章 3: Chapter 3
"The air around here seems thick and harsh." Alexander used his sense of smell to investigate the atmosphere around him. It was night time and the air was cool... except to the Head of the Phoenix house. He stood in front of the Church wearing a long black over coat with a black jumper body hugger which had purple outline and a crest of the phoenix on his chest.
He surveyed the area, there wasn't really many people on the street and no cars at all. Come to think of it, there weren't really that much buildings close to the church. There was a homeless woman sitting across the church to the left of Alexander. He walked to her and put some cash in her jar. She looked like she was in her mid fifties, it showed from the wrinkles on her bony face covered in dirt. She wore a worn out sweater and covered her legs with a dirty grey blanket.
"Its a chilly evening isn't it?", Alexander said as he knelt to drop the money in her Jar.
She was silent and stared at him for a while. Alexander was a bit confused. "Maybe she's mute", he thought.
"Darkness moves in these parts, in all shapes and sizes." she stated, this made Alexander pay more attention.
"Most of the darkness surrounds the cross", she said again before dropping into a ball cuddling her money jar and looking straight.
Alexander walked away toward the church trying to decipher what she had said. He looked up toward the top of the church, a large monument before him tainted with an air of evil. He made his way into the chuch as he pushed the giant doors open to reveal the inner infrastructure. The long mahogany chairs dressed in red silk lined with gold around the edges ran from the entrance to the front of the church. The floor was also covered by a red carpet which ran from the door all the way to the altar which was adorned with a bedding of roses, some rows of candles and a giant cross above it. Alex began walking slowly toward the altar, something was sinister about the entirety of the place. Only three people were present and they all looked like they were lifeless with their eyes open but no movement.
"The kingdom of Heaven rejoiceth over the turning of a new soul to the light that is the savior", said a chill female voice behind Alexander. He swiftly turned to see a lady dressed in a white habit and a cross on her chest.
"Oh no I just came to make a confession", Alexander replied... an obvious lie.
"The Reverend is not in at the moment",
Alexander didn't feel quite right about the way she acted and replied.
"It is rather unusual for a man of Grace to leave the holy house at this hour", Alexander said as he looked toward the altar again. The air got thicker and the sinister feeling got stronger as he took another look at the other individuals in the room, especially the woman sitting on the chair beside him.
"If you want I can listen to your confession and ask for forgivness on your behalf", the sister said with a blank stare. Alexander was more interested in the woman beside him. A fly landed on her face and she did nothing about it, this prompted him to try to swat it off her face but his hand was stopped by the sister.
"Please do not the disturb the guests", she said.
They stared each other down, Alexander could feel the intent behind her eyes. He knew that the person in front of him was not human.
"Okay, okay, I'll be heading out now to return tomorrow", he said as he retracted his hand.
"Yes, I suggest you do", the sister said while looking at his chest. Alexander looked down and noticed she was staring at his crest and covered it up before making his way outside. Something was definitely wrong, the inside was cold, the people inside seemed dead...and the sister had the grip which was stronger than that of a average man.
As Alexander was going over what he just experienced, the bell of the church began to ring which made the environment distort again switching between the human realm and the ethereal plane. Alexander took another look up at the bell tower and then to the side of the church. He went to a dark area where he was sure no one could see him and then waved his hand which began to glow. Giant glowing wings appeared at his back and he flew up to the top of the church where the bell was ringing. As he landed, he could feel the air get even thicker so much so that he felt the back of his throat burn. He did more hand signs and placed his palms on the ground and instantly he felt the residual ethereal energy that had just been there. It was strong and had a trail which Alexander decided he was going to follow.
**********************************************
"Are these your boys, Mr. Woo", the Reverend asked the shopkeeper.
"Well not biologically as you can see, but I take care of them since their parents pass away", Mr. Woo replied.
Will was very unsure why he didn't feel comfortable with the Reverend being around, especially after their first encounter. He was a man of African Decent but spoke with an American tone. He was bald with a chiseled face and had a black mustache on his lips which matched his dark pupils.
"Its nice to see you boys", he said as he stretched his hand out to Will who just stood there.
"Likewise", John said as he shook the Reverends hand.
