Encased within Darkness

Chapter 4

Maria was always told to await orders which was Vincent's way of keeping control of whatever situation happened to arrive. But Maria knew that she had to disobey. Among the students at Weston, there was a dark feeling that seemed to envelop everyone within its grasps. It was a feeling Maria had come to recognize as hatred. 

Humans were complicated creatures. They had so many feelings and thoughts and power that she often wondered why God would create such beings. Angels were meant to serve and obey, but humans were meant for much more complex things, things a being like her couldn't hope to understand. 

But she was alright with that. Maria wasn't a guardian Angel, understanding humans was not what she was meant to do; she was an Angel of death, an archangel whose sole job was eradicating the demons from the face of the earth. And she could sense the presence of a demon. 

Flying, Maria approached the large church on the opposite side of Weston. Every school in England had a church, and Maria knew that the church is where most demons loved to hide. Demons reveled in the challenge of stealing one of God's children, and Maria figured that the church would be the best place to wait for the demon to arrive. 

She landed and rested on top of the church as her eyes scanning for the demon, sensing the darkness of hatred. She waited until the sky was a golden color, its horizon getting closer and closer to night. Then, she saw it.

A brown haired student was approaching the Church, his eyes glazed as he peered at the ground. On his back was a black creature, with a bulbous head that had a mouth curved into a smile as large as its head, filled with razor sharp teeth.

Maria instantly recognized the creature. "A demon familiar," she muttered.

It was obvious the familiar was leeching the boy's pure energy, converting it into hatred. The boy looked glazed but that would only last as long as the familiar was attached to him. When it left, he would be filled with an incurable hatred.

Maria had to act. Wasting no time she flew down and appeared​ directly behind him. Her wings folded behind her back and to any onlookers it appeared as though she had suddenly appeared out of thin air. 

"Hello," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The boy turned, giving her his attention though his eyes never lost their hazy appearance. "Yes?" He muttered.

The Demon could sense her true nature and shrank back, seemingly torn between staying and fleeing.

"I'm Oliver Baker, you?"

"Oscar," he answered. Looking her up and down, he commented, "You look like a girl."

"Yes, but I am a boy," Maria answered.

Although she spoke to him, her eyes never left the demon and it seemed to know what she was thinking. Finally, it let go, and leaped off into the sky.

Watching it go, all she said was a simple, "Goodbye," before walking past him.

The boy named Oliver blinked at the sudden end of the conversation and turned around, only to find no sight of her.

Maria had taken to the sky and quickly caught up with the Demon.

In her hand a bright light sizzled in her palm to reveal a sword. With the sword she quickly cut the demon down, hearing it squeal in pain as its body was ripped in two.

Pausing midflight, Maria checked to see if there were anymore demons. There were.
But before she could take action, she turned her head to see the figure of Vincent approaching along with Diederich. Both boys drew close to Oliver and Vincent seemed to partake in idle chitchat with him while Diederich was trying to usher him to the church. When Vincent finally stopped talking, he waved goodbye and followed Diederich to the church.

Considering it coincidence, Maria decided to meet Vincent inside. Dropping down and entering the church, her wings vanished and Maria managed to get close to Vincent who smiled and threw his arm around her shoulder.

"You can't just go off on your own you know. You're suppose to stay close to me," he murmured, too low for anyone else to hear.

"I regret my actions, but it was necessary," she answered. 

Only a small, "hm," escaped his lips as he pulled away and sat in his seat. Maria sat next to him and quietly listened as the others entered. Soon, the church was filled and it became quiet.

Although Maria knew it was God's church and that humans should respect that, she couldn't keep the smile from her face as she glanced at Vincent casually sleeping on Diederich's shoulder, to the other boy's annoyance. 

"Why're you smiling?" Diederich's questioned, having seen her expression.

"He seems so relaxed with you. You two must be what they call friends."

A faint blush crept to Diederich's cheeks as he scoffed and shook Vincent awake. 

"hn? Is it over?" Vincent mumbled, rubbing his eyes. 

"You need to get up, someone like you shouldn't be sleeping in church. The underclassmen might get the wrong idea."

"It'll be fine, there's nothing wrong," Vincent answered, placing his head against Diederich's shoulder again. 

"Oi! Get up!" 

Maria chuckled despite herself. 'The master seems so happy,' She thought, watching them with interest.