CHAPTER 8

The Priest

Levi's bond of friendship with Jenna only grew, though it was against his better judgment. He watched the child grow up. He wasn't always there, since he was busy raiding the libraries of the world for new reading material. When he was in her village, however, she always came running to greet him. He was there when she went to school for the first time. He sympathized with her when her first love ended. He even watched her graduate from high school and college. Just over a year ago, he had watched her get married. Strange that she's never lost her ability to see arcs and demons.

He was spending less and less time near the village, in favor of the city. He had taken up residence in an abandoned church in a rather run down part of town. It was a quiet place where the occasional worshiper would come in to pray, but no one really looked after the building. Better still, no demons ever entered sacred ground – well, except for him, of course. There were a number of artifacts in the church, including a chalice said to have been used by a sainted priest when giving communion. There were also the ashes of a martyr burned at the stake hundreds of years ago. The one that fascinated Levi the most, was the holy sword that was displayed prominently at the front of the church.

It was the legendary Volpl. It had been wielded by a powerful arc named Darian. The part of the legend that Levi was sure of was that 10,000 years ago, Darian had been slain by Ran Mau, and the sword was lost. It had shown up just over 1,000 years ago when it was wielded by a Father Russo to slay Macarus – the demon whose place was taken by Karda. Volpl had then been handed down through the priesthood to where it now hung. If only I could wield such a sword, I could easily take out contractors everywhere. I could make them regret my ever having been made a demon!

"Magnificent, isn't it?"

Levi spun around and took up a defensive position, wings raised and ready for a fight. He then relaxed when he saw who it was that had so rudely interrupted his thoughts. "Oh, it's you. What brings you to this city, Eyebrows?"

"I happen to be very proud of my prominent eyebrows," Erwin huffed.

"Then you won't mind me calling you by them."

Erwin shook his head in defeat. "I just noticed you admiring Volpl. It's a magnificent blade."

"Why is it just left here? Shouldn't one of you arcs be using it?"

"We don't choose our swords. A holy sword chooses its wielder. Many arcs have tested to see if Volpl will accept them, including me, but it has yet to accept anyone," Erwin explained.

"Okay, so tell me this; how the fuck does an inanimate object like a sword 'choose' who gets to wield it? That doesn't even make any sense!"

Erwin chuckled. "To be honest, even I don't know exactly how it works. It has something to do with how the sword is forged – the energy that the blade has. It's the same thing that prevents a demon from using a holy sword and an arc from using a demon sword. One is forged with justice and the other is forged with malice."

"Huh. Well that doesn't tell me what you're doing in this city."

"Actually, I just sensed your presence as I was passing by."

Levi scowled. "What?"

"You have a very unique energy signature, Levi. Very distinct from that of other demons. It makes you easy to identify."

"I'm not sure I like that," Levi grumbled.

"It's not a bad thing. It's quite fascinating, really. You're the only demon I've ever met that was able to set foot on sacred ground, never mind live so comfortably in a church."

"Tch! Maybe it's just because I don't buy into all those pre-conceived notions and crap that you arcs have shoved down your throats. Besides, I'm an exile. I don't have to follow the rules. If I don't want to behave like you arcs think a demon should behave, then that's my prerogative."

"Touchy! In all honesty, I'm here because there's a new priest that's been assigned to this church. He's supposed to arrive today. I'm told that he has the potential to really revitalize this whole neighborhood."

"Okay. Why is one neighborhood and one priest of such interest to the commander of the Arc Guardian Forces?"

Erwin sighed and became serious. "Because I know you're here. He's someone –"

The arc was interrupted by the opening of the main doors at the back of the sanctuary. The man set down his bags and cast a gaze around to the church. "Oh, my! It seems I have quite a lot of work ahead of me!" The man in question was a tall and lanky priest with the usual black attire and white collar. He had a short scraggly beard and dark, deep set eyes. On his head he wore and old, grey fedora, which he removed to reveal a barely starting to bald head of messy brown hair.

Levi stood frozen. No way! The priest picked his bags back up and went back to the living quarters. "No fucking way!" Levi exclaimed as he turned to follow.

"Levi –"

"Back off, arc! I can't hurt him, remember?" Levi followed the man into a small, simple bedroom in the living quarters. "I don't fucking believe it! Of all the goddamn people! How the fuck did a monster like you become a priest?!"

"Levi –"

"Shut it, Erwin! You have no idea what this asshole did to me! This is the fucking bastard that made me who I am! He made me into a monster just like him . . . AND HE FUCKING GETS A SECOND CHANCE!" The demon was trembling with rage.

"Calm down, Levi."

"NO! I won't calm down! Why does he get a second chance when I never had a chance to begin with?" Unshed tears stung the corners of the demon's steely eyes.

The priest was looking about the room as if he had heard something. "I can feel your presence," the man stated. "I don't know who you are, but I get the feeling you are in great anguish," he continued sadly. "I fear that I am the cause of your pain."

"YOU HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA!" Levi snapped angrily.

