Anna giggled again with glee as she watched the snake move its head around in a circular motion, in sync with her own hand's movements. The snake was an Australian Diamond back rattlesnake, as indicated by the sign nearby the glass cage. Unlike most children her age, Anna had no deeply rooted fear of serpents. She had always found the creatures strangely fascinating, from the way they moved and behaved right down to their varied feeding methods. Which was why she had only spent a few minutes with the other reptiles before focusing all her attention on this one.
At first the rattlesnake had paid her little attention, obviously used to being stared at by visitors to the reserve. Then she managed to make eye contact with it, or at least she thought she did. Those slitted glassy amber eyes were a different kind of weird even for her. That was when things got strange. When she had attempted to move to another snake, the diamond patterned creature had"No." "Why?" "Because I don't believe that any one is ever truly born evil." Her answer hit him with the force of a sledgehammer to the gut. Was this it? The question that had plagued him for so long, had it really possessed such a simple answer? He remembered the last person he had asked that question and what had been her answer. Back then, his soul had rejected it firmly and so had he. But now, deep within him he could feel this little girl's words resonating with his soul. There was no mistaking it. Her answer was the one he had been searching for... but still... No. That couldn't be everything. He would have to hear her out more. To satisfy his own curiosity if nothing else. "And what do you mean by that?" Arthur asked, his face set in a thoughtful expression. "Do you mean to say that all the criminals and evil doers in this world are not to blame?" "No that's not what I mean," Anna shook her head
After last week's game, school had been abuzz with various comments and thoughts on the event. Students discussed the game's statistics in groups and cliques in the hallways and courtyards, with the more knowledgeable ones offering their take on the matter. As had been expected, the Starlight Comets had trumped the visitors to take the first win of the new season. The whole team had spent the first few periods of the past few days stampeding through the school hallways in loud cheer. As the rowdy bunch crashed their way through the second hallway of the Department of Theater and Arts, the students parted to make way for the team with some of them even joining momentarily in the cheer. One of the students, a slightly tall girl with a slender build and dull red hair leaned into the white wall to avoid the crowds. Dressed in a form fitting dark blue blouse and pants combo, she looked just as desirable as any of the top diva
'Hey witch girl,' the monster called at her, turning his blood splattered face to give her the cruelest smile she had ever seen. 'Do you know any spells for reading this guy's mind?' His right hand dragged up the brutalized lump of breathing flesh that was the Rougarou, without a single care for the disgusting squelch it made nor the agonized wheezes that came from the creature. Even from where she stood, she could see where its slashed abdomen struggled to hold back its innards from spilling out all over the ground. It took a conscious effort on her part to avoid throwing up the contents of her stomach at the sight. Her ears picked up the inhumane laughter of the monster as he mocked her. Did he think she was like him? That she was as evil as that? The scene changed. She didn't know how but she was aware of what had happened. The iron tight grip around her
September 14, 2022, 1:37 pm, Starlight Central Academy, Literature Class. The bell rang thirty minutes later and a cacophony of noise filled the class as the need to remain quiet disappeared with the end of the lecture. As students began to make their way out of the hall, two girls moved instead to the left wing of the classroom where two other individuals awaited them. "You can't tell me that you don't at least find him a little bit attractive?" Mia sighed and turned to shoot Melanie a dry look. "It doesn't matter whether he's cute or not. I'm telling you, there's something seriously wrong about those guys." "Oh come on Mia, they're perfectly fine," Melanie said with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. Then she paused to tap one well manicured finger on her full lips thoughtfully. "Well, at least most of them are. That one guy just gives off total weirdo vibes. But the rest a
September 14th, 11:45pm, The Vatican City, An undisclosed location beneath St Peter's Basilica... The Holy Catholic Church was perhaps one of the most powerful yet controversial organizations to have ever existed in the history of mankind. Its history was both marred by atrocities committed by leaders in the centuries past and scandals that surrounded so many of its clergy in the modern day, as well as brightened by the wonderful fruits its faithful had brought upon the world throughout its existence. There were few aspects of modern day society that weren't affected even a little by the theologies, doctrines and ideologies of the Church. It existed practically everywhere, with ties to just about every major group in the modern world. That applied both to the normal, mundane world that most humans dwelled in and the darker, supernatural world that was filled with existences that ought not
September 14th, 11:58 pm, The Vatican City, St Peter's Basilica. The owner of the hoarse voice, Fr Josef Costa was a sixty something year old man with a balding head and bushy eyebrows and a slight moustache that was filled with gray hairs much like the situation atop his scalp. He wore a dark blue cassock and a royal purple stole that depicted his status as a Cardinal. His eyes were small but filled with a clarity and intelligence that reflected the knowledge his age had given him. The old man gave Vincent an unreadable look before shifting his dark eyes to the still seething Fr Enzo. "And you, have you lost all sense of empathy? Creatures of the night or not, those deceased were no less individuals than you and I. Do not spit on the face of their families and friends by disrespecting their passing." For a second it seemed as if Enzo was about to let the older man, though not by much, have a piece of his mind. But in a flash the expression on the man's face suddenly swit
"Before the creation of the Exorcist Project, the Hunters had served as the Council's primary attack force. Back then, while the paladins had fought the threats we could see, the Hunters battled the unseen evil that threatened to consume the world of old." The priest paused momentarily to decide how best to arrange his words. "I cannot tell you yet the exact details of that story." Vincent raised an eyebrow at that but the old man merely gave him a sideways glance. "Don't give me that look. You know very well how these things work." Vincent did indeed understand. Which was why he remained silent and let the man continue at his own pace. "Due to certain classified circumstances, a few of the less righteous members of the clergy were able to obtain some information on a subject that possessed... extremely powerful regenerative capabilities." 'Regenerative abilities?' Vincent repeated in hi
September 15th, 12:15 AM Starlight Bay, Somewhere within Starlight Forest... The pale white glow of the half moon shone down on the beautiful city of Starlight Bay. Even at this late hour, the city was still dotted with brilliant and often multicolored lights that illuminated the night sky. The air was cold enough that most people out in the streets had to wear jackets to block out the chill as they went about their businesses. But while some people slept, and some people indulged themselves in all manner of activities, in the woodlands that formed a natural border around the city, a fierce battle raged on... Both figures blurred back and forth. Their blades clashed loudly, hardened metal against crystallized blood, each time releasing showers of bright sparks into the air. The fight had been going on for over five minutes and Alaric had to admit that he had t