Venatores Noctis: Defilement of Falsehood: Chapter 3 – Freedom of Mindlessness

Chapter 3 – Freedom of Mindlessness

Even as the sun sets, the night sun rises, which doesn’t cease the effects of the Eternal Sun. In fact, the temptations are increased as the night sun shines its dimmer, cold, yet warm light. Due to enduring the curse of the light for so long, Maryam quickly says fifteen Hail Marys for her enemies so the temptations can be dispelled for a time. She’s made her way to one of the production towns where men and women live to produce children that are born, baptized, then used in the bread production. Both the men and the women are given injections that contain mysterious liquids that make them reproduce children faster, however, the results of this injection shorten their life span as Maryam witnesses healthy looking young people suddenly die of heart attacks and spasms. Since the people are so affected by the Eternal Sun, they call for help and then go about their daily business as if the people will be alright.

Curious about what they do with the bodies as she scouts out the area, Maryam follows the people carrying the bodies away to find that the bodies are made into food for the workers to eat. An obvious conclusion in Maryam’s mind, but one that she is still disgusted and angered to see. These feelings increase the severity of her temptations and her want to slaughter everyone in the area. Appearing from nowhere, Claudius appears and intercedes for Maryam so that she can think better but not completely clear.

“Most people here do not know what they’re doing. Forgive them, use the blessed darkness, and only take out the ones that are guilty or fight against you,” Claudius says.

“They might still go back to their ways and there’s no guarantee that they will run to the Church since they don’t know where it is. It’s more likely that they’ll go to their masters to be enslaved again as all sinners do,” Maryam says.

“Then God will give them their due punishment. For now, just bring justice to those who fight you. Leave the others to cower and realize the situation they are in.”

“Fine.”

Doing as her ancestor suggests, Maryam darkens the skies with her blessed arm before going down and killing whoever fights against her. She frees the infants and thankfully for her, a few of the workers see reason and take the infants and children away from the town and to the underground Church with it marked on their map by Maryam.

“Don’t let anyone else see or get this map or else, I’ll hunt you down,” Maryam threatens the worker.

“I’ll protect it with my life,” the worker honestly says.

Convinced by the honesty of the workers, Maryam leaves them and continues on her way. Since she’s a long way from the next location, she rests in a cave where the Eternal Sun’s light doesn’t touch.

“You should eat something rather than fasting by drinking water,” Claudius says as he appears to her.

“Fasting and doing penance helps me resist temptations, does it not?” she asks.

“Yes, but you need your strength for the coming battles ahead. If you won’t eat your fill, at least eat until you are no longer hungry. You can’t fight if your body is weak.”

“Hm.”

“It’s a sin to make yourself sick because you want to push the limits of your penance. I did the same too. Think about it. What does God want you to do? You’re a soldier, not a penitent.”

“Okay, okay.”

After hunting for food, cooking it, and eating it, she rests in a cave and dreams of when she let people under her command die and the cruelty of the people cursed by the Eternal Sun. She remembers people crying out to her and their screams of pain while their blood covers her as if saying that her failure is still with her. This wakes her up and makes her panic and turn to prayer to calm herself down.

“Do not let the failures of your past define your future especially since some of it wasn’t your fault,” Claudius says as he appears to her.

Seemingly ignoring and acknowledging him at the same time, Maryam nods before continuing to pray. Claudius then tries to comfort Maryam by embracing her. His embrace fills her with a sense of peace that she hasn’t felt in a while.

Nevertheless, she tries to push him aside while saying, “Thank you, but I don’t deserve this comfort.”

Her guardian angel then appears to embrace her as well, and despite having a terrifying appearance, the angel’s embrace also helps her to feel peaceful.

“These feelings won’t solve anything or help our situation in any way,” Maryam says.

“They will help you continue for another day, and sometimes, that’s all you need,” Claudius says before disappearing.