"Mr. Woo here has been telling me all about you and how you work hard in both your jobs and helping him in this store", he took a brief pause to drink the cup of water in front of him.
"Especially you, Will".
Will walked behind John toward Mr. Woo, "Mr. Woo, I need to get somethings from the back of the shop", he said as he rushed away.
"Uhm, Will, we need to discuss something first", Mr. Woo said. Will turned around to look at everyone.
"What's that", John asked out of curiousity.
"Well, the Reverend was just talking to me about his orphanage and he wanted Will to be a part of it", Mr. Woo said with a bright face. Will didn't quite agree with the idea, in fact he didn't agree with the reverend even being there.
"Don't worry, the church's orphanage is always open to taking care of everyone, showing you the love you need", said the reverend with a grin.
"No, thank you, I'm ok here", Will said as he looked at Mr. Woo and then his brother.
"Uhm, Will, can I see you for a minute", John said as he pulled Will to the back of the shop. "I really think you should follow him".
"What?!", Will said in protest.
"Shhh, look, its an opportunity for you", John said trying to see if the reverend or Mr. Woo heard them.
"You're better off with the reverend, he'll take care of you better than I would on my payment from Dave", he continued.
"How could you be so chill about this?", Will said in disbelief.
"Bro, you know you're young and you do need all the help you can get growing up, I just feel it's better to get it at the church than with some older brother working at a pub", John said.
"No, I don't want to go, at least not to leave you behind", Will protested further.
"Geez, you say it like I'm going to die soon", John continued with a little smirk. He then looked at Will who was looking with such pleadful eyes. The boy didn't want to go, he didn't want to be separated from his elder brother especially not now in the condition he was in.
"Mmm, okay, lets try to think about it first before we give our final verdict, how does that sound", said John as he put his hand on Will's head who gave a half smile.
They both walked out to meet Mr. Woo talking with the reverend. "We have decided that Will wants to think it through and give his final verdict after a few days", John said as he smiled to Will who smiled back.
"Mmm, I feel that is a good idea", said Mr. Woo to which John nodded,
"I feel you shouldn't need to think", said the Reverend with a serious tone. They all looked at him.
"But it is his decision to...", Mr. Woo began but was stopped by a sharp pain in his chest and a warm cover around his heart. He looked down and saw a fist in his body, the reverend had stabbed him with his hand.
"I guess reason won't do much at this point", said the reverend with a sinister smile as the shopkeeper spat out blood which covered the face of the reverend who proceeded to lick it.
"Mr. Woo!", both the boys screamed. They couldn't believe what was before them, it was like a dream but the fear they felt in their heart was so real. John ran toward the reverend who used telekenisis to push them both back. He then proceeded to remove his hand from the Mr. Woos chest, holding his still beating heart and popping it like a balloon filled with blood.
"You boys think I came here looking to bargain?", the reverend continued with a laugh as he walked closer to where Will layed, the lights flickering as he came closer. "You're coming with me child", he said as his eyes turned full black.
"Get away from him!", John said as he ran toward the reverend with a fire extinguisher which he swung but was stopped mid air above the reverends head. The reverend turned to look at him before punching him backward into stacks of groceries and refridgerators.
"No!", Will yelled as he ran toward his brother but was intercepted by the reverend who moved with superhuman speed and grabbed him by the neck lifting him up. All Will could do was kick and scratch the reverend.
"Pitiful human, thinking I was here to bring you into an orphanage?", he said with a loud laugh. "I thought you would comply and follow me to your demise, I'd have enjoyed devouring your essence myself", said the reverend with another laugh. "Now, I'm going to enjoy sucking the life out of you and your brother", he said again with another smirk. At this point, WIll punched him in the face but the reverend didn't even flinch but proceeded to open his mouth to suck the essence out of Will which looked like a white flow of energy from Will's eyes and mouth into the mouth of the reverend.
John couldn't do anything, he was hearing a piercing whistle in his ear and then a sharp pain was felt in his leg, he looked from where he lay and tried to get up but he couldn't because one of the fridges had landed on his leg. All he could do was watch, he stretched his hand toward the reverend lifting his brother by the kneck and all he could mutter was "stop".
