He was always hot. But he was really cute when he smiled.
“Mind showing me around?” I asked.
“Sure. Follow me.”
I fell in beside him, still mesmerized by the perfect shrubs and gentle flowing sounds of water.
“Whatisthis place, anyway?” I asked. “Like, what’s the religion?”
“This temple has no religion. It’s an organization dedicated to the eradication of malevolent spirits that bring harm to our world. Our members come from all backgrounds, all walks of life, but we’re united in our goal.”
“Yeah, I noticed that. Kinda like a university campus.”
“That’s a good comparison, yes.” Sagitta went on. “We may call demons by different names—daeva, yao, faerie, shaitan... I could go on for hours, but you get the point. What matters is that we prevent these demons from hurting humans.”
I scratched my head as I digested what he’d told me. “That makes sense. So you perform a lot of exorcisms?”
“Yes. It’s my job.”
“Do you get paid?” I asked, curious.
Sagitta didn’t turn around, but I practically heard the raised eyebrow in his reply. “Ridding the world of demons is its own reward.”
“So youdon’tget paid.”
He paused. “Well... yes, I do get paid. Handsomely, if you must know.”
“Really?” I blurted. “Damn, I should’ve become an exorcist instead of going to school.”
Sagitta snorted. “Clients pay large sums of money to be rid of the demons plaguing their lives because they’re disturbed and hysterical. Unlike you.”
I shrugged. Faust was annoying, but I wasn’t about to fork over my life savings to get rid of him. Although I could easily imagine worse demons, and the poor people who suffered because of them. That made Sagitta’s explanation easier to swallow.
“So, like... this isn’t a grift, is it?” I asked. “You don’t pretend people are possessed, do a fancy ritual, then get big bucks while laughing behind their backs?”
Sagitta stopped. He turned around slowly, like an owl. I shuddered beneath the stone-cold glare he shot me.
I put up my palms. “Okay, okay, I was just asking.”
He continued glaring at me until it turned into an amused smirk. “Actually, I respect you more because you did.”
A strange warmth curled in my chest. Then Sagitta strode ahead and I ran to keep up with him. He led me through the winding hallways until we reached a door at the end of a quiet hall. Man, I’d gottenreallylost.
Sagitta gestured inside. There was a single queen bed with a cozy-looking duvet, a tidy desk, a wooden dresser—and thankfully, no incense.
“There’s an ensuite bathroom for your convenience,” Sagitta explained, nodding at a sliding door on the far wall. “Feel free to make yourself at home. I’ll bring you a meal closer to evening.”
My stomach growled. I was already hungry.
Sagitta sighed, though he looked a bit amused.
“I’ll bring you lunch now.” As he turned to fetch food, he paused by the doorway. “Stay here and don’t roam. Please.”
I frowned. At first I’d felt like a guest, but I was quickly starting to feel like a prisoner instead. I slumped onto the bed and waited for Sagitta’s return.
After ten seconds of waiting, I got bored.
I decided to explore the room. It had a different vibe than any hotel I’d stayed in; cozier and more homey for sure. I wiped a hand along the desk and found it spotless, so it earned a star for cleanliness. I flicked the tabletop lamp on and off, then checked the desk drawers.