Maryam’s guardian angel also disappears leaving her with a feeling inside her to feel better and loved that she forgets is inside her. It is then she remembers the treasured times she was with her family. The simple times when they would live a life of prayer, study, and training before they took their roles in life. After waking up, Maryam offers up the feeling of emptiness she has as penance before continuing on. When she reaches the next destination, she finds a large town with seemingly nothing out of the ordinary. That is until she sees people of all ages prostituting themselves in the streets. This perversive practice boils Maryam’s blood to the point where she wants to act now and kill everyone in sight, especially those who take advantage of the young.

Again, Claudius appears to calm her as he says, “These people are blind like the others. Their degeneracy is not entirely their fault.”

“Then whose fault is it so I can end whatever makes this location so special to the wolves,” Maryam says.

“Quickly scout it out to see.”

Doing this seems to reveal nothing to Maryam. The surrounding area is like a paradise because of all the wildlife, vegetation, and springs of water. Businesses here sell their products for cheap or give them away as prizes if won through a game. Speaking of games, this town is home to many different kinds of sports, horse races, and table game tournaments. If a person loses, they are indebted to the victory and either give them their prize or give themselves in complete service to the victor. It is then that Maryam realizes what this place is.

“This is just a pleasure town. It’s only important because people get to use others as their toys and indulge in pleasures of every kind,” Maryam says.

Appearing to her, Claudius says, “Since this place doesn’t produce any of their blasphemous bread, you can skip it and save it for later.”

Maryam looks at her ancestor in disbelief.

“You cannot be serious. Just look at what’s going on here. There are probably more evils happening that I can’t see because of the light that you know about.”

“Even so, you cannot stop at every single settlement and point of interest to punish evil because you must be in London in a few days.”

“I still have time and I’m already here. I might as well do what is right and see justice through.”

“It’s your choice. Remember that God lets certain evils take place for long lengths of time before giving them their just rewards.”

“And today is that day.”

Using her blessed darkness, Maryam blocks out the cursed light and awakens the consciences of the people. What’s further revealed are soundproof buildings on the far outside of the town that homes to darker pleasures of the wolves that allow them to kill and torture without fear of being seen or heard. These places also hold the ritualistically killed feral wolves where they are buried, killed, and consumed by others with such reverence that it would be thought that these wolves were saints. Now that she’s found these secret buildings and what’s happening in them, Maryam’s stress and temptations reach a limit as half of her black hair turns white and her anger takes some control of her. She struggles to control herself while fighting and does her best by offering up her fighting as a prayer to God. When the children and young people see that Maryam is killing people, half wolves, and vampire wolves, they try to swarm her because their corrupted elders told them to and despite their doubts, they do as they are told.

“I won’t make the same mistake again,” Maryam says.

Without hesitation, Maryam slaughters the young and whoever tries to fight against her. Because of her brutality, the people in the town either run scared or try to help fight her off.

“Come at me all who wish to die an early death,” Maryam states.

Maryam is outnumbered, and yet, she is thrilled by this battle a bit too much as she slices through all who approach her. That is until her supporters from the Church come to aid her.

“Maryam!” one of her supporters calls out to her.

“What are you doing? You shouldn’t be here,” Maryam asks.

“Neither should you, but we both know that we should head to London to stop whatever blasphemous ritual they are conducting to summon their false Christ. Besides, it looks like you need our help.”

“Look at the piles of bodies around you. I don’t need your help.”

“I didn’t really mean that you need our help in fighting, even though you will need help in London. Your hair is half white.”

“I can control myself.”

“I hope so for your sake.”

Feral vampire wolves are unleashed upon Maryam and her friends along with the rest of the town who can take up arms.

“I’m surprised there have feral wolves still alive. It’s been a while since we fought any,” a supporter of Maryam says.

“It doesn’t surprise me. Of course, they’d keep these creatures consumed by sin in secret in case of an attack,” Maryam says.

“This place must be really important to them then.”

“That’s why we’re destroying it.”

Together with her supporters and her guardian angel, Maryam burns and destroys this town until little is left. Few in it have repentant and surrendered to them and some of Maryam’s supporters have died in the battle, which she tries to not let upset her.

“Are you satisfied?” Claudius asks Maryam as he appears to her.

