The Warriors of Light

The next morning, I missed training, sleeping in due to the Pope. I sat at the table thinking of my next move, drinking my regular coffee as I searched the web. No signs of Johnny Stan online. My only option would be to go to the police station and hassle them for whatever they knew.

There was a knock on the door. I stood to answer it. Mallory stood there looking sympathetic and apologetic as she walked in nervously securing her purse. There was this awkward silence between us. I could tell there was something on her mind, something she was afraid to tell me. "Are the girls alright? I'm sorry if I scared them last night..."

"They are fine. They actually feel safer because you were there to protect them. They say you are some kind of superhero." I scoffed, but let her continue. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to apologize to you. Things haven't been easy and now planning his funeral, trying to go on and live like... You didn't deserve my attitude. I'm sorry I accused you. I know you are hurting, too." She wrapped her arms around my neck in a hug. I placed a friendly arm around her. It wasn't until I felt her face turn, her lips nearly touched my hot spot on my neck, which caused me to gently push her away.

"You're fine, Mallory, no need to apologize." I gave her a friendly smile trying to cheer her up. "If I go MIA for a few days, don't get worried, okay. I'm going through a lot and I just need some time to figure everything out. I want you to make sure to keep the girls close by or in the care of people you trust. Don't go out at night."

"What are you planning to do?" There was silence between us, again. I couldn't tell her. It was better off this way. "Whatever you do, Ray," she touched my cheek, "be careful." And she walked out, leaving me alone to plan my day.

I stripped down in my bathroom, allowing the hot water to soothe my aching body. I needed to relax, but there was absolutely no time. I felt so obligated to help my brother. I needed this redemption, but now the issue was-do I betray the Pope to get what I want? If they didn't agree with me about handing Johnny Stan over, that would cause a rift between Gregory and me. The Order fascinated me, certainly. The world was so vast, so many questions swarmed around in my head. I realized then that I hadn't had any time to process what exactly was happening. I looked up from the water, feeling a certain aura around me. The light in the room started to flicker above me, as I backed away from the water hitting the wall.

I could feel it, somehow. A demon was close by, somewhere. Maybe not after me, but I had to be

sure as I quickly turned off the water, reaching for a towel, and my gun. I opened the door instantly holding up my gun, as a man sat on my barstool with my coffee mug in his mouth. I noticed Gregory and laid my gun down.

"Gregory. Jesus...have you ever heard of knocking?"

He only smiled as he continued to drink his cup of coffee out of my mug that was stored in my cabinet. "Knocking is terribly inconvenient. I'm just glad you didn't shoot me."

"Trust me. I have thought about it." I replied, walking over to the bed to grab clothes.

"Your reaction time is rather slow, but I will give a hard pass for that. You missed training this morning. Oversleep?" he asked, not looking back as I got dressed. I heard the sips from his lips as he drank the coffee.

"Your master pulled the thumb to the forehead. Just so everyone there knows... I do not like that shit. Can you please tell them to stop? I like going to sleep on my own accord. Thank you." Gregory only took another sip of his coffee. I finally noticed he wasn't in his robe but in his all- black pants and long sleeve shirt with weapons on his side. Did he come to fight something? Perhaps, that demon I felt was a real threat he came to eliminate. The room was quiet for a moment as I tugged on a shirt. A sting to my side caused me to look at myself in the mirror. A cross was on my side, as a brand. That wasn't there before.

"What the fuck is this?" I asked Gregory now as he didn't even turn around. He was now reading a newspaper as I walked up to him to show him. "Hey, what did that man do to me?"

Gregory just glanced at it as he set the mug on the counter. "It's a brand. Pope Richardson made you one of us. Not officially, but to keep tabs on you just in case you get in trouble."

"He could've just asked me. You know I don't appreciate being...."

"You are treading on thin ice, Ray." Gregory stood over me as if I should be afraid of him, but he just sighed. "Other factions of The Order are out there. With the Holy Seal, it just lets them and demons know whose side you are on. Something far more sinister is after you than you can handle right now."

"You mean Agares?" There was silence. "Okay someone else..."

"I thought you were captured or worse when you missed training this morning." Gregory confessed, his fists balled up as he released the tension within himself. "But since you are fine there was no earthly need for me to come by."

"You were worried about me?" That revelation came out much like a tease as I smirked and pointed to him. "Come on, admit it."

He slapped my hand down. "I just feel responsible for you that's all. I couldn't possibly live with my conscious if I allowed two Segal's to die in my care. Now, come on. We have much to do this afternoon." My eyebrows rose in confusion. "I need you to go to the police station and get information on Johnny. We still have a few weeks until Brad's funeral. I can delay as much as I can, but we need to find Johnny Stan fast."

"Aren't you afraid I will take him from you and give him to Agares?"

"We get the book and destroy Agares to free Brad. That is the plan. It is the only way and you know that." Gregory replied, grabbing the mug back off the counter, chugging it down. I grabbed my mug and did the same. "Let's get this done."

Gregory pulled on his robe to exude the power of the church if needed, but that wasn't

necessary, in my opinion. We walked in me with my shades on-walking up to the detective. He recognized me instantly.

"Ray Segal. Father Gregory. How may I help you both?"

"The church and I were eager to know if there was any news on the capture of the man who killed Brad Segal. I'm sorry his name escapes me..." Gregory said playing the role of the innocent priest right before I could talk. He glanced at me as I looked deadly at him. My eyes telling him to be quiet, but he took the lead.

"Sorry Father, but any information I have is strictly confidential at this point. No offense to the church or anything, but know we are working hard to find out what happened to Johnny Stan." My eyebrows furrowed in question. "Are you?" The Detective then turned to look at me. "It looks like Johnny got away from your care. Perhaps, it was an inside job. I know guys like you, detective -thinking they are above the law, would do anything for a quick buck. How much did Johnny Stan pay you, huh?" My voice rose in anger as I stepped closer. The anger on his face was evident.

"I assure you it wasn't an inside job. I wouldn't..."

"From the amount of evidence I have here, it would be nothing for me to file a lawsuit on this fucking place. Excuse my French, father."

Gregory smirked, arms folded behind his back. "None taken."

"My brother is being buried in a few weeks and his killer is gallivanting around town, while you

sit here and do nothing." I grabbed his collar. "You give me answers, now, or I swear this place will be called 'Brad Segal Police Hall"."

The Detective gulped as he slowly pulled away. "I can't do anything else, okay. I'm sorry."

"You can't or you won't?" I retorted.

"I can't...We saw footage of him getting on a bus."

"Show us," Gregory said. The detective didn't want to, but led us to his office, pulling up the CCTV footage on his computer. It showed Johnny buying a ticket in a hurry-no bags, no personal belongings. Nothing. "Looks like he is going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." "Have you alerted Pennsylvania Police?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Of course, I have. The moment he reaches a stop they will pick him up. We got this. Just let us do our jobs."

There was no way they would get remotely close to him. Gregory and I both knew it. Problem now was, how the hell were we going to get to him before anyone or anything else did? Gregory watched the footage closely even after Johnny was off-screen. Shadows raced across the camera in the direction Johnny was going. They were right on his tail.

"Thank you so much for this footage, Detective Larry. We will be in touch." Gregory said walking out with me behind him. I grabbed his arm right before he got back into the car.

"How the hell we going to reach him? He is probably in an entirely new town by now."

"The footage was just a couple of days ago. That would be an accurate amount of time for him to just be reaching his destination."

"We can't get there that fast."

Gregory smirked. "Oh yeah, who is a nonbeliever?"