"Oh my head. Where am I?" Frida wondered as she woke up. She found herself in the clinic wearing only a nightgown. She smelled herself, her body smelled like soap, like she had taken a bath. She looked over to see that a tray with a meal had been left for her along with her usual red nun clothing which had been washed, ironed, and laid out. "Where am I?"
The door to her room was opened and Sister Nora, Dusk, and Dawn entered.
"Oh God be praised." She said relieved. "You're awake."
"Sister Nora? Dusk? Dawn?"
"Oh Frida we were so worried!" Dusk said.
"We're so thankful that you are okay." Dawn said.
"What are you all doing here?"
"I came to wash that slime off of your body." Sister Nora said. "Dusk and Dawn have been watching over you this whole time."
"Whole time? How long exactly?"
"Ever since you left us to do missionary work." Dusk said. "Father Gardner feared for your safety so he asked us to watch over you."
"He what?! Why would he- Wait Sister Nora you bathed me?!"
"Don't be embarrassed dear we're both women after all." Nora said. "And I had to, you were covered that slime after that attack, if Manny hadn't of come and saved you-"
"Manny? Where is he?"
"He and the other boys are down at the library gathering research on something. If you'd like I could give you a ride there?"
"No that's okay I can walk."
"Alright well here's a little something in case your hungry and your clothes are already for you. If you need anything else just call."
"Okay thanks."
"Oh and Frida some time today Father Gardener and I wish to discuss something with you."
"Where is Father Gardener?"
"He's in a meeting you'll see him tonight."
"Alright."
"We'll see you later dear."
"Uh Sister Nora."
"Yes?"
"It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you too."
She ate her meal, dressed into her clothes, fixed her hair, and went down to the library. On her way there she sensed that something was following her and watching her every move. She clutched her gun and nervously scanned the area for anyone suspicious. When she didn't see anyone she continued on toward the library as quick as possible.
"This library is useless." Manny complained. "Only one book has been able to provide any useful information and it's not even enough."
"Uh hi can I help?" Frida asked.
"Oh Frida glad to see you're awake."
"Frida good to see you little blue." Steven said picking her up into a big bear hug.
"Good to see you too Steven. Hi Dipper."
"Sup."
"What's going on?"
"We're investigating demon's blood." Dipper said.
"Gross but cool."
"Yeah but this library is giving us nothing."
"Then maybe you should try the museum, I read in the paper the other day that they've had more attacks from that slime then anywhere else in town."
"Really?"
"Mmm-hmm. Apparently it's taken a special interest in one of the exhibits."
"Funny that tight ass manager insisted that there never was an attack." Manny said.
"Looks like he's a liar or in denial." Steven said.
"Either way we're going over there." Dipper said.
So they got in the car and drove over to the museum but this time they brought more advanced equipment. The customers couldn't help but stare at the three young men carrying the strange looking equipment.
"Suck in the gutts guys we're supposed to be professionals." Manny told Dipper and Steven. Then they all took deep breaths and sucked in.
"Oh no! Not you again!" The museum manager angrily. "I thought I told you to get out of here!"
"Who's this wiggler?" Steven asked Manny.
"He's yours Steven sic him."
"If you don't get out of here right now I'll-"
"Hi I'm Steven Universe nice to meet you." Steven said pushing the manager away. "Say why don't we go over here and talk."
"Get your hands off me! Security!"
While Steven kept the manager busy, Dipper and Manny began looking around the exhibit for any clues but like with the sewers the only thing they found was slime residue however the slime was found only in one exhibit. The exhibit that had information on mythology, it had things like statues of false gods, paintings of myths and mythical creatures, and ancient texts. A lot of the slime was around a glass display that contained a stone tablet with different symbols and writing on it.
"It would seem that the slime has taken a special interest in this tablet." Dipper observed.
"Any idea what this stuff on the tablet says?" Manny asked him.
"If I'm correct it's ancient Latin."
"Can you understand it?"
"Yeah but the slime is in the way, I'd have to see the tablet up close to be able to read it properly. We'll have to take it out of the display case."
"No! No! No! You will not touch that!" The manager said. "I want you all out of here right now!"
"Come on man we're customers." Dipper said.
"Well customers are not allowed to touch anything in the exhibit."
"Then I guess you won't mind if we take a few a pictures?" Manny asked as he and Dipper pulled out their cameras
"No! No pictures please! Now leave before I call security and- Ahh!"
"Yes thank you Steven." Manny said as Steven grabbed the manager and pulled him away from the display case. They wiped away the slime and carefully removed the glass case. They began taking photographs of the tablet then put the case back on. Then they went back to examine the photos.
