Chapter 10: Dark shadows

Candra leaned back in her seat, a smirk tugging at her lips. "So, when are we going to meet this 'Isaac Dimite,' son of the legendary priest Jacobs Dimitte?"

Mark, gripping the steering wheel, glanced at her. "We'll meet him, just relax. We're almost at the hospital."

"Good," Candra replied, her voice laced with anticipation. "Because I can't wait to meet him I'm gonna ask him so many questions about his dad."

"That's the last thing you should ask the kid," Mark interjected, his tone serious. "He's gone through a lot. Keep it down low for now."

Candra feigned indignation. "I can't even ask one question?"

Mark sighed, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Candra, you of all people should know the trauma of facing demons at a young age."

She paused, the weight of his words sinking in. "Mmmm, okay, fine. My curiosity can wait then."

As they drove towards the local hospital, both were filled with a mix of dread and determination. They sought answers, but would they find them from a boy consumed by fear?

"Well, we're at the hospital. Let's go..." Mark said, parking the car.

"WAIT!!! You feel that, don't you?" Candra exclaimed, her senses heightened.

"Yeah, what is that ominous aura?" Mark replied, scanning their surroundings.

"Does he have a divine dominion like us?" Candra mused, her brow furrowing.

Mark chuckled. "What? The lad may have just found out about his power, but he probably can't control it."

"Good point," Candra agreed, her instincts still on edge. "But this aura feels so shapeless... a bit suspicious."

"You may be right. Let's approach with caution," Mark suggested, stepping out of the car.

Candra nodded, and they entered the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling the air. As they walked down the hallway, they encountered a doctor standing stiffly with a clipboard. His cold demeanor sent shivers down Candra’s spine.

"Excuse me, good sir, may we take a moment of your time?" Mark asked politely.

Dr. Rane barely glanced at them. "Hm, what? Who are you people? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"We're aware of that, good doctor. We just wondered if we could—" Mark started.

Dr. Rane cut him off. "No."

Mark coughed awkwardly. "Ehh... we just need—"

"What part of 'no' don't you understand? If you're patients, then go to the reception. If not, then just leave," Dr. Rane snapped.

Mark's nervousness grew. "Why, good sir, we are here to... uh..."

Candra, growing impatient, interjected, "HUH, can you quit being super formal for a second? Hey, weird doctor guy, we're private investigators. We're on a case. Here’s our IDs."

Mark's face flushed with embarrassment. "For God's sake, Candra."

Dr. Rane raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Private investigators, huh? Interesting. What do you want here?"

Candra seized the moment. "We're looking for a kid by the name Isaac. So, have you seen him?"

Dr. Rane's expression shifted slightly. "Seen him? I'm his assigned doctor."

Mark and Candra exchanged surprised glances. "WAIT, REALLY?!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Hey!! You don't make noise in a hospital," Dr. Rane reprimanded.

Candra shrugged. "Ehh... sure, whatever. Take us to the kid now."

"I'll have to refuse that," Dr. Rane replied flatly.

"What?! Even though we gave you proof?" Candra protested.

"Maybe, but you guys aren't government agencies, so you have no authority. I'll need more authentication."

"You're kidding me, right?" Candra crossed her arms defiantly.

Mark hesitated, then spoke up. "Hey, doctor, got a question."

Dr. Rane sighed impatiently. "What is it? Hurry it up, I'm a busy man."

"You feel it, don't you? That tight gripping energy around your neck. The ominous feeling that something bad will happen for as long as that boy is here. Honestly, my associate and I can feel it too. It doesn’t affect us as much, but you? You must feel like death is right behind you, ready to take you at any moment. What an interesting feeling, right, good doctor?"

Dr. Rane's composure shattered as he glanced over his shoulder in fear, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His hands trembled, and his eyes widened in terror.

"Okay, fine. Come with me," he relented, his voice shaky.

Candra's face lit up. "YES... I mean, yes."

They followed Dr. Rane through a dimly lit hallway, flickering lights casting eerie shadows. The air felt heavy, thick with unspoken fears.

"This patient is one special case, to tell the truth," Dr. Rane said, breaking the silence. "Weird things have been happening ever since he got here."

"Weird? Care to explain?" Mark asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Hard to explain, but all I can say is that the hospital feels so dead, like something might happen.," Dr. Rane confessed.

Mark nodded slowly. "Interesting. I mean, it is a hospital... so obviously, it has death, but still interesting."

Dr. Rane continued, "I've never seen a kid like him. He's so broken. He refuses to eat or sleep. His eyes are always open. Whatever this kid saw must have been dreadful."

"You have no idea," Mark murmured, his mind racing.

Finally, they arrived at Isaac's room. Upon entering, Mark and Candra were immediately struck by the intense heat radiating from the boy.

"Candra, raise your guard now!" Mark instructed urgently.

"Got it!" she replied, her focus sharpening.

