3.09 OBSESSIVE LOVE: Business

On the last day of his forced vacation or glorified suspension, as Kyden would have liked to call it, his peace is ruined.

He doesn't plan much for the day aside from loitering around at him. Kyden even tries a slew of normal people activities, including baking, watching TV, and of course, drawing a few illustrations like he used to back in school.

But he's unskilled and out of practice. The eagle that adorns the large sketchbook looks like a frightened fledgling instead of a powerful, fearsome predator. Kyden frowns at it and scowls at his inability. There's the sound of some stupid action sequence in the backdrop and he finds himself losing interest in that too.

Impatience crawls about his chest and Kyden really wishes to know the secret to enjoy idling because he just can't no matter how hard he tries. 

Frustrated, he puts the sketchbook aside and tries to sit back on his couch and relax. The veggie pizza sits in its box half-eaten and Kyden recalls a time he could stomach a whole box all by himself, with sides too. That had surely been a time, back when he would still drink and party and have friends to call his own.

"…" The thriller that unfolds on the TV screen fails to capture his interest. Kyden turns to his phone instead. On social media, he scrolls through news reports about politics, religion, crime, and demonic happenings because he knows of nothing else.

A new Holy Mother Oracle is going to be elected soon. The current one will be going through her last Sacrifice but Kyden isn't quite sure what that girl even has left to give. He scrolls through images of her; a small gaunt little thing who sits in a wheelchair, paralyzed. Even though her limbs are useless, eyes unseeing and voice removed, she wears a constant smile on her lips. Still, he notices that the photos haven't bothered to remove the dark circles beneath her eyes; a sign that she ought to be replaced.

Kyden keeps scrolling through his phone.

There are newly published numbers on the stats for demon nymphs in the new season and it's marginally higher than the last. Experts blame the failing Holy Mother Oracle.

It's inevitable, Kyden thinks. But the numbers should lessen once a new one is elected. He wonders if there's a way to stave off demons that doesn't require the sacrifice of one little girl.

Considering how scant other cities remain aside from Salemo, the odds are stacked, against humanity that is.

There's a concoction of boredom and frustration brewing in his heart but Kyden scrolls through his socials just a little bit more. 

That's when everything seems to come to a slow. His finger freezes and his whole body tenses. 

It's rare that he sees personal posts because he doesn't follow that many people in the first place. But the professor does post a few here and there between his more professional ones about research and news articles related to anti-demon research. 

The photo that graces Kyden's eyes is one without any trace of professionalism. It's a selfie. Raziel beams into the camera, his ash brown hair neatly combed back and a turtleneck peaks past his stylish beige trench coat and his hazel eyes are in the shape of crescents, mirthful and joyful. There's a woman in his arm, her dainty head resting against his neck as she smiles against his collarbone. 

Kyden recognizes her.

It's Belle Sacris.

Kyden springs from the couch, any thought of relaxation thrown out the window. He pushes the speed dial and ignores the chief's chiding voice because Kyden is already out the door by then and refuses to listen to her telling him to calm down. He can't.

"It's the Sacris case. I found her, dammit."

"Rev. Kyden you have to understand that I cannot let you take on a case that crosses into your personal life," she says, steady and stern. "Thank you for alerting us, but I'm afraid that I'll have to transfer the case to Theresa."

"Chief," Kyden hisses because he cannot let this go. There's something in his heart that's ablaze with fire. He's reminded of the final call he received from Cecilia because she turned up dead and all his hackles are raised. Kyden cannot control himself. "Don't do this to me."

She doesn't back down, "I can and I will."

Fuck, Kyden really doesn't want it come down to this. He's shaking when he says, "Chief, how many sick days have I accumulated?"

The Exorcism Department Chief sounds a bit confused when she answers, "You have a total of three days, why?"

"Then I will be taking those three days," Kyden says, resolute. "On top of another three, unpaid. I will see you later, Ma'am"

"Kyden Reto—!"

She's cut off when he hangs up. Kyden doesn't allow himself to be stopped. He can't.

…

Professor Raziel Ervenir of the Salemo Exorcist's Academy lives in an upscale apartment on the good side of town. He occupies the four and a half all by himself and it's superbly decorated with vintage furniture from bygone styles. Still, there's something extremely charming about the wooden piano that sits in the corner of the living room, beneath the mounted frame of butterfly specimens. 

Voir can't help himself when he lifts a finger to a stray key and pressed down.

A sharp note rings out and Theresa hisses at him in displeasure.

"Sorry!" Voir raises both hands in apology, pouting to show his sincerity.

It's just, there's not much for him to do when there are already two capable exorcists on the case. He's just there as a glorified errand boy.

So Voir turns away from the enticing piano and instead turns his gaze to a nearby bookshelf where titles range from 'The Anatomy of Demons' to 'The History of the Pre-Collapse' and 'Sonnets by the Possessed'. There are odd little trinkets that litter the shelves, like a delicate ship in a bottle, a slab of jade and a cute statuette of a black serpent. 

Voir's eyes trail over to a picture. In it, he spots the professor right away. He's handsome in his youth in a full exorcist's uniform and his hair looks a bit blonder than ash. The academy rests in the backdrop and there's something strange about the photo but Voir can't really put his finger on it. The lack of students maybe?

"Voir!" Gable's sharp call pulls him out of his trance, "I need you to take a look at something for me." 

He can hear Theresa's voice as well but it's lower, muffled behind the walls.

Voir walks towards the bedroom. It's just as thematic as the rest of the house with a vintage record player that catches Voir's attention. There's a taxidermy hawk with wings spread on a carefully curated branch, placed next to a foreign-looking paper screen featuring inked watercolors of sloped cliff sides.

He's so captivated by the room and its odd charm that Voir almost misses the two exorcists huddled in the middle of the room, squatting over the floor. A carpet is rolled aside and a piece of floorboard can be seen sticking out. 

Curious, Voir approaches, "What did you need me for, sir?" 

"What in the seven hells do you reckon this thing is?" Gable motions at the thing hidden under the floorboard.

"I'm telling you, it's nothing! Just some old piece of junk. Focus on the task at hand, won't you, you old dolt?" Theresa hisses, arms crossed.

Voir cautions a peek and a small, "Oh" leaves his lips. He knows what it was.

It's a bracelet, just one thin black braided strand held together by a band of silver. But upon closer inspection, the black braid was in fact made with human hair. Voir didn't really understand why Raziel would hide such a dangerous thing in the floor, where it might be found in his absence but it isn't Voir's place to question. 

Absently, he thinks, the professor might not be as smart as he seems on the surface. Or maybe it's just because Voir personally gets a lot of bad vibes from the guy.

The young exorcist leans back and blinks with his wide, innocent eyes. "Maybe it's…just something from a past lover or something."

The three share a look.

Voir scratches the back of his neck, "I mean…it makes sense doesn't it?"

"That's absurd," Theresa hisses. 

"No, it makes perfect sense," Gable nods sagely.

Voir blinks at them with a smile that hangs on his face. "Aren't we supposed to be looking for clues to where the professor disappeared to?"

Simultaneously, the pair responds:

"We are." 

"That's what we're doing."

"…Right," Voir maintains his awkward smile and nods. He decides to stand back and let the two bicker and complain, not really getting much done. It's not Voir's business, not really. 

Instead, he only watches the investigation unfold, doing little to actually help. When they leave the site and Voir clocks out, he goes home quickly to change out of his uniform and into something casual. 

When evening falls and the sky is dark, Voir meets Kyden in a dingy bar.