Thief: X

by E. I. Jennings,

  “Like hell I will.”

  “Fair enough, but I am.” He pulled a chair from the table and sat. He let out a sigh and shook his head, “I didn’t want you to find out like this because you should have been told years ago. I had conflicting interests and I apologise for that. I really do.”

  “Oh just get on with it.”

  “I was sent here by the Vatican to assess you,” he sighed, “There was a rumour that a new sin eater had been born and I came here to find out if it was true. To my utter amazement I discovered it was you.”

  “I can’t see why you would be so amazed, I was only a girl at the time.”

  “And that’s the point; sin eaters are male. However that wasn’t all. You see, I had conflicting interests and my visit here was supposed to be dual purposed. Within the Vatican is a shadow group called Watchers. For centuries we were given the task to watch over Cain and if he ever became unmanageable to call down the wrath of God. The second I saw the mark of Cain on you I knew it was no coincidence I was sent to find you. From another Watcher member I discovered that if you were a construct of Cain, instead of recruiting you into the Vatican’s sin eater ranks, I would have to kill you.”

  “Everyone wants to kill me so that isn’t unusual. What I can’t get my head around is the fact the Vatican has sin eaters.”

  “Of course they do. Sin eating is a very profitable market to them but not many are born anymore. The Vatican’s sin eater numbers have started to dwindle and they really wanted you to join them. Unfortunately they had no idea you were a girl and thanks to a paediatrician in Little Haven they knew a girl was walking around in Havensbrook with the mark of Cain on her hip. They just didn’t know who. You were so young and innocent at the time…”

  “Yeah, that sounds even more pervy…”

  “It’s not a joke Alex. I had to tell them something, so I only told them about you being a sin eater and that you showed no sign of the mark when they questioned me further.”

  “So why wasn’t I recruited and why the hell wouldn’t you want me dead? I’m a demon after all, thanks to Cain.”

  “The reason you weren’t recruited is simple; you’re female. What can I say? The Vatican are somewhat sexist and that’s why they decided on your excommunication. They wanted you as far away from the church as possible. My role as a Watcher has always been to watch Cain, and you are his. You’re not part demon because of Cain, that’s all thanks to your sin eater side.”

  “I…”

  “I know you’ve always thought Cain was responsible but he wasn’t. Your family has a demon bloodline somewhere because that’s the only way to produce a sin eater.”

  “But Cain’s such an arsehole.” I practically whined and Father Thomas laughed,

  “What exactly do you know about Cain?”

  “He killed his brother Abel and became the first murderer. God was torn because he loved all of his children but Cain needed to be punished, so he made him immortal and to forever walk the earth.”

  “That’s kind of true I suppose. Even then, God gave a tribe of humans the task of watching him and so we have always known the truth. Cain wasn’t really as evil as scriptures made him out to be and his history was rewritten to fit.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me either,”

  “When Lucifer left the garden he remained as a snake for many years. Slithering over the land to find others to corrupt. As he was about to return to his dominion he came across Abel tending his flock and whispered in his ear of great things if he became his new vessel. Lucifer knew Abel was closest to the Lord and what better way than to have vengeance. A wolf in sheep’s clothing one might say. Abel agreed and Lucifer took hold of his body. Unfortunately for Lucifer, Cain had been watching from his field and a fight broke out. Lucifer begged and pleaded but Cain knew it was just another trick. Lucifer knew that his plan had failed but wouldn’t leave Abel unless there was no life left in his body. It was then Cain made the decision to have mercy on his brother. Cain held Abel’s lifeless body for hours until the Lord spoke. How could he judge Cain for murder when he had done so to protect life itself? Cain had allowed death on the earth and had to be punished. He was cursed with immortality, to forever walk alone in the land of mortals, to watch his loved ones die, while he lived on. Years passed and Cain did good and bad things, including becoming a father. The death of his children made him become unstable and that was when the Lord tasked a small tribe of humans to watch him. We chronicled his life and nudged him in the right direction at times. Yes we made mistakes, like his unexpected meeting with Lilith and the following century long love affair with her. It was only when we learned he was trying to create a construct that we called the Lords wrath.”

  “Are you trying to say I’m his daughter?”

  “You are so much more than that. We believe he wanted to make someone like him so he could finally be happy. There had been many rumours over the years about people having the mark of Cain but none were true until you. It is said that the person who wields the mark of Cain will free him of his curse, and they will become the right hand of God on earth. A power that could destroy the church as God would speak through them instead. I admit I was shocked when a fourteen year old girl skipped into my church with the mark of Cain.”

  “You know what I did to myself because of being excommunicated?”

  “I’m sorry about that. It was never my intention to drive you to that. I was trying to spare you death but I made things worse.”

  “After that I didn’t care anymore and now you’re telling me the demon I thought Cain put inside of me would have been there all along? Oh and you’ve been watching me for how long?”

  “Since I first met you. Things have got easier over the years with technology, and I’ve always felt that you were my responsibility. I couldn’t return to my role in the Vatican so I petitioned to take over the Havensbrook parish. They had enough priests to investigate paranormal events, they didn’t need me and my petition was granted. My role became to watch over the construct of Cain and make sure you lived.”