"I am truly sorry to have caused you such pain," the priest continued, not able to hear the demon.

"SORRY?! YOU CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT YOU FUCKING DID! HOW CAN YOU BE FUCKING SORRY?! YOU'RE A GODDAMNED MURDERING, THEIVING, ABUSIVE PEDOPHILE! YOU MADE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL! BUT YOU GET A SECOND CHANCE! YOU GET A CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT! AND I HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF ETERNITY AS A DEMON! I NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE!" Levi fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around himself. "I never even got a first chance! What did I do that was so wrong that I couldn't even have a chance to begin with? I don't even know what I did wrong! IT'S NOT FAIR!" With those words, a spray of tear gems burst out noisily across the floor.

Both Erwin and the priest noticed them. Erwin picked up one. The priest picked up the other four of the blacker than black gems. "These are tears of despair; complete and utter despair." Tears began to fall from the man's eyes as he sank to his knees and held the gems to his heart. "Oh, dear God, please forgive me! To have caused someone – anyone – such despair is beyond monstrous! Whoever you are, please know that I am truly sorry for causing you this pain. I know you can never forgive me, but know that I truly regret having hurt you." The priest's voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm so sorry!"

Levi knelt there, arms still wrapped around himself and tears falling from his tightly shut eyes. "Why can I still not hate you?" the demon whispered. "After everything you've done to me . . . why can't I hate you?"

"Because you don't have the capacity to hate."

Levi looked up at Erwin. "Bullshit! I'm a demon!"

Erwin knelt down. "You may look like a demon on the outside, but your heart is not. Besides, I thought you said you didn't buy into all the dogma."

"I don't. But I should hate him for what he did to me, but . . ."

"But what?"

"I saw it all, Erwin. I saw every bit of pain he ever went through in his last life. I just . . . I couldn't help thinking that he was just like me. He'd been through all the same shit and all. He became a monster because he was raised by a monster. He's just like me. All he wanted was another chance . . ." Tears began to flow anew.

"You were his punisher, weren't you?"

Levi nodded.

"You forgave him. That's why he has this second chance. You had compassion for him and forgave him. You are the one who gave him this second chance. You were the one that freed him from the Underworld."

"That's impossible. I . . . I couldn't have. I was so furious when he disappeared. I couldn't have . . ."

"And yet you did. You are not like other demons. You are not like them at all."

"Why didn't you strike me down? When I went after him, why did you not kill me?"

Erwin smiled. "Because it wasn't necessary. There was no hate or malice in your eyes. Only pain."

Levi looked over at the still weeping priest. "Father Kenneth Ackerman, you damn well better turn this neighborhood around and make this world a better place to live in, because then, and only then, will we be even."


Levi couldn't quite figure why he chose to stay and watch over Father Ackerman. Perhaps it was curiosity. The demon watched as the priest cleaned that church from top to bottom, including the bell in the tower. Levi was, in fact, able to interact fully with the physical world around him, all except for humans. Just another one of those absurd oxymoron things I guess. So, while Father Ackerman slept, the demon would entertain himself by polishing the metalwork and the pews. He also saw fit to begin fixing the roof.

He would often sit in the large maple tree out behind the church and read book or watch the priest working in the garden. The congregation started off very small, but Kenny – as Levi still called him – was brilliant at engaging people and encouraging their involvement. Within less than two years, the priest had gotten the people of the community fully engaged in repairing the church, singing in the choir, working in the food pantry and even cleaning up the neighborhood. The church had become a busy community center.

Not everyone was pleased to see the neighborhood changing for the better. The mob that held the territory was angry to be losing prostitutes and their customers, drug dealers and buyers; not to mention the drastic reduction in gamblers. This particular mob had no problem with threatening a priest.

Levi sat on the edge of the church roof and watched with amusement as five mob members attempted to bribe the priest into leaving. It was when they began to threaten the man's life as well as those of the parishioners that the demon decided enough was enough. This isn't amusing anymore. But I do need the practice for some of the spells I've been learning.

The two overly expensive limousines were his target. He rapidly expanded the air in all four tires of one car so that they exploded. A little over the top. That'll get the cops' attention, and they'll get here before I'm done having my fun! All five men jumped when the hood of the second car flew up as the radiator blew its cap.

"My apologies, gentlemen," Kenny said with an emotionless face. "My guardian angel has a bit of a mischievous streak in him."

"What the – HEY!" the thug was cut off by a sudden gust of wind that seemed to only encircle the five men in a miniature cyclone of dust and pebbles.

Levi laughed at the confused fear that had taken hold of the mobsters. "Tell your boss for me that Father Ackerman is off limits!" he called to the demon that accompanied them. "I know you're there. Are you really so scared of an unarmed exile that you can't show yourself?"

"Unarmed my ass!" a reply finally came. "You're using sorcery!"

"I make do with what I have. Now crawl home and tell your boss that Father Ackerman is off limits."

"Rapier'll tear you to shreds, traitor!"

Levi smirked dangerously. "Let him try."


