Mission one : chief patriarch (the evangelist)

Kiss of the vampire

"The Girl with the Sharp sword"

Mission one: chief patriarch (the evangelist)

"The Lord created man in His own image, but there are those who would seek to twist and corrupt that image. The vampires, with their unnatural thirst for blood, the werewolves, with their savage and uncontrolled transformations, and the other supernatural beings that lurk in the shadows, are all abominations, creations of a false god, born of darkness and evil.

"They are the enemies of humanity, the enemies of God, and they must be cast out, destroyed, and purged from our midst. For too long, we have tolerated their presence, allowed them to hide in the shadows and prey upon the innocent. But no more!

"The time has come for us to take a stand, to assert our dominance over these creatures of the night, and to reclaim our world for the Lord. Let us march into the darkness, armed with the light of faith, and let us emerge victorious, with the enemies of God cast down at our feet."

(Note: the chief patriarch is just like the pope in real life)

The Chief Patriarch's gaze slowly turned to the hunters, his eyes narrowing as he took in Deyviel's striking features. Deyviel's piercing emerald green eyes sparkled in the dim light of the church, and his chiseled jawline and sharp cheekbones seemed to be carved from marble. His raven-black hair fell across his forehead in messy, effortless waves, framing a face that seemed almost too beautiful to be human.

Deyviel's piercing emerald green eyes sparkled like polished jewels in the dim light of the church, fringed with thick lashes that added to their allure. His chiseled jawline and sharp cheekbones seemed to be carved from marble, giving him a strong, angular face that was both striking and beautiful.

His raven-black hair fell across his forehead in messy, effortless waves, framing a face that seemed almost too perfect to be human. His nose was straight and proportional to his other facial features, and his lips were full and inviting, curled into a subtle, enigmatic smile.

Deyviel's skin was a smooth, golden brown, a testament to his mixed heritage and his love of the outdoors. His eyebrows were thick and expressive, arching upward slightly at the outer corners to give him a perpetually curious look.

Despite his rugged, athletic build, there was something undeniably elegant about Deyviel, a sense of refinement and poise that belied his rough-around-the-edges demeanor. He moved with a fluid, panther-like grace, his very presence seeming to command attention and inspire awe.

As the Chief Patriarch's eyes locked onto Deyviel, he felt a sudden jolt of surprise. For a moment, his gaze lingered on Deyviel's handsome face, and his eyes twitched with a mixture of fascination and suspicion.

The Chief Patriarch's mind began to wander, and he thought about the meaning of Deyviel's name. "Deyviel," he whispered to himself, his eyes never leaving the young hunter's face. "A name that means 'to be loved' or 'to cherish'... by God."

A shiver ran down the Chief Patriarch's spine as he gazed at Deyviel. He couldn't help but think that this young hunter was a contradiction, a paradox. His name seemed to suggest that he was beloved of God, but his appearance, his aura, seemed almost... devilish.

The Chief Patriarch's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. Who was this young hunter, really? What secrets lay hidden behind those piercing green eyes? And what did his name truly mean?

As the Chief Patriarch's gaze lingered on Deyviel, the congregation began to murmur, their eyes fixed on the young hunter. The air was thick with tension, and it seemed as though the very fate of the world hung in the balance.

The Chief Patriarch's voice dropped to a whisper, his words dripping with malice. "We must be vigilant, my friends," he hissed. "For the devil comes in many forms, and sometimes, he wears the face of an angel."

The Chief Patriarch's voice grew more fervent, his words dripping with conviction as he continued his sermon.

"The devil is cunning, my friends. He will stop at nothing to deceive and corrupt us. He will portray himself as a hero, a savior, at first. He will promise us the world, and many will be tempted to follow him. But mark my words, his true colors will eventually be revealed. He will show us his true face, and it will be a face of darkness, of evil, of despair.

"And yet, many will still follow him, blinded by their own desires and ambitions. They will ignore the warning signs, the whispers of their conscience, and they will march blindly into the abyss. They will burn in the fires of hell, forever trapped in a prison of their own making.

"But we must not be deceived, my friends. We must not be swayed by the devil's lies and promises. We must stand firm, unwavering in our faith, and we must reject the devil's advances. We must choose the path of righteousness, the path of light, and we must follow it to the end.

"For only through faith and obedience can we truly be saved. Only through our devotion to the Lord can we hope to avoid the devil's snare. So let us be vigilant, my friends. Let us be watchful, and let us be faithful. For the devil is always waiting, always watching, and always ready to strike."

As the Chief Patriarch finished his sermon, the congregation erupted into a chorus of "Amen!" and "Praise the Lord!" The atmosphere in the church was electric, with many of the worshippers visibly moved by the Chief Patriarch's words.

But Deyviel, standing at the back of the church, felt a shiver run down his spine. He couldn't shake the feeling that the Chief Patriarch's words were directed at him, that he was the "devil" the Chief Patriarch was warning the congregation about.

As the sermon came to a close, Deyviel and his squad made their way to a reception area, where they were greeted by a stern-looking church administrator.

"Ah, yes, the hunters," the administrator said, his voice dripping with disdain. "The Chief Patriarch will see you now. Please, have a seat."

As they walked to the waiting room, Deyviel turned to his friends and whispered, "Is it just me, or do they not like me?" He raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Denver, his best friend, chuckled and grinned. "Yeah, I think they don't like handsome people here," he teased, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

The others laughed, and Deyviel playfully rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Denver," he said, smiling.

But as they settled into the waiting room, Deyviel's gaze drifted back to the Chief Patriarch, who was watching him with an unnerving intensity.

Man, as I look at him, I can sense his intense killing intent towards my direction, Deyviel thought, his mind racing with unease. What's his problem? I've never even met the guy before.

