The Church of Our Lady of Faith was located at the far edge of Durem, surrounded by a tall fence, and was one of those fancy places with a lot of statues of the various saints and a lot of stain glass that needed to be replaced on occasions due to various teenaged hooligans that thought vandalism was fun! It was a bit quiet here today, it was a Tuesday evening and the only time that it was really bustling was Sunday Morning and Wednesday evening when Mass was held, otherwise it was just those that tended to the place, the occasional passersby looking to pray, and the very rare person coming by looking for sanctuary.
Father Stevens was in charge though he was out for the day, holding one event or another to help to pay for some renovations to the church leaving only one behind in the large, quiet church. A young angel that was resting up in the rafters, looking things over from his high perch. It was a great time of day, the sun was setting and hitting the windows just right leaving everything bathed in rainbow light. It was really his favorite time of day by far!
He gave a happy sound as he shifted his position, watching the way that the colors made everything feel so much warmer within this place, though he had to admit that it felt warm and welcoming anyway just due to what this place was. He'd been here for sometime, ever since he'd ascended to angel-hood, and his best friend brought him here so that he would remain safe! The only downside was it could be lonely during the times that the people were away, not that many of them other then the holy man in charge really noticed his presence... he preferred it that way. His friend told him to remain out of sight, that people would bother him less for miracles that he couldn't perform... he tried but his friend was right, he didn't quite have the power to give what some people prayed for, things like the winning numbers for example... he didn't even know what that meant.
Giving a little yawn he looked toward the large, double doors, wondering where his friend had gotten off too. It was some time since his last visit making his worry that he'd gotten himself in trouble, "Silly Seriki... hes probably off causing mischief like he used to do back home." He mused to himself, tail swishing.
Pepper was beyond grumbling, not because he was outside stalking the parameters of the church, not because even without a shirt he was suffocating from the heat of the day...no it was because SOMEHOW he was harassed and roped into doing this task.
Even if you asked him WHY, he wouldn't of been able to tell you what happened to lead up to this. There had been a conversation...with Vampy and...that ..THING could be very persuasive.
He wasn't sure why the demon Seriki couldn't come and get this guy, after all it was his friend right? Apparently though pure blooded demons couldn't enter on holy ground or ..something like that. Though even as he stared at the ground he couldn't figure out what exactly made this 'holy'. What some church guy come bless every blade of grass? The thought caused him to chuckle.
Pacing he finally took a deep breath and went to open the large church doors. He had expected people to be there..but found the large building rather empty. Claws clicking on the floor he entered into the room slowly before closing the door behind him.
Vampy had been teaching him to sense aura's..it was a pain and he still didn't quite ..understand how it worked after all why bother when you could smell out most everyone? Speaking of which...
Taking a deep breath Pepper closed his eyes and let his ears listen for a sound. His natural instincts caused him to release slowly and he tilted his head. Waiting.
The sound of the doors creaking open caused Caelum's eyes to go wide and he leaned over, expecting to see the Father standing there, back from his his outing. Earlier then expected but that was nice he thought to himself before he blinked a couple times, eyes focusing on the one that standing there. Not the Father at all... instead it was a... a...
"A demon..." He didn't know they could walk into hallowed ground... Seriki didn't even come as far as into the church, he only ever came to it and they would speak when Caelum headed out onto the stoop but this one. He really was a daring creature, wasn't he? Powerful as well, that was the only thing that explained why he was able to walk in like he owned the place. Drawing himself up into a ball where he was sitting he watched the red skinned creature closely, wondering if it meant to torch this place in the name of its Masters or something worse. What if were here to eat him? He'd heard about devils that ate angel flesh to get stronger... the mere thought had his stomach rolling and he pushed himself up onto his feet on the rafter, taking a couple steps back in hopes of getting into a better hiding spot, as though the shadows and cobwebs might protect him.
Please, please go away he found himself thinking, eyes squeezing shut for a moment as though he hoped that if he couldn't see him that he would vanish. Upon opening his eyes again though the dark haired beast was still there. Not good, not good at all... where was the Father and his exorcism powers when he was needed.
There. He heard it...movement from above. Turning his head sharply to the ceiling he scanned the roof beams slowly. He took a step backwards slowly as if he was going to attempt to jump, he wasn't THAT foolish or course, even with his physical prowess he wasn't able to jump that far.
"I know your up there Caelum, I come in peace ...come down so I can see you." Pepper called up to the rafters his yellow eyes watching for any sign of movement.
