A/n: Konnichiwa, minna-san! A thousand apologies for the long wait, but I was finally able to break my writer's block at about 3 a.m. this morning. I'll be starting my freshman year of college next week, so things are a bit hectic, but hopefully once they settle down I can churn out an ending!

Book of Shadows: Sanctuary

"All magic is evil, because it relies upon evil spirits and sets itself against God by trying to compel the powers of the Universe"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chapter VIII

Miguel Rodriguez struggled within his bonds, hot tears welling in his eyes as he cursed the young woman and her tall, ominous companion who had left him here. He felt vulnerable, something he had always despised, but he could see no way to free himself.

A knock on the unlatched door made him jump, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he saw who had entered. The figure was draped in shadow, the face still not clearly visible, but Miguel Rodriguez did not need to see the man's features to know who it was.

"Please..." he whispered, closing his eyes, his hands straining to reach the silver cross around his neck, "don't hurt me...please...forgive me!" The man only chuckled as he walked into the room, setting a small, black lacquered box on the table. Miguel stared at the object, his eyes widening in fear of whatever lay inside.

"Tsk tsk, is that any way to behave toward your old business acquaintance?" The man stepped behind the chair, then bent over and began carefully untying the ropes.

"What...what are you doing?" Miguel asked nervously, quickly getting to his feet once he was free. He backed away from the man as he stood straight, bumping into the table and shying away from that as well. A slow smile spread across the man's face.

"Well, it is only fair to give you a chance." He intoned calmly, moving over near the table, running a hand over the smooth lid of the box. Miguel began making his way to the door.

"A...a chance?" The box opened.

"To run."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Robin gave Michael a small smile as she refilled his coffee cup, and he flashed her a grin before stuffing another donut into his mouth. It was looking to be a long night—Robin had been put on watch again, assigned the task of monitoring the STN database in case any new witches surfaced—so far nothing interesting had happened. She was beginning to suspect that this watch duty was nothing more than an excuse for someone to keep Michael company, which she didn't mind doing. But in the few months since she'd arrived at the Japan branch, she had been given this task more times than any of the other Hunters.

A light suddenly began to blink on and off on Michael's monitor, and he hastily swallowed his donut before opening the message window.

"What is it?" Robin asked softly, leaning over to peer at the screen. Michael hid his look of irritation—he hated people looking over his shoulder—and closed the window.

"There's been another murder," he said gravely, already dialing the number that would connect him to Amon's communicator. "At the old church."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

By the time Robin managed to get to the church on her Vespa, Amon, Karasuma, and Sakaki were already waiting. Amon barely acknowledged her presence, glancing at her before continuing his conversation with Michael over the phone.

"Yes, it seems to be the same as before. Run a check on this church, then send me any information you find." Slipping the communicator back into his pocket, he turned to address the other Hunters. Robin sensed he was extremely irritated, judging by the tightness of his stony jaw, and the way he clenched his fists.

"The victim is Miguel Rodriguez," he said in a clipped, cold tone, and Robin stifled a gasp—the man they had just interrogated...was dead? She thought back to the way Amon had left him, tied up like a lamb for slaughter. Which is what he had now become. Perhaps that explained Amon's mood. He had as good as helped the witch kill again. She wondered whether he had made that realization himself.

"It seems the witch leads his victims here to be killed," Amon continued. "Therefore, we will be maintaining a twenty-four hour surveillance on the area."

"Cool, a stake out!" Haruto said enthusiastically. A harsh glare from Karasuma wiped the smile off his face. Amon continued as if the interruption hadn't occurred, delegating tasks in a cold, efficient manner.

"Karasuma, I want you to maintain a watch on the right side of the building. Sakaki, you'll take the left side, I'll take the back. Robin, you take the entrance."

Robin's green eyes widened in shock. The entrance? Surely he didn't trust her abilities enough to give her such a key position? What was Amon thinking?

"If the witch appears, we wait until he goes inside. Then Robin will move in, and block the entrance with her Craft," Amon explained, as if reading her thoughts. "Stay in contact with me at all times. If something occurs, call for backup before going inside. Do not attempt to go in alone. This witch has shown how violent they can be, we can't afford any bravado." Amon favored Sakaki with a meaningful look that indicated this instruction was primarily for his sake.

"Take your positions. There's one more potential victim left, and if we're lucky, the witch will lead him here."