Chapter 16: Chapter 16: A Demonic Encounter

The ninth district was a rural area. It’s near the tenth so it’s hard not to think of the dreadful feeling that he had felt when visiting the tenth district days ago. Lesnik’s presence still left a lingering fear in Robert that couldn’t be easily rid off. Still, he must focus on the task given to him.

Sauntering to the place where Dan Montenegro was living. Robert inspected the cottage he was living in. A medium-size house with half-timbered walls and red brick tiles for a roof that had faded with time.

The front of the house was not swept. The garden was untended and most of the plants have withered. The windows are blocked by the curtains. The picket fence corralling the house was dusty.

The cottage itself was part of a lot. A lot that was clearly not maintained by anyone. Robert takes his double-barreled shotgun out and slowly makes his way to the door. He kneels. He takes a look at the lock before taking out a set of lockpicks from his coat’s pockets. He pied the room first, cleared the sides, and searched the living room. Marking the living room as a clear before moving to the second floor.

The second floor was different. Multiple writings found in cursive letters are spread all over the walls. Written in blood. Robert takes his recon camera out and takes a photograph. He moves to the room and finds Danton Montenegro emaciated with sunken cheeks and broken fingers.

He was missing an eye. His hair was balding and he uses the blood leaking out of his left palm as ink to write with his broken fingers.

Robert raises his shotgun and keeps it pointed on Danton Montenegro.

“Mr. Montenegro. Can you hear me?”

He did not answer. His hands kept on writing. It made Robert wonder if this was the right path.  And yet he could not do anything right now other than call the phone number in his phonebook.

“Miss Juliana.”

“You are calling me. Hmm, was there something happening?”

“I’m currently in the cottage of a man named Danton Montenegro. He was in a state of trance, writing with his palm’s blood.”

“Are there any runic writings in the walls?”

“Yes.”

“Robert Oswald. I advise you right now to seal your body’s mana and leave that house now and wait for an Agent to come to that lot. Tell me the address. because I'm sure that was demon possession and from the sound of it. It’s Marba’s Lecture. Stray your eyes from the writings. It’s good that you are not well-versed in the knowledge of runes. Tell me why you are there in the first place.”

Robert explains how he got here. The deal with the Witch Lucia and the task he was given to. After confirming the details, Robert was instructed by Juliana to escape the vicinity of the area and wait for further orders. Make sure that no one else other than him enters the area where Marba’s Lecture was happening.

Lesser Demons. Demons. True Demons. Demon Princes.

Lesser Demons can be handled with normal weaponry. Demons are dangerous and will need the assistance of an Agent. True Demons however need multiple Agents and possibly a master of magic to confront. And the Demon Princes would need the attention of an Arch-Mage, a Wizard, and a Slayer.

Slayers are those who have achieved legendary status. They are holders of famed weapons. Heroic Souls that have etched their name in History.

Robert keeps his double-barreled shotgun close. When the Agent that Juliana called appears, Robert senses a similar feeling. Like a small animal recognizing a predator.

This man is stronger than me.

That was Robert’s thoughts as this man in a black trench coat walks with a decorated sword with a pommel embedded with a crystal. He studies Robert. Deep black eyes looking at him.

“Robert Oswald, it’s a pleasure. You have been involved with these kinds of accidents, lately. I am Gregory Hawke.”

Robert accepts his extended hand. He squeezes hard.

“Strong body.”

He compliments Robert while adjusting the brim of his hat. His eyes went on the cottage. He takes something out of his coat and stabs the stake on the ground.

“Bury these stakes in the four corners of this lot.”

Robert takes the stakes. And buries them in the side of the lot. The stakes are made of silver inscribed with runic writings. After placing them Robert saunters back to Sir Hawke where he was preparing the core.

“Enforcer Oswald, how are you with living space? I had heard that Young Simone took you to Lesnik.”

“Have you met him, sir?”

“Once. Lesnik was the one who taught Merlin his druid abilities. He had mellowed out compared to the years he was actively speaking with humans. When I met him. I felt dread. Helplessness. Lesnik was a creature  that could look the Demons in the eyes and not flinch. It’s understandable to feel despair at his presence. You did well.”

Agent Hawke forms a seal with his hands. A translucent barrier covers the lot and within a few seconds. It seems to be quiet. Robert takes a wake out of the living space. He discovers that the house had been covered by this barrier. As if it didn’t exist.

This kind of world scares me, Robert internally complains as he takes a step back to the living space. Sir Hawke finishes the barrier and takes the sword out of his cane.

The sword hummed. There was this invisible energy coating it. Sir Hawke looks back and asks.

“Do you have silver bullets, Oswald?”

“I have.”

“I want you to watch for anything. We are facing a demon beyond the label of a Demon. It might just be an essence. But if we fail. It will not be easy. Marba’s Lecture overwhelms the mind. It fills it with knowledge and tries to gracefully hand a percent. A blessing and a curse.”

“Was there anyone who could have handled it?”

“There was. The Key of Solomon was made because of that.”

“Oh, I guess that makes sense.”