In that intance there was a rush of wind in the shop, a flash of light burst past the reverend and beside John knelt a figure wearing a coat, putting a passed out Will on the floor gently. The figure stood up, he had long hair and had an aura of power around him.
The reverend looked at the figure, then the floor, then at his hand... it had been cut off. This made him yell in pain.
"Aw, did someone miss a hand?", said the man.
"You'll pay for this human filth!", said the reverend as he clutched his bleeding wound which was gushing dark blood. He was about to launch himself toward the man but looke down...his leg was also cut off.
"Yeah, thats what they all say", the man said as he tossed the severed hand and leg in the air. "And you should be scared... Because the head of the greatest mage house is here, Alexander Vaillant''.
"No matter, I'll be done with you and the boy soon enough", the reverend said as he began to regrow his hand and leg at a rate that shocked Alexander.
Alexander smirked then made a gesture at the reverend to come at him. The reverend ran toward a Alexander with outworldly speed and tried to grab him but Alexander dodged. He tried to grab Alexander again who again dodged the attacks effortlessly.
"You'd think for a ghoul who was all talk you'd at least have touched me by now" said Alexander with a laugh.
The reverend tried so hard to touch him but Alexander was just too fast. The reverend then got frustrated and began to bulk up. His body got bigger, his skin color became purple and his jaw got longer to reveal a new row of teeth.
"This power!", the reverend who had gone into his ghoul form esclaimed and looked at where Will lay. "That boy..", he continued but was interrupted by Alexander who was whistling at him.
"It seems you powered up, not like its gonna save you", Alexander said as he took a fighting stance. His fists manifested tattoos which glowed purple. The ghoul launched himself at Alexander who dodged the hit and punched the ghoul in the face. In that instance he began moving faster than the human eye could capture. He swapped postitions almost as if he was teleporting and with each movement he punched the ghoul who couldn't exactly keep up.
"Your flashy moves won't defe...", the ghoul was about to speak but was struck in the jaw by Alexanders leg.
"You talk way tooo much", Alexander said as he kicked the ghoul into the counter. He then began walking toward the counter while reaching for a small device in his pocket which looked like an old pocket watch that glowed as he opened it.
"Time to end this", he said. The counter burst open and the ghoul roared.
" I won't be defeated by a low class human like you!", said the ghoul as he morphed again. This time his body got darker, his biceps bot bigger, his jaw opened up into four corners like he had a four sided star on his face with rows of teeth. Half his forehead had a bony look and his eyes began to bleed. He was way taller than Alexander who clearly wasn't impressed by the transformation but he was intrigued.
The ghoul brought out spikes from its wrists that were as long as katanas and took a swing at Alexander who dodged again and shot fire balls from his fist at the ghoul who brushed it to the side. The ghoul then tried to grab Alexander who did a back flip mid to avoid it before manifesting daggers which he threw at the ghoul who swatted them away. Alexander landed and immediately went after the ghoul who was about to slash him sideways but Alexander slid under him and placed marks on his feet then jumped on the ghouls back to place more marks on him.
"Size isn't always everything you know", said Alexander as he jumped backward before the ghoul could stab him. He manifested a gun and shot it at the confused ghoul. The bullet from the gun came out as a fiery phoenix which consumed the ghoul. In the distraction, Alexander brought out the pocket watch, flipped it open and pointed the face at the ghoul. The marks he had put on the ghoul lit up and he began to get sucked in the watch. The ghoul couldn't do anything but scream in terror as it was being sealed in the watch. Just before the ghoul had gone into the watch, Alexander created a clone of himself that manifested a sword and slashed the head of the ghoul that fell clean off while the rest of the body went into the watch.
"We aren't done yet my friend", said Alexander as he levitated the head of the ghoul who felt defeated.
"What more do you want from me?", said the ghoul.
"You'll find out when we get to the mansion", said Alexander about to fly off to the mansion.
"Who are you", he heard a voice behind him. He turned and saw Will next to John. There was a few seconds of silence before Alexander waved his hand to remove the fridge from John's leg and cause him to sleep. He then walked over to Will to look at him clearly.
"We're gonna meet again", he said before he flew off.
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