The Dark Society

101

Nemesis had spilled the blood of the unholy across time without remorse--acts that revitalized her spirit and made it effortless for her to blend into society. Nevertheless, as dawn engulfed the sanctum, Paul and Leon struggled to recover from the night's events.

"What happened?" Leon exclaimed, rising to his feet.

Paul's expression, combined with an unbridled squint, immediately conveyed his uncertainty.

"I'm not sure, but they've merged!"

The bishop stared in shock.

"Her strength is immense!"

Paul cringed and began tearing away the remains of the altar.

"We don't have much time--Nemesis is leaving for America."

Leon settled against the far wall.

"Why didn't we oppose her?" he questioned. "Now she'll destroy her coven and retrieve Karen's gemstone."

Paul sifted through the debris.

"We had to relinquish control," he proclaimed. "That way she could overwhelm the elders and weaken the sovereign."

Leon retrieved a ledger and placed it on the podium.

"What about Marc?"

The sovereign glared.

"He's part of Harold's coven, but also a deterrent to the day-witches," he admitted. "A distraction that will allow Nemesis to infiltrate Saint Anthony's."

"And if the elders reunite?"

"They'll be no match for the girl while she harbors the goddess's strength," Paul retorted. "Plus, with Katherine missing and without the aid of his daughters, Harold is vulnerable."

"She isn't a killer," Leon announced, gesturing. "Nemesis only wants vengeance for her lost brethren."

Paul scowled.

"You're forgetting--she now harbors Karen's essence, an ability that makes her capable of anything."

Leon finally accepted the ancient connection between Paul and Karen, understanding that their species was intent on infiltrating society. For this reason, he reexamined the ledgers as the bishop considered Harold's presumed return.

"You're expecting him," Leon stated, recoiling. "Hoping he allows you to live--why?"

Paul smirked and turned.

"I told you before: though powerful, Harold isn't immortal, and he can be killed," he conceded. "After all, Katherine nearly succeeded, and that's proof enough. Most importantly, he'll be enraged by what I've done with Saint Anthony's, so I expect the inevitable confrontation."

Leon paced.

"You manipulated his plans, facilitating the coven war, knowing he would oppose you."

Paul drew nearer.

"Yes," he acknowledged. "But with this girl's animosity, Nemesis will succeed, and the Morgans will die."

Leon smirked.

"In that case, we'll have no choice but to fortify the Lady of Victories and eradicate the deceivers."

Paul nodded.

"Every war has its casualties, does it not?"

"What about Katherine?"

Paul smiled.

"She's alive."

Leon shuddered.

"How do you know?"

"Samantha has yet to wield her mother's power or the medallion, so the ascension isn't complete," he explained. "Not only that--once Saint Anthony's is threatened, she, like Sabrina, will return to defend the coven."

"You're going to kill them?"

Paul gestured to a section of text.

"By using their magic against them," he explained. "Except Samantha must die first, then Sabrina--that way Katherine can't pass on her power, and it dies with her."

"What about Julia?"

He stared coldly.

"Harold will try to protect her, but due to the transition, he'll fail."

Leon accompanied Paul into the oratory soon after. Finally, there were weaknesses and time to exploit them, but as Paul coveted Harold's ledgers, Leon glared.

"I'm willing to see this through."

Paul grinned and handed over the scriptures.

"I'm glad to hear that."

Accepting the offering, Leon gazed at the ancient texts.

"Regardless, the Morgans will reunite, and Saint Anthony's is the focal point."

Paul escorted Leon outside with a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"That's why we have to follow Nemesis," he confided. "She'll require guidance, and I don't wish to disappoint."

Leon felt skeptical in the end, but Paul was right--the results they demanded wouldn't happen within the church's walls. Furthermore, if Samantha invoked Katherine's power, her abilities would be unimaginable.

Likewise, if the scriptures were authentic, Julia would also become formidable. Thus, the final strategies for ending the Morgan dynasty and reclaiming Saint Anthony's were set in motion.