Chapter 6 Sagitta
Sagitta
I was too nervous to sleep. And even if I wasn’t, I didn’t have a bed.
Around five in the morning, I finally gave up guarding Chase’s door.
I drank tea, grabbed my things and went to meditate in the courtyard garden.
Purple light bathed the area, mild and rosy with the promise of the dawn.
The summer air was warm, even before the sun rose over the city, and everything was quiet.
It was the perfect time to soak in peace and calm.
Of which I felt neither.
My thumb cramped from fidgeting with my rosary. I was probably wearing a groove in the wooden beads.
Doubts crept up my back like marching ants.
I still didn’t understand how my first exorcism failed.
I’d done everything correctly. Was Faust too powerful for someone at my skill level?
That was impossible. I was one of the most experienced exorcists at the temple. If I couldn’t handle him, who could?
Cygnet’s face flashed in my mind. I shook my head. No doubt he was waiting for me to screw up again so he could swoop in and seize the glory for himself.
But I wouldn’t let him. I’d do it right this time.
I closed my eyes. I breathed. And I waited for Chase to wake up.
An hour and a half later, when the sun was already cresting above the temple roof, it was clear that the asshole had slept in.
Scowling, I marched to his room and rapped harshly on the door. I heard him swear and fall out of bed before his footsteps thumped towards me. When he threw the door open, his blond hair was a mess and he was only dressed in a loose muscle shirt and boxers.
Boxers with cute swimming fish on them.
I was a bit charmed. But mostly infuriated.
“Get dressed. Now,” I ordered.
Chase shoved his leg halfway into a pair of jeans. “Sorry, sorry.”
I fumed outside his door while he got ready. Fifteen minutes later, he ran outside and flashed me an apologetic grin that I did not return.
He was as meek as a sheep by the time we reached the grand exorcism hall. It was more imposing than the previous chamber, which was meant for lower-level exorcisms. The hall radiated serious energy from the moment you stepped inside, like a cathedral compared to a chapel.
My anxiety swelled. The empty hall loomed like an omen of despair. My nerves made my ribs feel clammy and cold, and no amount of thumbing my prayer beads soothed them.
This was it. If I screwed up again...
“Hey.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin as Chase’s voice cut into my thoughts.
He shot me a sympathetic smile. “It’ll be okay, dude. Don’t worry.”
I frowned. Chase was my client. He was not supposed to be consoling me.
“Please go stand over there,” I said, pointing to the depression in the centre of the room.
Chase followed my instructions without any quips. Was it my imagination, or did he seem far too calm? Someone in his position shouldn’t be so composed. Possessed individuals were often wild and frantic. They pleaded for help to cleanse themselves of the demons.
Chase just yawned and scratched his abs.
I wrenched my gaze away before I fixated on the flash of exposed skin.
Desperate for this exorcism to work, I went all out. I utilized every exorcist’s weapon in my arsenal. I lit the fiery torches. I scattered the mix of sand, jasmine flowers, and grasses. I burned the holy incense. I recited every powerful paritta verse I knew.
Finally, I wrapped my rosary around the bottom of my bow. The rosary represented my intention to dispel the demon without harming its host. Without it, my bow was just an ordinary weapon, capable of hurting humans all the same.
I pulled an arrow from my quiver and readied it.
Chase grimaced, but didn’t flinch away. He wanted this exorcism to work, too.
We’re on the same team, I reminded myself.
My arrow began to glow with blazing white light. With all my might, I willed it to expel the demon from Chase’s body.
I took a steady breath.
I loosed the arrow.
Whipping through the air faster than I could blink, the arrow struck Chase square in the chest. He toppled over with a loud grunt.
He didn’t get up.
Worried, I ran to his side. Exorcisms were tough on the host, even if they weren’t harmed. I knew that. But I couldn’t stop the concern from welling up, and I didn’t understand why. I was never this sentimental over clients.
“Chase?” I called.
He was sprawled flat against the dusty layer of sand and grass. His eyes were clenched shut and he groaned. The longer he remained quiet and still, the more my anxiety skyrocketed.
“Speak to me,” I cried.
He groaned, then slowly opened his eyes. “Hey.”
Cautious optimism bloomed in my chest. “Well? Is it gone?”
He blinked a few times before sitting upright. Without thinking, I put my hand on his shoulder to steady him. It was common for clients post-exorcism to be dizzy, or even faint.
But suddenly, Chase’s eyes flew open and his cheeks flushed pink.
“I’m not doing that,” he snapped, as if arguing with the air.
My heart dropped.