  “I never wanted you to.” I slowly lowered the knife, “What is this place?”

  “This cave has always been here. At one time it was used as the church catacombs and when I first discovered it I found traces of vampire. I’ve never found one though. I simply repurposed it for my needs. Everything I have is stored here. Other Watchers use this place as a strong hold for every artefact we’ve confiscated regarding Cain over the centuries.”

  I walked around looking into glass cases. They were full suits of armour, swords, daggers, shields, everything a warrior needed to go into battle. One particular case seemed to pull me towards it,

  “What’s this?” I placed my hand on the glass,

  “Gauntlets.”

  “A little elaboration?”

  “Cain was searching for them fifty years ago and we procured them before he could. They were in a castle in Romania. We had no idea why he was looking for them but your reaction to them is somewhat interesting.”

  “I can hear them. Well, not exactly. They seem…calm. I can see them, inside them. They’re not normal.”

  “Oh Lord, you’re just like him. How did I not see this? Oh my…” Father Thomas got up and stood next to me glaring,

  “What? Personal space!” I pushed him back,

  “What do you see?”

  “It’s weird, for a start they don’t look like gauntlets. They’re more like jewellery, see…” I pointed at how the silver would fit over my fingers and then attach at my wrist. An elaborate pattern of silver leaves held it all together, “…The closer I get the more grounded I feel. It’s like I can see inside it and its calming.”

  Father Thomas looked at me and then raised an eyebrow. I was transfixed by the gauntlets but I could hear him shuffling something behind me. A loud bang brought me to my senses and realised Father Thomas had banged a huge book on the table,

  “I think I know what they are. Why hadn’t I put the pie
ces together before?”

  “Because you were too busy excommunicating me?” Ok, that was cruel but he deserved it and he sighed at the comment,

  “Here it is!” The pages of the book were so old they were falling from the binding and were written in a language I’d never seen before,

  “What am I looking at?” Adram always said my curiosity would do me in one day,

  “It’s a translation from the first Watcher diaries…”

  “It’s not English”

  “Of course it wouldn’t be but it is a direct translation from the original Watcher scrolls.” I thought Father Thomas was about to pee his pants if he didn’t tell me soon, “It says that one day in the early years a Watcher came upon Cain talking to a woman as they lay beneath a tree. The woman was identified as Eve, his mother. The Watcher moved closer to listen as Eve handed Cain something wrapped in blankets. She told him how she was still proud of him, even though he had committed the greatest sin man could ever lay his hands to. She could not bear to seen him struggling, so she had taken the leaves from the tree of knowledge and brought them to him to help settle his soul through wisdom.”

  “Well, they don’t look like leaves.”

  “But they do my child, they do!” He ran to the glass case and pulled both gauntlets out, “Look, the leaves, the intricate work that involved making them. Who says the tree of knowledge had green leaves? Why didn’t I see this before?”

  “Does it say how they settled his soul?” I watched the gauntlets as Father Thomas walked around the table,

  “No but shortly after he became the King of his land. Put them on…” I raised my eyebrow at his blunt request, “…er…please. Sorry, I’m getting excited. You seem to have a connection to them too.”

  I glared at them and I had to admit that I could feel a connection but every time I did something for someone else it backfired,

  “I’ll be right here for you.” He smiled,

  “Yeah, like you were right there for me when I got excommunicated?” I raised my eyebrow and gave him my death glare,

  “Ah, I guess you’ll never get over that.”

  “You excommunicated me!”

  “Technically, I didn’t.”

  “Technically, YOU did.” I mocked and did little finger quotes.

  “I admit I stood by and let it happen, but it was for your own good.”

  “You put those things on then and I’ll be right here for you.”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you Alex.”

  “Apparently excommunication does.” I folded my arms and sighed. Ok, I was probably being childish but I couldn’t help it,

  “If you can honestly tell me that you don’t want to put them on, you can leave them be but I’m guessing you can feel the pull,”

  “Ok, but I swear if this goes tits up I’ll shove them down your throat.” I saw Father Thomas wince but a smile soon crept on his face. Of course he was right, I could feel the pull of them wanting me to wear them. It was no wonder Cain had been looking for them but how did he lose them in the first place?

  I picked them up and they felt warm under my touch. Were these really leaves from the tree of knowledge? I threaded my fingers through and clicked the clasp around my fingers. I wasn’t sure what I expected but them being too big and flapping wasn’t it. I pushed my hands in Father Thomas’ face and jangled them,

  “They’re too big. Look at them, they look stupid. Saying that they were made for Cain and I bet he looked a right idiot wearing them, all glittery and shit.”

  “About that, they weren’t glittering a second ago.”

  “Shit and they’re getting tighter.” I tried to unclip them but they were solid on my hands, “I hate you!” I glared at Father Thomas.

  The leaves started to multiply and vines sprouted, wrapping around my wrist. I tried to pull them off and then tried bashing them on the table,

  “Will you do something instead of staring?” I shouted. Father Thomas started running around, pulling out books looking for something.

  The vines started to gain length and that was when they took on a mind of their own. They started wrapping up my arms, leaves sprouting as they went and then they struck deep into my skin. I felt them crawling into my skin and then light poured out of the wounds as they drove deeper into my veins.