Dr. Rane glanced between them, concern etched on his face. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no, good doctor, absolutely nothing wrong," Mark said, attempting to mask his own anxiety. His Ken is so hot; it feels like it can burn through this entire building. Is his Divine Dominion 'holy fire'?

"Hey, Isaac, you have visitors," Dr. Rane announced, his voice lacking warmth. "These people are here to see you."

Isaac's gaze flickered towards them, his silence speaking volumes.

"Mmm, that's never happened before," Dr. Rane noted, his brow furrowing.

"What is it, doctor?" Mark asked, intrigued.

"Isaac's been here for two weeks now, and not once has he bothered to look at anyone or respond to them. But now you two are here, and he's actually responding."

"Pardon my rude intrusion, but may we have a private chat with Isaac?" Mark inquired, hopeful.

"Normally, I’d say no, but he seems to only respond to you people," Dr. Rane conceded reluctantly.

"You people?" Candra echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Dr. Rane, clearly annoyed, said, "So I'll give you five minutes with him. That's all you get."

Candra’s sarcasm returned. "Wow, we're so grateful."

Mark nodded vigorously. "Y-yes... we are grateful, doctor. Thank you."

With that, Dr. Rane left the room, leaving Mark and Candra alone with Isaac.

"We should handle this with care," Mark cautioned.

Candra leaned closer to Isaac. "Hey, kid, is it true your dad was one of the strongest priests?"

Mark's eyes widened in disbelief. "CANDRA, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!"

Candra shrugged, unfazed. "Huh... that British accent of yours is jumping out."

"What part of 'don't ask the kid about his dead father' didn't you understand?!" Mark exploded.

Candra feigned innocence. "Wait, you told me that? Mmm, must have forgotten."

Mark groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Lord Jesus Christ, please help me. We literally discussed this in the car."

"OHHHH YEAH!! I remember now... that was a bad idea. Sorry, kid," Candra said sheepishly.

"Let's just continue. Hello Isaac, my name is Mark Angelson, and this forgetful chump is Candra Venice. We're here to help you. We're just like you. There's no need to be afraid."

Isaac merely stared at them, his expression unreadable.

Candra crossed her arms, frustration mounting. "Your friendly gesture isn't working. The kid is just staring at us."

Mark took a deep breath, trying to regain focus. "Fine then, I'll show him we're just like him. Divine Dominion... hailed winds."

Suddenly, the air in the room shifted as a gust of wind swirled around them. Mark compressed it into a sphere in his hand, the energy crackling with power. Isaac’s eyes widened in shock, and Mark's words echoed in his mind—Divine Dominion—the same phrase his father had used.

"You see, Isaac, we are the same. All of us in this room have the power of the Holy Spirit, the wisdom of the ancients, and the drive of the prophets flowing through our veins. We are all Priests."

Isaac blinked, his curiosity piqued. "You guys are Priests?"

As Isaac processed this revelation, a dark gathering of demons convened elsewhere, their voices laced with rage.

"How was a devil injured by a human?" one demon bellowed.

"Who was the devil who lost?" another asked.

"It was Seopheria. She lost to a pitiful human. This proves she's not worthy to be part of the dark gathering," a third demon sneered.

"Yes, yes, she is weak!" the others chimed in.

Suddenly, a commanding presence silenced the room. "Seize to desist your harrowing noise, you insects."

The demons straightened, bowing. "It's the Dark Gathering! Hail them quick!"

"Your decision to bow was intelligent," the Dark Gathering declared. "For that, we shall not smite you for your incessant noise."

"Thank you, masters, for your mercy," the demons replied, relief washing over them.

"Now then, onto the topic of discussion. Seopheria, you have attained the level of a devil and are a strong contender for a missing seat in the Dark Gathering. Yet you lost to a human. Your wound hasn't even healed yet. Explain this sense of weakness."

Seopheria knelt before them, her voice trembling. "My apologies, my liege, but I fear I may have gone against a special human."

"Special? What are you implying?" the Dark Gathering inquired, intrigued.

"The human who caused my injuries is known as the 'Holy Trinity of Fire,'" Seopheria revealed.

"Yes, we've heard of him. That priest has killed many of our kind in the past. I too would have dreamt of fighting him," a member of the Dark Gathering said, admiration lacing their voice.

"He utilized holy fire and was quite skilled with the blade," Seopheria continued.

"That's no excuse," Zieke interjected.

The Dark Gathering turned their attention to him. "Zieke, you've returned from your mission."

"Yes, my liege. The old priest had no information," Zieke reported.

"Did you dispose of her?" the Dark Gathering asked.

"Oh yes, I did. It was quite the fun playtime to pass the time," Zieke replied nonchalantly.

"How about you, Seopheria? Is this 'special human' dead?" the Dark Gathering pressed.

"Yes, my liege... he is dead," Seopheria confirmed.

Zieke stepped forward, a glint of ambition in his eyes. "If I may request something, my liege?"

"What is this request?" the Dark Gathering inquired.