The demon was still inside him.
Realizing the truth, Chase released a groan. “Fuck.”
I felt like I was sinking into a swamp of despair. I’d failed twice in a row against the same damned demon.
Who even was I anymore?
“Sorry, dude,” Chase mumbled. “I know you really wanted this to work. Hell, so did I.”
I sank to my knees. This couldn’t be happening. Not only would my reputation be ruined, but there was still a fucking demon on the loose.
My colleagues couldn’t find out about this. Nobody could.
But especially not Cygnet. He was a ruthless demon hunter. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust my brother, but accidents happened. What if, in his zeal to exorcise Faust, he forgot to attach his protective rosary to his blade? The unhinged anxious thought filled me with alarm.
Chase watched me, his brows knitted in sympathy and concern. He was ignorant, loud, and at times utterly intolerable, but I didn’t want any harm to come his way. Despite all his flaws, I found myself strangely endeared to this stupid jock.
What could I do? My bristling pride wouldn’t let me hand his case over to a different exorcist. No way. But that meant I had to figure this out on my own—and fast.
As if the heavens had parted above my head, I realized I still had a grace period.
Of course. It was a routine procedure for exorcisms involving higher-ranked demons.
My heart pounded. One week to follow up with Chase. One week to ensure the demon was truly gone. It was exactly the opportunity I needed.
I had an idea. A really terrible one. And it required Chase’s cooperation.
“Chase,” I said slowly. “How well can you lie?”
He cocked his head. “Uh...”
“Uh is not good enough,” I said urgently. “I need you to lie, and it needs to sound convincing.”
Chase pulled a face like I’d asked him to write a ten-page essay. Then he paused, staring into nothingness.
By now I recognized that dumb expression. He was listening to the demon whispering in his ear.
“I’m not a great liar,” Chase began, “but I know somebody who is.”
After running to my room and packing a quick bag, I rejoined Chase.
We set out in a brisk but unbothered pace towards the front gate.
Rumour had spread that I’d exorcised a high-ranking demon, so we got a few admiring looks, but nobody stopped to question us.
After all, why should they? I was damn good at my job.
They all assumed Faust was gone and Chase was demon-free.
And yet, it was only a matter of time until a certain somebody stopped us.
“Where exactly are you going?”
Cygnet’s cutting voice came right on cue. He caught up with us right before we reached the front gate.
My heart flipped, but I remained calm.
“Out,” I replied.
“Where?”
My mouth curled into a wry smile. “I wasn’t aware I needed your permission to live my life, nóng chaai.”
Cygnet’s brow twitched, and I couldn’t help feeling smug. If he was so comfortable throwing around familial terms dipped in sarcasm, then I could play dirty, too.
Cygnet’s glare cut to Chase standing beside me. “And what about the demon?”
“Gone,” I stated. “Despite what you might think, I’m a competent exorcist.”
Despite the tiny crumb of doubt ravaging my soul.
Cygnet paused for a moment. “I don’t believe you.”
I shrugged. “I’m sorry, but that’s not my problem.”
He scowled, then shifted his focus to Chase.
I steeled myself. This was it. If he screwed it up now, we were shit out of luck.
Chase was unfazed. He flashed my younger brother a lopsided grin and nodded towards the exit. “Uh, so, am I free to leave? I’ve got a life I’d like to get back to. Those barbells aren’t gonna lift themselves.”
Cygnet’s hand subtly rested on the hilt of his sword, hidden beneath the layers of tattered black robes.
I kept my face neutral, but on the inside, I was a bit offended. It was incredibly rude to suspect an exorcised client of further possession, especially when they showed no symptoms of lingering demonic activity.
On top of that, accusing a fellow senior exorcist of failing at their job was a serious allegation. It required paperwork and dealings with higher-ups. And if it turned out to be a false accusation, your own reputation would be tarnished. In our line of work, reputation was everything.
For all his attitude, Cygnet was aware of that. Was he so bullheaded that he was willing to take the risk?
Cygnet met my eye. I couldn’t read his expression, but I knew he wasn’t happy.
After a long and uncomfortable silence, Cygnet turned around. “My apologies for interrupting. Best be on your way.”
As soon as I heard those golden words, my spirits soared.
“No prob,” Chase replied. “See ya later. Well, actually, I hope not. ‘Cause I don’t wanna get possessed again, you know?”
He chuckled, but Cygnet didn’t reply. He avoided eye contact with both of us.
“Just so you know,” I added, “I’ll be taking advantage of my grace period. The full week. So don’t wait up for me.”