Alfred keeps looking at Vincent, circling him around. Vincent feels uncomfortable, particularly when Alfred begins to poke him, as if trying to make sure that he is real. “Wow.” He repeats that at least seven more times, as no words can describe how he feels right now. “Finally, we find you. It’s been a really long search.” Alfred gives him a hug like a long lost friend.
Vincent stands there awkwardly, not knowing how to react. Alfred lets him go. “Let’s get to business then.”
“We need to find the rest of the manna crystals” Jenna raises the important issue at hand.
“That will be a problem” Alfred adjusts his glasses.
“How so?” Vincent doesn’t like what will follow after that last statement.
“The Lucifer Four is scattered around the world, and even when we can find one, no one will tell the position of the others. Time is not on our side”
“What do you mean?” asks Jenna.
“We need to get ALL the manna crystals before the next full moon, or Zuriel’s memory will be lost forever. We are pressed for time. Only he knows the location of the Scroll of End of Days.”
“How come the Book of Angels never mentions this? And what is the Scroll of End of Days anyway?” Jenna is angry at the book, just to think how stupid it is to be angry at an inanimate object.
“Well, if you remember what I said, the Book of Angels is a learning book. It adjusts and adapts to the reader, and also the level of knowledge that one has. It will give you just enough information, no more or less. For now, you just need to know that the Scroll exists.”
“I see…” Jenna nods, slowly remembering the conversation they had the day before.
“There is a limit of how long manna crystals can hold memories. The battle between Lucifer Four and Zuriel is about 1000 years ago, and according to my calculation, the crystals will expire very soon.”
“Bummer. That’s not good.”
“But…”Alfred stops mid sentence.
“But?”
“But there’s something I have that might be useful for you.”
“And what will that be?” Jenna is crossing her fingers.
Alfred pauses for a couple of seconds. People would think he has the flare for the dramatic.
“The Devil’s map”
~π~
“The Devil’s map? “ Jenna and Vincent shout together like a choir.
“Yes. Come to my place and I will show you.”
“Wait. I thought you don’t want us to come to your place.” Jenna gives him a quizzical look.
“Um. I didn’t say that. I just want to make sure that you are who you say you are.” Alfred turns his umbrella upside down. He shows it to them. They can see a really small glowing blue needle pointing at Vincent. The red half of the needle is not lit.
“It’s a miniature Angelus-Diablo compass. I made it myself” Alfred sounds really proud of himself.
“I see… That’s awesome!” Jenna beams like a little girl getting a new doll.
“Come…My car is just around the corner” Alfred beckons the couple to the parking lot.
“I have a lot of questions to ask you, sir” Vincent thinks that this person knows a lot more than he appears to be.
“In time, Zuriel. In a more disclosed place. Not here. And please, call me Alfred.” Alfred unlocks the doors of his black sedan, and the little band drives away.
In the car, the conversation turns light. Alfred just mainly talks about how lovely the city of Seattle and how it will be a really nice place to retire. After about twenty minutes, they enter a very cozy neighborhood with rows of big trees on the pavement. They can see joggers running back and forth while listening to their mp3 players, lost in their own world. They finally make a turn on the drive way of a wood finished two-story house, with a nice garden in the front yard. It’s like a sea of colors ranging from blue, red, yellow, purple and green. “Wow. I love your garden” Jenna compliments Alfred in amazement.
“Thank you” He smiles from ear to ear. The garden is his pride and joy.
“Wait here.”
Alfred stops at a point, recites something that sounds like a heavenly language. Vincent can see a glimmer of an invisible force field disappears to the ground. He lets out a whistle.
“What’s going on?” Jenna elbows Vincent. “He just turns off a force field”
“You can come in now.” He opens the door to his house. Before entering the house, he recites the same incantation, and the force field comes back up.
“What’s that for?” Jenna is curious with Alfred’s actions.
“Protection from demons” Alfred casually mentions it as if it’s just a daily routine.
“Who are you really?” They are ascending to the 2nd floor, following Alfred.
“I am what they call The Protector. My job is to guard all the resources regarding the Temple Guardians, should they are in danger or cease to exist.”
“I see. So even when you know that they are in danger, you can’t do anything?”
“There’s nothing more painful than standing on the sideline while watching your comrades die.” Alfred looks up to the sky, tears falling down his face. He wipes it quickly so that they don’t see it.
He opens up a coat closet and puts his umbrella there. He pushes aside the vacuum cleaner and the raincoats, bows down, and presses a button. It’s located at the bottom left side, perfectly hidden from plain sight. The back part of the closet opens up, revealing another room. “Welcome to the Protector Sanctuary”
~π~
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