The Cainite Order

CHAPTER 22

ΜΙΑ ΑΛΉΘΕΙΑ ΜΙΛΉΣΕΙ ΠΡΙΝ ΑΠΌ ΤΟ ΧΡΌΝΟ ΤΟΥ ΕΊΝΑΙ ΕΠΙΚΊΝΔΥΝΗ

CHAPTER 22

"A truth spoken before its time is dangerous."

Scrape...

scrape...

scrape...

A black figure crawled out of the darkness that filled much of the First Methodist Church, collared by a massive towing chain that scratched the floor as it moved. Candles provided the only flickers of light. The effect added to the sinister nature of the new arrival. The massive figure walked on four muscular legs, bathed in a shadowy mist that seemed to emanate from inside it. It brazenly walked from the shadows towards the altar at the back of the church. It reached forward with a colossal claw filled with razor sharp nails and depressed a small pressure switch hidden in the scroll work of the altar. Silently the marble table slid aside revealing a staircase and an unpleasant looking Rakshasas holding a fully automatic shotgun.

"Move or be removed." growled the black figure.

"Who the hell are you?" demanded the Rakshasas.

The beast leapt at its new foe with frightening speed. It wasted no time in killing its target by ripping out the throat. As the Rakshasas fell, the beast landed on his chest and forcefully caved it in with the horrifying sound of bone snapping and muscle tearing.

"I am your death fool." it growled, watching the light leave the Rakshasas eyes.

The beast continued forward down the stairs peering through eyes that glowed like coals in a blast furnace. It spied several more beings in its way at the bottom of the stairs. They could not yet see it, but it could see their very souls through anything. It smiled a toothy grin hoping these would be just as foolish as the last pile of flesh.

"Dobhail is that you or do I need to kill what's in my stairwell?" asked Ms. Wakahisa.

"I don't go screaming your name to everyone Chiyoko, I would appreciate the same courtesy." Dobhail replied as it reached the bottom of the stairwell.

She motioned for the others to go back to their duties and leave them. When they were alone she opened the portal to the abandoned Chapter house that resided under the church. She led Dobhail in silence through the dust-covered hallways to a room with a generator and floodlights.

"So why are you here? The operation is proceeding as planned and even if the Order shows up there won't be enough of them to make a difference. So I'm puzzled as to why you were sent here." asked Wakahisa Chiyoko, closing the door.

"I was sent by our master to ensure you either succeed or survive. Nothing more!" he growled.

"Why would they send a Barguest to be my babysitter?" she inquired.

"Because unlike the slippery fox I'm guarding, I can stand and fight as well as disappear on command." he growled angrily through glowing red eyes. The mist that surrounded him momentarily parted as he rose to reveal his true visage. A eight-foot-tall beast that looked as though every negative canine attribute had been distilled into the body of a bear standing on its hind legs.

"I am no more scared of you than you are of me. So how about we quit this posturing and get to what we are here for before the ghosts in this place take notice of what we are doing." Wakahisa sighed as she leaned on a packing crate.

"When will the ceremony begin?" growled Dobhail.

"An hour or two. Once the planetary alignment is complete we will charge the stone and open the abandoned arch. Then our master, as you call him, can complete the next phase of his grand scheme." she answered.