For hours Alastor waited, he watched the small entrance, calculating his next move to the point that the sun had begun to set, filling the sky with an orange hue. Time wasn't on his side. His hunger gnawed at him like a beast desperate to break free. Every breath he took reminded him of the tantalizing scent of the nun, pure and untouched.
Yet, he hesitated.
'This world is an unknown.' He reminded himself in his head, his eyes narrowing as his gaze swept over the church and the surrounding area.
In his home world, sanctuaries of faith were often battlegrounds for creatures like him. He could remember the various wars that humans had fought. From demons to beasts, he reminded himself that while humans are fragile and short-lived, their tenacity and will to survive are perhaps greater than other races as his own near-death experience could attest to.
Shaking his head from his thought, Alastor straightened himself, dusting off his tattered clothes with an air of casual indifference. His human disguise coupled with his clothes might have passed as an alluringly albeit dishevelled man down on his luck in need of help or perhaps redemption. It was a role he'd played countless times before to get in the good graces of naive victims.
As hours went by, the nun finally emerged. After saying her goodbyes, she descended the church steps, heading down to a quieter side of the street.
Alastor followed, keeping his distance but ensuring she never left his sight for even a moment. The crowd had thinned in this part of the city, and he knew this was his moment to act. He slowed down, scanning the surroundings for a suitable place to intercept her.
She turned into a small alley lined with weathered stone walls, seemingly heading toward another cluster of buildings. It was quiet there with no other person in sight. Perfect.
Alastor quickened his step, his bare feet softly crunching against the stone pavement as he closed the gap.
"Excuse me," He called out to her, his voice soft and tinged with a hint of vulnerability.
The nun paused, glancing back with a startled expression. "Yes?" She asked softly, her delicate features laced with curiosity yet with a sense of caution.
"I'm... sorry to bother you," He began, slowing to a halt a few meters from her. "I'm new here, and I...well, I'm a bit lost as you can see. I saw you leaving the church and thought perhaps you could help me?"
Her blue eyes softened slightly at his words, though she kept her guard up. "Lost? Are you looking for someone, or...?"
"Not someone, no," Alastor said with a faint smile, feigning a sheepish demeanour.
"More like... somewhere. I don't have a place to stay, and I was hoping to find some guidance. You seemed kind, and I thought... perhaps you might know where I could go for the night."
The nun studied him for a moment, her gaze flickering over his dishevelled yet striking appearance. He can feel her natural inclination to help warring with the cautious instinct she has at being confronted by a stranger in a dark alleyway asking for help.
"Well," She said hesitantly, "If you're truly without a place to stay, I could take you to my house for you to stay for the night."
Alastor felt a spark of triumph ignite in his chest, though he kept his expression one of humble gratitude. "You'd do that? I... I'd be so grateful. Truly."
She nodded, the small, hesitant smile on her lips making his pulse quicken. "Follow me, then. I'll see what I can do."
As she turned to lead him back toward her home, Alastor trailed behind, his mind already working through the delicate web he would spin around her. Her willingness to help him was the first thread. Now, all he had to do was ensure she never saw the web tightening around her until it was too late.
The faintest smirk curled Alastor's lips as he followed her. The alley widened into a quieter street lined with modest homes, the kind that exuded warmth.
He could feel the raw purity radiating from the nun from being this close. It was almost intoxicating. She was entirely unaware of the predator walking at her back, waiting until she had let her guard down before striking.
"You have a kind heart," He remarked, letting his voice carry a mix of admiration and earnestness. "Not many would help a stranger so readily."
The nun glanced over her shoulder, offering a small smile. "Kindness is a part of my faith. It teaches us to see those in need and offer what we can."
"Does your faith give you strength in this dangerous world?" He asked, probing her. He wanted to understand her convictions, not to admire them, but to better know he could corrupt them more effectively.
"It does." She replied without hesitation. "It guides me, even when the world feels dark."
He tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "And you don't fear that darkness? That it might take advantage of your kindness?"
The question seemed to unsettle her momentarily as her steps faltered before she turned her gaze back ahead. "Fear is a natural feeling. But I believe that a little bit of kindness can overcome it. Always."
Alastor's grin widened ever so slightly. Her ideal was charming in its naivety. "A noble perspective," He said, letting a hint of admiration slip into his voice.
The nun's unwavering belief captivated Alastor, though it amused him just as much. Such purity was rare, even in his own world, and her trust in a stranger like him spoke of either the sheer kindness that she had or sheer obliviousness.
When they reached her house, he finally asked her for her name. "May I know your name kind sister?"
The nun seemed a bit flustered at the fact that she had almost let him into her home without knowing her name. "Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Grace. Grace Christine. And you are?"
He smirked at her question before answering. "The name's Alastor. Only Alastor."
"Alastor hm... Your parent must've been really unique to name their kid after a demon." She innocently said.
Alastor coughed when he heard her mention demon. Damn, has his cover already blown.
"Nevertheless, I shall not judge you for your name."
"T... Thank you, kind sister."