The Halfbreed (closed)

[Asa]

Not enslave in the way you are thinking. More arm candy they can control. Does that make more sense?

Lyria seemed to change a little. She never used the powers given to her by birth but when people knew who her father was their scent changed more often then not.

I don't teach and train. Jacob thst is all your job. I need to go.

Jacob raised a brow and then tried to read the priest.

Alright Lyria go take a break I will talk to him.

Once she was gone he looked over.

Spill it kid. What's in your head right now?. Not like I don't know because of how she acted but know this. She doesn't use her powers given to her by birth along those lines.

 

[Lickford]

“Some kind of…trafficking?” Christopher asked confused.

He would have risen to say goodbye to Lyria but a matter of some delicacy kept him at his seat. He breathed a sigh of relief, the painful ache of years of unacknowledged desire had already begun to subside slightly.

the priest ran his hand over his face, “Jacob, after all that has happened today it does not surprise me at all that you can read my thoughts…or, are you reading my pheromones? Either way, you know what effect Lyria has on me” he glanced down at his lap

 

[Asa]

I read her she read pheromones perhaps or just energy. She does not use her birth given powers. She knows what they can do as before when she was weaponized they activated far too young on their own to "Get the job done". I have no doubt in my.mind that there was a very special place in hell for what Father Danielson put her through as a "weapon for the Lord".

He shrugged.

As for the stuff over there... No, not trafficking but "arm candy" they can keep under their thumb/wives they can control better in their eyes.

 

[Lickford]

“That’s all well and good to say” sputtered Christopher “I can assure you that I have never, never ever, responded to someone’s proximity like that. It was like every nerve of my body was suddenly awake and yearning for something that I had forsworn” he stopped and sighed.

“If it’s not her doing this to me, who…or what, is it?”

 

[Asa]

You... Plain and simple. There is some part of you that is attracted to her. Something you figured you could ignore for your entire life. Mind you she doesn't trust anyone having any interest in her. Her father has sent possessed after to to try to force her to use her powers or to manipulate her into accepting anyone lusting or loving her.

Whatever part of you wants her bothers her... It's the friggin cop all over again.

Jacob shrugged.

 

[Lickford]

A deep chill passed quickly through Christopher’s body as Jacob spoke. The thought of broken vows, crossed boundaries, transgressions of the capital T kind took hold of him, enticingly sensual and horrifically terrifying at the same time.

“Jacob, I didn’t ask for this. I have sworn a vow to the lord Jesus himself and his bride on earth his holy church. My heart is not for offer. My affections not available under any circumstances to any woman” he paused and pinched the bridge of his nose again. “There’s the rub though. Lyria’s something other than a woman. Jacob, I understand why she would be afraid of my response to her” the priest paused, “I’m sorry, that was the wrong word. I mean I can see why I would bother her even knowing the little that I know. “

He sipped on the glass of water that had been set for him. “Tell me about the cop, what happened?”

 

[Asa]

He fell hard for her. No powers needed. Hell her father even had a succubus offer herself to him in some manipulation to draw Lyria out more. He refused her. Lyria could never accept that anyone feeling that way for her was anything other than at best her father manipulating them or at worst a level of her powers that didn't require control or use on her part.

To try to protect her he followed her into a den of possessed all drawn there by the succubus and her father. Needless to say, he got himself killed. I think in her own way she cared about him too along those lines but needless to say the church really did a number on her mentally growing up.

She spends her life protecting people and if her father or brother or one of their ilk ever manages to ramp her powers without her control... Well I can withstand her rage and passion in that department.

Jacob finished off his drink and sighed.

Any more questions?

 

[Lickford]

“I assure you that there are no outside forces acting on me. I pray the full armor of god each day according to the tradition of men who pursue my calling. “ Christopher was horrified to think of the ways that Lyria had been used. How did one who had experienced nothing but betrayal and manipulation by those around her become so fiercely protective of others? “Her and your mistrust of others is well founded. There is something at work in me that I cannot explain, it is myself, a true self that I have never fully known or even acknowledged.”

He sighed. More answers meant more questions, the truth was overwhelming. Space and time and maybe experience were needed to process all this. “What do we do now Jacob?”

 

[Asa]

She and I keep being on call for you and Zain and you do what you do. As for anything else I can't really advise you.

Jacob shrugged.

How are you going to handle all of this?

 

[Lickford]

He shrugged “this is…well it’s a lot Jacob. Obviously I’m going to pray and seek Father Zains wisdom at some point. I need to see Lyria though, I need her to know that anything between us is just us. Not her dad, nor any other influence”

 

[Asa]

Carla walked over on break feeling safer at that table.

She won't believe you. She could never bring herself to believe the cop either at least not fully. Sad really he was a good guy would have been a really good person for her.

 

[Lickford]

He looked up at her as she sat down. Deep down her words rang true. “Okay, but you have to know that I must try.” He looked at them both in turn. “You both know who I am, and what I have pledged to. You must also know that I am under a compulsion that is strong, stronger than I can fight. I will confess my sins to Father Zain and leave the priesthood if that is what I must do, but I must speak to her” he sighed and ran his hands through his hair.

He looked up at them appealing with his eyes. “What would you do in my situation?”

 

[Asa]

Jacob schooled his features at the humor of a demon being asked what he would do about a situation by a priest.

Well personally with my affinity and length of knowing her. Drive over to her place and end up in bed with her.

Carla sighed and shook her head at Jacob with a sigh.

