His hands shook uncontrollably as the blood dripped down his knuckles and onto the wooden floor. His grey eyes stared wide at the horrific sight before him. Even after years of this, Brian had not gotten used to it.
"You all right, Syn?" Came the female voice from across the room. But it sounded faded. Distant. Brian almost couldn't hear it. "Syn?" The female priest walked over to him and tapped his shoulder.
Brian turned his head to look at her.
She was beautiful, even though she had taken a vow to leave vanity behind. Her long blonde hair was braided, and her blue eyes looked like stars. Her pale skin was smooth and almost looked like porcelain. Her luscious lips were naturally red, so even if she never wore make-up, she still looked as though she wore lipstick. Her heavy hooded cloak covered her naturally beautiful body, which was the point of the outfits the Holy Elite were supposed to wear.
Brian looked back at the body of the young man he had torn to shreds with his skinning knives. He paled, wanting to vomit at the sight. Even more so at the fact that he himself had done this deed. "I'm fine," he mumbled, his grip on his knives tightening.
The female priest glanced at the body and sighed. "I know," she whispered. "Me too."
Brian turned away and began storming off. "We need to head back and let the Father know the punishment is fulfilled." He halted at the door of the darkened room and glanced back at the body once more.
The boy could not have been more than 17. Just a child. Punished for committing the sin of attempting suicide. The boy was depressed and alone after his parents had been killed in an aero-mobile accident. Brian felt instead of "punishing" him for attempting suicide, they should have brought him to the church for help and guidance. But the Father never saw things that way. No matter what or how, to him a sin was a sin, even if it was unintentional, and should be punished by all means necessary.
Brian looked at the woman and said, "Let's go, Kiva."
Kiva hesitantly nodded, and followed close behind, leaving the body to rot on the floor. It was a hard life, but nothing else was acceptable.
It was dark out and raining by the time Brian and Kiva left the apartment complex, ready to head back to the church. The City of L.A. was dark enough from all the pollution and tall, grey buildings that covered the area, but with the rainy season, it was almost like the sun didn't even exist in this city.
Brian hopped onto his a aero-pod; a motorcycle shaped vehicle that could hover over the ground; and glanced at Kiva. "Meet you there," he told her as he started the engine.
Kiva turned to him. "Where you going?"
Brian glanced around at the dark, busy street, and said, "Just a quick detour."
Kiva knew what he meant and she nodded before turning to walk toward her own aero-pod. "I'll tell the Father you got caught up in traffic." She hopped onto her aero-pod, revved the engine and took off.
Brian looked up at the darkened sky and closed his eyes, allowing the cool rain drop on his pale face. It felt good, especially after what he had done. He let his black hair get soaked then shook it, allowing it to fall around his face. He revved his engine before taking off in the opposite direction Kiva had gone.
He always did this. After every punishment he inflicted he always needed to go to the far end of the city, near the water, and relax. Even on a cold rainy day like this, it was his only sanctuary.
He reached the beach in no time at all, avoiding traffic as much as possible, and he turned off the engine when he landed his aero-pod. He slipped off the vehicle and pulled his hood over his head, and walked toward the half-destroyed cement path that had been built to walk near the water without getting sand on you. After years of zero maintenance though, it was cracked and sand and grass had begun growing through the cracks, making a walk a little less easy. But Brian didn't care. This was his time to relax.
He walked until he came across an old picnic area now covered in moss and he trotted over to sit down on a bench under the overhang. He pulled down his hood, then reached into his locked and pulled out a pack of red label Marlboro and a lighter. After lighting a cigarette and taking in a puff, he looked up and slowly sighed out the smoke, already feeling the relaxing high the nicotine gave him.
"You got any more?"
The voice startled Brian and he turned to see a young man wearing a hooded jacket leaning against the back pillar of the overhang. Because the hood was draped over his head and half of his face, Brian couldn't make out any features.
"A cigarette," the man said, pointing toward Brian.
Brian glanced at his cigarette, then back at the man and answered, "Sure." He pulled out his pack and lighter again, setting it on the picnic table behind him.
"Cool," the man said, walking over and grabbing the pack. After lighting his own cigarette he sat on the other end of the bench, pulling his hood off his head.
Brian glanced over and took in every feature of the young man's face:
Very young. Maybe only 18 or 19. Thick raven black hair, and bright green eyes. Skin like porcelain and smooth. Thin, yet soft-looking lips as pale as the rest of his skin. Handsome.
