The Forgotten Sin (Purifiers Book 1) (17 page)

           
"I knew the bait would work!" He confessed easing himself down on one of the
chairs.

           
"You were after Iliana all along!" Jung said being forced to stand next to the chair
Lord Baddesley was sitting on by the hooded figure behind him.

A hooded figure pushed Caitlyn to stand next to Jung and stood behind her, holding the end
of the chain wrapped round her tall and petite body. Caitlyn and Jung both exchanged
reassuring glances.

           
Kazuki was forced to stand the other side of Lord Baddesley’s chair. He tried to
struggle out of the hooded figure’s grip behind him. But the figure pulled on the two ends
of the chain that wrapped round the top half of his body causing it to tighten even more and
stopped him from moving, like a women being strapped into a corset until she could barely
breath. The rest of the other hooded figures seated themselves in their appropriate chairs,
their hoods still hung over their faces. Iliana wondered for a moment how they could even
see where they were going.

           
"Why are you after me?" Iliana questioned standing as close to the fire as she could.

The heat from the flames were so intense, Iliana could feel it prickling her face and almost
singeing her fringe.

           
"Because... I have heard from my sources of the unique power that resides within
you!" Lord Baddesley answered resting his elbows on the arms of the chair and linking his
gloved fingers together.

           
"Sources?" Iliana repeated under her breath with Lucas suddenly coming to mind.

           
"You see... I want an army!" Lord Baddesley confessed in a calm yet uncanny tone
to his voice. "Humans are adequate... Their body are most useful for my fellow friends to
reside in. They are easy targets and there are plenty of them, but they lack unicity. So then
we thought of Purifiers..."

           
Lord Baddesley looked over to Kazuki on his left who avoided his glare but the
hooded figure forcefully made him bow and turn his head to face Lord Baddesley.

           
"Purifiers are complicated... although we can Taint their ‘Holy Soul’... The weapons
they wield that gives them their power are useless to the Tainted soul of a Purifier. Their
weapons can only be used by their ‘Holy Touch’... And killing them... although it is most
satisfying, it is rather futile!" Lord Baddesley informed giving Kazuki an evil look. "Their
pretty immortal little souls will only be re-incarnated with their weapons waiting for their
return. A really annoying circle of a worthless life!"

Lord Baddesley then got up from his chair and stood directly opposite Iliana with only the
fire between them.

           
"But you!... Although you are a Purifier, you are unique... You are something that
we have been looking for... even well before the death of Christ himself!"

Iliana frowned in confusion as did Kazuki, Jung and Caitlyn. Seeing the perplexed face
before him, Lord Baddesley smirked.

           
"Ooh!... You do not know? Well, well, as Purifiers from the hand of God.... you
should be ashamed
of yourselves... And I would love
to delve in deeper on the matter with
you but... as always... time is of the essence. I want your body and soul... Willingly give
yourself to me and invite the spirit of my fellow friends to abide with you." Lord Baddesley
hissed to Iliana firmly.

           
"I will never give in to you!" Iliana protested almost shouting.

           
"Of course you will not... I would be most surprised if you did!... That is why I have
her!" Lord Baddesley said pointing at Mother. "I know how Mother’s can have a certain
persuasive nature to them."

           
Lord Baddesley sat back to his chair smiling malignantly as he laced his fingers
together. Iliana turned round slowly, feeling a sudden presence behind her. Mother was
now towering over Iliana, her hands about to grab her head but Iliana ducked and twisted
round then dashed towards the table. Mother growled in annoyance and followed her. The
both of them circled round the table, it was like a game of cat and mouse. When one moved
one way, the other followed. With an injured leg Mother seemed to be moving at ease
without even a suggestion of limp.

           
Along with the heat from the fire around her and the loss of her concentration, Iliana
could not sense any water to command. Iliana had no idea what to do, she had nowhere to
hide or even escape. Panic and fear rushed through her veins like never before. Mother
jumped up on the table and ran across towards Iliana who instantly ran around the table,
again hoping to confuse Mother. But instead it infuriated her more and she ran forward fast.
Then did an agile front somersault over the edge of the table so quickly Iliana stopped
running in shock as Mother flew over her. Once she landed Mother threw her fist hard
round Iliana’s cheek causing her to smack backwards against the table.

           
Even though she draped herself over the edge of the table Iliana felt as if the world
was spinning ten times faster than normal and her cheek was pounding with pain. With
unknown strength Mother lifted Iliana up and tossed her face down on the table like an
unwanted rag doll. Endeavouring to pick herself up Iliana was not even given the chance to
get to her knees when Mother stood behind her and took Iliana’s head into her hands. When
her hands touched Iliana’s ears a prickly sensation was mutually felt but Mother did not let
go. Suddenly as if a gush of wind was forced into her ears Iliana threw her head back and
screamed out loudly in pain.

           
Kazuki struggled again with the hooded figure behind him, he tried to push himself
forwards with all his strength. The hooded figure dug the heels of it’s feet to the floor
pulling Kazuki back by the end of the chain. Kazuki groaned as the chains tightened yet he
did not stop. Three more hooded figures rushed to push Kazuki back when Jung attempted
to do the same, Lord Baddesley glared at him.

           
"Move... and we will cut out her tongue" Lord Baddesley snarled.

