Abbott and was shocked.
The Abbott had turned pale as a sheet. His eyes were wide and he shook nervously.
"You said... John... Colderoy?" The Abbott asked.
Cade quickly nodded. "Yessir. He is currently seated in the frontmost pew of the cathedral and has agreed to wait for you."
The Abbott swallowed hard before slowly closing the door. "Tell him I am incredibly unwell and unable to meet him." He said with his voice trembling. Cade gave a bewildered look at the door and was about to leave before a heavy hand landed on his shoulder making his face go pale from pain in his back and he almost collapsed.
"Thank you for telling him. And by the way. I am going to need to give your back a look over after I'm done with this cockroach." The man from earlier grumbled as he suddenly booted the Abbots door shattering it into flying splinters revealing the Abbott having fallen over trembling on the floor.
"My, my, little Abbott. You haven't forgotten your favorite whipping boy John have you?" The man said as he reached down and hauled the Abbott to his eye level by the front of his night gown. An evil grin plastered on his face.
The Abbott struggled in the mans arms with the front of his gown suddenly tainted a yellow color from fear. "P-please! I-I was only trying to help you be better!" The Abbott stuttered in terror.
John simply stood there. His face showed no signs of stress or even exertion from lifting the Abbott off the floor. "Better huh? Was whipping me not enough to satisfy your sadistic need for superiority? Or was it your pedophilic need to torture children that keeps you hurting ones like him?" He said nodding his head toward Cade.
"You're a bastard who doesn't know when to quit or die. But thankfully I remembered your love of titles and positions. And I worked hard till I got a really nice one. The kind that lets me put down bastards like you given the proper reason." He let go with one hand while fishing into his coat with it to grasp something.
He slowly pulled out a gold medallion the size of a fist. The symbol on the front Cade didn't know or understand. But he knew one part of it. A doctor's mask was at its center. And around it showed a briar with many thorns. And sitting below the mask was a snake.
John pulled the Abbott close as he held the medallion high as though for the world to see. "I made it into the poison path of the Plague Doctors. And not just that. I'm the pupil of Maxim Boultus. The head of the Path. And after he heard what you did to me... Well... Let's just say no one will remember if you are alive or dead after this." He growled as he suddenly held the Abbott higher off the ground with a serpentine hiss coming from his lips. And that's when Cade saw them.
The Snakes.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone