The Infernal Society

Chapter 2

It was later in the evening and Alfie wasn't sure what to do with himself. Only moments ago his uncle Tommet had gone into the village to find what he needed for supper, leaving Alfie to be left alone by his sick mother's side, who wasn't the best of company during the afternoon hours. With how defiant his mother had been all afternoon, Alfie could see where he inherited his obstinate nature from.

She'd been persistent in fighting against getting out of bed, an understandable protest, all things considered. But he refused to let her waste away in a dull room, watching as cobwebs collected more dust. No, she would be made to keep fighting, for as long as she could, to keep better use of time, at least for herself.

She may give her son many headaches but  he sensed her appreciation for all his efforts in swaying her from hopelessness, and that's all he needed to keep doing what he did, for as long as he could. Until she...no longer could...for either of them.

With his mother resting in bed and his uncle still gathering what he needed for the evening in town, Alfie sat alone with his thoughts in view of a pond in the meadow, which was a decent walk from his home. He picked up a small stone and skipped it across the water, disturbing the amphibious residents that darted away from the ripples.

Alfie thought the serenity of the pond would treat his negative thoughts kindly, and for a moment it did, because if he didn't give himself time to unwind his mind here and there, he'd surely fall ill to psychosis if he couldn't release the suffocating pressure of his worries. The stillness of his surroundings aided his mind, enough motions to distract blackened thoughts. This breath of fresh air would suffice, at least until uncle returns home from his errands.

The meadow was vibrant and quiet, and much to Alfie's convenience, he was alone. Yes, unsolicited  thoughts still echoed across his troubled mind, but he couldn't help but focus on one thought in particular. How he did he get here?

Things went from simple to complicated. It's a completely different reality compared to that of his childhood, which had its moments of bliss and freedom of course, despite the confinement and fear of the unknown.

His mother and uncle may not have realized, but Alfie has always been perceptive of what they tried to hide from him. He could always sense it, their constant fear of someone discovering him. The fear that someone who was prone in killing infernals would discover him and take him away. To end his existence, a perversion of all things pure. Sometimes Alfie still has that fear, and some days, he even expected it. He imagined how it would happen.

That someone would be sent to sanitize Lournet Valley of his presence. That a squadron of purinites would infiltrate the lands and surround his home. Uncle Tommet would surely put up a fight, being the son of a founding elder, he was trained to succeed in physical conflict. He'd best alot of well-trained warriors before they sent more dangerous offenders. Those more skilled in the mastery of angelic magik. It would be difficult for uncle Tommet, but still, graduating as one of the most promising purinites in his class, he still would have a higher probability in defeating them. His mother would surely hold him close until his uncle Tommet had defeated all those who came to destroy him. But then, such a victory would darken upon the arrival of someone who could not be defeated by his uncle's hand. The founding elder himself, one of the first purinites created by the great Arch Maxence, Alistair Cross, most wise, feared, and respected of the purinites. Father to Sienna and Tommet Cross, grandfather to Alfie. Tommet would be easily defeated. More purinites would invade his home. And Alistair Cross would deliver a single strike that would put an end to Alfie's barely-lived life.