A new enemy appears. Slayer Viscount is one mysterious dude and knows quite a bit about Joshua. What now?
Don't own CC.
(Please note that some definitions are from Please also note that italics within rulers are documents that Joshua is reading)
Chrono Crusade: Horns of Time
Chapter Nine: Picking Up The Pieces
"What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?" –Henry James
It was about a week after the incident with Viscount. Joshua, forever digging within computer files that were related to him, Joshua had become frustrated with coming across restricted records that needed the consent of Sister Azmaria in order to access them. However, when asked, she would simply change the subject and plum forget. Not allowing himself to be played like a fool any longer, he consoled with Wolf before barging into Azmaria's office and demanding the access of the records.
"You can't just run her over like that," Wolf said while in the middle of the conversation, "I can understand how you feel but still…"
"I know, I know, she's my boss. It wouldn't be professional. But what else can I do?"
"I'm not talking about that. Just think about what you're doing. Did you ask the others about it?"
"No. They would only get in the way."
"Really? Do you really think that? I mean, last time I checked, they were all for the idea…"
"But this is a personal thing to me. Knowing about my past is private and I don't want any help. I have to do this thing alone."
"Uh-uh. Well, finding out about your past and stuff is important to you so I'll give you this," Wolf then handed over Azmaria's security card which had her login and her password.
Joshua stared at it, "Where did you get this?"
Wolf smiled at him, "I found it during my many rounds last night. It was near the drinking fountain."
"Did you ever think about giving it back to her?" Joshua asked.
"Well…I did think about it. But then I realized that you would need this more than me."
Joshua smiled, "Thanks Wolf."
"Anytime." Joshua ran over to his room where a computer was located. Waiting for him to be gone, Wolf walked over to the shadows and there awaited Azmaria.
"Did he get it?" Azmaria asked.
"Yes, he did."
"The council will have a fit about this. Even worst, he will learn more."
"You were positive about this. Are you going back on your instincts?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. One cannot be to sure. I hope I'm doing the right thing." She walked off.
"For all our sakes, I do hope you're doing the right thing," Wolf thought. He headed towards his room. Back at Joshua's room, he switched on the computer and had gone to access the restricted files page.
"Enter your login and password," the screen showed.
Joshua typed it in:
Login: hendricka
Password: marymagdalene
"Login successful," the screen showed. Joshua was able to search through the restricted records.
"Let's see," Joshua thought, "What to do first…Okay, I'll just key in the search 'Seventh Bell Incident."
The search engine gone into search mode and Joshua waited for a few minutes. Only one result was found and so Joshua clicked on it. A page titled, Seventh Bell Incident popped up and Joshua read the report:
Seventh Bell Incident
Date: Unknown
Time: 2:52am
Description: It has been reported that a lone assailant had destroyed most of the orphanage's structure. Blast shots that were obviously came from the inside was present. Casualties are that of Ms. Gene (present owner and caregiver for the children here) and the orphans themselves. They are not dead, nor they are alive either. They are that of being in some sort of time frozen state. Their expressions are that of fear, terror and sheer agony.
Two survivors were reported in by Father Juan Remington of the Magdalene Order, New York Branch. One was that of a demon named holding the rank of 'sinner'. The other is that off…
The rest of the report was blanked out. Joshua couldn't believe it.
"So something did happen there. Who did this to them. This is all to much. The demon there…the second person. Who were they?"
Joshua read a part of the report that wasn't blanked out.
Reported Missing: It has been also reported that one child at the orphanage is missing at the scene and is presumed dead. Joshua Christopher was not present with the two survivors nor with the statues of civilians. May have been either been kidnapped because of Apostle powers.
"Apostles? Who are they?" Joshua printed out the report and then closed the window. He then typed inside the search engine again, starting with the word, 'apostle.' Only one result popped up and Joshua read on:
Apostle is one of the few who has been blessed with supernatural powers. A apostle is able to call upon the Astral Line and tap its power. There are seven Apostles, each from a different section of the world. They refer to the seven virtues: Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Benevolence, Prudence, and Justice.
The only two identifiable apostles were Joshua Christopher (Apostle of Hope) and Azmaria Hendrick (Apostle of Charity).
"You have got to be kidding me!" Joshua shouted out loud. "This can't be! Sister Azmaria? An apostle!" He looked at the date at the article. It was 1920.
"1920…If the article is true then this means," he stood up. "She's been an apostle for 86 years. And so have I. All I have to do is find out more about the Seventh Bell Incident. Like that demon…"
Joshua typed in another search, this time for the term 'sinner'. What did it mean? One search popped up however the term was in a bunch of other terms. The term was branched under "Demon."
The term, demon. Monsters who are mostly hostile towards humans. Demons, while appearing hostile, are not completely evil. They are not immortal and they can be either male or female. Demons have their own society, an oppressive community similar to a beehive, in which everyone has a rank according to their power level. High-ranking demons are similar to humans in intelligence and figure, except they never age and have extraordinary powers based on the energy of the Astral Line. All demons are born from one mother, Pandaemonium, the demon queen.
"Pandaemonium. I remember that name, I read about it. The demon queen, mother of all demons. Alternately, the demon society that is hidden deep under the sea and is named after said queen. But what does it have to do with me?" Joshua looked around some more and suddenly found the file that his group stole.
"Viscount's file. I wonder if that has anything…" He opened it and inside was a number of documents concerning the Astral Line and a file about a certain legend between heaven and hell:
The war between heaven and hell was fierce. The righteous angels of God battled with the forces of darkness. One of the devil's most powerful warriors came by the name of Chroion, the devil of time. With his powers, he destroyed all of his enemies. However once the devil was destroyed, Chroion's powers weakened and thus was subdued. His horns, the very source of a devil's power, was cut and split into two…
"Chroion, the devil of time. Hmmm…What's Viscount doing with something like this?" Joshua wondered this. He looked at a file pertaining the watch that Viscount had given him. As he read, his eyes widened.
The watch itself is special. With it, a contractor (namely a human) can make a pact with a hornless devil and thus making the devil live. The devil then must abide to the pact and serve the contractor. The pact comes with a price, however, as it drains the wearer of his very soul and life.
However, thanks to today's technology, the watch has been modified in order to be connected directly to the Astral Line so that when the wearer makes the pact, the devil must abide to the pact and must serve the wearer with no consequence. Because of the devil feeding off the Astral Line (which is limitless with power) the wearer suffers no repercussions.
Joshua looked at the watch. "This watch has been modified somehow. That means that this watch is the original. But who did it belong too? And why?" Joshua figured that it was time to call it a night. He turned off the computer, when to his bed and laid there. He thought for a moment.
"I found out most about my past and more. Sister Azmaria knows more than what she's putting on. Time to get her to tell me everything…everything…" He then drifted into sleep.
Okay. So now Joshua is planning a confrontation with Azmaria. How will things go down? Please R&R