Brian couldn't help the heat building up in his lower extremities as he looked at those green eyes. He had never seen anything like it before. They looked almost like acid that would burn into your soul, but they also had a hint of emerald that would sparkle if placed into the right light.
The man must have noticed Brian staring at him because he turned his head to look at him with furrowed, slender brows.
Brian looked away immediately and cleared his throat just before taking another puff from his cigarette.
"Holy Elite?" the man asked casually, as if it didn't phase him.
Brian looked at him again, slightly confused by the younger man's question, then answered, "Yes. How'd you guess?"
The man pointed at Brian's neck and answered, "Cross gave it away."
Brian brought his hand to the back his neck and remembered the "brand" he was given when he took his vows: a Catholic cross tattooed onto the back of his neck. Small but easily noticeable. He sighed as he dropped his hand. "Yeah," he mumbled.
The man raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't like your job?"
Brian chuckled. "As much as I hate it, I don't have a choice."
"Why not?"
Brian glanced out at the water, then took the last puff of his cigarette before throwing it out into the rain. "You can't just quit the Elite. It's a calling. And once you're called you can't turn back."
The man nodded as if understanding and tossed his finished cigarette into the rain as well. "Can I ask your name?" He looked back at Brian.
Brian chuckled. "Synyster Gates."
The man grimaced. "That's not your real name..."
Brian smiled humorously. "Nope."
The man sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "You can't tell me your real name. Right?"
"Yup," Brian answered as he leaned back on the bench with his arms resting on the back of it.
The man looked Brian and smiled. "Well I'm Alec. And yes, that's my real name."
Brian chuckled again. "I figured." He gave Alec a warm smile and said, "Nice to meet you, Alec."
"You as well, Gates." He stood up and glanced out at the water. "You come here often?"
Brian glanced out at the water as well and nodded. "Yeah."
Alec turned to him with a warm smile. "Let's meet here again sometime." He held a slander hand out toward Brian.
Brian glanced at the hand, the smiled and took it into his own hand to shake. "Why not?"
When they finished shaking hands, Alec spun around and said, "I gotta go. See you later." And he took off.
Brian stared after him a moment, then sighed and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. "Shit," he whispered, rubbing his blushing face. "Shoulda said no..." He couldn't help it. The lustful feeling in his heart and in his black jeans. His stomach began to knot up at the thought of those green eyes. He ran his fingers through his damp hair a moment and let out a heavy sigh before standing up and walking back down the path toward his aero-pod. "Most people freak out at the sight of the Holy Elite. They drop their eyes to a avoidingd eye-contact and step aside to stay out of the way..."
When he reached his aero-pod he dropped into the seat and took one more glance out at the water before starting the engine. "This isn't gonna be easy..."
«*»
The church was magnificent. Huge and glorious. Two tall bell towers, one on either side, and a steeple that reached high up towards the heavens. The front steps were polished marble that led up to four sets of double doors made of dark red oak. They opened up to the sanctuary, revealing rows of dark wooden pews facing toward a large and magnificent stage where on one side stood a podium, behind it a baptismal bowl, and on the other side of the stage were white bleachers for the choir to sit during sermons, then stand on when it was time to sing.
To the left of the stage was the confessional booth, which is where Brian was heading when he entered the church. He stepped into the booth, shut the door and turned toward the back wall. He placed his hand on a stone block on the wall and it slid open, revealing a hand pad. He placed his hand on it and it read his hand print. Then another stone block at eye-level slid open and a blue light flashed at Brian. He looked straight at the device on the wall and allowed the blue light to scan his eyes.
"Welcome Synyster Gates, number two of the Holy Elite," said an electronic, female voice.
The stone wall rattled and slid open, revealing a secret staircase that led down underneath the church. Brian stepped in and the wall slid closed again.
When Brian reached the base of the stairs, Kiva was standing with her arms crossed, back leaning against the two large stone doors from across the room. When she saw Brian, she pushed herself off the doors and dropped her arms. "He won't see me without you," she stated.
Brian sighed. "Usually means he's upset that I didn't come back right away."
Kiva shrugged, then crossed her arms as she glanced around the room.
It was dim. A small room made entirely of stone. A single table the only piece of furniture with a circular light on the wall behind it. The only source of light in the room.
"He can be pretty... grumpy on rainy days," Kiva said with a smirk. She looked at Brian and said, "He also has a thing for you."
Brian glared at her. "That's blasphemy."
