Church

"In that case, let's locate the Bazel first," Herman decided, drawing the conversation to a close.

Lohim was a place devoid of street lights or any other sophistication found in the big cities.

yet the twinkling stars above provided a view, rare in the big cities.

The stars glimmer allowed the four of them to navigate the road. The yellowish light emanating from the windows on the sides of the road provided for an ethereal lighting that seemed sacred. 

As they approached the radiant sun church situated in the village square, the grand structure appeared somewhat blurry in the darkness, as if it was in unity with the surrounding darkness that plagued the night. 

"For a church, it seems lacking in people" Catherine exclaimed with a slight frown. 

Alaric on the other hand seemed to be on the verge of collapsing, as cold beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He appeared to be desperately trying to keep his cool. 

_Yikes! That's some devotion he got going on_ Louis thought, but at the same time careful to not let his expression slip up. 

Louis smiled and said, "they are all probably preparing for the Suns festival"

"So what! " Alaric shouted, "why would that constitute the church being unguarded?" His breath turned hectic as his eyes seemed to flicker gray for a moment. 

"Why would a church need guards?" Louis asked with a smile. 

"What? " Alaric was startled, but before he could respond he was interrupted by Herman, "Forget it ric, we are in a different territory.. Perhaps they do things differently from the church of night"

_lies.._Louis concluded, _Still them being from the church of night is probably true.. But though being different churches, it still doesn't make sense why a church needs protection... Oh my. Thinks are so fun! Fun! Fun! _

Louis smiled gently, acting oblivious to the words and actions of the group. "So am not sure.. But Bazel is probably inside the church" Louis said. 

He then proceeded to lead hermen and the others around the front of the cathedral towards the cemetery, where they found a brown wooden door.

Louis didn't wait for Herman to knock. Instead, he reached over and fiddled with the keyhole before opening the side door with a creak.

"you seem accustomed to such things?" Catherine said slowly. 

"Gush.. Am just your friendly neighborhood apprentice trickster" Louis said with a grin on his face. 

"Is that so?" Catherine narrowed her eyes on Louis, when suddenly her eyes flickered gray for a moment. 

Louis didn't notice this, and took it as the illusion of the light. 

"Anything" Herman asked. 

"It seems fine.. Am not really sure. You know this things get tricky when interpreting" Catherine responded. 

"It's okay. We're here to investigate not fight" Herman spoke. 

"If you say so" Louis responded. 

He closed the wooden door and knocked lightly.

"oi, is anyone in? Am coming in if there is no response " he muttered in a low voice that was barely audible in the night.

There was no response from inside the cathedral.

Without hesitation, Louis pushed open the door and gestured inside.

"Go on in."

Herman hesitated. He looked at the darkness behind the door and glanced at his companions.

"Okay." He took a step forward, slow but firm.

Alaric and Catherine followed closely behind. 

The environment was dim and silent like a grave as the four of them made their way forward.

Suddenly, one of the crystal earrings on Alaric cracked. 

This sent an abrupt shiver down the group- all except Louis. 

"Damn! How didn't you notice that?" Herman spoke silently with his eyes glancing around at the pitch black room. 

Catherine hesitated for a moment before responding, "Not sure.. Maybe an interference"

"Screw this. We should just burn down everything" Alaric protested in a muffled tone. 

_What's up with them? Is it something interesting? _ Louis was startled by the sudden halt of the crew, but managed to keep himself up. 

"Something wrong? " Louis asked. 

Herman glanced at Louis and then to his companions, "I think I heard a sound"

"Oh?..Maybe I did too" Louis said with a smile. 

Without caring about the others words, Alaric dashed into the room

Suddenly the room was illuminated by a dimly lit candle burning ontop a table. 

Beside it, a naked brown skinned man whose body was covered in sweat stood with a revolver in hand. 

The scene stunned everyone as Alaric for some reason began to look at the ground. 

_not gonna look at the naked man then_ Louis made a silent remark. 

"Who the hell are you? " The naked man screamed, his face contorted to form the very representation of anger. 

"Well who would have thought the bazel liked sleeping naked... Oi bazel, my experiments would like to speak to you" Louis spoke with a grin plastered on his face

The group where still startled- confused even on the unfolding events. 

The three companions turned their heads to the young lad who wore a wide grin. 

"Well off I pop. Am gonna be meeting you soon again... Better find accommodations by then" Louis said while waving his hand. 

The three couldn't understand anymore, there was something strange, wrong and bizarre happening, and yet only one seemed happy about it. 

The three immediately thought back to a phrase by a customer, "don't take it to heart. louis here is possibly the most moron of us all and also the most mischievous"

_indeed he is_ they thought in unison. 

..... 

Walking through the dark street of the town, Louis placed his hands in his pockets as he strolled, uncaring for the dark night. 

_Damn! When I heard the bazel slept naked I thought it was all dog shit.. But seeing it.. I gonna say it was worth the risk... Oh yeah. I have to pay Lee 4 lent for the beautiful performance he displayed.. He really drove home the idea that the bazel was some big bad boss.when he is simply the towns secret clown_

Hahaha! 

He busted out into laughter, 

_But still it doesn't make sense why the church would be coming for him... Or less it isn't him they came for.. Maybe something else? _

_they did say that they are from the church of night.. But when did churches have investigation agents? And also they seemed quite terrified of something back then, even though it was for a moment... Well, well. My little experiment might not be done after all.. Maybe something fun will come out if I follow them.. 

