Chương 47: Chapter 46: Alice, and the Lord of Hunters

Alice pushed open the classroom doors and walked inside with Evelyn in tow. She raised her brows, spotting Father Arno speaking with Father Orlando by the front desk. Father Orlando tapped Arno's shoulder and pointed at Alice. Father Arno looked back and chuckled.

"Ah, they're finally here. I was worried for nothing, it seems."

"What's going on, Father?" Alice raised her brows. Father Orlando cleared his throat.

"Someone would like to meet the two of you. You're excused from class. Go and follow Father Arno." Evelyn glanced at Alice, a look of worry flashing over her eyes.

"I'm sure it's nothing. Come on." Alice cast a reassuring smile. They followed Father Arno out of the classroom.

"Who are we meeting, Father?" Alice said.

"Lord Bishop Blair. She's a very high-ranking member of the Clergy. Just below the Archbishop," Father Arno pressed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Why does she want to meet us?" Evelyn murmured, her voice as soft as a whisper.

"Have we done something wrong?" Father Arno chortled.

"You've done nothing wrong, child. The Lord Bishop is a very eccentric person, unpredictable even… but if I had to guess, it has something to do with your uniqueness." Evelyn clung to Alice's arm as they ascended the stairwell to the third floor.

"Do not be afraid, but do not disrespect her. Only address her as Lord Bishop, and only speak when you're spoken to," Father Arno said. Alice and Evelyn nodded in understanding. Just who are we meeting? Whoever it is, they sound like a very powerful person. Goddess, why couldn't they just leave us alone in peace? Arno stopped in front of a set of large double doors. He closed his eyes for a second and murmured something to himself before opening the door.

Alice and Evelyn followed him inside the spacious chamber, almost as large as their classroom. The room was beautiful and furnished to the brim, but it paled compared to the figure lounging on a sofa in the very center. From afar, it looked like a life-sized doll, with skin as white and smooth as porcelain. Its purple hair was fixed into a bun by a metal rod in the back, leaving just enough up front to frame a face that was so eerily perfect it almost seemed artificial.

It wore a long black dress—embroidered with golden flowery patterns—that reached to its ankles. Is that who we're meeting? It's so… beautiful… Even Evelyn can't compare. But that can't be a person. What is that? Evelyn gulped, tightening her grip on Alice's arm. The thing looked like a doll. But as they neared, it tilted its chin and looked back with a pair of deep violet eyes, and its glossy red lips curled into a faint smirk. It's moving. Is that really a person? Arno bowed down.

"Good morning, Lord Bishop." Alice lowered her head as well and nudged Evelyn to follow suit. The older girl let go of Alice's arm and did the same. Bishop Blair hummed in approval.

"Raise your heads." Her voice was feminine, yet completely monotone. Alice raised her head and gulped. Bishop Blair stared at Alice with those unblinking violet orbs, as if she could see into the younger girl's soul.

"Sit down, the two of you." Bishop Blair gestured at the empty sofa in front of her. Alice and Evelyn took their seats, but Father Arno remained standing at the side, his hands hidden inside his pockets. A long glass table separated them from the Lord Bishop.

"Which one of you is Evelyn?" Bishop Blair said.

"I am, Lord Bishop," Evelyn said.

"Then you must be Alice." Bishop Blair turned her gaze back to Alice.

"Yes." Alice nodded. Bishop Blair leaned against the table and reached out to Evelyn with her long, spindly fingers. Evelyn flinched at the sight.

"Do not be afraid. I only wish to see your soul." Blair spread out her palms across Evelyn's chest.

"You will not feel a thing." Evelyn took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, while Father Arno looked on in worry. A soft purplish glow pulsated from Evelyn's chest, but instead of a violent scream, the red-haired girl simply opened her eyes in confusion. It doesn't hurt. How did she do that? This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. After a few seconds, Blair retracted her hand and hummed again.

"Your soul is very special, child. You are an Atavist." Evelyn blinked in confusion.

"An… Atavist?"

"You didn't inherit your soul from your parents, but rather from a distant ancestor. One with a much more potent Heart than your recent relatives. Perhaps there was a sixth-generation demihuman in your bloodline," Bishop Blair said.

"I… I'm not sure…" Evelyn gulped.

"I see." Blair responded, her faint smile unchanging. Can she not make other expressions?

"Now it is your turn." Bishop Blair planted her palm on Alice's chest, making a soft thud. Blair then tilted her head like a curious cat, staring directly into Alice's eyes.

"Peculiar… are those eyes of yours a side effect of your awakening?"

"They are natural, Lord Bishop," Alice replied.

"How unfortunate," Blair said.

"Why would that be?" Alice said.

"Have times changed? In the past, silver eyes were associated with Blasphemy. It seems such things have been lost to time," Blair said. Blasphemy? I've never heard of that before. I'm sure Father would have mentioned it.

