Disclaimer: I do not own Yana Toboso's Kuroshitsuji...Although I do kind of wished that I did come up with it, but nope! Anyways I don't own nothing! Except for this story =)
Author's Note: Well, well what have we here? A short story? I say this story came to mind while I was typing up my current story for Kuro (Black Butler). And I thought about how some characters in the Kuro world started their pillage of destruction or maybe even catch a glimpse of their 'work' in some important events in history. Mind you I've never been to Spain nor I have travel outside of the U.S. All of my work has been somewhat reseached just for locations, dates, events and names. I'm just writing this at the top of my head, so bare with me.
The Unholy Man
Current Year…1845
Current Location…Spain
Sub-Location...An forgotten Village outside of Las Rozas De' Madrid
Down in the dark and soggy cellar of an old Monastery, lies an records vault that holds secrets from the past. From which will never will see the light of day. These documents were sealed away for a reason. And that reason was for me to retrieve such a secret that the holy chruch it's self does not want prying eyes to view. Which brings me here...me an lowly apprentice priest of the Vatican...standing here alone in large room full of the moldy and musty air. Staring at this rather strange vault... I couldn't help to feel what ever is inside that contraption will be something waiting...waiting to get out...waiting to be heard.
Years after the infamous Spanish Inquisition raids on religious and ethic cleansing of old Europe. Away from the turmoil of that time, there once stood a great covenant that housed thousands of monks of the Catholic priesthood.
They weren't apart of the ruthless Spanish Inquisition's campaign, but in fact their soul mission was to bring peace and brotherhood to new comers who wanted to join their holy mission.
That was the past and this is now... those days seemed to be over, but I wonder what was my soul reason for being out here. Before I've travelled out to Spain, back in Vatican City I was summoned to correspond with Arch Bishop Pertolio.
Upon recieving news, I've met with him that very morning, he instructed me to travel to Spain to contact a former Priest who lives outside this Monastery. When I've asked him about the sudden interest of sending me there. Arch Bishop just stared and smiled...his only words to me were..." It will be alright my boy, just don't let temptation attract your soul away."
It was very strange for him to say such a thing...what did he exactly mean by "Don't let temptation attract your soul away." that answer lingered in my mind. I muddled a bit that night in bed, just thinking about it. I couldn't help but to clutch at my rosary and pray deeply for protection and guidance on my travels.
I've gotten up early that morning to start my journey up the rocky mountain side towards the Monastery. Looking up restlessly to the high afternoon sky, one young priest solemnly climbs up grand stairs of the old abandon Monastery on the outskirts of the near by Spanish village.
The day was bright and clear, no wind blowing about...the air was stale, heavy and silent. Being not big on superstitions, usually when the air was heavy and silent meant an omen of foreboding darkness encroaching on the scene of the landscape. Breathing in deeply... he continued to climb.
Carefully taking each step, the lone priest saunters upward onto the steep incline of the hill. While climbing he thought about the previous conversation with the town's former priest in fortnight.
Before taking his leave from the tavern, the priest told him about the story of a unconscious mysterious wounded man that was found outside the once vibrant abbey and his survival of the 'Unholy burning' of 1818.
He explained to him that on one blistering cold winter evening, while on his way to visit the Abbot at Castilla-Leon, he stumbled across this naked young man lying face down in the cold snow. Slightly in a panic, he carefully kneels down to examine the young man.
The young priest wasn't sure if the man was even alive, looking upon him...the smell of death was near, his body was badly bruised from head to toe and that his skin was slowly turning blue from frost bite.
Scanning upon him, the young priest notice that he had long mangled dingy black tresses that covered the side of his face. His hands, arms and neck had remnants of burn marks and what seemed to be deep cuts of some kind. Thinking to himself, he could have been a slave of some greedy and cruel noble who constantly beat and starved him.
"Oh my what an awful sight...I'll pray for your soul to be at rest now..." before the young priest start to pray he head faint moaning coming from the supposed dead man.
Quickly, the young priest picked him up from the ground, although he wasn't strong enough to carry him, he managed to carry the unconscious young lad up to the double doors of the abbey.
In hushed breaths, the young priest calls out for help. Upon hearing his plea, a group of monks who entered the cathedral jaunts their way to him and the wounded man. "Father Moreno! What has happen and who is this young man?" asked one of the surprised and startled monks.
Still hold on to him...he answered..."I've found him lying in the snow outside the gardens, he's rather frost bitten and quite battered...he needs food and shelter. He's breathing but it's faint...we must hurry and get him some warmth..."
Carefully, placing the unconscious man into the monks arms...they rushed him down into the infirmary to be nursed. For several days I've watched him, I'm astounded at the young man's health as it improved rapidly. It was something that none of the monks, I, nor the Abbot who was present at the time, couldn't believe the rather odd recovery.
The infirmarian who keeps watch over the sick, came into his room one morning and found him walking about. Slowly turning towards the startled man, smiling graciously the young man calmly spoke..."Ah, what a wonderful day...is it not Infirmarian."
"Heavens be!" he replied happily, while motioning his hands into cross symbol on his body, upon the miracle of this man. "My good monk, where do you suppose I am? I don't remember much of my ordeal, but I would like to know where I am?"
Looking upon the young man, the infirmarian replies..."My young man you are in the holy arms of Castilla-Leon." smiles the young infirmarian.
"Ah, what an great name for an sound Abbey...I don't want to trouble you with my ungratefulness, but I seem to have a bit of rumbling in my stomach." He said while shyly clutching his abdomen.
Softly chuckling at him, the infirmarian merrily answers..." That's the call for breakfast, since you've been incapacitated for a few days without solid foods. It's time for you to have a good meal."
Just the infirmarian finished his sentence, Father Moreno stepped in the room. Surprised as ever to the sight of this man, the young priest stood his ground just gazing at his posture and his eyes. That glint in his eyes seemed a bit clouded and dark, as if there was some deep hidden agenda behind that gaze. "For a battered man he has excellent poise?" He quietly thought to himself.
"I'm glad to see you standing, for awhile I was worried that you weren't be able to walk again on how your legs looked when we've treated you. Anyhow blessed be that your fine. By the way young man...do you have a name?"
For some time, the young man muddled for answer...until he spoke. "My name...my name is...Thanos."
Upon arriving to the outside of the bottom ground floor of the ruined Abbey celler, I was met with an strange man...He didn't look friendly nor was he fond of my presence there.
"Uh...Good afternoon my good sir, I-" before I could finish my sentence. The strange man spoke in a eerie deep voice. "I know who you are young apprentice priest of Arch Bishop Pertolio...You've been sent here to obtain an special document that is sealed away from the world...is that correct young priest."
"Uh..y-yes that is correct..."
"Well then, I'm not fond of you people snooping around here searching for a document that you have no business retrieving. My advice would be for you to leave here and never return!"
Read and Review please...and let me know how you like this story so far!