Sister Irene looked up at the evening sky, painted blood red by the sun. She quickly said her prayers, crossing herself, as she stared up at the haunting Abbey of St Carta.

Her parents had sent her here to begin her training as a novitiate, but there was something amiss.

It was too quiet; and she didn't need a vision to tell her something was very wrong here.

She felt a presence, and whirled—finding her face to face with a priest; only he was young, about her age; with white hair and a red scar. Trailing behind him was a boy toting a sword looking normal except for a tail and fangs.

Irene gaped in horror. Were they demons? But she had been taught not to judge, so she stood her ground and said. "Who are you two? And why are you dressed as a priests?"

"I am a priest." The white haired boy answered simply. "I am Allen Walker."

"I'm Rin Okumura!" The tailed boy said brightly, brandishing his sword. "There's somethin unholy here alright!"

"Your…something different…I feel something else about you. More like a demon than a priest. She looked at Allen. And you're more of a soldier." Irene shook her head. She had been told not to speak of her power so carelessly. "Shall I escort you into the convent?"

"Yes please. Thank you." The priest said formally.

"Aw don't worry. I'm a demon, but I'm a good one." Rin rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, further enforcing the fact that he was a teenager as she was.

"Well I don't have a choice but to trust you if you were sent by the Vatican. Allen, why are you wearing a hood and gloves in the summer" Irene asked, opening the door. "Must be hot. I'm Sister Irene."

Allen smiled. "It is a bit warm but sometimes you have to deal with it. It's not too bad though."

"Seems more like your hiding something." Rin muttered.

"So is it Brother for you two or have you completed the priesthood and it's Father?"

"I suppose…brother?" Allen said, taken aback by her line of questioning.

Rin glared. "Not brother…no…"

Irene smiled. "I haven't taken my vows yet either! I'm so nervous! I—" Suddenly she stopped. "Sweet Lord! What is that!"

The two gazed up at the convent. There, hanging from the window, was a nun. Her skin was the black of scorched bone, cracking into ash. There was blood on the steps of the abbey, and the nun was desperately clutching something in her praying hands.

Reacting quickly, Allen shielded her eyes. "This is not something you should see, Sister. We should tell someone about this."

"I-I think that this is why we were sent here…" Rin said, stricken, clutching his sword.

"The Vatican would never send you men to a convent without good reason…" Irene stubbornly brushed his hand aside and approached the deceased nun. "She…she's protecting something…"

Rin followed her protectively. "Be careful."

Meanwhile, Allen gazed at the corpse with a knowing look.

Irene touched the Sister's prayerful hands and took a key from her. "Brothers, does this mean anything to you? This sister died protecting it."

She held out the key, but did not hand it over.

Rin looked at the key. "I have no clue."

"Would you happen to know?" Allen asked.

She knew Allen was lying. That was the same knowing look he had given the corpse. There was more going on here. Something the Vatican knew that she did not. Rin didn't seem to know, which made her question his position at the Vatican. If he was a demon, surely they would keep their silence.

"No. But…" Irene looked up at the abbey. "Can't you hear the souls crying out to us? This abbey…it is no longer a holy place… "