10.| A Dark Priest In The Free Cities?

I huddled behind a rusted metal crate discarded in the entryway of the alley, where the lone figure was cornered by the Punisher's, his black cloak billowing behind him.

A Dark Priest, they called him, one who'd sacrificed their humanity and parts of themselves for a power they swore shielded Darshkova from the same nightmares that stalked the Free Cities. 

His features were barely visible, but I could see his eyes; green and slitted like a snake's.

"Look at the freak," A guttural voice spat, echoing off the brick walls. "Thinks he's a hero, but he's just a traitor, trading his soul for Daemon scraps. Fighting the very shadows that gnaw at our doorsteps one night, then whispering with them the next."

Another joined the jeering chorus of insults. "Not even human anymore. Look at those freaky eyes. What are you gonna do, huh? You gonna use your dark magic on us?" He shoved the Priest, who stumbled, the black cloak swirling along with him.

The Priest said nothing. He just glared at them with his emerald snake-like eyes—a steely glare that unsettled me—

"Speak when spoken to! Or do you think because we were excommunicated you're better than us?! I'll show you." One of the Punishers cracked his whip, aiming for the Priest's face. 

But the Dark Priest was gone, a blur of dark cloth melting into the shadows. The whip snapped at empty air. 

"Where'd he go?" One of the low-class Punishers shouted.

And then, a flicker of emerald and black bouncing off the wall.

In a flash, The Priest reappeared, not on the ground, but perched on the head of one of the Punishers.

He jumped off, spinning in the air and kicking the second one in the face. The one the Dark Priest had used as a springboard swung his whip at him, but the Dark Priest dodged and snatched it from the Punisher's grasp.

The man flew over his head,  landing with a thud on the ground. The Priest didn't seem to struggle at all, even though the man must have weighed at least 200 pounds.

I watched, my fear battling with a strange awe. He was fighting back, moving so fast I missed him knocking out the other two low classed Punishers.

They weren't even a match for him. 

My awe was short lived when the Dark Priests head turned in my direction. I turned around and hid further behind the large rusted crate. 

He's going to kill me. There was no doubt in my mind I was dead.

I let a few seconds pass, and when there were no dark cloak or green slitted eyes, I let out a breath of relief. I was guessing he decided not to bother me.

Standing up, I turned around and the Dark Priest was right there in my face. 

"Jesus!" I yelled.

"Who's Jesus and why are you following me?" The Dark Priest asked, uncoiling the whip he had wrapped around his hand.

I looked at it, remembering how he used it moments ago on the Punishers. What could I say? If I told him the truth, about being curious, would he believe me?

Before I could even form a complete thought, the Priest lifted a brow, giving me an up and down look. "I have no coins for you."

My mouth fell open. What did he just say to me? "I wasn't following you for money, asshole. I want to get out of here."

The Dark Priest hummed.  "You leave here and you'd get torn apart by a Daemon."

From some of the lore I read, he didn't give two fucks about a thrall. "Well, then are you going to help me?"

He stared at me for a moment. 

"Didn't think so. The Vatican wouldn't help the free Cities. So why are you here?" I don't know what came over me or why I even said that. But the need to say it burned in my chest despite the fear I felt screaming for me to run. 

"Go home. You don't know anything." The Dark Priest told me, turning his back on me. 

Great. Good. Now I can not die.

I turned to leave as he told me, but I felt that burn in my chest again, and my feet started acting on its own accord. 

No. No. No. What the hell am I doing?!

"Don't walk away from me!" Another voice mixed with my own, and I personally, once again, did not want to say that.

When I came up on the Dark Priest, I grabbed his robe and a burst of darkness exploded out, floating around us like a living and conscious being, curling in the air like black smoke. 

For a moment the Dark Priest was angry, but then something dawned on him as he looked around. "That's impossible." The Dark Priests emerald eyes were wide in shock. 

I kept my hand on his robe, mouth hanging open. "What did I do?!" It'd be just my luck if I broke something and couldn't afford to pay. 

The sound of footfall approached and I let go of his robe, watching as the cloud of darkness sucked back into the Dark Priests robe. I could already hear the nasty and grating voice of Bryard approaching. 

"I think one of the thralls said he went this way!" He shouted, and not even a second later did he appear near the opening of the alleyway. 

"That's my thrall you got there, Priest." Bryard unsheathed a short sword and pointed at the Dark Priest from across the alleyway.

Everything slowed down and the system menu popped up, flashing red around the border.

[System] 

[Ψ You have two options, help the Priest or Side with Bryard to unlock your first mission.Ψ ]

Heart beating in my chest, I exited the menu and waited for my opportunity. In most games, there was a choice they provided right? 

Or was this all on me? 

The Dark Priest looked at me, then smirked before looking back at them. 

Oh god, was he going to throw me under the bus? Perhaps I shouldn't have talked crap earlier. But to be fair, I couldn't control my body. 

"I mistakened him for my Glyphbearer." Said the Dark Priest, I could hear the hint of sarcasm in his voice I'm guessing the Punishers couldn't.

[System]

[You've unlocked one new term.]

Bryard looked at me. This game was too smooth. I could win Bryard's trust by telling him that the Dark Priest was lying, then possibly end up favored. Or I could do the right thing and take up for the Priest like he'd just done me. 

I stand there for a moment, weighing my options before deciding. Bro was on his own. I opened my mouth to say he was lying, then the burn in my chest happened again, making me clutch the aching area. 

"It's true, he grabbed me and I followed thinking I'd be punished. But he finally realized I wasn't his…Glyphbearer." I wheezed out and the pain immediately left me. 

Bryard eyed me and the Priest, then jerked his chin, signaling for me to return at his side. 

Just what the hell is wrong with my body? I furrowed my brows in thought, keeping my head down as I moved past the Dark Priest to head back over to Bryard. 

 "Meet me here, tonight." Whispered the Dark Priest.

I tried my best not to react. Was he insane? 

If I was caught sneaking out or planning to escape, I was deader than dead. Couldn't he just kill the Punishers and free us?

My shoulders sagged when I finally caught up with Bryard, who was too eager to drag me back to the camp. While he led me out of the alleyway, I looked over my shoulder one last time, but the Dark Priest was gone.

Who did he think he was? Batman?