𝓗𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝓸𝓯 𝓖𝑶𝑫

ㅤ
ㅤwithin a matter of seconds, the demon had become nothing more than a pincushion to the hand of 𝐆𝐎𝐃.

ㅤbody ripped and torn through, spiked in the middle of the church. painted light beaming on a bleeding corpse.

ㅤand a preacher. witnessing the flaying of a life. just as the romans had...
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤthe clocks would ring through the halls, echoing amongst the hovering pews.

ㅤand within moments, the priest and his stand had disappeared...

ㅤonly to show face again, another pricket skewering the demon — and another, and 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤ... tick ... tick —

ㅤ" you admit that 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 had brought us together.
ㅤbut you don't acknowledge that 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 brought you to a disciple.

ㅤand that 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 has already chosen her victor. "

ㅤtick ... tick .. tick . tick, tick —
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤichor trickling down into the priest, holding his disheveled arm.

ㅤsneering at this vessel. knowing full and well that had had taken david so much less to kill such a foe.

ㅤ" try again. you seem to've forgotten a very important detail this very day... "
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤtwisting, forcing it deeper into his body as 𝐌𝐢𝐇 would snap its own reins, swiftly turning to swing a fist back at the heretic's face.

ㅤtaking the candlestick from the priest, the stand would press the spike further into the spartan, thrusting his body upwards into the air.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤobviously, he was not to die here. it would not end. not when gravity had clearly intended for him to strive forward.

ㅤtaking the stick in hand, he hadn't hesitated to follow through with what destiny had designed — plunging it straight into the beast's diaphragm.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤan action that seemed so involuntary of the preacher now... as the world faded from view, the dim sunlight peering through stained glass.

ㅤthat's when he felt it. a simple candlestick. a sharp pricket fully exposed — just as fate had intended. luring him in with aggressive temptation.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤas his vision grew hazy, the church seemed to match his dismay. with candles leaving behind trails of smoke, the darkest corners of the cathedral seeming to lurk ever larger.

ㅤand within moments, dust would begin to lift. followed by the snuffed candles off of their prickets.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤ' 𝑻𝑪𝑯 — 𝐖𝐇 - 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𖤠.ᐟ '

ㅤthoughts racing for only mere moments before the stand would struggle against the demon.

ㅤboth beings hypoxiated, the priest grasping in desperation at nothing. deprived of the strength that his words often provided him.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤcross bound hues would grow wide as the heretic had grasped the arm of his manifestation, hunching over as he snapped through bone like twigs.

ㅤripping past cartilage, removing what remained, causing the priest to writhe in pain.

ㅤin 𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗬. supressing a scream behind shallow breaths.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤ" i advise that you do the both of us a favor...

ㅤand 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋. "
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤ" — for, you see, i have many of my own accords to attend to. i can't waste time hearing to each of your confessions. "

ㅤas he spoke, his stand would release its reigns with uts other hand, sending a fist through the spartan's abdomen.

ㅤblood splattering across the priest's face.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤif the priest was lucky, he'd likely even get a grab at his disc.

ㅤending a fight before it could even begin.

ㅤ" i don't have the time to be meddling with your misdemeanors — "

ㅤslowly, he'd pry claws from his throat, blood dripping down his flesh and staining his uniform.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤthat is, until he'd grab the spartan's wrist, clocks beginning to tick right along his ears as the priest's fighting spirit had manifested right behind him.

ㅤhand lifted, the other gripping the reigns of time before slicing along the demon's head, his own blood undetectable from innocents.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤeven if by the means of violence, as the heretic gripped his tethers to life, threatening to snap the chords of his livelihood.

ㅤ" may 𝐆𝐎𝐃 forgive you, devil. "

ㅤas his sweat trickled down his face, anxieties grasping at his heart, he still did not falter his demeanor.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤalthough the preacher could not admit it, the mere presence of this... defiance to god had made his blood run cold.

ㅤhe would not turn his back, however. he would not cower nor run. for the 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃 would serve him in his prosperous hands, and he would be delivered.
ㅤ

ㅤ《 open.spotify.com/track/531u77... 》

ㅤ
ㅤdid you not hear me, harlot 𖤠 or has your ego become so dense that you're incapable of comprehending simple sentences 𖤠

ㅤdo not speak to me when you writhe within your own sin.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤsilence. i will not susept myself to your false kingship.

ㅤi have had enough of your ramblings.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤfinally lifting his head, stepping to face his adversary.

ㅤ" i implore you. do to me as the romans had jesus. learn that you will gain nothing of it. "

ㅤhe did not know much of the demon's quarrels, but he knew he hurt. just as the priest had.

ㅤand, for that, he would show no mercy.
ㅤ

Herzspalter on X

ㅤ
ㅤafter all... the spartan had promised it for so long.

ㅤand just as thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not lie.

ㅤ" raise your spear, spartan. defy me and my existence.

ㅤit will not wash your hands of your sin. it will not save you from damnation.

ㅤthat, im sure, you are aware of. "
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤshackled by the burden of the wool he attempted to wear over his ghastly form.

ㅤthere was no sheppard to fool. no sheep to eat. nothing but a man of GOD.

ㅤglancing at the demon from the corner of his eye, he showed no ill will. no harmful intent. as if he knew this day was to come.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤdigits pressed together, head hung low in prayer, he'd sense the sin that the heretic reeked of. the murder that coaxed his figure — the blood that tainted his hands.

ㅤhe had come face to face with this beast before. him, and others alike.

ㅤbut, before, he was tame.
ㅤ

ㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤpsalm 27 : 11 - 14

ㅤteach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
ㅤDo not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations . . .
ㅤ