  “Cut them off!” I shrieked. The pain was intensifying. It was like having thousands of worms in my veins, wiggling their way up.

  “What?” Father Thomas was starting to panic and he was looking at me in shock,

  “Get that bloody axe off the wall and use it!” I was gritting my teeth, feeling my skin stretch and crack under the pressure,

  “I…I…” He was looking flustered and his glasses were about to fall off the end of his nose,

  “I can’t exactly do it myself, plus they’ll grow back. Aim for just below the elbows and hurry up before they get higher.”

  “I…I…”

  “Just.Do.It!” I gripped onto the table and waited, “Come on!” He pulled the axe from the wall and stopped,

  “I…I…just don’t know how to do it.”

  “Stop stuttering and swing.”

  “I might miss.”

  “Do it!” I was about to pass out when I thought he was about to start stuttering again but he swung and my arms fell to the floor.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  I’d never had both of my arms cut off before and I never wanted to again. Ok, there were benefits to them being able to grow back but I still felt the pain, and oh god did it hurt! Father Thomas was in shock, shaking his head and mumbling something in Latin. I was screaming obscenities at the stumps of my arms. I kicked at my hands and forearms on the floor out of anger. That was when the bloody things flipped onto their fingers and ran off under the table. Now it was my turn to be shocked. That was so not normal. Yeah, I knew nothing was exactly normal were I was concerned but this was some freaky shit. Oh and to top it off my arms weren’t growing back,

  “They’re possessed!” Father Thomas was crossing himself as he backed into the wall,

  “You better not have a gag reflex because as soon as I catch them I’m shoving them down your throat.” And I wasn’t joking.

  Who knew only having stumps would be so difficult? I knelt on the floor to look under the table but I had no idea how the hell I was going to catch them without hands. As I saw them, they saw me and start running, or fingering…no that was just plain wrong.

  “Ok, this isn’t working. I need your help Father.”

  “I…”

  “You’ve dealt with all sorts of crap working with the Vatican. You have a demon brain in that jar…” I pointed with my stub, “…so snap out of it and help.” He blinked a couple of times and nodded,

  “Let’s get them in that corner and I’ll use a blanket to throw over them.”

  “Like I have a choice.” I waved my stubs in his face to illustrate my point,

  “You said they’d grow back,”

  “And they haven’t, so shoot me.” I tried to will my arms to grow back but instead I saw them creeping around the floor,

  “Quickly!” Father Thomas shouted.

  He whipped the blanket from the chair and we both pushed my freaky hands towards the corner of the room. I never thought I’d be herding my own hands like cattle. My life was definitely taking a weird turn. Before they could shoot off again Father Thomas threw the blanket over them and scooped them up,

  “Now what?” He said. They were trying to squirm free but Father Thomas held on tight,

  “I have no idea.” I slumped on the chair and watched my hands trying to break free, “I told you something always happens.”

  Father Thomas sat next to me and placed the blanket on the table making sure his hands still had the ends tight. I sighed and rubbed my stumps on the blanket. That was when the pain started again and this time it was so much worse. I fell backwards with the chair and couldn’t break my fall with my stumps. Oh what a wonderful day this turned out t
o be.

  My stumps started to glow and I watched as my arms started to grow back. A silver trail of mist circled from the blanket to my arms as they took on more form. It felt like my skin was about to explode and I let out a scream. Thirty seconds felt like hours thanks to the torturous, spiking pain as my arms and hands reformed. By the time they’d finished I was a hot, sweaty mess on the floor, panting like I’d just given birth. Father Thomas offered his hand to help me get up and I grabbed it with my own.

  “That was weird and amazing.” Father Thomas beamed,

  “That hurt!” I thought the pain was over but I felt the skin on my hands getting hotter,

  “Are your hands steaming?” I really didn’t want to look but I did and yes they were.

  “Something tells me it’s not over yet.” I laughed hysterically.

  My skin pulsed. Flesh turned to stone, then to water and briefly to nothing but air. On the final pulse my skin turned silver and then my fingers started to mould to each other until they were pointed like a sword.

  “We always thought the painting was wrong.” Father Thomas suddenly said. I was still glaring at my swordy hands. I really had to come up with a better name.

  “What the hell are you talking about now?” My patience was gone along with the pain,

  “That picture on the wall.” He pointed to a huge oil painting of what I presumed was Cain fighting in a suit of armour, “From the picture we thought Cain had fixed his swords to his armoured gloves but you…”

  “Wait. I can feel them. I can feel everything.” I concentrated and the silver washed all over my body. Cain wasn’t wearing a suit of armour in the painting, he was wearing the gauntlets. I could see every molecule of the silver but there was more. I felt stable for the first time in my life.

  I could feel the ground beneath me, the air around me and the fire inside me. This was Eve’s gift. The gift of calmness and I felt it all through my body. The deeper I looked the more I found. The gauntlets were giving me the knowledge I needed to change at will. I felt my fingers reforming and I panted. Re-growing parts of my body and morphing had taken what little energy I’d had left and I collapsed to the floor.