Chapter Text
Andrew always liked his job as mural conversator. He went from one place to the other, admired art and sometimes he could discover something extraordinary.
And this is exactly what happened this time.
Taking care of a partly faded mural of a beautiful and kind goddess of the moon, he noticed that from the opposite wall the whote paint peeled off a bit, revealing a blue paint.
He shouldn’t go there, he knew that he only should take care of things he was told too, but his curious nature and dedication for his work were strong.
It was his responsibility to find forgotten art. At least he told himself so.
He took his tools and approached the wall. After taking a deep breath, Andrew slowly began to remove paint, slowly but surely discovering part by part a hidden painting.
Colours were still vibrant, it looked like time didn’t touch nor exist for it, just like it stopped right after all the paint had dried.
Kreiss took a few steps behind to look at the whole mural.
A bird. Black and blue flames. And a man tied to a burning stake. He didn’t have a face, but Andrew felt like he would stare right at him and maybe smile a bit… just like everything was like he planned.
For someone else it could be a bit scary, but Kreiss was fascinated. He found it beautiful even if it still caused a bit of sadness.
But why would someone hide it? It was beautiful. Was it a sort of secret? If yes then Andrew wanted to know why.
The art took over his thoughts and probably he would watch it longer if someone didn’t interrupt him with a cough.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t do it” a tall man standing next to him said.
Well, people were right that you can’t escape from your demons.
“Antonio… What are you doing here? Aren’t demons not allowed to go to saintly places” - Andrew asked, looking at him for a brief moment, then returning with his eyes on the mural.
“I’m connected with you. I can be wherever you are” demon smiled, but something malicious was hidden behind it. Nothing that Andrew didn’t expect but still shivers went down his spine.
He knew him since he was born. A child cursed by a demon.
Andrew was born dead. He didn’t breathe, his heart didn’t beat. Just the cold body of a child. It was his mother's fault, she cried when she screamed. She didn’t know it, but she sold her son to a devil.
He was growing up lonely, only with his mother and only seen by him demon, about whom he couldn’t talk, by his side. He even blamed Antonio for it and his look so disliked by others, but in answer he heard that it wasn’t the devil's fault.
He was just born like this. Humans are just cruel monsters, not accepting him for something which was not up to him.
“You never show yourself in church before” he replied, shrugging.
“I didn’t need to” the answer sounded like it was obvious. Something that everyone should know and especially Andrew.
“Then why are you here?” The human asked the next question, still not understanding what the demon wanted. He was kinda used to not getting clear answers, but he prefered to try anyway. Maybe this one time in his life luck would be on his side.
“Because you can be in trouble. People don't hide something only because they want to. It means secrets and secrets means that you can have troubles, what I would like to avoid” demon shrugged, the gesture looked like he wanted to say that Andrew should guess it
“Why do you care so much?”
“You’re my child”
“I’m my mothers child” a bit of disgust appeared on Andrew's face. He disliked when Antonio would say such a nonsense.
“She gave you to me” Demon sounded a bit hurt. He didn’t exactly like the words that this young man said.
Andrew on the other hand ignored it, he saw it way too many times. It never actually worked on him, because he didn’t even understand the reason for it.
All he knew is that this demon is probably hiding something, but he couldn’t and actually didn’t even want to figure out what it was.
“Because she didn’t know it”
“But it happened. You should be happy to still have both parents even if one of them had left you, especially because not everyone has a chance to have a demon as their caretaker” Antonio laughed and put hand on his shoulder.
“I was serious Andy. You should be more careful. You already discovered the painting and we can’t hide it, but don’t try to find the truth”
“What if I want to? Can’t you just tell me?” he started to hold tools even more firmly, hoping for answers. Someone like a demon should know everything, right?
“Curious as always… I’m sorry but I don’t know everything. I only know that he was called Phoenix. If you want to know more, you should search in church’s archives but… this could be dangerous”
“Will you help me?” Anderw looked again at the demon.