Meanwhile Frida had gone to grab a bite some where before going to a meet with Sister Nora and Father Gardener to discuss her strange power. She had just started to head back when she felt it again, that feeling that someone was following her. She was completely alone however something inside of her said that she wasn't and that she needed to get back as soon as possible. She felt a cold wind blow against her and shivering running up and down her body.
"Analia." She heard a whisper call out.
"Is someone there?" Frida asked nervously.
"Analia."
"I'm warning you I don't like being stalked." She pulled her gun out from under her skirt, cocked it, and scanned around the area for anything or anyone but she could see nothing and no one. No she saw someone, a figure walking out of the shadows and toward her. "Hold it! Don't move!"
She pointed her gun but the figure didn't stop it just kept walking. He looked like a man wearing a long trench coat and a hat to cover his face.
"I said don't move!" She called again. "I'm warning you! Take one more step and I'll shoot!"
He stopped and was quiet for a long time then he began to chuckle to himself. He began to walk toward her again and he leaned over to grab her gun when out of nowhere Manny landed between the two of them glaring at the man.
"Hands off!" He growled at him.
"How interesting, you're still alive and still young even after all these years."
Manny froze when he heard the strange man speak.
"No!" He whispered in shock,. "It can't be."
"I'm afraid it is. Hello Manny."
"Django?"
"In the flesh well not exactly." He lifted his hat up and opened up his tench coat to reveal a skeleton like man covered in strange markings and blood red aura. His eyes were a mixture a fire and red hot lava, it was like all the burning, seething, fire and heat of hell were in those eyes. He had no skin, no flesh, no organs, no blood, nothing.
"Good lord!" Manny gasped. "Django what have you done to yourself?"
"Oh no! Don't you blame me! You did this to me! When you stabbed me with that damn crucifix! You destroyed my body and I had to create a new one from the rotten corpses of the dead! But look at you, still as young and good looking as you were a hundred years ago! But then again I guess between the two of us you always were the best looking!"
"Manny who is this?" Frida asked him.
"Of course my dear where are my manners?" He said. "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm an old friend of Manny's."
"Old friend my ass!" Manny snapped. "Last I checked friends don't try to kill each other!"
"You act as if it was my fault. Manny I didn't want to kill you, I only wanted you to help me with my plan."
"Your plan was insane! And it would've killed hundreds of people and it wouldn't have worked either!"
"It wouldn't have worked then but it will now. Now that I have found the two missing pieces needed for my plan."
"What pieces?"
"Well one of them is you."
"Me?"
"I come to you tonight bearing a peace offering. Let us forget the petty squabble we had a hundred years ago and go back to being the carefree friends we were before all that happened. All you have to do is help me with my dream."
"Not happening bonehead."
"I see you're still stubborn about the whole idea. This upsets me but I know with time you'll come around."
"Don't bet on it."
"What? What's going on? Manny what is this guy talking about?" Frida asked.
"Ah so this is Frida Suarez, the nun I've been hearing so much about lately." Django said gazing at her. "Such a beautiful and innocent looking maiden, so much like our dear Analia was. I do wonder if her skin feels just as soft."
"Don't you touch her! Don't you even look at her!" Manny lunged for Django only for him grabbed him by his throat and begin choking him. He struggled to break away but Django's intense grip was much too strong. He choked, coughed, and gasped for air while his mouth began to bleed.
"Still as protective as ever I see! You never did like it when I flirted with your women. "
"Leave him alone!"
Frida shot a bullet that took Django's arm which was choking Manny. The hand on the severed arm released Manny who laid there, coughing up blood and trying to breath. Frida wanted to go to his aid but Django blocked her way and grinned at her lustfully.
"Get out of my way right now or I'll blow your brains out!" She demanded.
"Blow my brains out? My, my, holy woman you have changed over time, I must admit I never expected you to be a gunslinger."
"What are you talking about?"
"I see you don't remember me."
"Remember you? I don't even know you!"
"Actually dear Frida Suarez you and I knew each other quite well that is we did in your first life as the enchanting Analia Montoya."
"Look I don't know who the hell you are or why you're here but you've got five seconds to get out of here before I shoot!"
"Yes about that."
In a flash he moved at a speed so quick that she didn't even have time to blink, he knocked the gun out of her hand and had her pinned against the wall. She struggled, kicked, and screamed but she couldn't get loose.
"Get off me!" She demanded.
"You know I found women especially very lovely when they were frightened and helpless."
"Well hate to disappoint but I'm not the helpless type."
"Oh but you are. You've been helpless all you're life."
"You're wrong! You don't know me! I've always been able to do anything!"
"Were you able to save your parents? And your sisters?"
"Don't talk about my family!"
"Why? Because it hurts to remember them? To remember how they died? Tell me what was it like to stand there and watch your mother and your father and your sisters lie in bed sick."
"Stop it!"
