Church Bells

During the day, Cyprus Gray was a missionary. During the evenings, he was a Youth Group leader. But at night, he hunted demons. Surprisingly, New Carthage was rather full of them. He'd lived his whole life in that town, right outside New York city, without noticing. Until he was seventeen, anyway.

However, it was during one of his sermons on a Sunday that he noticed a strange presence. During his years as a priest, never once had a demon been able to step inside his church. Somehow, he felt like that record had just been broken.

A man stood at the back of the room, smiling pleasantly as he listened. Despite his calm demeanor, he had not been standing there only minutes prior.

The shadows obscured his face, but he wore simple black clothing and had long, honey-tinted hair.

Cyprus ended the sermon somewhat short, but if there was a demon in his church, things would get much messier if there were people around. The sooner they left the better.

Still, he was forced to talk to at least three people before he could get to the back of the pews to find the suspicious man he had seen.

He stood patiently, still smiling; his eyes would wander in Mars's direction every so often.

Finally, he stood in front of him.

"Hello." He greeted the man, tucking the two strands of hair that had fallen out back behind his ear.

"Hi," he said brightly, nodding politely. He folded his arms behind his back, saying no more.

"...Is there something you need, sir?" He asked, figuring it best to just get to the point.

He shook his head.

"You're the one who approached me--shouldn't you have something you need?"

"Well, I assumed since you're in the church and aren't a member, that there was something you need." He explained, trying to stay focused even as he waved goodbye to many of the churchgoers.

"Maybe I'm a new member," he said with a shrug.

"Perhaps you would like to introduce yourself, then." He insisted, completely suspicious. "The rest of the church members are about to leave; you could wait until they're gone and we could become acquainted."

He raised his eyebrows.

"I don't know, that seems a little odd--why can't we talk while other people are here?" He chuckled. "I may not be a child, but you know what they say about priests..."

"It'll be quieter once everyone has left," was what he would have said if he hadn't heard the last comment.

"Excuse me? Are you making some sort of untoward insinuation about me?" He demanded, suddenly seeming much less priest like.

He grinned brightly.

"Why would you think that? Thought I suppose I don't know you, sir, so I can't say much either way..."

He glared at the man.

"I think it's better if you left now."

"Why? You don't even know why I'm here." He chuckled softly into his hand. "But I wasn't insulting you, you know--just, the whole priest profession...seems kinda shady. I don't know you personally, but..."

"I can't see how we seem shady." He replied bitterly, knowing full well why the last priest had to be replaced. "I'm a man of God. I do his work. Nothing more, nothing less."

"So you're saying it is shady?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

"Of course not!" He had half a mind to smack the annoying man. Unfortunately, there were still people around. They would be gone soon, however. "Now, I'm going to be busy in a few minutes, so if you would please tell me why you're here..."

"Busy with a child?" he asked, grinning broadly.

He glowered at him.

"Is there really something you need, or must you pester me further?"

"Oh, yeah--well, you know how you said you're a man of God?"

"I'm quite aware." He said, raising an eyebrow. "Is there something wrong with that?"

He beamed.

"Well, it's a small world--you see, I happen to be a man of God as well."

He just stared.

"...You're kidding, right?"