Writing. BAM.

I think I mentioned last post that I'm working on the prequel (sort of) to my LiAW story. Transcribing the first few scenes now b/c my head is all "you want to do real work? Fffft have all of the headache" and so transcribing it is. :3 Have a story bit! (Note that Rue likes to shoot things. :3)

 

 

It was raining, a slow, steady drizzle that seeped through Rue's lightweight, ragged cloak. The clouds above seemed closer than ever, as though they were closing in on him, making Rue itch to move, to launch his attack and end the waiting. He hated feeling boxed in, but he forced himself to stay still.

The church was brightly lit, the torches under the overhang warding off the gloom of the bad weather. The overhang—and torches—spanned the front of the church, and the door was open, inviting anyone to enter. If it weren't for the sickly green glow that emanated from the stones of the church walls, it would be the picture of inviting.

Rue stood in the shadow of an abandoned shed, out of sight across the well-worn path that led through the small town. The villagers were making their way to the church, slowly trickling in for the weekly service. Rue watched them closely, wishing he could put his finger on the lingering anxiety and unease that crawled down his spine as he watched them enter the church.

Perhaps the demon here was stronger than the ones he'd faced in the past? Rue frowned, giving the glowing stones another look. The demon magic didn't seem any stronger. Rue had been watching the church for a few days, and while the demon wards were at their lowest to allow in the parishioners for the service, they hadn't been much stronger the last few days.

Still, Rue didn't doubt the priests that were colluding with demons were learning. He'd taken out nearly a dozen of them—it would be the epitome of stupid to pretend they wouldn't try different tactics to stop him.

A last few villagers disappeared into the church, leaving Rue completely alone outside. Rue tensed, but didn't move. A moment later, the priest appeared at the door. He glowed a brighter green than the building, standing out even in the light of the torches. Rue stayed motionless as the priest scanned the area. He didn't see Rue—or at least, gave no sign of seeing Rue.

The priest stepped back, into the church, and shut the door. Rue took a deep breath, ignoring the ache in his side that indicated the drugs were wearing off. He sought out his pistols beneath the cloak, trailing his fingers against the smooth handles.

Rue waited a few minutes more, until he was certain the opening ceremony was finished and the priest had stepped to the front of the dais to give his sermon. Removing his cloak, Rue draped it over the battered pack propped against the shed behind him. It wasn't doing him any good, and it would only be a hindrance inside.

Moving quickly, rue strode across the path, paying no mind to the mud and muck as it stuck to his boots or to the rain as it fell faster from the dark clouds above. Reaching the church, rue took the three steps to the door in one jump, all anxiety and unease disappearing beneath the terrible calm that washed over him each time he removed a demon from the world.

Rue pushed open the front door, letting it crash heavily against the wall behind him. The church had the standard layout—one large room, full of pews facing the dais on the far side. There was a small lofted area above the dais, where the priest's chambers would be, as well as storage for the church props that would be pulled out on special occasions.

The priest was exactly where Rue had anticipated, front and center on the dais. He cut off mid-word, and Rue drew one of his pistols, throwing his magic into the spell circle inscribed on the bullet as he fired. The priest glowed searingly bright, the sickly green color washing over the first few pews of villagers even as those closest to Rue began screaming.

Rue's bullet reached the priest—and immediately dropped to the floor at the priest's feet. He was stronger than usual, but not strong enough. Rue fired twice more, not bothering to waste any more of his magic as he fired. The villagers nearest him were scrambling to get away, some heading for the door. A few men tried to approach him, but were easily deflected with a surge of magic.

"Today is your last day on this earth, demon," Rue said, sliding his pistol back into its holster at his waist. With his left hand, he pulled out the second. It was dark, almost black, the metal corrupted by the strong magic Rue had forced through it. He leveled it at the priest, his palm burning where he touched it.

"By command of the High Priest, you are ordered to stand down and surrender yourself to my custody." A strong, steady voice cut through the chaos, and Rue paused, a few feed from the dais and the demon-infested priest.

Looking up towards the voice, rue met the gaze of a church Inquisitor. He wore the badge clearly on the front of his shirt, shining in the light from the dais below him. He'd been hidden in the loft, and Rue supposed he should have expected an Inquisitor at some point. He was leveling a pistol at Rue, and he glowed a pale, pale blue without even the slightest hint of demon-tainted green.

Ignoring the Inquisitor's command, Rue leveled his pistol at the smirking priest. Inquisitor or no, the demon had to be banished. A gunshot not his own made Rue jerk back, and the sting of fresh, untainted magic sparking along his side made him duck to the side, into the row of pews to his left. Most of the villagers had fled, minus a handful of burly men who were lurking ominously at the back of the room.

And a little girl, Rue realized, kicking himself for going left instead of right. She was hidden under the pew behind him, eyes wide and wet with tears. With the angle of the pews, the Inquisitor and the demon-tainted priest wouldn't be able to see her.

"That was a warning, sir," the Inquisitor called down to him, the pistol trained unerringly on Rue. "Stand down, or the next won't miss."

It would have stronger magic, no doubt. Rue could block it, but then he wouldn't have the power to kill the priest. If he dodged, the Inquisitor would hit the little girl.

Rue looked up at the Inquisitor, deliberately meeting the man's eyes, then raised his pistol and shot the priest. Rue's magic exploded out of him, traveling with the bullet. It tore through the priest's shield, and the bullet buried itself in the priest's chest.

The Inquisitor's bullet slammed into Rue's shoulder, knocking him back into the pews. Magic not his own washed through him, paralyzing him to the point he could barely draw a breath. His shoulder screamed in agony—no, that was the priest. His aim hadn't been thrown off by the Inquisitor, then. Rue smiled, then stopped fighting the pain and exhaustion, letting darkness wash over him.