Chapter one

“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been two months since my last confession.”

A raspy, baritone voice accompanied by the sound of a panel sliding away from a screen echoed in my ear. “Why so long since your last confession?”

That’s the age old question right now, isn’t it? It was something I couldn’t and didn’t want to answer. To do so would be to admit how far I had fallen myself over the last couple months. My job has never allowed me much of a chance to reflect much on life. After stopping a serial killer, having an incubus and succubus sexually assault me, and then another burying me alive, you’d think I’d spend some time thinking about my life choices.

I guess now is as good a time as any. St. Mary’s had always been a second home for me. After the state committed my mom when I was eleven, Father Brown and the sisters here took me in. Until recently, my father, an angel, stayed absent. The angelic blood that ran through my veins had its advantages, but it made me a target for anything from the Other Side that wanted to start some shit.

“Oh, I don’t know. Guilt, I guess. It’s the Catholic way, right?”

 “Is it guilt or something else?”

I paused. The truth can set you free, but it can also get you killed. Right now, I needed to hide that truth for a bit longer. “Possibly, it’s hard to explain.”

“Do your best and God will help you. Have faith in Him.”

That’s the trick, right? I closed my eyes and let my hearing take over my other senses. Supernatural hearing wasn’t something I was gifted with, but I could focus. My psychometry helped with that, along with the visions I’ve been getting. 

I listened. Not necessarily to God. I’ve avoided that conversation for a couple months now. Too much anger and I knew enough to know that the phrase “He works in mysterious ways” meant he probably wouldn’t answer or it’d be cryptic as fuck.

I listened more. Murmurs of a few people in prayer resonated throughout the church. A woman cried and the familiar steps of Father Brown walked past my confessional. After twenty or so years, you get familiar with how someone walks.

I focused my hearing on the screen that the other priest spoke through. His breathing came out in a rasp, like he had a cold and his lungs were congested. The sigils on my inner wrists burned and the top of my back ached. It seems my spidey-sense has improved, but I needed the priest to come for me. 

“Is confession ever easy for a man,” I said, trying my best to bring out the truth from the other priest. 

“For some it is, but for others, their sin has become a burden. They are weighed down and unable to speak.”

I shifted uncomfortably. Awkward… “I don’t think I have that problem. Sometimes I have a problem in finding the right words.”

“That’s something we all deal with. Take a few moments if needed.”

His voice grated on my nerves. I could hear the prayers from outside the confessional. Whatever I needed to do, it had to happen soon. I can’t stay here forever. 

I relaxed a little. “Thank you, father.”

The original plan was to get him to admit what he did so I had an excuse to get him arrested. The wiretap I wore recorded everything, but I needed more proof. He had the kids. Every bit of evidence I found, pointed to him, Father Dominic. 

If it wasn’t for Sister Catherine coming to my office a week ago over this, these kids would’ve been another missing person’s case. Dominic had them somewhere. He fed off them. I could hear their cries as loud as I heard the prayers of the parishioners in the sanctuary. 

That’s it! They’re here after all. Dominic hid them in the church somewhere. The only viable place was the basement as it has long since been boarded up. I can hear the cries of the kids. This bastard was going to eat lead before I say amen.

“Is everything alright, my child?” I heard Father Dominic shift in his seat.

His voice sounded a little wary. Perhaps he heard their cries as well. I wonder if he sensed my power. He did sound a bit on edge. Sometimes you need to be still and listen and find that the  answer was always there.

“Everything is fine now, Father Dominic.” It’s a good thing it was dark in here as my smile went from ear to ear and it wasn’t a pleasant one. Now it’s time to raise the stakes.

“Father Dominic, may I ask you a question?” I tried to sound innocent but, I’m not that kind of angel.

There was a pause, and this time he sounded cautious. “Absolutely.”

“What kind of absolution do you think you’ll get by kidnapping children and molesting them?”

I heard something drop on the other side of the confessional. Twenty bucks says my question made him drop his Bible. “I mean, what made you trade your soul to the devil and think you’d get away with this?”

“I..I don’t know what you’re saying.” He shifted more in his seat and his voice grew raspier, almost like something else was speaking for him.

I leaned forward. Probably not the smartest thing I’ve done, but kidnapping and molesting children didn’t sit well with me. Add in the fact that this man was once a priest sworn to protect people had sold his soul and became a contractor all to satisfy his unholy lust.

I heard laughter from the other side of the screen. Not the kind that speaks of madness, but the evil super villain type. While I love the sound of truth, this sound chilled me to the bones and left me unclean. 

“Sister Catherine, I should’ve known. As for you, my little angel, I’ll send you back to heaven.”

“Not today, buddy.”

A ripping sound hitman ears as a clawed hand burst through the screen and wrapped around my neck.

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