Demon Revelation: The Day of Fear

Demons and Friendship

The storm began at dawn. I joined the crowd of Disciples making their way to the Sanctuary block as the first raindrops fell. Rushing up the entrance stairs, I manoeuvred through the crowd to reach the Hall before the bell rang. As I came to a halt, I took in the cracked black marble floors and scuffed ivory walls of Sanctuary Hall. With limited electricity, the radiators remained off until winter, resulting in a cool temperature that I actually enjoyed.

The Disciples of the Sect, draped across the furniture in various clusters, wore black and green attire. The boys often left their chests bare under their green blazers, while the girls sported shorter sleeves or tied their blazers around their waists, showcasing their tattoos. Almost everyone had tattoos nowadays, protective sigils obtained from defeated wiccans. Personally, I chose to avoid them. The idea of someone so intimately close to me made me uncomfortable, regardless of how aesthetically pleasing the ink may be.

I contemplated what would happen if I were to shout, "I'm a fairy, and there's a vampire in my wardrobe." It would certainly create a dramatic scene.

Without thinking, my gaze scanned the crowd. I spotted Alex sitting alone at our bench. She noticed my arrival and greeted me with an animated wave, as if my presence was something special. Alex, slender and heavily tattooed from head to toe, often confused people with her striking beauty. Her long blonde hair and sultry blue eyes contrasted beautifully with her tan skin. She smiled, and the blue runes adorning her cheekbones crinkled. "Hey," she said, tossing a can at me.

I caught it effortlessly and nodded in gratitude, tilting my chin upwards as a silent thanks. I took a few big gulps, finishing the drink, and grinned at her, considering breakfast was done.

Alex had an attitude of not caring about others' opinions or actions. Whether the upper dwellers gave her a hard time or looked down on her for coming from the slums, she would confront them and move on to the next challenge. She approached friendships in the same way, which was why she was my only friend. She didn't mind that I was different; in fact, she considered herself a misfit as well.

Walking over to our bench, I sat on the table surface and positioned one leg under my butt, letting the other hang freely. Alex, munching on a bread roll, pretended to roll her eyes dramatically. "Everything's bad, Rae. Really bad," she said with a mouthful. "I had a terrible sleep, and there's a storm coming. My hair is all static."

She gestured wildly with her hands, emphasising her point.

When Alex got overly excited or emotional, she tended to slip into her colloquial roots and spoke in a more casual manner. When we first met, her way of speaking was difficult for me to understand, but over time, I became accustomed to her babble.

She paused in her narrative of how a third-grader had tried to ask her out but ended up vomiting, screwing up her eyes in contemplation. "What about you? You look unusually shiny and more frazzled than usual."

I maintained a neutral expression and shrugged, trying not to give away too much. "Not much, really."

Her eyebrow arched, and I realised my composed face might have been a little too convincing. "Are you going to share or keep evading?" she asked, her tone teasing. "Don't make me extract the information forcefully. I went to your room this morning to have breakfast, but you weren't there. I searched everywhere. Where did you go? Did you do something forbidden?"

Strangely enough, he had shown no interest in joining any of the popular Sects, like the Emissaries of the Guardians. Instead, he chose to be a Disciple, like me. There were rumours that he had a secret agenda or a hidden power that made him choose this path, but nobody knew for sure.

I mumbled another apology to Devlin and quickly stepped back, avoiding any further physical contact. My mind was still clouded with thoughts of Breandan, the fairy-boy who had captivated me. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if I followed him, if I embraced the unknown and ventured beyond the Wall. But the rational part of me knew it was a dangerous and foolish idea.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present. I had a Demon Theory class to attend, and I needed to regain my composure. Devlin gave me a curious look, but I simply smiled politely and made my way back to my seat.

As the lesson began, I tried my best to concentrate on the topic at hand, but my mind kept drifting back to the encounter with Breandan. The storm outside seemed to mirror the turmoil within me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't yet comprehend.

But for now, I had to focus on my studies and navigate the challenges that lay before me. The secrets, the mysteries, and the dangers that awaited me within the walls of the Temple. And perhaps, just perhaps, I would find the answers I sought and discover my true purpose in this world.

But for now, I would embrace the present and face whatever came my way with courage and determination. The storm may have broken at dawn, but I was ready to weather whatever storms awaited me on my journey.

Although the slums were known for their poor conditions, they were also home to the most talented and genuine individuals. While there were drug dealers selling a popular narcotic called slammers and streetwalkers, there were also talented musicians, dancers, and artists who brought life to the area. Despite having limited spare time as a Disciple, the stranger's had ventured into the heart of the slums once and desired to go back. Ro, noticing the questions on the stranger's face, assured them that they would discuss it later. However, the stranger's mind wandered, thinking about the fairy-boy they had encountered earlier and hoping he wouldn't be discovered. Cleric Tu entered the room, a young and pleasant-looking man, but known as a murderer due to his acts against demons. Although the stranger's felt a bit uneasy, they managed to remain composed. Tu enjoyed an apple, a rare treat, and engaged the class in a discussion about identifying demons. The stranger was preoccupied with doodling silver eyes, finding comfort in them. As the class discussed various demon species, including vampires, shifters, witches, and goblins, the topic of fairies arose. Tu mentioned an increased activity and sightings of fairies near the Wall, causing the stranger's heart to race. They realised the significance of this information and questioned Tu about the Sect's knowledge of fairies. The stranger's suspected that the Sect had studied fairies extensively but was keeping the information hidden. Tu grew defensive and abruptly ended the discussion, leaving the stranger's with lingering doubts. 

"That is enough on this topic," Tu said, his voice regaining composure. "We will continue with our regular studies. Fairies are a minor concern compared to the greater threats we face."

I nodded, aware that I had struck a nerve but realising there was nothing more to be gained from pushing the matter further. The class resumed its discussions, but my mind was still racing with questions and suspicions.

As I sat there, doodling absentmindedly on my notepad, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The slums, the secrets, the elusive fairies—they were all connected in some way, and I was determined to uncover the truth. It was dangerous, I knew, but I couldn't ignore the nagging curiosity that burned within me.

For now, though, I played the obedient disciple, keeping my thoughts and suspicions to myself. But deep down, I knew that sooner or later, I would have to confront the secrets lurking within the Temple walls and the truth that lay beyond.