Deyviel's instincts were screaming at him to be cautious, to be prepared for anything. He didn't know what the Chief Patriarch was capable of, but he knew he didn't like the look in his eye.

Denver, sensing his friend's tension, clapped him on the back. "Hey, don't worry about it, Deyviel," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "We've got your back. We're a team, remember?"

As they entered the Chief Patriarch's chambers, Deyviel's friends fanned out around him, their eyes fixed on the Chief Patriarch.

The Chief Patriarch's expression changed, and he smiled warmly at Deyviel and his friends. "Ah, my children, I can see that you are truly devoted to your work. I must say, I am impressed."

Deyviel's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that the Chief Patriarch was being insincere. But he played along, smiling politely. "Thank you, Your Eminence. We are simply trying to do what is right."

The Chief Patriarch's eyes locked onto Deyviel's, and for a moment, Deyviel thought he saw a glimmer of genuine interest. But then, the Chief Patriarch's gaze shifted to Denver, and his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Ah, yes, Denver," the Chief Patriarch said, his voice dripping with false warmth. "I've heard a great deal about you. You're quite the... enigma."

Denver smiled blandly, his eyes giving away nothing. "Thank you, Your Eminence. I try to stay out of the spotlight."

The Chief Patriarch's eyes lingered on Denver's face, and Deyviel could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. What is Denver's role in all of this? he seemed to be thinking. Why is he teaming up with Deyviel?

But before the Chief Patriarch could ask any more questions, Kliev spoke up, his voice interrupting the Chief Patriarch's train of thought. "Your Eminence, we've come to discuss the recent string of attacks on vampire families. We have evidence that suggests-"

The Chief Patriarch's eyes snapped back to Kliev, and he smiled blandly. "Ah, yes, yes, of course. The attacks. Terrible business, that. But I'm sure it's just a coincidence that you're investigating these attacks, Deyviel. After all, you're just a humble hunter, doing the Lord's work."

Deyviel's eyes narrowed, sensing the Chief Patriarch's sarcasm. But he played along, smiling politely. "Yes, of course, Your Eminence. We're just trying to do our part to keep the city safe."

Deyviel's eyes locked onto the Chief Patriarch's, his gaze burning with intensity. "I want a world where everyone can coexist, Your Eminence," he said, his voice filled with passion. "A world where vampires and humans can live together in peace, without fear of persecution or violence."

The Chief Patriarch's expression turned skeptical, his eyebrows rising in disdain. "A noble goal, Deyviel," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But surely you must realize that such a world is impossible. The vampires are abominations, creatures of the night. They are a threat to humanity, and they must be eradicated."

Deyviel's face hardened, his jaw clenched in anger. "That's not true, Your Eminence," he said, his voice firm. "Vampires are not inherently evil. They are just different, and they deserve the same rights and respect as humans."

The Chief Patriarch snorted, his face reddening with rage. "You are naive, Deyviel," he spat. "You do not understand the nature of the vampires. They are monsters, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals."

Denver stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "That's not true, Your Eminence," he said, his voice firm. "We've seen the good that vampires can do. We've seen the way they live, the way they care for each other. They are not monsters, and they do not deserve to be persecuted."

The Chief Patriarch's eyes seemed to gleam with malice. "Just like that vampire lad waiting outside for you, I presume?" he sneered. "The one waiting by your car?"

Deyviel's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "What do you know about Clark?" he asked, his eyes locked on the Chief Patriarch.

The Chief Patriarch smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I know a great deal about your little vampire friend, Deyviel," he said. "And I must say, I'm not impressed."

The Chief Patriarch stood up, his eyes blazing with intensity. "You see, Deyviel, those creatures, the vampires, they are not of this world," he began, his voice dripping with disdain. "They are born from darkness, from the outer gods who seek to destroy our world."

He paced around the room, his long robes billowing behind him. "They were created for one purpose, and one purpose only: to seal away the Primordials, the ancient beings who threaten to harm our world."

Deyviel's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. "What do you mean, 'Primordials'?" he asked, his voice firm.

The Chief Patriarch's eyes seemed to bore into his soul. "The vampires, the werewolves, the other creatures of the night. They are all Primordials, ancient beings born from the darkness itself."

Denver stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "And what does this have to do with vampires?" he demanded.

The Chief Patriarch's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with malice. "Ah, yes. The vampires. You see, they were once human, but they were chosen, selected by the gods themselves to serve as vessels for the Primordials."

Kliev's eyes narrowed, his face twisted in disgust. "What do you mean, 'vessels'?" he asked, his voice rough.

The Chief Patriarch's eyes seemed to gleam with excitement. "The vampires were chosen because they were the strongest humans of their time. They were chosen to help the first hero, Sir Lancelot, to seal away the Primordials and keep them from harming our world."

Deyviel's eyes widened, his mind reeling with the implications. "You mean, the vampires were created to serve as... containers, of some sort?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The Chief Patriarch nodded, his eyes glinting with malice. "Yes, exactly. And that, Deyviel, is why they are so... tainted. Why they are so... corrupted."

As they ended the conversation, the Chief Patriarch nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll look into your request to find the killer, young hunters," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.

Deyviel nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. He didn't trust the Chief Patriarch, not one bit. But he knew that they needed the church's help if they were going to find the killer.

As they turned to leave, the Chief Patriarch's voice stopped them. "Brother Edwin," he said, his eyes flicking to one of the holy knights standing guard at the door.

The holy knight stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Deyviel. "Yes, Your Eminence?" he asked, his voice firm.

The Chief Patriarch's eyes seemed to bore into Deyviel's soul. "Keep an eye on him," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I want to know everything he does, everywhere he goes."

Deyviel's eyes narrowed, his heart sinking in his chest. He knew that he had just made a powerful enemy.

To be continued.