Don't push but talk to her from.time to time here and try to control your hormones better around her.

 

[Lickford]

Christopher was not unaware of the irony of his question or to whom it was asked. He shook his head with Carla at Jacobs suggestion. “Thank you Carla. That’s good advice” and with that he arose and left the bar as quickly as he could avoiding the stares of the patrons as he made his way past their tables and out into the warm air of the town. He took a deep breath, and starting waking with a purpose in the direction of the parish

 

[Asa]

He does understand that you two are half demons right?

Carla asked Jacob as he got up to go so he could make sure the young priest got back in one piece.

Carla you realize that was a priest.

He chuckled at her expression and left the bar slipping into the shadows.

 

[Lickford]

He was a troubled soul as he lay in the simply furnished room provided by the parish. Other than a chair next to the bed, a simple wardrobe, and a small shelf next to his bed that had a copy of his Bible and a well worn “The Imitation of Christ” the room was bare to the point of austerity. His books were of no comfort, they offered no wisdom from the divine. His prayers and liturgies and chants bounced off the ceiling of his room, heard by no god, and he was attended to by no angels of peace and mercy.

Christopher prayed again, refusing to surrender to the growing sense that his pleas were made in utter futility. Again he remained awake and fully aware of his body and its desire.

Resolving finally to seek Father Zains counsel when the opportunity presented, he drifted into a restless half sleep in which the shadowy form of a woman stood silently, just out of reach and deaf to his entreaty’s.

 

[Asa]

Jacob had made sure he made it back to the parish safely then headed home. His neighbor across the hall a little elderly man opened his door when he heard him.

That arrogant bastard of a brother of our Lyria was here looking for you. Said something about a priest and an old bat then left. Don't see why you don't get rid of that piece of shot lowlife for Lyria and be done with it. Hell don't know why you two never got hitched either dumbass.

With that the old man shut the door to add the final exclamation point to his words.

Good to see you too Mr. Wilkson.

Jacob muttered and walked into his apartment.

Touch the priest and I will send you back to your father in pieces. Provided your sister doesn't best me to it dickless.

 

[Lickford]

Christopher drifted back into consciousness rather than woke up. Tired, and his head buzzing with questions and thoughts from yesterday. He briefly considered joining morning prayers in the chapel, but realized that fundamentally something was different about him, and his heart was no longer in union with the immaculate heart. Perhaps it never could be again. As Christopher looked around his room he felt a deep sense of being out of place, like a piece of mismatched furniture in an otherwise immaculately staged room.

After he got dressed he sighed, and closed the door of his room behind him as he went to search for father Zain.

 

[Asa]

Father Zain was in a little garden that looked like it hadn't seen human life in several years. Sister Arla and Helena were there as well all talking.

Join us Father Yeardly.

Helena looked over to see who sister Arla called to without even looking over. Arla continued.

I wondered when your questions would get the better of you.

 

[Lickford]

The young father greeted the sisters somewhat formerly and then addressed his superior directly. The troubled sleep and deepest disquiet that bubbled in his soul like a molten lava that searched for a way to erupt and relieve the pressure made him more direct than he otherwise would have been, otherwise should have been.

“Father Zain, help me.” He began “in my zealous service for Christ, I have found my soul in mortal peril. Lyria, Jacob, I must know all you can tell me.”

 

[Asa]

Father Zain sighed.

As you know they are both half demon. Lyria was manipulated and weaponized by a cruel and overzealous former Archbishop Father Danielson.

At the mention of that name Helena spit and muttered something clearly unflattering in her native tongue and spit again. It was clear there was no love loss between really most at the parish over the cruelty of the former archbishop.

Cold one still help people. Cold one... Afraid of people... Don't trust people real... People...
Helena was clearly looking for the right word as she said something to Zain and he finished her thought.

She is afraid that the reaction of most people to her that is not hatred is caused by her father or some level of her power she doesn't know about.

Jacob... His lineage we believe is perhaps Lucifer himself or one more like him.

Arla spoke up.

They help the people... They take out problems that exorcisms just can't fix. Why after she has been through I don't know but she still does. And the parish screws up sometimes and doesn't tell her everything up front. Perhaps fear that she will say no to helping and demand we solve the problem ourselves.

 

[Lickford]

“The enemy himself?” Christopher breathed “its truly gods will that his son would offer himself in the service of righteousness” he looked at father Zain and the old nun. He knew what he had to do, he just wasn’t sure if he’d emerge from it unchanged.

“Father, do you know where I could find Lyria right now?”

 

[Asa]

If she is not at Omens nor stalking around that area not here... I do not know.

Father Zain shrugged looking to Arla or Helena who both seemed to be trying to think.

Carla and her children. It perhaps Jacobs home wherever that is Arla added.

 

[Lickford]

Christopher nodded thank you and quickly left, he had to find her, to talk to her, to figure this out.

Knowing, or rather suspecting, who Jacobs father was and needing to sort out his thoughts on the matter, he opted to try to find Carla first. There was always a chance that she’d be there right?

He was already in the car when he realized that he didn’t know where she lived. He shook his head with frustration at his foolishness and the time it would waste going back inside to ask for directions. He swore, shockingly to his priestly ears, and decided to head to Omens, someone would know where to find Carla, and maybe Lyria too:

 

[Asa]

Omen was sitting at the bar sorting to books and placing orders. Carla was already at work helping him. Under the advisement of Lyria the doorman was armed as were a couple of the bouncers.