“I have no choice. I know you long enough to know that you will do it anyway”
He didn’t even have time to reply before the demon disappeared. It always was like that. He appeared out of nowhere and left in a blink of an eye. Though he knew that he was still observed.
Usually Andrew didn’t like others watching him, but he was used to feeling the presence of Antonio.
He hadn’t anything more to do with his discovery, so he continued his work that he was appointed to.
The answers have to wait until he finishes.
It was late evening when he finished his job. Only dim light of candles was present in the main nave, while shadows danced on the walls in the rhythm given by a flame.
It was good work. With every appointment he was even better with restoration. He could be proud of himself, if not other thoughts revolving around other topics.
“Antonio?” he asked quietly, checking before if no one else was there. He was used to people taking him for a mad man, who talks to himself, but this time he prefered to not attract too much attention.
“You didn’t change your mind, did you?” The demon was sitting on one of the benches, his legs crossed and chin resting on his palm.
“Sorry. I feel like… I need to know. It’s like… I feel that he shouldn’t be forgotten and something is wrong here”
“Yes, something is definitely wrong here and that’s why I suggest you think about it once again. If you start searching there might be no more return from what you will discover”
“I know, but I have to try… please” he looked exactly where Antonios eyes would be if bangs didn’t cover them completely.
“Okay. okay. But if it’s too dangerous, I will intervene without asking”
Andrew only nodded his head, he knew that he couldn't do anything about it, but what’s more important, even if it sounded weird, he completely trusted the demon.
He knew that he wouldn’t do anything that could hurt him and wouldn’t let anyone do it.
It could be weird but it worked like that, though Kreiss didn’t even know why.
Andrew had to zone out for a moment, because when he returned to reality he was already in archives. Of course the demon could teleport them, but he still didn’t notice it.
The room is almost completely dark. Only some rays of moonlight went through small barred windows. Only a few shelves were seen, the rest of the furniture was hidden in darkness so dense that it was almost impossible.
“So… what are we looking for?” the moment he asked, a candle lit the room and his pale face.
Now he could see grey stone walls and… actually nothing more than racks but there were hundreds of them. They were everywhere and it looked like it’s infinite number of them with so many shelves that they were touching the ceiling and yet still all of them were full.
“You wanted to find some answers. You should know it”
“Antonio, please…” he was tired of this stupid games and understatments, he didn’t even try to hide it. He wanted to make this clear, so maybe someone would finally understand his urge to know what’s behind this mural.
“Find something about the night of sacrifices” demon let out a sigh.
“So you know something?” Andrew raised one eyebrow, wondering if he heard a lie before or what the hell’s being is playing.
“I asked around a bit.” Antonio replied and started searching through documents and books.
Andrew stood in a place for a while, processing what he just heard. It took him a while to remember that indeed demons can do some unnatural things.
“I still don’t understand how you can be in many places at the same time.” Young man shook his head and also started to search, repeating in his head words “night of sacrifice” to remember what he’s searching for and not accidentally overlooking it.
“It’s not the only thing that you won’t understand. You’re human. It’s something that your brain can’t process”
“So that means… you still won’t explain it?” Andrew asked just to be sure.
For a moment he didn’t get in reply anything but paper rustling.
“If you don’t want your head to explode, then no, Andy” Antonio said, while searching through bookstands.
Andrew wasn’t sure if it was a joke, but he didn’t want to ask more. He needed his head to find out something.
They didn’t search for long until they heard footsteps.
Loud thuds signalling that someone is coming down. Suddenly becoming nervous Andrew started to look around, scanning with his eyes in a search for a demon, but he couldn’t find him.
Sudden cold wind hit his face, though no flame on candles moved. It took him a moment to realise something. He didn’t feel the demon around anymore.
He started to look for a place to hide, but only could do it with his eyes. He completely froze, His legs stuck in a place and he couldn’t move. He was never so scared before in his whole life.
He was alone.
Except standing in front of him a tall person in white robe and hood hiding their face.
“So are you a mural conservator or just a mere thief?”