Sebastian kneeled next to his sister on the stained grey carpet and prayed. "Heavenly father, keep us pure and true in the coming trials. Let us defeat our enemy and cleanse your Earth of darkness. May we always keep our promise to you, no matter the material temptation before us. Amen."
"Amen," Esther repeated by his side.
They stood up in their combat gear and ignored the stares from the local church goers. Sebastian would have preferred a catholic establishment, but this was the only holy place in walking distance of their target zone. They made a striking pair, him and his sister. He'd worked hard for a body in peak physical condition, and he was blessed to have had a large frame to start with. White combat pants stretched over his tree trunk legs. Muscles bulged underneath his matching white t-shirt with a red cross emblazoned on the front. His long, cylindrical neutralizer hung from a thick white belt among a variety of pouches.
The church had updated the uniforms of their order to blend with the times a while back, white robes and plate armor were far too conspicuous. His sister wore much the same, but tailored to her slimmer, still powerful body. She was a world class sprinter and it showed. They had matching silver-blonde hair, inherited from their parents. Both of them ran 1" clippers over their heads every month to maintain a simple buzz cut. It was part of their duty to keep an austere appearance.
"Anything else from the informant?" she asked as they donned their white winter coats and exited the church into the dark city streets.
"Just what got us assigned this place. Multiple possible Lust Magi, high chance of at least one attending the University."
"So just patrol for now?"
"Affirmative."
They walked under shining street lamps in silence for a few blocks. This would be their first time going up against Lust magic, Sebastian wanted to take every precaution.
"Esther, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
She looked at him quizzically.
"It's the makeup."
"Oh, come on Sebastian. I look enough like a man with the hair, it's nothing flashy."
"You won't look like a man," he assured her, "but any sexual adornment could lead to the sinner's path. You know this."
"I am as bound by our vow of celibacy as you are. This is for my well-being, not an attempt to excite some pleasure-seeking pig."
He grabbed her by the shoulder and swiveled her around on the sidewalk. "Remove it sister, for me."
She averted her gaze from his. "Ok, for you."
Devices attached to both of their belts suddenly erupted into beeps, starting them out of their conversation and into combat positions. Magi were near.
--xxx--
Brian and Abby's laughing mixed with the sounds of the city under the evening sky. Their breath made twin puffs of white in the cold air. For the first time in days Brian's mind was clear of thoughts of witches and warlocks. He was just a normal dude hanging out with a girl. They were walking from campus to Abby's place. It turned out that she lived kind of close to Betsy. Their conversation had been great, turning from video games to favorite movies to personal questions.
"So do you have any roommates?" he asked.
"Yeah but they're all out tonight, it'll just be us," she looked over at him from under her big fluffy winter hat, "Hope that's ok."
For the first time he found himself attracted to Abby, and he was pretty sure it wasn't the magical urges. This conversation, her cute freckles. She'd been there all along, right under his nose.
"That's cool. Abby, I'm really gl-" Bzzzzzz!
His phone went off. He pulled it out and saw that it was Betsy. Fuck it, he'd check it later. Let her wait for once.
"Sorry, I was just saying I'm excited to play that new deathmatch mode."
When Abby didn't respond he looked over, just in time to see a flash of white stealing her from his field of view.
"BRIAN!" she screamed, struggling against her assailant. A giant man in all white pried her arm back and held some sort of baton against her neck.
"Submit Witch," he spat with a twisted expression.
Suddenly there was a white figure on him too. A woman with short hair. He grappled with her in complete bewilderment. She had her own baton out and was trying to wack him as he gripped her wrists. What weapons did he have? What could he do? Only one thing came to mind. He activated Siren's Call at full blast. She made a strange face. Her arms weakened. He leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.
Her arms fell completely limp and her baton dropped to the floor with a thud. He heard the large man yelling from behind them. The woman wasn't resisting, but she wasn't kissing back either. She stood with his face against hers until a hand appeared on his shoulder and tossed him to the side with incredible force. He crashed into a fence and was up in a second for Abby. She'd been pushed to the floor too, and was still getting to her feet. He pulled her up by the arm and they booked it. He looked behind his shoulder as they turned the corner. The man had the woman by her shoulders, she still looked dazed.
--xxx--
"What... was... that?" Abby got out between breaths. They'd ran for 10 minutes straight. Brian had led them to the only place he knew to go. They were on the stairs up to door number 8. He checked his phone and read the message Betsy had sent right before the attack on their way up: "DANGER, GET TO ME NOW."
"Are you calling the police?" Abby asked.
"No, um, Abby I'm really sorry you got involved in this."
"What do you mean?"
At that moment a loud bang resonated from the bottom of the stairwell, followed by several thumps. They both tensed. Somebody was climbing the stairs. He whispered the Lustball incantation under his breath, he didn't know how it would work as a weapon, but it was better than nothing.
"Ah!" a green-haired girl shouted in surprise as she turned the corner. "Jesus fuck Brian you scared the shit out of me."
"Yeah you got us good too," he said as relief washed over his body. "Oh, uh, Sam this is Abby. Abby, Sam."
They greeted each other awkwardly. Abby looked to him, then looked back at the punk-metal girl on the stairs. "How do you two know each other?"
"We'll get to that," he replied. Abby was becoming more and more entangled in this mess. When they knocked on door 8 it swung open instantly. Betsy appeared in silk pajamas, her brow was scrunched up with worry.
"Oh thank the devil you're safe." She gave him and Sam big bosom hugs, then turned to the geeky girl wringing her hands behind them. "And who is this?"
"My friend Abby, I know I shouldn't have brought her but we were attacked and I didn't know what else to do I-" she help up her hand to silence him.