The mob's boss wasted no time in coming after the priest. That very night, as Levi returned from another raid of the local library, he saw two men shove Father Ackerman into a car and speed off. He also saw the demon sitting smugly on top of the car, gesturing for him to follow if he dared.

Levi had learned that Rapier was a very powerful demon. Not especially high ranked, but powerful enough that Levi knew that his limited sorcery was not going to be enough. He needed a holy sword – and there was only one available. He strode into the church and up to the very front where Volpl hung on display.

"Listen, Volpl. Father Ackerman is a good man, and he's in trouble, and you're the only one who can help me save him. You can fry me to a crisp if you want to, but at least wait until Kenny is safe again. Deal?" Levi didn't really expect an answer, and he wasn't even sure why he was talking to a sword in the first place, but he wrapped a cloth around his sword hand and lifted Volpl from its display rack, tied it firmly to his hand, and then flew off to get the priest back.

Levi landed in a clearing just outside of the city just as the mob boss aimed a pistol at the priest's head. The demon extended his left hand towards the weapon and cried, "Tye Ichae!" The gun flew from the astonished mobster's hand. Another incantation of "Cytheros!" and all of the guns jammed.

"Stay out of this, traitor!" The demon that rushed at him barely had a chance to form an expression of shock as Levi cut him in half diagonally with Volpl. The demon's body evaporated into nothing.

"What the Fuck?! He's using a holy sword!"

Levi turned to face the more than a dozen demons present. "Where's Rapier?"

Ignoring his question, the entire group lunged at him. Levi gave one well practiced twirl of the blade (not even noticing that the blade was supposed to be tied to his hand) before he laid into them with every ounce of skill he had – and he was a very skilled fighter and swordsman. As he cut them down, one by one, Volpl slicing easily through them – swords and all – he noticed Kenny still on his knees in shock. "Don't just sit there, you dipshit! They still have knives! RUN!"

Almost as if he'd heard the demon's shout, the priest got to his feet and began to make his way back to the main road. The mob boss drew a dagger and went after him. Soon, Kenny found himself backed against a tree with the mobster about to run him through. Just as the man was about to lunge at the priest, Levi skid to a stop between them, and with another twirl of the blade – for no other reason than to show off – he then slashed right through the man.

The stunned human gasped and dropped the dagger as a wounded demon fell back out of him. Levi began to walk towards the stricken demon with a snarl. "Hello, Rapier, you pitiful soul lost in the dark bringing sorrow and pain to others. You damned soul, wallowing in your sin; why don't you give death a try?" With that, not even giving Rapier a chance to respond, Levi took the demon's head clean off.

Levi turned to see the mobster picking up his dagger and moving towards Kenny again. "I don't think so, asshole!" He placed his hand firmly on the gangster's forehead and used his power to transfer emotions. Kenny watched in amazement as the man dropped his knife, reeled back, grabbing his head and suddenly falling to his knees sobbing as he felt all of the pain he had caused in his lifetime. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know! I'm sorry!" the weeping man kept repeating.

Kenny went over to comfort the very man that had just tried to kill him. "That's more than I would have done for him, Kenny. I can remember when you were just like him." The demon sighed. "At least he won't bothering you anymore."

Though the priest could not here the demon's words, he still spoke the words, "Thank you."

When Levi finally looked down at Volpl in his hand, he was startled to see that the cloth he had wrapped it to his hand with had all burned away, yet his hand was unharmed. Even more alarming, the sword had changed color. Where it had once been a brilliant polished steel blade with gold inscriptions and a gold hilt, Volpl was now black, edged in red with polished steel razor sharp edges and the inscriptions down the center of the blade were now red and the hilt was silver and black. He dropped the blade in his surprise. Oh fuck! I've just defiled a holy sword!

Once Levi released the Volpl, it again became visible to human eyes. Kenny heard it hit the ground and went to retrieve it. "But . . . this is Volpl! It has chosen a new wielder!" The priest was becoming quite excited. "After 10,000 years, Volpl has chosen a wielder!"

"I wouldn't be so happy about that if I were you," Levi grumbled. "The thing must be broken, because it chose a demon! Fuck! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to defile it! I just need it long enough to protect you! I –" The demon sighed. "I'm sorry."

"My guardian angel is the wielder of Volpl!" Kenny had tears of joy in his eyes.

"I'm not an angel, you imbecile! I'm a goddamn demon!" Levi sank to his knees. "I destroy everything I touch! Everything good in this world turns to darkness when I touch it."

"My friend, I know you can hear me, even if I can't hear or see you," Kenny said softly. "But you should know how grateful I am for all of the light you spread in this world."

Levi's face collapsed into a look of complete shock. "What?" he whispered.

"Everything and everyone you come in contact with comes away better than they were before," the priest continued. "I still have your tears – the ones of despair that I caused you. Even after whatever I did to you, you still have the ability to spread light where ever you go. Don't ever lose that, my friend."

Levi could only sit there in open mouthed shock.