"I've been sent to collect you Caelum...please don't make this hard on me...I'll never hear the end of it.." He grumbled the last part to himself mostly, he didn't need to hear from Vampy that he was a failure.
More ominous words were never spoken he thought to himself, the demon had come to collect him! He knew that the beast would be here for something but to think that he knew of his existence, that could only mean one thing... he'd already defeated Seriki to get the information! After all who else knew he was here? Who else would be able to give out his name? Vile demon! How dare he kill poor Seriki! He knew the irony of the statement given that Seriki too was a demon but he'd always hoped that his friend would see the light and embrace it! That he would give up being a demon and become a mortal again, now he no longer had the chance.
He heard him said that he wasn't to make it hard on the demon, that he would never hear the end of it. So he was working for someone else? Some Demon Lord perhaps? One more dangerous and horrible as this one even! He found himself debating what to do, he didn't want to be seen but it already seemed as though the creature had spotted him somehow... perhaps just being a demon made him able to sense angels? He knew that the same could be said for the angels, that some of the, warriors especially, could sense demons. This must be a reverse case of that.
Looking around a moment he jumped from one rafter to the next, wings fluttering along behind him before they caught up to hover along behind him once more. He looked down at demon, able to get a better look at him from this angel and he couldn't help but to shiver. He had sharp teeth, sharp claws, strange bone structures and rocky skin... truly something that crawled out of the pits of Hell!
"If you think I am going with you easily demon, your mad!" Caelum said, walking along the rafter to put more distance between himself and the beast, finding himself more then a little uneasy being even this close to him...
It was as if the wind was knocked out of him, shoulders sagging he hung his head. Frick why did he agree to this again? Right..persuasive...man did al the talking. Tapping his foot he tried to think, the hamster wheel waking up as it was forced to be work and provide a clever solution to this situation.
"Wait a minute..demon? Did you just call me demon?" He sounded surprised, and though he knew.. that he hardly possessed many of the angelic traits from his DNA donor this was the first time anyone had actually bluntly called him demon. He glowered up at the angel,
"That is hardly fair! Damn wings...you don't even know me and yet your labeling me?" Pepper started as he eyed the walls of the church. Pillars...were there any he could climb? Even if there were ..the angel could be out of his reach in moments due to his ability to fly. How irritating.
"Get your sorry a** down here, as least we can talk right?"
Caelum peeked down at him, giving him a strange look. What sort of demon was this? No, no! He wouldn't even think about that. The creature was just acting innocent to get him to drop his guard and then he would strike! Perhaps if he stayed up here the demon would get bored and go away? Yes, that made sense. No predator would stay around forever if they weren't going to get their meal.
"I am not blind, Demon, I can see you perfectly well from where I am there is no labeling about it." He said, hopping over to another of the rafters, making his way slowly toward the front of the church. There was something there that could be used to get rid of the demon, he just had to get to it was all. As he was walking along the demon demanded him to come down and an indignant squeak escaped from the angel, his feathers fluffing up, "That only proves it! Using such foul language in this place, you truly are a terrible demon and need to be cast out!"
Squatting down he looked at what it was that he was needing, over at the demon, then back again as though trying to figure out if he had time to get down there, grab it, and get back up here... perhaps? He needed to move quickly though. Taking a deep breath the angel jumped down, flickering into sight as he landed and reached out to grab something from behind the counter. As his wings followed him down he had to wait on them to catch up before attempting to flutter back up to the rafters once more.
Pepper watched him, seeing him come down had his hopes up, but even as he went to take a step towards him...the angel was now back up in the rafters. Another head shake and he ran a taloned finger through his hair.
"Look please come down? I am asking nicely....I don't want to hurt you...and I am pretty sure if I did try using my magic I may destroy the place...and I'd really don't want to do that." He explained, as Vampy had made it perfectly clear that he was to make this an undercover operation...whatever that meant. The basic idea was that no one was to notice he had come and gone.
His eyes watched the angel wondering what it was he had picked up.
"Come on...I said please...just get down here." Pepper requested again, he was trying to ignore the fact he had been told that he needed to be cast out of the church. Keep your cool...that's what he was attempting to do. Stay cool.
