Dead Moon Chapel

sixteen

ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF the city, an industrial building towered over rows and rows of residential buildings. Factories were common workplaces among citizens, there weren't many other jobs that could be done. Every factory answered to the Chapel, as was made evident by the flickering cross-shaped light on the side of the building. Abel stared at the cross, and the cross stared back, like it knew.

Jericho was crouched in front of the rear door, focused on picking a lock with a dark spell. The scent of it attacked Abel's face, even through the mask covering his nose and mouth. All four of his exposed eyes watered in response.

"Can't we just... go in there?" he asked. "You're good at appearing wherever you want to be."

"I can only teleport to places where I have a key," she said. She was a woman right now, she'd told him it was easier to be stealthy that way. "I definitely don't have a key for this place."

Abel blinked away the tears. This was the first time he'd seen her do spells like this, but it didn't surprise him that she was capable of it. The smell was the only thing that took him off guard. "How did you get a key to the Chapel, then?"

Jericho said nothing.

"Jericho?"

The door popped open, and she gave a victorious cheer under her breath. "Let's go."

"You didn't answer my question."

Jericho huffed and turned to him. "I'll tell you after this, okay? Promise."

Abel squinted. "Fine."

"Good."

She led him into the building. The main lights were off, but the glow of exit signs and the flashing lights of machinery displayed the massive interior of the factory. Abel's eyes adjusted, and with his enhanced vision, he could see more detail in the dark than he was used to.

"The money is probably in one of those," Jericho said, and Abel's eyes followed where she pointed. To the right of the main part of the factory, there were rows of doors and a staircase which led to a second level.

"Should we split up to look for it?" Abel asked.

"Would you know what to look for?"

Abel screwed his lips together. "Probably not."

Jericho laughed. "Come on. It'll be just as fast to do this together."

They headed for the row of doors together. The first few rooms were only storage rooms, nothing that would benefit them. The next room looked to be a workstation, but again, nothing useful. They went through most of them until at last, they came across a locked door. A plaque at the side read Father Salders with a small cross beside it, indicating that it must have been an office.

"Perfect," Jericho whispered and crouched down to unlock it. This time Abel had the presence of mind to step away. The demon fixed him with a look.

"The smell. Sorry."

"Smell..."

"Don't worry about it."

Jericho's puzzled look lingered on him, breaking away only when Abel gestured to the doorknob.

"Right."

Seconds later, the lock popped, and Jericho pushed the door open.

She felt around for a switch. The lights flickered on once she found it, and Abel squinted at the sudden brightness. As soon as his eyes could adjust, he studied the room. There was a desk pushed against the back wall, a line of filing cabinets on one side, and two large wooden bookshelves on the other. Nothing stuck out to him or looked like it might hold any money.