Strong beyond his years, Elias was often sent to do heavy work in the fields. And each time misfortune followed.
Sister Miriam had been on her way to bring this to Agnes when she stumbled upon the dreadful conversation.
Monsters and devils bleed black, Sister Miriam stood motionless. For the first time, she realized the truth—that the Church's yearly demand for a drop of blood was not mere ritual sacrifice, but a test to uncover whether a devil lurked among them.
Her thoughts were still reeling when a young boy came running down the hall, breathless and pale. "Sister Miriam! Come quick—Richard is crying,his condition… it's worse!. He will not leave his bed."
Before she could ask more, Father Bernard's command cut through the air:
"Guards, see what that commotion outside is. Leave no corner unchecked."
Sister Miriam's heart skipped. She placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and folded the register under her arm.
"Show me," she said, and followed him swiftly down the passage.
Hurrying to the dormitory, she found the boy curled tightly against the wall, clutching his blanket as though it might protect him. Tears streaked his face, and his lips moved in broken whispers.His words came in broken loops: "I didn't see—I don't know—please don't kill me—he's a monster—"
"Out," Miriam said to the few children gathered, her voice low but iron. "All of you. Now." The door thudded shut behind them.
Miriam knelt beside him, gently smoothing his hair. "Richard, hush now.You are safe. No one will harm you under this roof. Tell me what troubles you."
His eyes flicked to her face, then away.
The register under her arm seemed to throb with its awful pattern. Yesterday's list… the farmer by the river. Half eaten cow and Richard's name among the helpers. And Elias's—again.
"Richard," she said, soft but steady, "breathe. Slowly. Good." She smoothed his hair. "Tell me what happened."
His voice tore free in a whisper that climbed toward a cry. "It's Elias, Sister… he isn't human. I saw him—last night—by the river. The cow—" He swallowed, gagging on the memory. "The way he bit… the blood— He's the one who kills the chickens. He's a devil, Sister. A devil in our house."
She smoothed his hair with a hand that trembled only slightly. "Breathe, Richard. Slowly.Listen to me," she said, forcing calm into each word. "You will tell me everything you saw. Slowly. From the start, Leave nothing out."
Richard's body shook as he pressed himself harder into the corner. His eyes were wide, unfocused, as though he was still seeing it.
"Six months ago…" he whispered, "I didn't… I didn't mean to see it. I was in Master Thom's fields, helping with the work. I went into the woods nearby… just to relieve myself. But then…" He stopped, choking back a sob.
Sister Miriam spoke, her voice soft, steady. "Go on, child. You are safe here. What did you hear?"
Richard twisted his hands together until his knuckles turned white. "I heard… chickens.I followed the noise, and—and I saw him." He dragged in a shuddering breath. "Elias. He was crouched on the ground… his face covered in blood. One hen was already dead, torn to pieces. And the other…" His words caught in his throat.
Miriam laid a hand gently on his shoulder. "Breathe, Richard".
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he stammered, "He was eating it alive. Its wings flapped and then stopped, just like that. His arms weren't his arms anymore—they were like beasts. And his face—" Richard shut his eyes, shaking his head violently. "He had fangs, Sister. And ears, long and sharp, like a wolf you often told us in stories."
He buried his face in his palms, rocking. "When he saw me, he—he changed back. His skin burned, like fire under his flesh. The blood on him steamed away. His arms turned back normal, his face too. Like nothing had ever happened."
Sister Miriam's brow furrowed.
Richard's whole body trembled as he whispered, "He walked toward me. Step by step. I thought he would kill me. I begged him not to—I fell on my knees and begged him. I swore I'd never tell anyone. And… he let me go."
His voice faltered, fading into sobs. For a moment he could say no more.
Sister Miriam waited, her presence steady, until the boy's crying slowed. Then she asked softly, "And yesterday? You said you saw him again."
Richard's face went pale, his breath quickening. "Yes. Yesterday… it was worse. He was no boy, not even half. He was a monster." His voice cracked on the word. "I saw him grab a cow by the horns. He wrestled it to the ground—by himself! Then he… he tore its throat open with his teeth. His claws—real claws—split its hide like paper. He ate it raw, Sister. Flesh and blood. He drank the blood until there was nothing left."
He collapsed into sobs again, whispering over and over, "He's not human. He's not human. He's the devil…"
Sister Miriam hugged the crying Richard, her mind racing, thinking how to confirm the words of the child who could have just woken from a nightmare.
A sharp knock rattled the door. Before Sister Miriam could react, the heavy wood creaked open. Father Bernard stepped inside, flanked by two mailed guards whose hands rested on the hilts of their swords.
His expression was grave,"I heard every word." His gaze shifted from Miriam to the trembling boy huddled against sister Miriam. "Sister, you will take me to Elias. Now."
Miriam's heart pounded, but she steadied her breath and bowed. "Yes, Father."
She rose, giving Richard one last glance of comfort before leading Bernard and his guards through the winding halls of the orphan house. Finally, she stopped before a narrow door.
"This is where he sleeps," she whispered. She pushed it open.
The room was bare save for two small beds. The window was ajar, the curtains fluttering faintly with the night air. But Elias was nowhere to be seen.
Bernard's voice hardened. "Why is he alone here, apart from the others?"
Miriam swallowed, her hands clasped tight at her waist. "The other children… they were not comfortable with him, Father. He unsettled them. Mother Agnes allowed him to be moved here, so he would disturb no one."
Bernard studied her face, then gave a curt nod. He gestured sharply to his guards. "Spread out. Find the boy. Search the grounds, the fields, the woods if you must. Bring him to me."
The guards bowed and departed swiftly, their armor clinking as they vanished down the halls.
When they were gone, Bernard turned back to Miriam. His eyes bore into her, cold and unflinching. "You heard me earlier. You know the truth."
Miriam hesitated, her lips trembling. "I… I did, Father."
"Then you also know why it must be done." He extended his hand. "Give me yours."
Slowly, she obeyed. He took her slender hand firmly, drawing a small iron needle from his sleeve. With a swift motion he pricked her fingertip. A bead of crimson welled up, and he let it fall into a small silver dish.
Lifting the heavy iron cross from his neck, he held it over the blood. His lips moved in a prayer whispered. For a heartbeat, the cross glowed faintly, a soft light pulsing across the edges. Then it dimmed, leaving the chamber cold once more.
Bernard released her hand. "You are free," he said flatly. "There is no taint in you."
He straightened, his voice rising with authority. "Gather all the children in the main chapel. Each one will be tested. Tonight, the truth will be revealed."