"I request that I kill off the Priests in that tiny town," Zieke proposed.

"Really now?" the Dark Gathering mused.

"Seopheria's excuse is pitiful. Even if that human was an elite priest, she could have used the human's child as bait. Humans will always fall to their emotions at the end of the day, but she couldn't comprehend that simple fact. To make things worse, she's even brought a lowly human here," Zieke added.

The Dark Gathering turned to Seopheria, their eyes dark with disdain. "I've heard about that human. Why do you bring him here? Do you wish to sacrifice him?"

"Yes, I have, my liege. I believe—" Seopheria began, but was cut off.

"I don't care what you believe, you weak insect," the Dark Gathering spat.

The force of their Ken pushed Seopheria down, rendering her unable to look up in fear. The room fell silent, everyone in awe of the tremendous aura emanating from the Dark Gathering.

"You show weakness by coming here with a scar made by a human, then you take in a human."

Seopheria whimpered, "Please... my l-liege, let me explain myself."

"If you provide a pitiful response, you'll die a slow, painful death," the Dark Gathering warned.

"This human, when I first met him, had a genuine hatred towards God," Seopheria confessed.

"So what? There are many humans that hate God. Why makes him different?" the Dark Gathering challenged.

"He was possessed by a demon and took control of that demon through his hatred for God and humans," Seopheria explained, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Interesting. That has happened before," the Dark Gathering acknowledged.

"Y-y-yes, whatever connection to humans he had is dead. He's no different from a demon," Seopheria concluded.

"Very well. I'll let this play out for now. Zieke, how will you kill those Priests off?" the Dark Gathering commanded.

"I've sent my demons to the hospital where they reside. There are only two of them," Zieke reported proudly.

"Well done, Zieke. You're becoming a strong candidate for the eighth seat at the Dark Gathering, as long as you keep your relentless drive," the Dark Gathering praised.

"Thank you, my liege. Much appreciated," Zieke replied, a grin spreading across his face.

"This meeting is over. Go back into society and continue to cause chaos, my demons, and Seopheria, if you fail again, hell is waiting."

With that, the Dark Gathering vanished, leaving the demons to disperse into the night, cloaked in human disguises.

Zieke smirked at Seopheria. "Well, well,well, thanks for making my job easier."

Seopheria shot him a glare. "Enjoy it for now, shit stain."

"Oh, I will. You can enjoy that little scar on your beautiful face," Zieke taunted.

"Yeah, you didn't have trouble yourself," Seopheria retorted.

Zieke shrugged, a smug look on his face. "You see any ugly scars on my body?"

"How'd you even know there are priests in that town anyway?" Seopheria asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I got ears in the darkness, baby. I see everything," Zieke replied, confidence radiating from him.

"Whatever. Those demons will probably lose anyway," Seopheria muttered, dismissive.

"Ohh, sore losers nowadays are really arrogant for shit. They won't lose," Zieke shot back.

Back at the hospital, Mark and Candra stood on the brink of chaos.

"Divine Dominion—Serpent Water Slash!" Candra shouted, her powers unleashed as she cut off the heads of five demons simultaneously.

"These demons followed us here or something?" Mark wondered aloud.

"Someone alerted them here. Isn't that right, Dr. Rane?" Mark accused, turning to the doctor.

Dr. Rane’s eyes widened. "WHAT... NO, I'm not a demon!"

Mark shook his head. "Didn't ask if you were a demon."

Suddenly, Dr. Rane snarled, his form shifting grotesquely. "Ohh, screw this shit! I'll complete my mission so that Master Zieke can win."

With four arms and giant wings sprouting from his back, Dr. Rane lunged at Mark.

Candra gasped, her instincts kicking in. "Wait, he's a demon! I knew he was too weird! Who addresses people as 'you people'?"

Isaac's voice trembled with fear. "DEMON, NO NO NO NO, NOT AGAIN!!!"

"Relax, Isaac. They didn't send weak Priests after all," Mark reassured him.

A brilliant light emanated from Mark as he drew forth a dagger glowing with a green hue. The wind swirled violently around him, concentrating on his weapon as he prepared to strike.

"Time to end this. Divine Dominion—Crescent Winds!" Mark declared, unleashing his power.

Dr. Rane let out a blood-curdling scream as Mark's attack sliced through him, scattering his demonic form into a thousand pieces.

"W-What?! It only took him one attack. Who are these humans? How can such beings exist? Is this the power of a Priest? I failed you, Master Zieke," Dr. Rane gasped, vanishing into nothingness.

"Well, that's done. Time to go, Isaac," Mark said, turning to the boy.

"Go where?" Isaac asked, bewildered.

"Why, we're going to Trinity Church, of course. It's time for you to embrace your new life," Mark replied, determination etched on his face.

Candra smirked, her playful spirit returning. "Can I now ask questions about his dad?"

Mark shot her a glare. "NO, YOU INSENSITIVE CHUMP!!!"