"Suffering that pain and agony of a slow death! While you stood there, helpless to save them! All you could do was watch as they died!"
"Stop it! Stop it!" She cried.
"And then you went to that asylum where they locked you up and subjected you to endless torture! You cried out for help! For mercy! For them to stop! But they didn't listen did they? You were helpless. A helpless little girl all alone in the world. Helpless to save her family and helpless to escape the torture."
He saw the fear in her eyes and it pleased him greatly. He then gripped her face and forced her into a kiss. Tears of horror streamed down her cheeks and she found herself unable to move. She just stood there wanting nothing more than to run away but this demon had her completely still. She felt like she was going to die.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
Django broke away from Frida and turned toward Manny who stood up with a bleeding mouth and flaming green eyes. He raised a hand and sent a fireball right at Django causing him to release his hold on the young woman who collapsed in shock. Green fire began to rise every where in the area, burning and destroying anything in it's way.
"Yes Manny!" Django chuckled. "That's it destroy this wretched world that your cruel god has created!"
"DJANGO!" He roared.
"I know you're angry at me but you should really be angry at God. After all it's his fault your parents and your true love are all dead. He claims he loves everyone yet he let's so many people suffer. If he truly loved anyone he wouldn't let them suffer. But my plan will ensure no one suffers again. You know your little nun is so very lovely, she would make a charming addition to my group of followers don't you think?"
"SHUT UP! I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU! YOU BASTARD!"
"Manny stop!" He heard a voice call. It was Steven, he and Connie had been getting more equipment when they saw the green fire starting and followed it. "Manny you have to calm down! Now! Before you destroy the city!"
"Please Manny you could kill everyone even Frida!" Conie added.
Manny wanted to lose control, he wanted to murder Django and destroy any part of him that could possibly come back but he knew he couldn't risk possibly killing the people around him including Frida. So he calmed down and let the flames die down then raced to Frida's side. She was trembling and crying, then she passed out from shock. He caught her falling upper body and held it up. Then he felt Django pull him close and whisper something in his ear.
"I'm curious what is this woman to you?" He asked. "She's a nun who fights devils and yet you protect her with your life. Surely it's not because of that cursed belt I heard about because you're no longer wearing it so why the great concern? Tell are you in love with this woman?"
Manny felt his heart stop for a moment then he growled and broke away from Django, holding Frida protectively.
"I guess this is to be continued then?" Django said grinning. "Until we meet again half devil and holy woman."
He then disappeared in a great fire.
"Damn him!" Manny hissed. He then looked over at Frida and began to brush her blue hair out of her face. She was so pale but her cheeks were red hot and tear stained while her hair was in disarray. Yet even like this he couldn't help but think she looked so beautiful. He then shook his head and blinked when he realized what he had just thought.
"Manny are you okay?" Steven asked him concerned.
"Yes I'm fine." He said not taking his eyes off of her. "Let's head back, I'm losing blood by the hour."
They drove back to the organization where Manny's wounds were treated and Frida was tended to by the Nora and Gardner. For a while they calmed her down and helped her fear subside then after she was calm they began to discuss with her about the heaven's light.
"Manny just who on earth was that man who attacked you?" Connie asked him.
"His name is Django. Django of the Dead, he was a guy I knew back in the 1800's and he used to be my best friend. We met as kids when he picket pocketed my grandfather, I chased him down and made him give it back. He was impressed that I was able to catch him, he nicknamed me Hero boy and we became friends. We were close, we spent our days pulling harmless pranks on adults but that was when we were twelve, as we got older things changed."
"What do you mean?"
"As we reached late teen hood our pranks began to change while mine remained practical and harmless just for my own amusement his were more dangerous and deadly which he used as revenge on the people he believed had wronged him. His dark nature caused us to drift apart but what destroyed our friendship entirely was when we fell for the same woman."
"Analia?"
"Yeah, I wasn't the only man who's heart she had stolen. Though I don't think he really loved her more like he lusted for her. Analia cared for us both but it was me she loved and that's what drove Django to his breaking point. He began attacking people of the church and started burning down churches and holy grave yards, it was the only thing that brought him joy. He hated them with such a passion but out of all the people he hated, it was God he hated the most. When I learned of his attacks I tried to talk to him but he just laughed like a mad man and he revealed a horrifying secret to me. He was a devil, a full fledged devil, he told me of his plan to create a better world where he would reign supreme and Analia would rule by his side. She and I were both horrified and disgusted by his offer and we both refused to have any part of it, in rage he tried to kill us both but I stabbed him with a crucifix which we thought had destroyed him but I guess things aren't always what they seem in his world."
