In the distance, small bits of civilization began to pop up over the trees. Dirt roads cutting up through the woodland slowly morphed into paved streets as the train entered into town. It applied its brakes with a loud squeal as it pulled into the station.
“Just in time.” Aerin smiled.
The doors slowly came open and what little passengers had been aboard departed. John followed closely behind Aerin as they exited the train, which was a bit of a changeup from their usual pace. The station’s platform was vastly smaller than even the smallest ones back in the city. It had a one man ticket office and a warehouse designated for items of shipment, which some workers were busily moving packages from the train to. Next to that sat another small structure with a few benches set up beneath an awning for waiting passengers. There was a sign hanging before them, just above the benches, “Shadowcrest Station.”
The town before them sat just inside the shadow of the mountain’s peak. Shadowcrest, population 2,024; it was a small town, but still large enough to support the rail line that connected it to Station. The other passengers that had been around them quickly dispersed in their various directions, leaving John and Aerin the only ones still on the platform. John lifted the bag and hoisted it over his shoulder before following Aerin’s lead.
“Small town.” He noted as they walked down the sidewalk.
The town had a very rustic feel to it, something that couldn’t be found within Station itself. The sidewalks were clean and the roads were rough. Every few feet there were lamp posts that rose up about ten feet and curled at the ends. Most every door on each establishment was wide open and inviting. Few pedestrians walked down the sidewalks as a handful of cars maneuvered the small roads. John had a strange feeling that he had somehow traveled back in time to some great American town in its heyday.
“It’s been a while since I was here, but it doesn’t look like it’s changed much.” Aerin said as she guided them down another road.
“When was the last time you were here?” John prodded.
“That’s a secret.” Aerin said, smiling back at him over her shoulder.
There was that response again, John thought. His curiosity had begun to build. Every time he had asked a question pertaining to her age or anything similar, she would simply brush it off. He watched her as she led the way before him. Aerin looked no older than twenty, at the most, anyone would agree with him on that. But, then again she was an Angel. For that matter, John suddenly realized that he knew next to nothing about her. He wanted to dwell on the subject a bit longer, but as they entered into a small church he was forced to brush the thought aside.
The building in question wasn’t too large; it had seating for maybe a hundred or so people and the atmosphere inside was very calm and peaceful. John looked around at the details within, the walls were a plain white and the floor was a dark red colored carpet. There was nothing particularly amazing about the building itself, but it gave off a warm feeling. The church was empty, save for a lone man that sat at the farthest end of the room. He sat behind a large wooden desk that looked to be handcrafted. Above him was a large depiction of a man on a cross, and there were some other things around it that John didn’t quite recognize. The man behind the desk was reclined in his chair. He rocked back and forth as he read from a black leather book. Noticing the two people before him, he sat the book down and greeted them.
“Good evening you two.” The older man said with a smile. He lifted his right hand and pushed his glasses up his nose. “What can this small town preacher do for you today?”
“We’d like to use the Monastery.” Aerin answered.
“The Monastery?” The priest hummed. His facial expression suddenly changed from a very warm look to a more serious one. John could feel the air around him suddenly become tenser. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about…” He said as his gaze narrowed.
“Oh come on.” Aerin rolled her eyes and raised her hand as a small Cypher appeared in her palm. “You know why I’m here.”
The priest stood quickly from his chair and took a step back as his left hand darted inside his coat. John instinctively brought his right hand behind his back to draw his sword. The church became the scene of some otherworldly standoff. The priest remained frozen with his hand on something while John stood at the ready. All the while Aerin hadn’t even flinched in the slightest.
“So you’re a Mage, I see.” The priest stated. “Who are you?”
“You’re really gonna make me…” Aerin trailed off.
Her two wings suddenly burst from out behind her. They stretched up toward the sky, nearly grazing the ceiling above her. The action caught both John and the priest by surprise. The older man flinched slightly, as if ready to attack, but he quickly realized the error of his ways. John examined Aerin’s large wings; they were both equally long as she was tall. They served as a harkening back to his thoughts earlier, Aerin was no normal girl.
"Good heavens...” The man quickly drew his hand from his coat. “Please forgive me. You must understand, only a select few know of the Monastery’s existence, I must be careful.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Aerin assured him as she let her wings down again. They folded behind her and faded away, leaving no trace that they were ever there.
“My name is Jeremiah.” The priest said as he approached them. “I am the priest of the small church, and the keeper of the Monastery. Might I ask your names?”
“I’m Aerin.” She said. “And this is John, my Slayer.” Aerin motioned to John, who had lowered his guard a bit as to not seem too threatening.
“Slayer?” Jeremiah repeated. He stepped over toward John and inspected him closely. “My God… I see. Bless you.”
“Thanks.” John said, accepting the man’s gesture.
“Might I inquire as to what you need the Monastery for?” Jeremiah asked. “Personal business.” Aerin answered flatly, much to Jeremiah’s chagrin.
“I see, well then I won’t prod any farther. I’ll take you there immediately.”
