Chapter Eight (Lazarus)

I headed in the church's direction; the pastor had better be in. It was such an odd thing for my mother to request, but who was I to question her?

I walked into the chapel as goosebumps covered my arms from being in the forbidden place. Demons were not welcome in any place of god or goddesses, whether it be a Puritan church or a Greek temple. Entering the space caused great discomfort for any demon and in the weaker one's death.

Pastor Gideon, it's Samuel. We had a meeting today. I announced as I walked around the space looking for him.

“Over here, dear boy.” A man spoke from behind a door on the side. I walked over and looked into the small room; a grey-haired man sat behind a desk looking over books. His eyes squinted as he looked through a magnifying glass at the text before him. Entering, I closed the door behind me and walked towards him.

“What is it I can do for you?” he asked as he put the magnifying glass down and looked at me with his dark grey eyes. At first impressions he seemed like a friendly old man, but his eyes told a different story, dark and full of menace. This man liked to hurt others. How the hell did he become a pastor?

I cleared my throat, “My mother sent me, she requested I give you this relic.” I announced as I handed him an enchanted monocle that when used would cause a red aura to form around any with magical abilities, of course I was exempt from its effects at my mothers request, one of the slave witches she had put a glamour on me to protect me from the monocles detection, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to stay here and manipulate things to her will. She had many witches and creatures at her disposal, it was a little unnerving. I hated the idea of slaves in most of the kingdom, but there were still some that followed the old ways, and she was one of them.
I knew Sin was working on changing the laws and outlawing slavery. It was one of the things I actually liked him for.

“This will work?” Pastor Gideon asked, eyeing up the monocle suspiciously.

“I am not a liar, pastor.” I retorted, angry that my mother had sent me again to do her dirty work. Why was she so invested in the witch trials, anyway?

“Sorry Samuel, just wanted to be sure. Is there anything else?” he asked as he set the monocle on his desk.

“No, that’s it, I’ll be on my way.”

I left the church and the moment I was off the property; I breathed in the fresh air as the uncomfortable feeling ebbed away.

I wonder where my little dove is staying; I looked at the buildings around me but didn’t sense her. The beautiful redhead with curves to die for, even in the drab dress she was wearing, she couldn’t hide her beauty.

That woman was something else, something about her called me to her, I wanted to speak with her again without that conniving old broad.

I headed through the village, surprised when my mother walked out of the shop in front of me. The puritan getup she was wearing didn't suit her at all like a clown in a business suit.

“Lazarus, what are you doing?” she hissed as she looked around me, “You were supposed to see the pastor, then come home, where are you going? You want our plan to be discovered?”

“Why did you follow me, don’t trust me, mother?” I asked as my eyes narrowed, “Of course, I did as you asked.” I sighed; why was she so invested, anyway? I didn’t even have any interest in the throne, but she never listened to me, so set on defeating Sin. Sure, I hated the guy, but why should I be bothered with politics? I had other things I would rather be doing. Like getting to know a certain redhead trapped in an unforgivable time. Who knows what she would be willing to do to go back home?

“Go home mother, I am working on something.” Like I would tell her I was looking for a human woman. She would kill her on the spot, wouldn’t be the first time. Every woman I ever showed an interest in mysteriously died or disappeared.

“Why would you risk him seeing you? If Sin saw you, he…”

“I spoke to him already; he thinks I followed him. He knows nothing of our plans.”

“That you know of. You underestimate your older brother, and you are going to set everything I have set in motion in flames, and I will never forgive you!” she pouted, looking hurt. “Killing your father was hard enough, but now Sin is in our way, we deserve the throne more than him.”

I looked at the pathetic look on her face, I hated it when she did stuff like this, making me feel guilty, “I’m sorry, I promise he does not know.”

I resented her for killing my father, but I also had an idea of what she really was, and I wasn’t wanting to meet the same fate as him, so I followed along and did her bidding, waiting for the right moment.

She sniffed, “And that brother of yours is so willing to side with the enemy we will have to do something about him.” She declared.

What the hell does that mean, I won’t be doing anything to harm my brother. Sure, we aren’t close or anything, but I still care about him, “What do you mean?”

“He is either with us or against us. It’s as simple as that.”

“You know I won’t let you hurt him. He is your son, don't you care?” I informed knowing her response.

“Like you can stop me, child. Son or not, Rook is a traitor.” She hissed before adding, “Now we have to go. The oracle has found your mate.” She smiled evilly before her purple flames engulfed her and she was gone.

“Yeah, I guess we should.” I looked around me to make sure I was alone before my blue flames engulfed me and brought me back to the hell plane. Maybe I can get some other information from this oracle as well.