CHAPTER 6

Kouji dreamt of snakes.

It was all he's dreamt about for as long as he could remember. The same dream over and over again.

He was standing in what looked like a garden or maybe an orchard. There were trees as tall as skyscrapers, fields of flower and plants, and always…the tree that stood taller and bigger than all the rest.

And of course, the snake.

Wrapping it's body around the great tree, it was easily the length of the entire great tree and descended from the branches, staring at him with those beady eyes. The scales of the snack were the blackest of midnight with accents of crimson.

It's vertical pupiled eyes were the color blood with a ring of gold. It mimicked every little movement Kouji made with his head until eventually it would strike, biting Kouji and waking him up.

That's how it was supposed to play out. For the first time ever, the dream was different.

He was still staring at the snake, however the snake hissed in a way that almost sounded like a laugh.

"So you've finally awakened from your slumber," the snake said, hissing at every syllable. "It was taken you quite some time to muster your power.

I do hope you're not truly becoming one of them. "

"One of who?" asked Kouji. "Human?"

The snake hissed again.

"Those miserable apes," said the snake. "They have stolen from you the very thing that makes you great.

The essence of the Serpent King will not be stunted quite so easily. "

"I am…very confused," said Kouji. "Who are you?"

"I am the Dragon of the Earth," said the snake. "The Guardian of Scales.

I have not had a name for quite some time…perhaps you will call me Imugi. "

"Imugi," said Kouji. "Do you hate humans?"

"I detest those apes," Imugi hissed in anger. "This planet is not theirs to conquer yet they have become the most dominant species.

One day we will reclaim what is rightfully ours. "

"How…How do you know me, Imugi?" asked Kouji. "I've dreamt of you every day all my life…but you've never spoken to me before.

"

"I am the Guardian of Scales," said Imugi. "I have tried to speak to you countless nights, however your magic has been sealed away.

You have finally reached adulthood. The seal those exorcists placed on you has begun to thin, allowing me to slither my way in and reunite with you once again.

"

"Reunite?" asked Kouji. "I've never seen you before in my life.

"

"Maybe not this life, my young master," said Imugi. "But in days past, we conquered nations and toppled empires.

The Serpent King and the Dragon of the Earth. "

"I'm not sure I understand…" said Kouji.

"You will understand soon enough," said Imugi. "Do not let those apes sway your ascension, my young master.

Reclaim your power and take rise once again. I look forward to the day we can truly be reunited.

"

Imugi didn't bite him, yet Kouji felt himself beginning to wake up.

He opened his eyes to a familiar ceiling. He was home, laying in his bed.

When did he get home? How did he get home? And…why were his hands bandaged? Looking at them in bed, everything from his fingers to his elbow were completely bandaged. Did he get hurt? What the hell happened at that concert?

Kouji shot up, a chill shot down his spine as memories came rushing back to him. The concert…Aespa.

. .

He checked his body but there were no marks or injuries. He was fine…but why were his hands bandaged? He couldn't remember what happened after.

He remembered Irina coming to save him from Aespa…they were talking and then…he woke up here.

"Y-You're awake. "

He looked to his bedroom door to see Irina. She dropped a plate of towels and water, charging at him.

She leaped into bed, wrapping her arms around him and crying.

"Thank goodness!" she cried. "I thought you'd never wake up…You were out for so long I thought…I thought…"

Somehow, a smile dawned on his face as he hugged his sister. For some reason it felt like so long ago that he's had a proper hug from Irina.

"I'm okay," Kouji smiled. "I promise I'm fine.

How long have I been out?"

Irina broke away, wiping a tear from her face. "Three days.

"

"Three days?" Kouji cried. "W-What the hell?"

"You were in a vulnerable state," said Irina. "The sleep spell was only supposed to last for a few hours but…you never woke up.

I was scared…"

That's right…It wasn't a dream after all. Aespa…they were really trying to kill him.

"Is it true?" asked Kouji. "Am I adopted?"

Irina avoided his eyes.

"Irina," said Kouji. "Is it true?"

"It's…complicated," said Irina.

"Tell me," said Kouji.

"Are you sure?"

"Tell me!"

Irina gritted her teeth. "You were found at an old village in Iraq.

We don't know what happened before we got there but the entire village had been devastated, like some kind of bomb was dropped. You were the only survivor, a little kid not even five years old…"

"W-What do you mean?" asked Kouji. "I was in Iraq? Why was I in Iraq? Why don't I remember this?"

"The Church altered your memory," said Irina. "Kouji you're…you're not who you think you are.

"

"What am I?" asked Kouji. "And what do you mean the Church? What's a Church got to do with this?"

"Not a church," said Irina. "The Church.

The Holy Church is an organization that operates out of Vatican City. I'm an exorcist, so is dad.

We work for the Church to protect the world from anything supernatural. Ghosts, spirits, possessions, and…demons.

"

Kouji's heart sank. Not only was he adopted but he didn't even know anything about his own family.

His father had told him that their family does contract work all over the world but it was really a cover up for being an exorcist?

"So…So they're all real?" asked Kouji. "Monsters and ghosts…Is everything real?"

"Well everything but bigfoot," said Irina. "We're pretty sure it's just an urban legend Americans made up, but yes…everything's real.