John had expected the old man to open some hidden door behind a wall panel for them or something far more fantastical; instead he ended up sitting in the back of a pickup truck. There had only been room in the truck’s cab for two and so John had offered Aerin the more comfortable seat. As the truck bounced its way up the mountainside he began to reconsider his decision. Shadowcrest was but a faint glimmer in the distance by the time they had nearly reached the end of the road. The mountain’s peak rose up into the sky. It blocked out the light of the setting sun and shrouded the valley in darkness. The whole drive took nearly an hour up the winding roads, and John was filled to the brim with happiness when they finally arrived. The truck’s headlights illuminated a stone wall in the darkness. As the vehicle came to a stop, John got a good look at the building.
“Not exactly what I expected.” He thought aloud as he jumped over the side of the truck’s bed.
The building was old; that much was certain. It had the look of some ancient church that one would see out in old England, which was a strange sight on the top of a mountain in Colorado. The sides of the buildings were covered in heavy foliage and many of the windows, that at one point must have had some kind of stained glass within them, were missing. Large vines crept around the columns that flanked the large wooden front door on each side. For being responsible for the buildings upkeep, John gave Jeremiah a failing grade.
“Yes, well, I’ll return in the morning for you.” Jeremiah said to Aerin as she hopped down from her seat. “Please take care, and try not to damage anything.”
“Thank you. We’ll leave it the same way we found it.” She said with a smile. Aerin gave Jeremiah a score even lower.
The truck rumbled away down the steep road and into the night. As the headlights faded in the distance, it quickly became dark. Aerin remedied this by clapping her hands together and producing some sort of illumination spell. A glowing ball of light hovered just ahead of her, providing enough l
ight for the both of them to see. John took hold of the left door as Aerin braced herself against the right. With a loud groan, they pushed open and revealed a similar scene inside. The interior of the Monastery was just as old and worn as the outside. There were a few stone benches here and there that were covered in cobwebs from lack of use. Bits of glass lay on the floor below the windows they used to reside in, and through them clusters of plants had begun to intrude.
What really caught John’s attention, though, was the large fountain that sat in the middle of the room. It was huge, maybe ten feet across and made of stone that was covered in many chiseled drawings of crosses and the like while the inside was a soft, smooth light blue tile. Multiple candles situated atop tall candlesticks surrounded the fountain. Below them were piles of ancient wax that must have built up from the many generations of use.
“Wow.” John marveled at the building. “Looked a lot smaller from the outside.” He turned to Aerin but quickly realized she wasn’t listening anymore. “Wait here.” She instructed as she walked ahead of him.
As she approached the fountain she made a movement with her hands and the glowing sphere immediately reacted. It flew over to one of the candles that surrounded the structure and suddenly burst into flames. From there it arched around, lighting each candle in the row until they were all burning. The light display amazed John, and he stood in awe. Aerin stepped into the empty fountain and her wings unfurled once more. They stretched out above her as one would extend their own arms. A familiar blue glow emanated from the fountain below her as a large Cypher appeared on the floor. Aerin brought her hands together in a loud clap that caused the Cypher to spring to life. It extended outward as more sections appeared around it. It became a large spinning triangle fitted within a circle beneath her. There was an ancient text that ran between each smaller circle within the Cypher that John couldn’t read, and it added to the magic’s mystery.
Suddenly five of the candles around Aerin began to burn brighter than before. Their flames extended upwards toward the ceiling as five separate Cyphers appeared next to their bases. John watched intently as they began to take shape. These Cyphers seemed different than the ones that circled Aerin. They were a lighter shade of blue and seemed to cast a heavy glow above them. Figures began to take shape in the glowing light that the strange Cyphers cast. They slowly came into focus and appeared to be men covered in large cloaks.
“Who calls us here today?” A heavy voice came from the center figure. John suddenly had the feeling he was taking part in something that he wasn’t supposed to.
“Is that?” Another voice echoed beside the central figure. “My, I think it is.” Said another. “It’s been so long!” The far right figure spoke. “Angel!”
“I see.” The center most figure stepped to the edge of the Cypher that he stood above. “It has been a while, hasn’t it, Aerin?”
He reached up and pulled the cloak off the top of his head, revealing an aged man. He had a short beard and thinned white hair atop his head. His face was wrinkled and worn with age, and he had the eyes of a man who had seen things in his life. As he removed his hood, the others did the same, and similar scenes were revealed on their faces as well. Without their menacing hoods to cover their heads, the men all had the look of run-of-the-mill monks about them. John had an odd feeling in the back of his head as he realized his imaginings had been right.
“It has.” John saw a genuine smile flash across Aerin’s face. She seemed calm, and there was an air of nostalgia about her. “What can we do for you?” The apparent leader asked.
“Yes, what do you need?” One of the others asked. “You can count on us.” Added the one next to him. “You look troubled.” Said another. “Anything for an Angel.”
“I have a bit of a problem.” Aerin answered slightly.
“What’s troubling you dear?” A monk asked. “Please explain.” Said another. “Yes, what is it?” Asked the far right man.
“Come now, let her speak.” The leader quieted the others.