The angel ignored the orders to come down, translating what was being said in a whole different manner then what tone it was really being said in. The demon was now threatening to destroy this place with his magic?! Was he that powerful? He'd thought so already since he was able to invade hallowed ground but to have powers that could destroy the entire church?! Scary for sure... he hopped his way along across the rafters once more, looking much like a bird, so that he was overhead. He gave pause for a moment, looking down at the demon, and drew in a deep breath to steady his nerves. He didn't like this, didn't want to be so close to a demon, but... well it was something that he had to do. He was an angel and even if he shouldn't be battling with the creature within this blessed place he had to stop the invasion and destruction!
Here goes nothing, he thought to himself as he popped open the bottle he held in his hands and poured the contents out on the demon's head. No better way to really get rid of a demon then by pouring blessed water on him! Of course as far as Pepper was concerned it would likely be little more then an icy cold bath, likely the last thing that he'd come to the church for...
"WHAT THE ********??!!" Pepper hissed as water was splashed down upon his head. Shaking like a dog he shivered at the sudden icy shower. "Are you even sane?" He questioned as he shook his head as if water had gotten into his ears.
"I told you already, I've come to retrieve you. I wonder if ol' Vampy got bad information....you are Caelum right? Seriki..wouldn't just lead us on a wild goose chase would he...?" he muttered the last part mostly to himself as he eyed the sides of the church. Sure he could probably dig his fingers and toe claws into the walls...but to what point? Plus with his luck he'd get dislodged and fall onto the pews...and that looked painful. Weren't those things like solid wood?
Caelum starred for a long moment at the one below him waiting, watching, then he gave a gasping sound. Wait a minute, why wasn't the water burning him? Why was he able to just shake it off? Was he wrong in his guesses that this thing was a pit fiend? Then what... what was he exactly? Not an angel for sure and not a human by any stretch of the imagination. His schooling didn't give him any clues as to what was going on or what he was dealing with, all he knew was that he'd used a rather precious resource to attack someone that wasn't even a threat... well maybe a threat, look at his teeth and claws, but maybe not a threat to him.
He gave a soft, uncertain sound as he jumped down, hoping he wasn't making a mistake, and lifted up the long sleeves of what he wore to start to wipe the water away, "KYAA! I'm so sorry! I thought you were a demon! I mean... well... you rather look like one but... but if the holy water doesn't burn you then that must mean your not evil... Or at least I hope that is what it means..." He looked more then a little confused, as though he were starring at some sort of strange puzzle that made zero sense to him, "Please forgive me... I have only ever seen one demon so I don't exactly know what they all look like by sight alone... Please tell me your not going to up and eat me for my mistake?!"
"Seriki? Why would my friend send someone like... well... like you here? To a church? Surely he must have know that you just... don't exactly fit in here." He made a motion with one hand, indicating the statues of the saints and the brilliant, stained glass images of various angels and arch angels, all that he knew by name just looking at them. Surely this being... whatever he was, knew that he rather looked like a monster didn't he? What would have happened if the Father was in? Or worse what would have happened if he showed up during a Mass? Oh wow... he didn't even want to think about what could have happened then... it wouldn't have gone well for sure.
Out of instinct he patiently waited for the angel to finish wiping him off, it was something he learned after being looked after his father. Being babied. Though he didn't look to pleased by it he gave the angel a dark look before he shook his head again as if trying to get the hair dry that way.
"You should be sorry.." Pepper snapped as he felt itchy...god he hated water when it dried on his skin..or rather in the spaces between his rocky skin. SO ITCHY. "Just cause I look like one doesn't mean I am one." continued on the lecture as he then gave the angel a hard look.
"Maybe I should eat you...just to teach you a lesson." He sniffed looking up when the angel pointed out all the creepy figures in the room. Stone or not they creeped him out something silly.
"Okay okay maybe a nibble..." Pepper continued realizing that such words he had previously said may be taken for real. The angel seemed very sheltered.
The angel nodded rapidly, "Ah! Yes, it is rude of me to assume things..." And it was terrible of him to soak the guy for sure, he couldn't be all bad though since the guy wasn't really protesting the help that he was being given right? Instead he was just standing there, allowing him to help. He could only hope that the help would somehow get him into the good graces of the... whatever this man was.
Of course a moment later he was saying how he should eat him, as a way to teach him a lesson. The angel went a wide eyed, he stood there starring at Pepper as though he were a mouse cornered by a giant cat, and then his wings seemed to wilt a little as he started to take a couple of quick steps back, hoping to put space between himself and the one that seemed to want to eat him. Oh no, oh no... he shouldn't have given him any ideas! Even if he weren't a demon he was still obvious a predator and he likely looked upon him as some sort of tasty food item now! Why did he suggest such a thing to him!
