Oh great one who controls the night
one who weaves dreams with unseen light
lord of night who darkens the path of sorrow
I pray for your unending grace
I pray for your strength.
As soon as he had uttered the prayer, the bright flame of orange hue was quickly turned to a dark flame that emitted a white light.
The priest raised both of his hands up, and the white light emitted on the walls turned dark, the shadow that the priest saw before slowly slid into the dark spot in the wall, and a man exited.
He had hair as white as snow, and his eyes looked like a blue, bright jewel. But he suddenly removed the mask on his face, thick slimy substances were between his face and the mask like glue, his features changed. His eyes turned brown, and his hair turned black.
There was a long scar across his eyes, it was not deep, but it ran all the way from his forehead to his chin through the skin on his left eye, which he still opened without any problem.
"Alexis," the priest muttered, "You are as creepy as ever... Who was this time?"
"A kid from the wolves, he looked too confident." Alexis shrugged, "Naturally, as his senior, I had to educate him."
"Killing people is not educating, Alexis," A man entered through another dark spot on the wall, "It goes against the teachings of our lord. You must not kill without reason."
"Yes, yes, whatever you say..." He leaned in, even though they were far away. "Mister apostle's pet."
As soon as he uttered those words, a knife made completely from darkness passed his face, barely missing and dissolving momentarily as it hit the wall. It gave him a slight scar. "Ooh, scary." He acted as if he was surprised, wiping the blood off his face.
"Be careful with your words," The man came into the light, he had a really dark, it was as dark as charcoal. His eyes looked like the night skies, the tiny stars swarming in those two pupils.
"Aldric, please keep your calm." The priest said, he had an air of authority, the two of the others were not in the best mood to listen. But they obeyed regardless, they won't get anything from fighting against each other.
The three of them got seated on the rectangular wooden table, Aldric and Alexis were seated on the short end, while the priest sat on the long end. There was one seat left, they were waiting for someone.
Soon, all the dark spots on the walls pulsed, and they pulsed again. A cloaked figure entered through a dark spot that both Aldric and Alexis did not use. Everyone stood up as soon as they saw him.
"We greet the apostle." They bowed and said in unison, the earlier hostility was all gone, replaced with pure fear.
"Be seated," His voice coarse, "Praise the night lord."
"The one who offers us grace." They replied and took their respective seats.
Everyone sat in silence for a few minutes before the apostle spoke, breaking the silence. "I am yet to receive revelation from our lord." There was a hint of sad disappointment in his voice.
"It has been three years hasn't it," Next was the priest, his tone was that of confidence, "but whatever happens, I believe our god would not abandon us."
Alexis and Aldric did not utter a word, the reason was simple. The apostle did not grant them permission, and they were here for a separate reason, the meeting was just a part of it.
"Are there still outsiders... Priest Destin?" The conversion was serious from the start, but now it somehow got even more serious. "We don't have much more tolerance left them."
"I think..." Destin, the priest, sat in deep thought for a while before answering, "We have gotten almost everyone, there were one or two left when I last checked." He facepalmed, "They are so stubborn, talking about god not giving them food."
"We will put them away from their misery then." The apostle looked at Alexis, who smiled and replied.
Two young men were working at a farm, their famished bodies could speak about their poverty. Yet they were hard workers, not resting without completing their work. "The people are idiots." One man said as they toiled the land.
"How many times have you told me this already," The other man had a smile, it was a bright and energetic smile contrary to their poverty. "If they wish to, it is their life."
"Man, why can't the government just give us the money instead of building a useless church." He tilled the land harder in frustration.
"Now now, come one Derek," The other man was still positive, "Focus on the work will you?"
"Whatever you say, sleepyhead"
"I am not a sleepyhead, Just to clarify."
Derek stopped his work and looked up to the sky, "Once I save up enough, I will head to the city and start a new life there." He clenched his fists, "Start a family, have kids, and look after them... Life has so much to offer for me to be tied here."
"I think I will take up traveling." The other man did not stop his work.
"Huh?" His initial astonishment turned to a grin, "Even a man like you has goals huh? Finn?"
They both laughed. Unknown to the danger that they were about to face.
Alexis stopped on a nearby tree as he started to observe his prey, he had clear instructions on how to go about his killing. And he would not be rash as this was a direct order from the apostle.
"Maybe it is not a bad idea to believe in a god." Finn moved on to their next topic.
"I can't believe you are so foolish, the only person you can rely on is yourself," Derek said in an irritated tone, "Remember Finn, no god will help you without a reason, even with so many of them..." But as soon as he said that, his head exploded, sending blood and brain matter everywhere. His body soon followed suit.
The positive smile on Finn's face was yet to vanish, but his whole body was covered in the thick blood of his best and only friend.