“There are a lot of secrets that are true. Myths that even all the magic we can muster wouldn’t fade away. These legends will remain. You cannot suppress the sun. My ancestors used to say.”

Despite the horror they are facing. The confidence of his stride and the strength of his spirit made Robert feel somewhat safe.

With Sir Hawke taking the lead. They reach the second floor where Danton Montenegro was still writing the Lecture Marbas was speaking in his head.

“I shall now perform the exorcism rites, Oswald. Silence your heart and steer clear.”

Sir Hawke approaches.

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost,” he places his palm on his humming sword. “Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places”

It was a prayer to the St. Michael the Archangel. A prayer for strength so that he can wield the aspect of his flaming sword.

His sword blazes. A flame that burns the air. It was so hot that Robert can’t help wondering if he was in front of a forge.

Sir Hawke holds in front

“Oh Demon who had come to pollute the mind of this magician. Leave his body, you do not belong here!”

Robert kneels at the words of power. The strength on his legs failed as the words that spoke were not enough.

But Marbas’s lecture did not stop.

If anything, the writing of the blood became faster. The dense aura around the second floor became so suffocating that Robert could feel his breath lessen.

“It seems that the hold of the demon was already too strong.”

He takes a fighting stance. 

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“May Thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us. As great as our hope in Thee. We drive you from us, whoever you may be, unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions, assemblies and sects.”

Prayers without words of power are simply prayers. But prayers with power in it became a voice that could turn to strength. Although he himself was not familiar with such prayers, Robert knows the prayers that are used.

And yet in the hands of an Agent of the Commission. It was a deadly prayer that can cut through the miasma. The aspect that he summoned upon his sword burned the air.

“Enforcer Oswald,” he says sternly. “One day when magic dies the connection to the spiritual world will falter. Technology will rule us and magic will weaken. But faith was constant. Men will revere gods unconsciously, find comfort in a being that  hears their prayers.”

His flaming sword bursts into flame.

“But men must act so God may witness. And a demon entering the world of men was not welcome.”

The air changes again. He makes a thrusting stance and his body slides like he got pushed by something. The blade enters the heart of Danton Montenegro. The room squeals as if it was hurt.

It came to Robert that this room was part of the lecture. Creatures that have a humanoid form try to get out of the room. Sir Hawke speaks a prayer again, igniting the flame on his sword, burning Danton Montenegro’s body.

The room falters.

“You humans. Always so comedic.”

Fear.

That voice that was simply fear incarnate.

Robert collapses on the spot.

He throws his hands out and starts screaming incoherently. His mind was in chaos. He was conscious yet his body and instincts refuse to listen to him.

He was holding his head. Weeping so badly that even a baby would be ashamed of his cries.

The miasma lessens.

Sir Hawke looks down on him and draws a rune in front of Robert.

The rune enters Robert’s head.

His despairing eyes freezes and passes out, leaving Sir Hawke standing alone in the room.

 

***

 

With Robert sleeping on the ground.

Sir Hawke takes his radio out and calls Juliana.

“The demon's essence left.”

“Good. I hope there are no casualties?”

“Your Enforcer fainted.”

“How unsightly.”

“He heard the words of Marbas. If anything, how he was able to endure that was impressive. Still, from the looks of it. He’ll be able to endure long enough to move his limbs at least and fire a gun.”

There was silence behind the radio.

“What was your assessment of this?”

“From what I hear this Witch asked for the wand. He might have been trying to use a wand to better conduct his spells. But the thing was that this fool had purchased a book with a taint of Marbas on it.”

“A grimoire written by someone who had learned it from a book tainted by Marbas?”

“That’s it.”

“This was troublesome.  This was the seventh case. Is this related to the Temple?”

“They use demons in their ranks now. For a cult that idealizes the ideals of the Knights Templar, they have fallen hard.”

“I will be expecting a full report.”

“Got it. Juliana, one more thing, are we really going to leave the cases with our Enforcers?”

“We have to. There was no choice now as the millennium ends. Truly, we are in strange times where we have to worry about such things like this."

Sir Hawke looks outside through the window.

“I’m done here. Please help me secure this place.”

“Understood.”

“Shall I give the wand to the Enforcer? It seems like he needs it for a favor.”

“I will allow it. But make sure that it was not tainted.”

Sir Hawke takes the wand from the drawer. There was little trace of miasma in it, but Marbas’s taint was not on the wand. Sir Hawke hears a groan.

“Are you awake?”

Robert with his eyes sunken nods. He looks at Danton Montenegro who was moaning in paint, points the shotgun at him, and blows his head off. There was rage in Robert Oswald’s face.

“Calm down, Enforcer.”

Sir Hawke grabs the shotgun and lowers it.

“He was dead.”

Robert pulls the shotgun away, stops, turns and pulls the trigger on the last shell left in his gun. This time he shoots it on the chest of the burnt corpse.

“That was enough, Enforcer Oswald. Calm yourself right now.”

Robert staggers at the words spoken by Sir Hawke.

He stares at Sir Hawke before leaving with his eyes pointed on the floor.

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