Faye had sprinkled holy water around the premises of the chuch. By the time lunch rolled around, she still hadn't caught the spirit of the vampire who was deceased.
When she walked into the house, she found Makala up and sitting at the kitchen table. She was reading an alchemy 4 book and taking notes by highlighting certain chapters.
She got up when she saw Faye, already having made lunch, she brought over a bowl of soup to the priestess.
"What's this...? Faye asked, smelling it and rubbing her hands.
"Its a soup called clam chowder. Many humans who live on the coast like it. Since you're from the swamps, I thought maybe you will. Also..." she turned toward the living room and picked up a letter that was on the coffee table. She handed it to Faye. "This letter came for you today."
Reading the containments, it was another church asking for help from Faye. This one wanted her to assist the grim at night.
"I caught a vampire today and I wasn't sure if I wanted to kill it or not," Faye said, folding the letter up and putting it in her pocket. "I kind of feel like Sous taught me how to kill without asking questions. I'm not sure if I like that at times."
She finished eating her soup and went to the entry way to put her snow clothes back on. "When they take blood from the humans, do they drain them or they just bite them?"
Makala wasn't sure which way the blood was taken. She also didn't know if the human survived or not.
"I mean...I'm not involved in the industry...so I don't know." She answered. She placed her hands around Faye's neck. "I think that's something, a decision, you're going to have to make on your own. If you kill on behalf of a human, the kingdom automatically grants you immunity since its illegal to distribute human blood."
Faye walked out into the afternoon sun. Although it shown bright, it was still just as cold as it was that morning.
She threaded over to the second church that stood on the perimeter. Her needles caught onto the building and she landed on the church a bit hard. She slid down the slope roof and jumped into the snow.
The church had a fire going inside, candles were lighted with even a few people praying. Over to the right, she saw a group of nuns and a small family that was sitting in the front row.
She took the letter out of her pocket to see who it was sent from.
The nuns turned to look at Faye when she appoarched them. "Is Father here, I'm here to assist the grim?"
They whispered to themselves and one of them nodded her head. She walked off to retrieve him and in the meantime, Faye found herself sitting in the pews.
She wasn't sure just how much time had past but she fought back a yawn. Footsteps were heard coming her way so she got up before the priest.
"You wanted me to help the grim," she said.
"Yes, I'll show you."
The priest led her into the back garden where fresh vegetables and fruits were growing. He showed her where their holy water was and found it was empty.
"You're out of holy water."
"Yes. We've been finding it difficult to retrieve water."
"What about the fire...can't you melt the snow?"
The priest shook his head. "We can not. A witch had enchanted the snow in which this church stands on. This witch is aiding the vampires. She also gives them their cloaks."
"Hmm." Faye stepped back to give herself some space. "Tilkalde!" The ground cracked and a few of the dead came from the ground. However they began to screech out, their bodies burned, and soon they turned into dust.
The priest smirked. "Voodoo and hoodoo is interesting. We coincide with you when it comes to interacting with spirits but we haven't any desire to communicate with the devil himself."
"You're aware of our contracts?" Faye asked, wondering just how much this priest new about her and her people's customs.
"I find it admirable that you're able to take such darkness and use it for light." He folded his arms behind his back. "Let me show you where the witch lives. Maybe you can help us take her down after assisting the grim tonight."
A few moments later, they were outside the church and Faye could tell it was getting deeper by how much she sunk when walking. She also felt the wind was more powerful, and gaining speed with time. It was easy to predict that evening, it would be freezing.
Faye stopped by the priest. He pointed out in the distance. At first, she thought the old man in all black with a white collar was pointing to nothing, but when she squinted, she could see the faint flicker of a light. Like it was a torch.
"She lives there. Not too far. It seems that way because the snow acts as a blanket." He explained.
Faye thought back to the words of Sous. Witches were by far the most powerful of the species, Sous had told her once. Sous said that whenever something really powerful came her, the chances of a witch being behind it was extremely likely.
The priest looked up at the sky. "It'll be getting dark soon. I think you should go home and get something to eat. Come back at night fall. The grim will be on patrol.
"Why am I needing to assist it?"
"The vampires...when there are too many, they cause the grim problems. Grims are strong but they're not invincible."
Faye lifted an eyebrow. "Grims are spirits."
"They are but even they have limits."
Faye walked back with the priest. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yes, child."
"Do all vampires, when they die, do they go to the underworld or hell like humans call it or some humans call it?"
"Vampires aren't demons and they have automany; however, they are His children so yes, they must go back to which they came."
"I want to come with you," Makala begged. They had just got finished eating dinner when Faye was about to head out again.
"Now dear, you'll probably be just a distraction."
"Mother!"
Faye laughed at the light exchanged mother and daughter made to one another. Dinner was pleasant even though Faye had ate something completely different than the vampires. And it was more of their breakfast than dinner for them.
Makala's father left out to work before Faye and Makala headed out. Faye was uneasy with Makala coming along, especially with her not really being a fighting person but she insisted.
"I have hot cocoa for you if you get thirsty and I made us some lunch and snacks and stuff."
Faye smiled and kissed her forehead. The girl was just too sweet.
When they got to the church, Faye opened the door for Makala. But when Makala stepped onto the porch, she began to burn. Faye had forgotten already. Just like her zombies couldn't withstand being in a church nor could a vampire.
"I don't want you out in the cold-"
HAHOOOOOO!
A black beast came from the mist with yellow eyes. A grim. It charged toward Makala. Faye took her needles out and threaded Makala away from the church. The grim watched from a far.
"The grim automatically sees you as an enemy," she looked to the vampire. "I think you might need to go back home-"
Before Makala could argue, a groups of bats descended onto the church. Faye left Makala and ran back to the church to help the grim.
The grim jumped into the air, transforming into a white gust of wind. Invisible to the vampire, the grim would bite down onto the vampires. A big enough bite, the grim would wound the vampire.
Faye watched as one vampire fell from the sky. The grim turned back into its regular form and bit the vampire's neck, breaking it.
Her silver eye flashed and she watched the spirit leave the vampire, but like she suspected, the vampire didn't want to go 'home'.
"This is going to be a long night," Faye realized.