Chapter 22 - 21: Happy Birthday (1)

The preparations for Arya's birthday party were complete and the twins were out inviting the neighborhood kids. Although it was a poor neighborhood they were quite tight-knit and Arya's birthday party was the perfect way to introduce him to the community.

Ava ran to Raul's house first to ask her teacher if he would come. Raul had never seen Arya and this was a chance he wasn't willing to miss. "The third child huh? I wonder what this one will be like." thought Raul to himself as he told Ava that he would find time to come.

That night the neighborhood kids went to bed excited at the thought of all the food they would eat and all the games they would get to play at Arya's birthday party. That night Arya slept in the same room as Neel and Lillian for the first time. He was a bit annoyed that he couldn't practice his magic but he was also happy all the same. He felt like he was getting a second chance at family and this time he wasn't going to take it for granted. As he happily slept he dreamt about his family back on Earth back when everything was simple and he was at his happiest.

Meanwhile in Draquerth

"Your holiness, Fiona has finished her interrogation of the man named Rirren. It turns out he was conspiring with the vampires in the city. He agreed to turn a blind eye on the disappearances of his people in exchange for gold and exotic furnishings. He also secretly ordered some of the guards to kidnap women in the city and sell them on the slave trade, Sometimes even 'testing' the merchandise for himself." said Amana without the least bit of emotion in her voice almost as if she was ordering a cup of tea.

" Well done. Such a disgusting man doesn't deserve retribution I want him put down like the dog he is." said Deon with disgust on his face.

" Your holiness, Rirren didn't survive the interrogation. He barely lasted long enough to say what I am relaying to you right now." replied Amana.

"This Fiona woman, I wonder how a demon like her got to be a member of the church. I need to ask the higher ups to put her on a leash. This is the 70th guy that has died from her 'interrogations'." thought Deon.

" Anyways what of the 'Raze' squad? Have they been dispatched yet?" asked Deon.

"Not yet your holiness. They are currently being blessed by 'The Apollo Cardinal'. They will be dispatched as soon as they are done." continued Amana.

" Good, I've found a lead on the dragon heretic. It seems a group of assassins called the 6th eye are in Draquerth as well, if anyone knows about what's going on here its them. It seems I'll just have to liberate the information from them as I clean them of their sins." said Deon as he closed his amulet and walked into a dark alley.

The city seemed like a ghost town. After news spread that the city lord was missing there seemed to be an evil aura covering the city. The disappearances tripled in just one night and more and more dead bodies were being discovered. There was a homeless man sleeping a distance away from where Deon stood and the air seemed still. Too still.

" Come out. I know you're there, you've been following me ever since I left the city lord's manor. You can hide your aura but not your sins. I wonder now that you know what I'm after will you give it to me peacefully? Or do we have to do things in an ugly manner?" said Deon to the darkness.

The homeless man stood up and after a single hand gesture 12 more men dressed in black appeared from the darkness. " From what I can tell you must be the Excalibur. Not every Arch-Bishop looks like an angel at such a height. I've always wanted to meet someone like you. Of course that's more because of your sword than anything else. But it seems you're mistaken here, you're not in a position to ask anythin-" the leader of the assassins tried saying.

"You talk an awful lot for an assassin you know. Well what can I expect from a faceless one knock off?" said Deon as he pulled a glowing silver scabbard from a rift in the air.

"Dimensional magic" thought the leader of the assassins.

" Knock off? Although you aren't on the hit list, I'm sure your sword and body should fetch a hefty price on the black market. And about that information you wanted if it's the dragon born you're looking for he already left the city." said the leader as he formed a giant scythe from darkness.

"Before we get into this allow me one more question. Then why are you still here?" asked Deon as he held the scabbard in his left hand.

"Came for work stayed for pleasure I guess. But that's enough talking." said the leader as he made several hand gestures.

" Tenebras ligare" chanted several men behind him as chains appeared out of the darkness and wrapped themselves around Deon. Several men then formed weapons made of darkness and lunged at Deon. The leader smiled from his position while looking at the so called 'Excalibur's ' down fall.

Deon simply shook his head seemingly disappointed and unleashed Excalibur from its scabbard. The sword gave out a holy hum as it was unleashed, emitting a golden aura so strong it pushed back all the men and broke the chains that held Deon down. As the men recovered from their shock they were blinded by the glow of the sword. When they were finally able to get a good look at Deon they felt like they were looking at an angel. Deon's eyes shone with a golden color and his body was covered in a divine aura.

It seemed as if a halo although dim was floating on top of his head. Deon slowly walked to the leader and smiled. There was no malice in his voice when he said "May God cleanse your soul.". The leader of the assassins tried to move but couldn't, the holy hum of the sword kept everyone who could hear it from moving.. The fight was over before it even started.