Chapter 20 - A Coincidental Meeting Part 1

Father Marcus retreated to his chamber as quickly as he could. The whole course of it wasn’t simple though for his mind was in a whirlwind. The scenes inside Ysabelle’s room just kept popping out of his thoughts like a countdown.

5—

The kiss on her forehead...

He slapped a palm on his face as he sat on a stool near his bed.

4—

Her seeming dislike on his touch...

He cringed upon remembering it.

3—

The lightning-like slip of his cool and calm disposition...

He clenched his teeth in disapproval.

2—

His impatience, the sudden surge of anger, and the burning feeling of his arm and eyes...

He forced a long, deep sigh and tightened his balled-up fists.

And

And

1—

And his jaw-dropping confession of their shared kiss...

He huffed and almost butted his head on the wall mirror at his back.

All of it happened in just mere minutes. So fast. So swift. So brutally damaging. For a priest, he sure knows how to make an impression.

Standing up, he took his polo shirt off and dropped it in the stool. Then, he arranged himself in the mattress, lying with his arm pressed on his forehead and his feet still on the floor.

Temper. Temper. Temper.

And desire.

Marcus had been out of his wits having to control these two while inside Ysabelle’s room. They were the only culprits of the regrettable scenes tonight. It took him a lot of willpower to reign the emotions in. Good thing he was able to, but he had a suspicion that it wouldn’t be that easy if he snaps again. There was something that magnified his tamed human reactions the moment he knocked on Ysabelle’s chamber door and he was quick to pinpoint them on the demon festering inside him.

Just as he had read in the Demonology book, this particular demon has the ability to enhance the emotions of love and hatred. Although he didn’t hate the family or the circumstances that had befallen on him, he was angry about it, and anger was a close relative, so technically it had the same reaction.

The subject of love however was a different case. Totally different. Think of him, a priest, in love with a woman?

‘That’s just absurd, ’ Marcus scoffed at himself after deliberating the word, but that was that. He didn’t entertain any thoughts regarding it when he closed his eyes until fell asleep on his bed.

The question about how André was possessed was answered. Finally. Now that explains the podium and the old book on top it. Marcus was no dumb not to realize that the brotherhood had used it to summon the demon. It was also possible that they were using it for the whole month in order to control the entity inside André. That in turn explains why the family had to wait for a month before they called the help of the Vatican. It seems they weren’t able to control the demon into their bidding... into what Ysabelle calls ‘the greater good’.

But really now. Immortality?

What a cliché reason it was, but a twisted, sordid one.

Marcus didn’t blame André for volunteering himself for the cause. He didn’t even blame the Master of the House for letting his eldest son do it or the family for keeping themselves out of the issue. He was aware that they were extremist believers of the Priory of Sion, but hell, was it really that necessary to summon a demon for their help?

That’s a new question added in his long list. He was supposed to get the answers to all of it after his Question and Answer portion with Ysabelle tonight. He expected it as much, but guess he was wrong.

All thanks to his unexpected big-time crack of composure.

To extract himself out of the woman’s room was wise. No, actually, to extract himself out of the Rogratiatto Mansion would be better. So by early morning, although without a restful sleep, his relief was noticeable when he and Father Julien were out of the estate riding a cab going to the Town of Dobrí? and the airport respectively.

Mistress Regina was the only one who wished them a safe trip and bid them farewell. At least through this, the Rogratiatto Family’s hospitality would still remain intact. She also handed the white envelope that contained Father Marcus’ picture, but in return, he didn’t accept it for reasons he didn’t explain. Regina just nodded though and stated she’ll return the photo back to Ysabelle, who was apparently ‘still sleeping.’

***

Chateau Dobrí? or popularly known as Dobrí? Castle is only just a three-hour drive from the central city. The design style of the edifice was Rococo with classic windowpanes and elaborate ornamental decorations in the interior. Painted with peach and gray in the walls and roofs respectively, it looked almost like a building coming out from fairy tale books. It has five floors including the ground floor with over a hundred and ninety-three guest rooms, six main kitchens, and four restaurants — something that can be boasted about by the town mayor. The beauty of the surrounding land summed up with a large garden maze that most of the guests enjoy taking time exploring. It was a privately-owned estate in the past, but at present, it is used as a historical hotel with guests of small groups needing to book in advance.

When Father Marcus arrived in the castle, he was immediately greeted by the elderly assistant caretaker, Mr. Sylvester Grann, and his wife, Charity. They took him first in his assigned guest room on the third floor to settle his baggage, then offered him a lunch buffet in the fourth restaurant on the same floor.

Together with Mr. Grann, Marcus had a hearty meal and a light conversation with him. It was an enough distraction to have for himself so that his thoughts wouldn’t stray away and think of a certain woman and how he surprisingly missed her company in the dining table. Mr. Grann, amidst the imposing goatee he has, was a bit of a charming joker. He has an awfully cheerful demeanor too, something that he was able to successfully use in order to take Marcus’ mind off of the seriousness of his priestly duties. They had a good laugh during their meal, but when the time came when they had to talk about the demon possession, all their smiles faded.

Indeed, Marcus was right when he said that the demon was just a low-class type. Judging from the usual symptoms of the possession reported by Mr. Grann, he could easily take down the entity without breaking a sweat. But, that didn’t keep the victim’s co-workers and family frightened though.

The victim was the main caretaker of the castle, Sir Dolan MacMillan. He had been of service to the House of Mansfield since he was in his early teens following the footsteps of his family. Now a widow of seven years, he had since devoted himself and his time to taking care of the castle and its guests. He was no atheist and was usually seen in the castle’s chapel every afternoon to pray. Nobody ever expected that a man of good faith such as him would be possessed by a creature of Hell.