"Now, let me see your soul." Blair spread out her fingers and injected a hint of spirituality into Alice's flesh. Alice winced as she felt a strange coldness seep into her body, but it was more of a light bother than anything painful. She saw the purple glow emanate from her chest, radiating out at a much more powerful force compared to Evelyn's. Blair's lips curled into a light frown, and the light suddenly intensified. A bead of sweat formed on Alice's forehead as she began fidgeting her legs.

Just before the sensation became unbearable, Bishop Blair pulled back her hand.

"Capacity-wise, your soul is ordinary. But it is unusually sensitive. It reacted to the most minuscule of spiritual movements. It would seem Father Arno wasn't exaggerating about your potential." Father Arno smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

"One last thing." Blair pulled out the small metal rod holding up her bun, letting her hair flutter down to her shoulders. She placed it on the table and stood up, towering over Alice. Alice looked up, feeling a foreboding feeling build up in her stomach. What is she going to do now? Blair's hand went up to cup Alice's chin. She leaned over the table, her face inches away from the younger girl's. Alice gulped, her eyes falling on Blair's bright red lips.

Despite being so close, she couldn't feel, much less hear, the Bishop's breath. So close… why is she so close? Blair choked Alice's neck without warning. Alice gasped and grabbed the metal rod, plunging it through Blair's neck on pure instinct.

"Lord Bishop!" Arno went pale. I stabbed her. Why did I stab her? Oh Goddess, help me.

"Alice!" Evelyn slammed her fist into Lord Blair's arm.

"Let her go!" Blair remained unfazed. The violent spurt of blood never came. Instead, the rod delved deeper into Blair's throat, inch by inch, until it completely vanished, leaving a small hole in its place. Alice wheezed as the corners of her eyes darkened. Evelyn struck as hard as she could, but Blair was unaffected.

"Let her go! Father Arno! Do something!" Evelyn yelled. Father Arno looked at the ground, and shook his head. He's just staring… he's not going to do anything? I'm… going to die… help me…

"Father Arno! Please!" Evelyn pleaded. Darkness swept across Alice's vision, and Evelyn's pleading voice began fading away. Blair's grip finally loosened. Alice broke into a violent fit of coughs and heaves, her throat burning as air rushed back down. She looked back up at Blair. Tiny strands of string and thread crawled out of her skin and stitched the hole back together like a piece of cloth. What… she… she really isn't human… a living… a living doll.

"Alice! Are you alright?!" Evelyn scrambled to Alice's side. A smile grew upon the Lord Bishop's face.

"How interesting." She pulled back her hand.

"Are you unharmed, Lord Bishop?" Father Arno said.

"Such a tiny thing wouldn't be enough to leave a scratch on me." Bishop Blair straightened her back and fixed the back of her hair into a bun. The iron rod appeared in her left palm, and she stabbed it right through the bun, locking it in place.

"It seems there is a lot more to you than I first imagined. A mere child would not react in the manner than you had earlier. What are you, really? Alice Valentine." Blair said. Alice wheezed out, struggling to form any coherent words. She grasped at her neck, still feeling the grip on her flesh.

"My Lord." Father Arno finally stepped forward.

"These children have suffered a great deal already."

"And what are you implying, Father Arno?" Blair tilted her head slightly.

"I mean to say, their souls and psyche are very fragile. I don't want to see them damaged any further." Father Arno gulped.

"Perhaps you are correct. I will know the answer very soon anyways. The Hunter's Abode is always looking for new blood. Send for me when they are healthier, Father Arno." Arno paled in fear and lowered his head in submission.

"I will, my Lord."

"I thank you for this opportunity. As much as I'd love to examine them more, I must take my leave," Blair said. Father Arno gulped and lowered his head to bow.

"Of… of course… Lord Bishop…" Blair smiled down at Alice.

"I shall be seeing you in the far future. For now, this is goodbye." She walked around the sofas and pushed the doors open, departing with a satisfied hum. Alice exhaled in relief, the weight on her shoulders vanishing.

"Goddess…"

"Are you okay, Alice? What… what did she do?" Evelyn leaned in, her face full of worry. Alice grasped her own neck.

"I don't… I don't know."

"Why didn't you do anything, Father?" Evelyn glanced back at Arno with pleading eyes.

"Lord Blair is beyond me. Not just in our position… but in our blood as well. A seventh is like a speck of dust compared to the power of a fifth. I am sorry… but there is nothing I could have done." Evelyn glared at Father Arno.

"Come on Alice. Let's go back to your room." She grabbed Alice's arm, and pulled the younger girl back on her feet.

"Can you walk?" Alice coughed.

"I can…"

"You'll be okay. You'll be okay." Evelyn muttered, as she led Alice out of the chamber Alice nodded and followed Evelyn out of the chambers. Why did that thing ask what I was? I don't understand. What… What exactly am I?