Eamon kept his head down as he followed behind the High Priest. They passed through tall black metal gates and walked along a long footpath of red bricks, surrounded by well-kept grass and gardens. They were guided by a middle-aged man in uniform, the same person who had fetched them from the rectory.
Glancing sideways, Eamon saw a pavilion in the distance where a child and a dog played with a woman in uniform, who seemed to be a housemaid.
Continuing to stare down, Eamon followed the flowy white fabric in front of him, until they reached another dark wood door. A man, seemingly in his 50s, greeted them at the door.
Eamon had an idea of what he would do in the house. Ever since he discovered he could transform into another unfamiliar form, albeit one he loathed and thought was evil, he had done so to survive. He aimed to follow through on his grandfather's wishes and possibly take revenge on the demon who had taken Manuel's life.
And now, he had a job to do. He often thought about his grandfather's words, that he was his fortune... Although this particular priest also felt like he would bring real fortune. Yet all Eamon could think was, "At least they feed me."
They were welcomed inside. Mr. Ramirez was familiar to Eamon as someone running for Mayor in the next elections of the city of Crowns. He had salt and pepper hair and a square face, making his every movement feel certain and big.
He gestured to another room and they entered a spacious sitting room adorned with antique furniture and religious icons. Mr. Ramirez gestured for Reverend Abiel to take a seat.
He whispered to Eamon, "Transform into that form and stand by the door."
Eamon nodded and bowed, retreating back to the entrance of the room in his white form. He stood quietly by the doorway, listening in to the conversations.
"Thank you for inviting us to your beautiful home, Mr. Ramirez," Reverend Abiel began, his voice attempting to be soothing. "Your generosity towards the church and your dedication to our shared values are truly commendable."
Mr. Ramirez gave a low chuckle. "It's my honor, Reverend. Supporting the church's mission is a privilege. Now, without wasting any more of your time... Regarding the cleansing process of the home..."
The High Priest nodded, a smile on his face. "We will commence the rituals now. Eamon here will perform the cleansing, walking through every room to ensure they are sanctified according to our traditions." He gestured to Eamon by the door, who was then given a glance from the politician. "Your residence will be purified and will be free from any malevolent influences."
Mr. Ramirez smiled with satisfaction. "Excellent. I have full faith in your expertise, Reverend, but is it safe to say that that child could fully cleanse my home? You know I trust you. But that kid..."
"Can't you see, Mr. Ramirez? That form." They both looked at Eamon again. "That is the form blessed by God. No one can deny that that is!" he pointed his index finger above, "That is God's blessing. God's blessing..." he closed his eyes and held his heart, slowly shaking his head with narrowed eyebrows.
"Well then," Mr. Ramirez stood up, "I believe you." One last look at Eamon, but the child did not spare a glance. "He looks like he is blessed by the Light Almighty indeed. Shall we?" He gestured they proceed with the tour and cleansing, and Reverend Abiel gestured for Eamon to follow.
They entered an office, its walls lined with shelves of books and art pieces. Eamon could not help but glance around, appreciating them.
"This is my office," The politician said. "Let's begin here."
"Begin the cleansing, Eamon. Dispel any negative presence," said the Reverend, and Eamon held out his hand outward, his glowing eyes scanning the room for the art pieces. The politician was amazed looking at Eamon's glowing eyes when he looked up as if mesmerized.
Yet the so-called cleansing was only a front, and Eamon knew this. Since the smoke that he was used to seeing was closer to him now, more than ever. He did not know why it was so, and it was the same reason as to why he was attracting evil.
They continued to walk around the house, mansion, even, and pretended that Eamon was cleaning it around. Flowery words of how clean it was now escaped the Reverend's lips every five minutes or so.
Yet Eamon only looked around, wondering if his grandfather would have loved living in a fancy place like that, but then he would shake the idea off, as he thought there was a reason why Manuel chose that simple life. He smiled, and the Reverend saw this, nudging him on the side.
Eamon cleared his throat and proceeded to walk further down the house.
"And as for the upcoming challenge, I believe our partnership will greatly benefit both our causes, Reverend. So I assume I can count on you in this coming November?"
The High Priest nodded his head in agreement. "Indeed, your leadership and support are invaluable to our community. The church stands ready to endorse candidates who uphold our values." He let out a low chuckle, as Mr. Ramirez joined him.
"Very well, I will ensure a generous donation to the church for all the good works you have done."
"The pleasure of assisting our community is blessing enough," Reverend Abiel replied with a smile.
"Your words are as reassuring as ever, Reverend. And I must say, your presence here today, overseeing this cleansing ritual, is a witness to our strong partnership."
The reverend bowed once more, "Indeed, Mr. Ramirez. Our partnership is built on shared values and a commitment to the greater good of our city."
Eamon almost cursed out loud, but he did not know how. Maybe "shit" was enough to express the fake words he was hearing, since that was the only curse word he knew. As they progressed, the conversations never failed to make him scoff inside, knowing the two men were only kidding themselves.
"As we move forward," Mr. Ramirez continued, his tone taking on a more serious note, "I trust that your endorsement will carry considerable weight in the upcoming election. Your influence within the community is unparalleled."
"Rest assured, Mr. Ramirez. The church will support candidates who align with our principles of justice and compassion."
Eamon shifted slightly, feeling a sense of detachment from the conversation. Now his mind only thought of: Why the hell are the shadows that infested the house less when they arrived, and now more after he has been staying for the last 30 minutes?
"Am I the cause..." Eamon mumbled under his breath, with the two men still talking about the damned election and money.