The Poisoned Crown (SyndiSparklez)

3: The True Exorcist of Evil

Chapter 3: The True Exorcist of Evil

Elsewhere

"Fourth time this week we've had a chicken end up like this," Steve said holding up a purple coated chicken that had grown a set of sharp teeth and was attempting to snap at the pet fox Alyssa had adopted. The pet fox scurried back inside, likely to go play with the girl herself. She had fondly called the fox, Fox 8 after some fox from a storybook.

Its formerly dull eyes were sparkling with some twisted glee, as if the former farm animal had been possessed by a malicious creature. Mot took the chicken from Steve and pressed it against the railing of his porch, checking under the wings for where the initial taint infection was. A slash mark under the wing was the source. Mot sighed and passed the chicken back to him.

"There's nothing we can do, unless you suggest we go confront the issue?" Mot questioned and Steve shuddered, throwing down the chicken and bringing his boot down on top of its neck, snapping it. Mot grimaced, it was mostly bloodless, but the purple taint was now marring his porch.

The farmer looked slightly put off, considering his next words carefully. Meanwhile, Mot carelessly kicked the chicken off his porch and examined the mess it left behind. Grabbing a nearby bucket and sponge and getting onto his knees to scrub it off.

"I know Dianite has his orders-" Steve started.

"You aren't suggesting-"

"We were told to protect this town," Steve reminded him. "We can't do it alone." Mot knew where he was going with this, but entertained it anyway.

"There's hardly anyone left besides us followers and the Wizards, all the civilians left. What does Dianite want us to protect?" Mot said, clenching his teeth together. This had to be the most frustrating demeaning work he had been given and without a reason too. Satisfied the taint was gone he dumped the dirty water over the railing and onto the dead chicken and placed the bucket back in its corner. He leaned against the wooden column of his porch and gestured out to the woods where the faint glow of white flowers stopped the looming threat prodding at them, purple tendrils stretching out from the woods. "That hasn't slowed since those boys left."

"Exactly," Steve said and he gave Mot a meaningful look. "Syndi is still the Champion and that exorcist is still an option."

"Last I recall, the exorcist died on the job and had to be brought back by our incompetent Champion," Mot said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette. "Better ideas?" He lit it with a match.

"I'm being serious. We won't be able to hold this up for another three months. I did some research-" Steve started, shifting anxiously.

"Last I recall Declan's personal belongings isn't that much research material-" Mot said, referencing the true thief to most of the Priest's belongings. Not that Champwan, who had appeared to collect one item and leave, had really cared.

"No, but Jeriah sure did leave behind a fair bit and I pilfered a few things from Jordan before he left," Steve admitted guilelessly. It wasn't like Jordan was going to miss it. Or at least he wasn't going to before he was alive. And Jeriah, the soggy napkin, didn't really form relationships with anyone. No protestors there. "You know why Jeriah hired him?"

"Because he was the only one dumb enough to show up?" After him, no one wanted to show up. He may have released a few articles clearly stating Jeriah was a sociopath and that Dagrun was a trap to kill any right-minded man looking to make a quick buck by eliminating a supposed demon.

"No...well, yes. He hadn't been watching the rumors about our town beforehand. Anyway, did you ever see his past exorcisms?" Steve said and his anxiety seemed to reach a peak as he shifted, his salt and pepper blonde hair falling from where it was tucked into his hat and into his eyes.