Sanguis Daemonium

1-Introitus

Upon entering the Clergy, they thought I was a homeless person in need of reform. They weren't wrong but, I didn't want to deceive them. But it is in my nature to deceive.

A sister greeted me at the door and guided me towards their staff housing and let me bathe within her tub and made sure I had no visitors with the exception of one.

The sisters of sin made certain I had the best of care, but there was a lull of curiosity that spread through the old church like a wildfire. It reached the new "Papa" quicker than the rest.

The door to the bathroom was flung open by a flamboyant Papa in training. He looked around the room until he spotted me.

"Oh! sono così dispiaciuto, my dear! I didn't mean to intrude on your bath." He reeled back covering his eyes.

"I assume you are the new Emeritus." My monotonous tone echoed from the tiled walls back at my ears. I was unbothered by my own nudity as I feel no shame for my magnificent body that has done all that I asked it to.

"You would be right, who are you?" The new Emeritus's voice echoed from the room adjacent.

"What happened to Nihil?"

"Papa Nihil is in grave condition. He is not to be seen by non clergymen. What do you want with him?" He asked slightly nervous if my intentions.

"He's an old friend. He knew my mother." I rose out of the grime-filled bloody tub after making certain I was clean and dried off.

"I'm sorry to have deceived your sisters of sin, Mr.?"

"Cardinal Copia. Call me Copia." He thought for a moment, "what do you mean deceived?" He asked.

"Well, I never meant to deceive your clergy, but I am not a human and I never meant to intrude on your business, but there is something here. Or someone, I'm not certain, but it's in the basement isn't it?"

He turned the corner to face me defiantly only to be shocked by the form I had taken.

I turned my head to look into the mirror to inspect my form, it matters to me how I present myself to those who seek to stop me in this endeavor.

My black hair had become entangled in the ibis-like horns that had sprouted from my temples. My tanned skin now appeared how it looked when I was young, pale and ghostly. My feet had become clawed digitigrade paws, and the lengthy nails had grown thick on my hands like claws. My tail looked spine-like and felt painful, with the flesh over it spasming to take control over the bone frame.

"I over did it again, apologies Copia." I shrunk away from the digitigrade form to trade it into a more ghoul-like form.

"What are you?" He asked, no longer afraid, but infatuated with this ability I have.

"I'm what my parents called a halfling. My mother was a succubus, my father was a monster. But I think their description is accurate."

"How is it that you know Nihil?" He asked, "and please put something on." He referred to the robe hanging on the door. I took the silky thing and slipped it on, covering my formerly naked form.

"He sent my mother back to the realm they call hell. But I'm not here for that. Something called me here. Call it fate or destiny, even superstition. But I am here, and it is up to you to turn me away or let me answer this call." He looked puzzled and put his hands up and made a flicking gesture so I'd stay here. I guess he's going to ask his former Emeritus's for help.

And there it is again, that pull at something deep within me, closer to the heart of the church. He told me to stay, but the pull is strong and I know whatever it is, could be the cure to this wandering fool. I should stay, but... this may be my salvation.

With the robe tightly wrapped around me, I shrunk further out of my ghoulish form into the human-like form I had before. I slipped out of the room, eyes of the clergy were on me, but I kept to myself as I wandered down the stairs of the housing into the main church, and I found a door near the organ that lead lower into the church's belly. Into the basement.