“I’m satisfied that justice has been served. I don’t need to feel satisfied when serving God or receive any reward for doing so,” she answers.

“Such a brave answer, but do you really think that way?”

“I do.”

“We’ll see about that through your actions.”

Maryam gets up from her short rest to continue on.

“What are you doing?”

“Proving my beliefs through my actions as you said.”

“What about your friends?”

“They can join me if they want after they rest. They need it after today’s battle.”

“And so do you after what you went through. You’ll eventually need their help in London.”

“Then I’ll soften our foes up for them to lessen the chances that they’ll die just like I did for this town.”

“Even though you did, you still lost a few of your friends. I suggest that you attack no more settlements to avoid losing more of your forces.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am. Leave the rest of them alone and focus only on the battle in London.”

Inside, Maryam is feeling conflicted about listening to her ancestor. Part of her questions herself if who she is seeing is really Claudius or a demon pretending to be. It doesn’t help that she’s being affected by the Eternal Sun again, so she does as Claudius says for now and resigns herself to prayer and rest. Two days pass and Maryam’s temptations increase with every day despite her penances and practices to strengthen her against them. It doesn’t help that she sees the evils called good of the wolves take place such as them indulging in their perverted pleasures and ritualistically eating the dead and feral wolves.

What pushes her over the edge is what she witnesses when she finds the source of the sound of someone in danger. She sees that an injured woman has somehow gained clarity of her mind and is running away from the wolves in an attempt to save her life. Her struggle is of no use since she cannot outrun the wolves that surround her.

“What are you going to do with my baby? What have you been hiding from everyone this entire time?” she asks them.

“Your baby will be an angel soon and will help others attain the same perfection as us. Be at peace knowing that you did what was right in giving him to us,” a wolf says in a distorted voice.

“I was blind then, but now I want him back!”

“Shush now and go to Heaven.”

Before Maryam can save the injured woman, Claudius stops her and the woman is killed as a result. The wolves then go to a secluded area until their human body can reform and cover their true identity.

“I’m sorry, Maryam, but you cannot get involved in this,” Claudius says.

“I had my suspicions that you aren’t St. Claudius and now, you’ve confirmed them,” Maryam says.

Following the injured woman’s blood trail, Maryam searches the area to find the woman’s child.

“I am your ancestor! Listen to reason!”

“You speak no reason! What kind of saint would let this evil go unpunished?!”

“You’re underestimating your enemy. Their forces here are too much for you to handle. We can deliver justice to this place after we take care of-”

“This cannot wait!”

Once she finally reaches a place where children are turned into the bread used at mass, Maryam partially loses her mind at just the sound of crying children. Most of her hair turns white, her eyes turn completely black, and the gold from her eyes is gone. Breaking through the building, she kills everyone that she comes across to save the children.

“The children will be fine now. It’s time to leave,” Claudius says.

“No! This entire evil trash heap of a town will pay!” Maryam says.

Maryam immediately goes into the town to plunge it into the blessed darkness and then mercilessly slaughters everyone she comes across even those who surrender. Because of her aggressiveness, the wolves deploy all their guards and the civilians are rallied to fight as well since they see Maryam as nothing more than a demon possessed beast.

“Stop! You must retreat!” Claudius says.

“Shut up! If you were really my ancestor, you’d help me in this fight! Guardian angel, get this demon out of my sight,” Maryam says.

“I’m no demon! I’m telling you to retreat because you’re risking more than your life in this battle.”

More and more swarm Maryam until it seems like there’s no hope for her survival. That is until her supporters show up to save her, which upsets her.

Once they are reunited with space to breathe and no enemies around them, Maryam says, “What are you doing here?”

“We’ve been trying to catch up to you. You look like you needed help in more ways than one. What’s been happening with you? Why attack this town and skip the other places that need to be destroyed?” the supporter asks.

“It’s none of your business. Did you clear out those places I skipped?”

“No, because we thought there was a good reason you skipped them. We should get you blessed and calmed down. You look like you’re about to lose it.”