The monster man seemed to change his mind, deciding that a nibble was better then completely devouring him and the angel swallowed hard, nodding his head, "Ah... if... if that will make it up to you." He said, taking a step closer to him, pulling up one of his sleeves to bare his arm, then he held it out to him. The angel squeezed his eyes shut tightly and seemed to be waiting for the dark haired creature to take his nibble so that they would be on even terms again.
There was a raised eyebrow a half tilted head as he wanted to burst out laughing and yet remained quiet. The angel took him seriously? Swallowing he felt that urge to pounce him...after all he tackled all people he made friends with and yet he somehow figured THAT would probably give the poor angel a heart attack. Crossing his arms he wondered how far he could go with this.
"No...that won't due. Not your arm. Neck." He stated simply and plainly. He had to be sure, well if this angel had any spine at all. "I won't break the skin I promise." He felt himself getting excited, he loved to rough house and enjoyed nomming on his friends...making new friends was even better.
"Well?"
"Won't due...?" He asked, his entire form including the unattached wings starting to shake as the rocky skinned man said that he required his neck. His neck? That was... that didn't sound good at all, he was going to do what? Oh no! Was he perhaps some sort of vampire? He heard the girls in the congregation talking about those all the time so he knew, loosely at least, what they were like and what they did with those that they captured. Surely though a vampire couldn't come in a church or deal with holy water so... he couldn't be that...
"Ahh... well..." He wasn't going to break the skin so... that meant that he wasn't going to bite him or drink his blood, that was a bonus. As so what he did want, when he was drawing a complete and utter blank. He took a slight step, swallowing hard, and then, with his hands clutching at his chest as though he were afraid his heart would beat so hard it would escape from him, he tilted his head to the side, "M-Make... make it quick?" Maybe if it were fast he wouldn't realize it if he meant to actually take a bite? He sure hoped so...
Pepper could of died laughing, it took all of his concentration to not burst out and fall to the ground in uproarious laughter. Instead he approached the angel boldly looking at he exposed his neck he went from behind and wrapped his arms around the angel. Then in a deliberately slow move opened his mouth and slowly went for his neck only to make a sudden change in direction and caught his ear in his teeth.
He chuckled as he nibbled on that ear, his clawed fingers doing their best to not hurt the guy. Though he did hug him and then forced him to sit down with him on the ground as he continued to nom away on that lobe.
The angel's hands clutched harder against his chest as he felt the other leaning in closer to him, gulping in a breath before holding it. Here it comes! It was the end! And not even because he was facing off against a hell demon but because he'd dumped holy water on a vampire monster thing! He felt the demon's breath to close to him and then suddenly his ear was being grabbed hold of... A sound would have escaped from him, likely a scream, but instead it came out as a muffled sound as his throat closed up in terror.
He didn't really remember the guy hugging him, just the arms closing in around him, nor did he recall sitting down to be chewed on by the dark haired guy, instead his body went slack and his wings fell to the ground in a pile as the poor angel fainted dead away...
It had taken Pepper awhile to discover the angel had passed out, even as he went limp in his arms he first thought it was him relaxing. How wrong he was. It was when the wings clattered to the ground he realized something was amiss.
Releasing him, he held the angel out at arms length and noticed his head lulling to the side. He gave the angel a bit of a shake.
"Hey...yeah..hey you...wake up." Pepper stated as he cocked his head to the side in bewilderment.
Gently laying the angel to the ground he then looked to the wings. He wondered...would they work for anyone? A quick look back at the angel and reconfirming he was still unconscious Pepper reached over and picked up the wings.
Looking them over as gently as possible, he even held his breath as if too fearful he'd break the things. Giving them a flap with his arms he grinned and seeing they didn't just turn to dust with the gesture he was soon zooming along pretending they worked for him. What was he a teen or a kid?
After a few childish moments of 'flight' Pepper figured he was best to take the angel was he was unconscious..perhaps he'd behave better when he saw his old friend. Moving over he scooped the angel up into his arms and excited the church.
*****
Needless to say when he returned to the facility with the still angel in his arms Seriki was less then impressed, snapping his friend from the dark skinned spawn and stalked off... only to return a moment later, giving Pepper a dark look, took the wings from him, and stalk off once more, tail lashing behind him.
Peppers first mission out was a success! ... Even if he had given the new angel a slight heart attack...