"Is this him?" Dipper asked pointing to an article in one of his books about demons and devils through out history. "Django of the dead, demon from hell, conceived after the demon Zhar raped a woman who was part of a cult of devil worshipers, when his mother found out she was pregnant she committed suicide by swallowing arsenic,but his grandmother, Zhar's mother Sartana had him be reborn as a demon and raised him. He spent his life to causing misery and suffering to anyone who showed any devotion to God, according to this he saw God as a cruel tyrant and swore to take his place as the all powerful ruler of the universe."
"Lunatic alert." Steven said.
"He said he found a way to accomplice his goal but the book doesn't say what it was."
"He can't really pull it off can he?" Connie asked concerned.
"Of course not do you have any idea how many times some maniac has tried to become a God? It's impossible for anyone."
"But that doesn't mean he can't cause harm while trying to do his crazy stunt." Manny said. "Believe me, Django may not be able to become a God but that doesn't mean he won't try."
"How bad is this guy anyway?" Dipper said.
"You know that corrupted priest you want to send to jail? Django is ten times as evil as he is. This priest is just a mad man who hides his treachery behind the bible but Django is no man, he's a demon who knows no morals, no empathy, no fear, and no reason and it's beings like him. Beings like Satan, who are the most frighting things in all the world."
"Manny this is the most serious you've ever been." Steven said. "Are you afraid of him?"
"It's not Django that I fear, it's what he can do to certain people that I'm afraid of."
"What can he do?"
"Things, things that you only see in your nightmares, things that people want to do only if they truly have no good in their hearts, things that Satan himself has driven men to do and but what I'm really afraid of is the last thing he said to me before he was destroyed."
"What was that?"
"He swore to me that one day he'd come back and that when he did he would use me to full fill his psychotic dream."
"You're not considering helping him are you?"
"Of course not! You'd have to be out of your damn mind to try and over throw God! No doubt he'll probably try to force to help me but I can take anything he throws at me...At least I hope so."
"Can he be killed?" Connie said.
"To be honest I have no idea." Manny said. "But right now I think we have bigger fish to fry. Any luck on the tablet Dipper?"
"So far no. I can understand Latin but this is very difficult to read from a photograph." Dipper said. "I'll have to read it up close."
"And how do we do that exactly?"
"Well I found a flier saying that they will be unveiling the tablet along with many artifacts at some gala tomorrow night. If we could get in there I could get close enough to read the tablet better."
"Wait a minute I've heard of those." Connie said. "Don't you need an invitation to get in?"
"Yeah only high society people get invited to those." Steven said. "And last I checked we're not high society."
"No but we know someone who is." Dipper said.
"You mean Pacifica? What makes you think she'll get us in?"
"You'd be surprised Steven, I have a way with the ladies."
"Yeah right." Manny chuckled as he put on his jacket and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Steven asked.
"Out!"
He went to visit Frida. She laying in bed listening to the music box he had given her.
"You still have that?" He said coming into her room. "I thought you got rid of it."
"Yeah I thought about leaving it behind but I don't know I just couldn't. You okay?"
"My throat's gonna be sore for a few days but I'll live. What about you?"
"What do you mean? He didn't hurt me?"
"Not with his fists but he did hurt you with something."
"If you're referring to what he said about my family it's no big deal."
"You were crying and you passed out."
"Okay maybe it hurt me a little to think about them but it's no big deal. Really."
"Hey, you never have to afraid to cry in front of me you know."
"I know but right now I don't wanna cry. So what's new?"
"We found out the slime is after some tablet but for whatever reason, I have no idea. It's got some words but they're in Latin. Dipper can understand Latin but he needs to get a closer to it to read it better."
"So where is it?"
"At the museum under lock and key but it'll be free for close ups tomorrow night at some party or whatever."
"So we're going to a party tomorrow? Great I could use some fun."
"I don't think we're going because it's just a place where snobs can meet and talk about unimportant stuff."
"Maybe or maybe we could find a way to make it more fun."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you in the morning right now just wanna sleep."
"I hear ya, I'll leave but quick question do you still have that belt?"
"Yeah."
"Can you put it on me?"
"You want it back on?" She asked surprised. "You sure?"
"Yes now hurry before I change my mind."
She went to her suitcase, opened it, and pulled out the belt which she put on him. Then he left her room and decided that he needed some sleep.
"What is this woman to you?"
Django's words were stuck in his mind. Ever since he had said those words Manny found himself very confused. Then he realized something, he was always thinking about Frida. Ever since they all split up five months ago she had constantly been in his thoughts. He just couldn't stop thinking about her but he didn't know why? At first he thought it was because of that damn belt but then he remembered that before leaving she had taken it off and even after that he still thought about her. The whole thing both confused and scared him because he hadn't thought about anyone like this in a long time. Thinking it over that night he had come up with one conclusion. He had lost his mind.