Jung turned round to find the sharp point of a dagger poking Caitlyn’s flushed cheeks. Jung
gritted his teeth in anger before snapping at Lord Baddesley.

           
"What the hell are you doing to her?"

           
"Did you not listen to anything I had told you?" Lord Baddesley replied in the same
calmed and uncanny tone.

           
"Her soul is being Tainted!" Kazuki said who then stopped his struggling much to
the delight of the hooded figures clambered around him.

For what seemed like a lifetime Mother finally let go of Iliana causing her to collapse onto
the table.

           
Lord Baddesley instantaneously got up from his chair, his beady eyes fixed on
Iliana. Silence brushed through the room, the only slight noise was the flickering of the
flames from the ring of fire. Then all of a sudden Iliana’s body shook for a good couple of
minutes then stopped. She slowly lifted herself onto her hands and knees. Even though her
body was still, Iliana felt as if her insides was shaking around like the wooden miniature
balls within a shaken maracas. Her body kept flitting from warm to cold. Her heart pumped
hard inside her chest like it was struggling to beat and Iliana found it difficult to breathe.
Beads of cold sweat rolled down the sides of her face. Her head felt as if it was splitting
into two making her eyes water in pain.

           
"Whot-ish-appenin-to-er?" Caitlyn babbled with the cloth still tightly wrapped
between her teeth.

           
"She is trying to fight it!" Kazuki muttered feeling helpless by just watching Iliana
struggle.

Lord Baddesley growled under his breath angrily before yelling to Mother.

           
"Do it again!"

           
"Iliana!... Do not give in to it!... Fight it!..." Kazuki shouted as Mother stood over
Iliana and leant down to place her hands round Iliana’s ears again.

           
As if Kazuki’s voice woke her up from a shaky nightmare, Iliana took a deep breath
and got a grip of herself. She dropped her body onto the table and rolled onto her back
facing Mother. Firstly with clenched fist, punched Mother in the stomach causing her to
grunt. Secondly, punched the side of her face as hard as she could. Mother staggered to one
side moaning under her breath. Iliana quickly got up to her feet with a slight stumble but
only to find Mother launching herself towards her.

           
Iliana stepped forward and prepared for a counterattack when Mother’s movements
began to slow down. It was as if she was running in slow motion, then everything stopped.
Mother looked as if she was frozen in midair with her face twisted in anger. Iliana looked
around her and everyone was as still as a statue. The circle of fire around the table and even
the fire dwelling within the lanterns was motionless, like time was set to pause. Iliana was
only the thing moving.

           
‘Am I dreaming?... Am I dead?...’
Iliana asked herself out loud whilst pinching her
arm.
‘Ouch!... That hurt!... This definitely cannot be a dream.’

           
"Iliana!..." A female voice spoke out echoing around her.

Startled, Iliana whipped around to see where the voice was coming from.

           
"W-who is there?"

           
"Iliana!... Do not be afraid... I shall not harm you..." The voice answered.

           
Her voice was so soft and elegant, pronouncing every syllable of the word clearly.
The smell of roses filled Iliana’s nose making her close her eyes and breathe in the
beautiful scent. Iliana felt as if she was wafting in a garden of roses.

           
"I have come to aid you in this distressing time... but firstly, I would like to ask you
a few questions... and I hope you will answer me in truthfulness."

Iliana opened her eyes. Although she was confused to what was going on she just replied.

           
"O-okay."

           
"Do you believe in God?..." Came the first question.

           
"Believe in God?... What has that got to do with anything?..." Iliana asked thinking
this question was rather random in a moment like this.

           
"Please... just answer the question."

           
"Er... Yes, now more than ever."

           
"Do you believe in miracles?"

           
"Yes... I have always believed in the impossible... and miracles are one of them!"
Iliana replied nodding to herself.

           
"And the last question... do you believe in yourself?"

There was a long pause. Iliana stared down at the palm of her hands and thought hard of the
question. There were times in the past when Iliana had doubted her own capabilities and
powers especially when she Purified demons by herself. It was partly the reason why she
stopped two years ago. But since she has been in Primrose Bay Iliana gradually found her
inner strength and determination with help of the people around her. She knew she still had
a long way to go to find the true strength of her powers but this time Iliana is adamant not
give up, especially when there are people who need her.

           
"I believe in myself when there are people who believe in me!" Was the true answer
to the last question.

           
"You are indeed a spirit of unicity... Your powers are great and even in the hour of
need, it will always be at your command no matter the arduous state you find yourself. And
one last matter... love." Iliana’s eyes wandered in Kazuki’s direction but quickly lowered
her eyes to the surface of the table when the voice continued.

           
"Love comes in many forms... At times it can cause pain, but as long as you are
content and able to deal with such complicated emotion, then happiness will greet you at
the end."

Now even more confused with what just sounded like a riddle of speech, Iliana asked.

           
"Who are you?"

           
"That is not of importance at this moment... although I am sure your question will be
answered one day... I must leave you now."

           
"Wait!... How do I Purify my Mother?"

           
"As soon as this conversation ends... you will know what to do. And when you do...
no matter how painful it sounds... do not let go until it is complete." The voice replied
slowly fading away.

           
"What?" Iliana said now really flummoxed than ever. "Hold on... when will I hear of
you again?"

           
"I will always be watching over you when times are dark... I will help and support
you and your companions."