As the next day arrived, the group slept as well as they could, taking turns to keep watch. By the time the priest corp arrived, everyone looked a bit tired.
The group watched as a team of roughly ten people in clerical clothing approached. Among them was a striking woman—a nun with bright yellow eyes and a scar across her chin. She smiled warmly and gave a small bow. "Hello, my name is Sister Jolene."
Luna, unsure of what to do, quickly bowed back. "Uh, h-hello. My name is Luna Gold."
Jolene's smile softened as she addressed her. "Nice to meet you, Luna. My child, I must ask—have you been in contact with a devil or a demon?"
Luna hesitated, grabbing her arm and looking embarrassed. Jolene stepped closer, her tone gentle. "Do not worry. I won't scold you. I can help if you have."
Relieved, Luna managed a small smile. "Oh, if you… uh, can, that would be nice."
Jolene smiled kindly in return. "Then I shall help you once we've cleared up this mess, alright?"
JJ stepped forward, curiosity evident on his face. "So, what exactly are you all planning to do?"
Jolene turned to him as she began walking toward the casino strip. "First, we're going to deal with anyone conspiring with devils or demons."
Jamal raised an eyebrow, his tone cautious. "And by 'deal with them,' you mean…?"
Jolene's smile remained unwavering as she replied cryptically, "We shall cross that bridge when we get there."
Jamal nodded slowly, still skeptical, as the priest corp continued toward the casino.
Once they were out of earshot, Sunny's eye twitched in frustration. "I wish Father Fredrick had picked up!" She stomped the ground angrily. "When I see him, I'm gonna tear him a new one!"
Luna turns around, raising an eyebrow. "Uhmm… you good, partner?"
Sunny, still stomping the ground, finally stops and exhales deeply. "Now I am. Either way, Father Fredrick would've made light work of any or all devils here. These people? I don't know so much. Get ready for a real big fight, and I have no clue if they're actually equipped to handle wendigos."
Luna tilts her head curiously. "How do you handle wendigos exactly?"
Sunny smirks. "Fire. Lots of it. To kill a wendigo, you either burn them to ash or use silver bullets—but you have to land a shot directly through their heart."
Jamal tilts his head now. "I thought silver was just for werewolves?"
JJ shakes his head. "Nope. Werewolves aren't the only creatures susceptible to silver. Wendigos are one of the others that can be killed with it."
Luna raises an eyebrow, her voice tinged with concern. "Umm… guys?" She points toward the sky, where a shimmering golden barrier now stretches across the horizon.
Sunny rolls her eyes. "Great. I see they're trying to trap any and all demons or devils here. Problem is… we're also trapped."
Luna's eyes widen in fear. "What!?"
Sunny nods firmly. "Yep. Any person or creature capable of using magic or interacting with magic is stuck here. This is an anti-mana escape barrier."
Jamal crosses his arms, looking mildly impressed. "Why can't we learn that trick?"
Sunny shakes her head. "We can't. This is one of the many spells the Vatican safeguards. If I could learn it, I would."
JJ rolls his eyes, muttering, "Yep, same old selfish tactics to get people to join their groups. Same in my generation, same here."
They all begin preparing their weapons for the fight ahead. As they gear up, one of the priests approaches them and informs them that the first attack will commence at nightfall, around 9:00 p.m.
Sunny rolls her eyes. "Yep, didn't bother discussing anything with us. I bet that nun is calling all the shots, and I guarantee she's gonna make us do most of the heavy lifting!"
Jamal and Luna exchange glances, realizing that despite asking for help, they'll likely be doing a lot of the fighting themselves.
As they sit around, Luna looks over at Sunny. "Hey, so… about my whole issue. What are they going to do to help?"
Sunny pauses for a moment, thinking. "Well, most likely a minor exorcism."
Jamal raises an eyebrow. "Wait, so is Luna's head gonna start spinning around while she projectile vomits?"
Luna's eyes widen in terror. "Wait, what?! Is that going to happen!?"
Sunny bursts out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Who knows! Nah, nah, nah, don't worry, partner. That won't happen, I promise."
After a good laugh, they check the clock and realize they still have several hours before the fight begins. They decide to relax and continue preparing. Luna suggests training to pass the time, but Sunny shakes her head.
"If we're going to be fighting soon, there's no sense in training right now. You'd just tire yourself out before the real battle."
Luna and Jamal take the time to chat with JJ, asking him about his past and what America was like in his time compared to now. Luna listens intently, fascinated by the stories and briefly forgetting her worries.
After a long and engaging conversation, they check the time and see it's almost 8:30 p.m. Realizing it's time to head out, they all get up and begin making their way to the casino strip, assuming that's the designated meeting spot. They tried contacting the priests for confirmation, but the only response they got was, "Follow your heart." That vague answer only served to infuriate Sunny further, and for a moment, it seemed like she was ready to fight both the priest and the nun. Now that would've been a sight!
As they exit the RV, Sunny stomps her feet in frustration. She's even donned her cloak, which Luna now notices resembles a poncho more than a traditional cloak. Sunny glances back at the group and says, "Jamal, Luna, don't worry—I'll get you both a cloak after this hunt! And don't think I forgot about you, JJ; I'll get you one too!"
Finally, they make their way to the meeting spot to discuss the strategy for the upcoming fight. Sunny's frustration is still evident, but her determination shines through as the group prepares for what lies ahead.