“I’m fine! My actions will be my prayer that will strengthen me against my temptations and be my penance for my past sins.”

“More are coming! It looks like a small army is coming our way,” another supporter says.

“What should we do, Maryam?”

“We stand and fight. No unrepentant sinner shall go unpunished! We are God’s angels of death and today we shall deliver His justice!”

Maryam’s words rally her supporters to fight against the incoming threat. Their zeal allows them to fight against the incoming army without fear, however, they are ultimately wiped out except for Maryam who is left the sole survivor.

“No…not again,” Maryam says as her temptations and stress begin to overcome her.

She screams out in pain, anger, and sadness as her hair turns mostly white and the part of it that was white is now black. Her eyes have completely darkened and the cracks around her eyes open up. A golden light shines from each crack revealing seven eyes on each side of her face. While this transformation was happening, the wolves and their flock were afraid of her and unsure of what to do, so they back away until she falls to the ground.

“See? This is what happens to those who oppose God and our light! He has struck down this demon and given us our due victory,” a wolf says.

The crowd around him cheers before they start to clean up the mess of the battle. Before they can touch anything, they notice Maryam getting back up with rapidly healing wounds and quickly take up their arms again. A new unsettling darkness then comes out of Maryam as it seems that black marks from her body stand up and unleash a dark fog that stings everyone who isn’t part wolf while cutting apart those who are fully or part wolf as if the fog contains mini razor blades. She uses the fog as a cover to kill everyone who is yet dead until one remains. This last person she grabs by the throat and choaks them with her black arm.

“Please, let me go,” the person says while beginning to cry.

“Let me hear you scream in penance and perhaps I’ll show you mercy,” Maryam says with her distorted smile and voice. Her smile grows even larger hearing the person scream. “Scream!”

It is then that she crushes the person’s throat until their head falls off their neck. The dark fog clears to reveal that everyone in this place is dead, which pleases Maryam so much that she manically laughs about it. Her eyes then turn to the dead bodies of her supporters. This wakes her up from her anger and makes her struggle to regain control of herself until her appearance goes back to normal and her hair changes back to its original colors.

“Was this…was this what you were trying to stop from happening? Answer me, Claudius!” Maryam says.

Claudius appears and then says, “Yes, it was. You gave in to your thirst for justice and lost yourself, killed innocent people, and got your friends and supporters killed.”

“I…I don’t deserve to live anymore.”

“No, don’t think that way.”

“You’re right. I should just live a life of penance in seclusion for the rest of my life. I’m not fit to be a leader or someone that look up to. I should be forgotten about and never be seen again by anyone, not even my family.”

“No, you’re still getting it wrong.”

“Then what is it?”

“You should pray for mercy, pick yourself up, and continue on. Always wanting to do penances and push yourself past your limits in such excesses does nothing but destroy your sense of inner peace. You ignore your body and soul’s need for rest and have run away from the company of friends when they could’ve helped you with your problems.”

“I don’t deserve them. I don’t deserve to be happy and I don’t need it because of every sin and mistake I’ve made no matter how big or small it was. My life is nothing but an offering of suffering and-”

Claudius embraces Maryam. Confused by this, Maryam is about to question him until her guardian angel embraces her too.

“Wait, stop! I don’t deserve this. I can live without it. It’s what I’m used to,” Maryam says.

It is then that Maryam’s dead friends and supporters appear to embrace her in one big group hug to make her feel better. She tries not to cry while placing her head on Claudius’ shoulder. After a few moments pass, her friends and angel disappear.

“It’s okay. I felt the same way when God let me be humbled by the results of my sins. I’ll always be here for you for whatever you need. It’s not a sin to relax and allow others to help you bear your cross,” Claudius says.

“Thank you,” Maryam says.

“Now, let’s get up. We’ll be facing our real targets that need to face God’s justice.”

“Okay, but…can I be held, just a bit longer?”

“Of course.”

Unable to hold her tears back, Maryam cries in her ancestor’s arms. Once she’s comforted, she thanks God for His mercy and heads off to London, which isn’t too far now.