_Nah.. I still have to prepare for the suns festival, though I most likely won't win the sun saint title.. Ah_ Louis rubbed his forehead, _things just got a bit depressing_

_might as well poke my nose in some rabbit holes_ 

As Louis muttered to himself, he arrived at a destination. 

The structure before him was peculiar semi-subterranean two-story affair. That shimmered gray under the light of the moon. 

Taking a deep breath Louis yelled loudly, 

"Get your ass out white rabbit!"

After his abrupt display, silence once again ruled the night. 

_is she ignoring me?.. I might get ever so cross_ Louis pondered. 

"Don't go scheming.. Am coming okay? " A crisp melodious voice echoed from within the building. 

"Oi.don't bother, am coming in" Louis said with a grin, _Any second later and you would have had a cross Louis on your hands_

Opening the door with no care whatsoever, the interior revealed itself. 

It was a. Medium sized bedroom with dark yellow walls and brown sofas.. 

The room appeared unimpressive and downright mundane, but that all dispersed as an exquisite beauty was seen. 

Seating on one of the sofas facing opposite the door, a beautiful lady with brown curly hair, bright green eyes and extraordinarily pale skin sat. 

She wore a dark blue night dress with a black necklace around her neck, she had a calm demeanor as she gently read the book in hand. 

Such a scene was enough to make any man lose his composure, but not for Louis. 

Looking at the brown curly haired adelia, Louis suddenly had a blank expression as his mouth opened wide. 

Without warning he yelled, "What is this!?... What have you done!?.. Is this hell? How.. How are you reading?.. No, how are you even seating.. Oh great radiant sun, since when do rabbits read?"

"Since they had to live in the same town as a monkey" Adelia replied with a soft smile on her tightly pursed lips. 

"Monkey?.. Did the rabbit forget how cross this one can get? " Louis narrowed his eyes as he walked towards a sofa in a comical strange way.

Closing her eyes for a moment, adelia took in a whiff of the cold air before looking directly as Louis- with eyes that can entrance anyone. 

"Be careful, I got the radiant sun on my mind.. Your charms won't work" Louis crossed his hands on his chest. 

"I wonder why? Perhaps you prefer the same sex" Adelia said with a mischievous smile. 

"Oi.how dare you.. I will have you know that my body is the temple of God and nothing can corrupt it"

Adelia's eyes twitched slightly, she then placed her hands on her forehead while realising a deep sigh, "I feel like am on the verge of losing myself every time you speak"

"Seriously? Just on the verge?.. I thought I could better than that.. Better practice then" Louis placed his hand on his chin as he appeared to be in deep thought. 

Seemingly snapping him back, adelia asked, "Just tell me why you came here... And Lee came by, he said you better drop his money, or he will light your ass on fire"

"Light my ass?.. Did I get to soft?... Regardless, all is good. He did play his role perfectly, so I guess I better pay up... Oh and, am drooping off from the sun saint competition, I think something far more interesting will soon happen"

Adelia stared at Louis before saying, "Drop out? Last few days you go around saying how you will make everyone 'serve' now you plan to drop out?.. Ar least tell me why"

"Oh? The rabbit wants to know... Nothing much just found my self some experiments." Louis responded. 

Startled she asked, "Experiments?.. Just what the hell are you planning?"

"Oi, don't say it like that. You make it sound like am planning some evil thing... Am just having fun that's all.. Like when has that ever caused anyone harm?"

"True" Adelia closed the book she was reading and stared into the empty, "okay.do what you want.. Just remember you have to leave the village in a month's time"

"Yeah.yeah.. I know" Louis took a deep breath his eyes looking up at the candle chandelier hanging on the roof. _Nice place she got_ 

_i should better go back now..fun things do need adequate planning_ 

A large grin surfaced on his hands which as a consequence, sent shivers down adelia, _May the sun protect whoever is the experiment_ adelia prayed silently. 

... 

Louis once again walked through the dark street of the town, this time he was heading to his abode. 

Reaching in front of a worn down shack, Louis sighed. 

_it's gonna collapse on me one day_

The building was rusty and old, with various broken parts and cracked walls, the exterior was reminiscent like that of a hunted house that must not be approached. 

Slowly reaching his house, Louis peeped through the broken window, seemingly watching out for something. 

After a while, he breathed out- like that of a person who had a heavy burden removed from him. 

"Thank goodness the rats have slept.. Am not ready for another battle tonight" He exclaimed. 

Opening the rusty brown door, creaking sounds emanated as it protested. _Shut it stupid door! The rats gonna wake_

Stepping inside, the interior revealed itself. 

It appeared to be a worn down bedroom, with multiple cracks on the walls, the ground were littered with countless debris from the walls, the overall environment was downright depressing. 

_home sweet home.... Who are my kidding. This place sucks... Should I go sleep in the bazel's house again? No.. He chased me away with a riffle last time.... I guess it's just me and the rats then_

Walking towards a sofa like bed in the middle of the room, he fell on it face first, his eyes shuddering as fatigue enveloped him. 

_scheming does take it's toll_ 

Slowly yet instantly, he fell into a deep slumber.