“Well, I kind of…” Aerin trailed off. “I… I made a pact with someone.” She finally stated.
A heavy feeling suddenly weighted the air in the room. There seemed to be a collective sigh throughout the five men before Aerin as they all fell silent. Aerin clasped her hands together awkwardly as her gaze fell toward the floor. The head monk before her reached up and scratched at his beard.
“I see.” He said. “How long has it been?”
“A long time.” Aerin answered. She finally managed to look back up at the men before her. “The problem isn’t with me though, it’s with him. He can’t use magic.”
“Does he have no affinity?” One of the monks asked. “Maybe there’s a block?” Another added. “Perhaps he is simply bad?” One suggested - much to John’s dismay. “Where is he?”
“Yes, where is your Slayer?” The leader asked.
“He’s right here.” Aerin answered.
She turned around and motioned for John to join her inside the fountain. John lifted the bag off of his shoulder and sat it on one of the stone benches before stepping into the fountain. There was a warm feeling that filled his body as the light of the Cypher below passed through him. Aerin moved over a bit to offer room for him to stand beside her. John could feel the eyes of the men upon him as they examined him.
“Umm, hello there.” John said.
“Slayer.” One of the monks stated. “Hello there.” Another greeted. “Welcome.” Spoke another. “Any friend of Aerin’s is a friend of ours.”
“So you can’t use magic?” The head monk asked.
“No.” John answered. “I can’t. This is all still new to me, but I can tell it’s got Aerin worried.” His statement seemed to draw some admiration from the men around him. “So, I need help.”
“Yes, the life of a Slayer is often thrust upon those who are not ready.” One of the monks stated. “Good choice coming to us for help.” Another praised. “Yes, a troubled Angel isn’t good for anyone.” The monk’s statement garnered a few laughs from the others around him. “We will need to examine you.” The final one stated, bringing the others back on topic.
“Yes, we’ll need to see for ourselves.” The leader stated. “Aerin, would you give us a moment?” He asked.
Aerin nodded and stepped out of the fountain. The five men suddenly clapped their hands together in unison. A large Cypher appeared above John’s head; he looked up and began to study its details as it descended slowly toward him. The circle spun around and moved like a vertical medical scanner. As it began to pass through John, something happened; he could see cracks forming in its structure. They splintered out all around until the whole thing finally exploded, sending shards across the room. They bounced against the floor like bits of shattered glass before dissolving into thin air. A still silence fell upon the room.
“You are not…” One of the monks spoke up. “Alive.” Another finished his sentence.
“I see.” The leader scratched at his beard once more. “Your soul is tethered... How did this happen?” He asked.
“It’s my fault.” Aerin said sheepishly as she entered into the fountain once more. “I killed him… accidentally.”
“So that’s how it is.” One monk spoke. “Indeed, interesting outcome.” Another added. “Our condolences to you, Slayer.”
“Well.” The head monk spoke up. “There are far worse fates in life.” He nodded toward John. “As much as I would like to help, I’m afraid we cannot.”
“We are sorry.” A monk said. “Yes, death is not our specialty.” Another added. “The only one…” One thought aloud. “Her.”
“Her?” John repeated. “Who’s her?” He turned and asked Aerin.
In her eyes he could see something that wasn’t there before. She seemed happy at what the man had said. Looking over to the monks, John could see that they were less than pleased with this outcome.
“Do you mean?” Aerin asked, a bit of excitement in her voice.
/> “Meredith.” The leader stated with a hint of disgust in his voice.
“Dragon of the West.” One monk said spitefully. “I don’t like her.” Another voiced his opinion. “She’s a necessary evil.” One monk stated. “Doesn’t change the fact.”
This Meredith character the monks spoke of sounded like someone serious. He could hear the hatred in their voice as they talked of her. Dragon of the West, John thought on that phrase. What did someone have to do to get a name like that? And then there was ‘necessary evil’. What did it mean? John didn’t know.
“I wish it didn’t have to be like this, but we have no other choice.” The leader shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry we couldn’t help you more.” He apologized.
“It’s okay.” Aerin smiled. “Thanks guys.”
“Well then, we must be going.” One of the monks stated. “We’ll see you again sometime.” Another added. “Yes, goodbye Angel, so long, Slayer.” The third said. “It was good seeing you again, Aerin. Stay safe out there.”
Slowly, one by one, the monks faded away. The lights around them flickered out into darkness as the Cyphers below them slowly disappeared. With each Cypher that vanished, the candle that burned brightly before them returned to a normal flame. Finally, only one man – the leader, remained. He turned toward John and spoke.
“Take care of her, Slayer.” He said. “Aerin is precious to us so keep her safe.”
With that, the man faded away just as the others had. His Cypher disappeared into the stone floor as his candle returned to a normal flame. The large Cypher underneath John and Aerin on the fountain’s floor slowly vanished as well. With all traces of magic gone from the room, the candles. John and Aerin were left standing alone in the center of the room, with only the light of the moon shining in through the broken stained glass windows to illuminate the place.
Slayer: A Demon Hunter's Tale Page 6