Kiva chuckled. "I didn't mean it like that..." She shrugged. "You're his favorite Elitist. It's surprising he hasn't made you First yet."
"Matthew is First," Brian mumbled. "Because he's the best." He looked at her with a sad expression. "I could never do what he does."
Kiva frowned and glanced at the floor. "Understandable." She turned facing toward the light, still staring at the floor.
"Come!" came a booming voice from behind the doors.
Kiva looked at Brian. "Already knows you're here..."
Brian shrugged.
Kiva turned back to the door and grabbed the handle. She yanked the heavy door open like it was nothing and held it for Brian to enter first. Once he entered, she followed behind.
The room was large and set up like an office. Book shelves on nearly every wall. At the far end was a large oak desk with an elderly man wearing a cardinal uniform sitting in the chair behind it. The man sat back in his chair with his hands folded, his two pointers pressed to his lips as he carefully examined the two warriors standing before him. When they reached the desk the man asked, "Is the sinner taken care of?"
"Yes, Father," Kiva answered firmly.
The man looked at her for a moment then, at Brian, waiting for him to answer.
Brian cleared his throat and said, "Yes, Father. The sinner has been punished."
The man nodded in satisfaction as he dropped his folded hands into his lap. "I have another target for you." He opened a drawer at the side of his desk and pulled out a file. "Two, actually." He tossed the file onto the desk. "Two young men. They are homosexuals."
Kiva picked up the file and skimmed through it, then handed it to Brian to look through.
Brian took the file and opened it. The first man was a 25 year old with black hair and brown eyes. His name was Amos Chik. An honest working man, his job title a lawyer. He was new at his job having just graduated college. Brian flipped to the next target and paled noticeably when he saw who it was.
Alec Norian. Eighteen. Fresh out of high school, and about to start college to be a professional artist...
Brian gulped, staring at the photo of the man he had shared a smoke with only thirty minutes before. And once again, those beautiful green eyes made his blood run amok, but his face remained pale and the knot in his stomach made him want to vomit.
"They are... what you call lovers," the elder man spat in disgust. "They must be punished immediately."
Brian's head snapped up to look at the older man. Hatred made his blood boil and in his head he imagined himself shredding this man into pieces the way he had done to the sinner earlier that day. He clenched his jaw to keep himself from saying anything.
Kiva stepped forward and said, "It will be done, Father."
"Good." The old man stood up and walked over to a bookshelf, his hands folded behind his back. "Dismissed."
Kiva turned and began walking toward the door. She halted and turned toward Brian who remained silently glaring at the old man. "Synyster Gates..."
Brian immediately turned and stormed out, pushing passed Kiva as if she weren't there.
When Kiva stepped out and shut the door, she asked, "What's wrong, Syn?"
Brian looked at her over his shoulder with a glare. He looked at the file in his hands, then tore out the first target and handed it to her. "You take him. I'll take... this one..." He looked at the photo of Alec again. His heart sank. He couldn't do it. There was just no way...
"We work in pairs for a reason, Syn," Kiva said firmly. She walked over to Brian, looking him in the eyes. "What's got you all shaken up? I've never seen you like this before..."
Brian dropped his gaze. He couldn't look her in the eye. Not this time. He had only just met Alec. And only for a brief minute. But in his heart he already knew how he felt toward the younger man. He couldn't help himself. It was love at first sight. It's not something you can control. That's why they call it falling in love...
Kiva stared at him a moment, then looked at the file Brian held in his hand. "You know him," she whispered.
Brian turned and began walking up the stairs.
Kiva stared after him, her face paling. "You... love him..."
Brian halted at the door and sighed heavily. He turned and shrugged at her. "Gonna punish me for my sin?"
Kiva only stared.
"You probably should." Brian held his arms out. "I'm ready. Go ahead."
Kiva hesitated a moment, then walked slowly up the stairs until she was face to face with him. Her hands were clenched into fists and her face was turning red with what looked like rage. After a few moments, she sighed, her hands relaxing. She averted her gaze to the wall and said, "I will pretend we never had this conversation." She crossed her arms. "But I'm still going after both targets..." She looked up at him and waited before continuing: "I will give you a head start. If he's not out of town by nightfall, I'm taking him out."
Brian stared at her with wide eyes, shocked at her reaction. He nodded and softly said, "Thank you."
"For what?" Kiva pressed passed him and walked out the door into the confessional booth.
Brian let out a sigh of relief. He looked down at the file in his hand again and whispered, "I should've known... that I'd have to run..."