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.
