The Church Means Business

I had finally finished my work, even though it took me all night. I was surprised I actually did it without anyone noticing. I ended the night of killing with their town leader in the mansion.

So far it was looking like Michael was right because none of the townsfolk gave me the feeling of satisfaction like his mana did.

Now that I actually did as the guy asked and got revenge for him only because it benefitted me, but now what?

'Could I really go around consuming everyone on this planet? Then what? How would I leave?'

Walking out of the mansion and into the street while in my own thoughts, I failed to notice a group before me.

"You're correct. Silverfoot didn't do this. The coward knew we were after him, so he led us to the actual culprit to throw us off his trail." The tall bald man in the middle says while wearing black church robes.

"How do you know this?" A young boy with shoulder-length brown hair and a white suit asks.

"The culprit is right here in front of us." The bald man says, motioning towards me.

Well shit. I could feel the power ebbing off the bald guy. I had no idea just how powerful he was, but I knew he was bad news. The others didn't have the same level of mana as him, but their numbers against me was concerning.

While I was having my little mini panic attack trying to figure out what to do, I hear, "What do you mean? There's only the mansion in front of us."

Another boy with short brown hair looks at him confused as well. "I agree Deacon Briar, I can't see what you're talking about."

The rest of the group agrees with the other two.

"What are you guys talking about, there's a demon right in front of us as clear as day."

I can't help but smile as I realize that only the bald man can see me. Since he's the one I really have to worry about, I decided to test something.

"I can assume that you lot are from the church?" I ask.

All of their attention snap to me, confirming what I thought. Although they couldn't see me, I could reveal myself by talking.

"Reveal yourself demon." The boy with short brown hair shouts at me.

The bald man who they called Deacon Briar places his hand on the boy's shoulder, and he immediately calms down.

"Tell me, demon, are you responsible for the atrocity taken place here?" Deacon Briar asks.

He's obviously fishing for information, and I was never one to shy away from taking responsibility for my actions. Old habits die hard, eh. 

"Of course, it was me. It was rather easy, too." I proudly tell them.

I relish in the looks of disgust and hate on the faces of the group before me, but Briar's face remains unchanged.

"Just what are you? You have the appearance of a demon, but I can sense that you're not." He asks.

I doubt I should answer him. He may know something that I don't and explaining what I know about myself could give him an edge. I'm having too much fun being what I am right now, and a fight is pretty much inevitable at this point. But I know I won't lose as easily as when I was a human.

While plotting my plan of attack, I respond, "I don't know, you tell me."

"What is your relationship with Silverfoot? Are you working together?" He asks.

I had no idea who this Silverfoot was, but I understood from what they were saying when I first ran into them that this Silverfoot was responsible for leading them to me. 

I remain quiet, refusing to give them an answer. If they thought there was another but didn't know where he was, they couldn't maintain their entire focus on me.

"It's better that you don't answer. When we capture you, we can just get the answers we need anyway. Catherine, Jacob, provide us with defensive protection spells. Phoebe, activate the trap. Reuben and I will engage with this creature."

Briar and the boy with the short brown hair step forward, while the others fall back. Briar pulls out a Morning Star mace that he was keeping to his side as the others begin chanting, holding crosses.

Not knowing what spells they're going to use; I begin to back off. I know from my encounter with Michael that I can cut them off from their spells, but I can't risk it in this fight.

I made the right decision, as the girl he called Catherine and the boy named Jacob finish their chants. A white outline flows around Briar and Reuben.

Reuben finishes his chant and a disk of light forms at the tip of his cross. Rays of light rapidly shoot from the disk at me.

I jump to the side, avoiding the attack as I crawl up the building onto the roof.

"Did I get him?" Reuben asks.

"No, he's on the roof of the third house to your right." Briar responds and Reuben nods his head.

He aims the disk to my new location, and I dart off, not wanting to get hit as trails of light strike the roof where I once was.

"He's moving to the second building." Briar relays to Reuben, and he moves the disk, tracking my movements.

Even though he can't see me and needs direction from Briar, his attacks are close to hitting me, which annoys me greatly. Getting rid of Briar is my main priority, so when I'm close enough, I jump off the second story roof towards Briar.

Unfazed, he swipes with his mace, knocking my claw away from his chest. I back off, hissing with the feeling of unexpected pain as I see my claw sizzle and smoke. Confused, I look at Briar to see him arrogantly smile as he brings his mace up to rest on his shoulder.

"Holy weapons, blessed from our god, are extremely harmful to creatures that cause harm to humanity. Stop resisting and be captured." He says.

Before I can answer, the girl named Phoebe who was behind him finishes her chant. A net of light shoots into the surrounding air, cutting off the rest of the street behind me and the street behind them.

Realizing my situation just went from bad to worse, I groan in frustration at how much work I'll have to do to survive this. Seeing the annoyed look on my face, Briar only gets bolder.

"For your crimes committed in this city, your banishment will not be an easy one. You will feel pain before we send you back to the depths of the demon world."