Dima was now home with the urn, which held Aya's ashes. Cremated upon return from Rene, then the official funeral took place. Her relatives came over, Dima's relatives came over, the work friends and acquaintances.
A pretty fine funeral.
The home felt empty, though it was filled with items that brought up memories of Aya. From the trips they took, to the dates and anniversaries. The presents Dima got for her, the presents Aya got for him - it was all in here.
The door bell rang, catching Dima off guard. He went to the door, lazily, opening it up without even checking who'd be outside. He just knew there'd be one person who might appear like that. Though, as the door was open and he faced the guest - he was taken aback for a moment.
"Ah, hi there." - Ilya said, sheepishly smiling at Dima.
"We came to check up on you, as well as, well…" - Milica continued.
"Let you know the updates about the case." - Pietro smirked at Dima.
The trio was right out of the comic. A student, a nun and a cop. What a jest.
Dima let the guests inside, walking back into the living room, sitting down on the couch and once more - spacing out.
"You go take a seat, I'll get the tea going for us." - Pietro smiled.
"Thank you, dear." - Milica smiled at Pietro, as she gently pushed Ilya inside, towards the couch.
"The church did the investigations into the legends and the lore. Apparently they found something in the Cathedral itself and exorcised it." - Ilya said, looking at Dima.
"We were not shared more details than needed, as Archbishop Jevgeniy requested, but we did get to know that it seemed to be the being from old local legend, which was a deceitful deity. But then again, it's gone now. The bells rung through it all to keep it purified. Even Bozhana said that the spirits are greatly appeased from everything done." - Milica added.
"The investigation unit dug up a pretty huge amount of bones, putting that all together was rather easy thanks to the records Father Luka kept." - Pietro had the kettle going, cups prepared, tea pulled out from cupboard. - "It's the first time that our police work was so closely intertwined with the church. Collaborating at such a thing. What a miracle indeed."
Dima sat in silence, staring at a dot on the wall. Milica shuffled closer to Dima on the couch, took his hand in her hands, gently pressing them.
"Son, you were guided. She guided you. It is a tragedy, it is painful and sorrowful. I won't try to say I feel your pain, but I am versed in loss." - Milica patted the hand she held. - "It's all in her grace. We've made a proposal to the church to make a memorial for her. The Archbishop is seriously considering it, as she did guide us to the darkness dwelling in that place. She was the one who made such a great feat happen. Let the sorrow fill your heart, cry as much as you can, shout and plead your woes my dear, let it pass through you."
Dima's eyes began watering, as he listened, as Milica held his hand. He started crying, wailing in pain. His loss was great, so great it left him empty. Milica hugged him, letting him cling to her, as his tears soaked her shoulder.
"There, there my child. Let it all out." - Milica softly held Dima, her hands rubbing his back. - "It'll eventually be alright. Cry it all out. Cry."
The guests left after the tea, making sure that Dima was not that alone for a while, lifting some of the pain in his heart, letting him know that he has new friends he can rely on.
After six months the memorial was installed near the Cathedral for all the victims it ever held. A great statue of white marble of a woman in a fine dress, white veil, as dark stone demons tried to cling to her dress from below, her hands holding a gemstone that reflected light - was the light that pushed them back.
This art piece eventually got claimed as a saint, which repelled the evil, standing amidst the dark.
"You sure that's the way about it?" - Father Konstantine looked at the marble statue, standing near the side entrance of the Cathedral.
"Why would I be against it? They did well to find a saint to guide people. Many were involved after all." - Father Anastasiy replied with a smile, then turned to Konstantine with a smirk. - "It would be really awkward if there'd be a statue of me, for example. He-he."
"That sure would not make it nice at all." - Father Konstantine's face soured in sarcasm, as he glanced at Anastasiy. - "I'm not that happy to see your smug face daily as is."
"See, I knew you love me more than that." - Anastasiy laughed.
"Is everything ready for the event?" - Father Simeon's voice came from behind.
"All is prepared. People start to gather already, so we can start at the expected time." - Konstantine replied.
The event was a new kind, which would be created in remembrance of all those who were missing, then found dead. This event was proclaimed "The Event of Saint Light" which purged the evil. Many would come to this event. Both locals and tourists would amass for the whole three days of the event. The mass, the blessings, the singing… Which would then be spread about in the town of Rene. Celebrations, vigils, the burning of candles around the place, the white ribbons and laces over store fronts. White was the colour worn for the days of the event to symbolize the light, as well as the ghosts which wandered the Cathedral in search of peace.
The Academy had a lot of explaining to do. All the Magisters went through rigorous checks, so that the disaster with Levin would never happen again. New laws were placed, new regulations upheld. Those who'd dare to commit such atrocities were by law placed under the death penalty. No escape. Just like the souls of the dead.
Many more years later there were attempts of a few students to dig up the lore and legends on the evil being that was, though they had some information about it, the Church made sure to remove the spells and rituals from the books, from the records and possible other data, to ensure that the being would not come to existence ever again.
On a grey summer day, when the rains fell heavily, a man with dark hair and golden eyes came into the Cathedral. He walked around, feeling the walls, the new pews, and looked at all the statues of idols, the paintings, the velvet curtains which hung inside.
"My oh my what the cat dragged in." - Father Anastasiy stood at the door, watching the man pace the place.
The man halted, his hand still on the curtain.
"You foul beast." - His husky growl was full of anger.
"Hu-uh, and here I thought that you're gone for good. Tsk-tsk-tsk." - Anastasiy walked towards him, now being just a step away. - "Hm, Serpent?"
The man turned around, towering with his height over Father Anastasiy, his eyes locked with the eyes of the Father.
"You.." - The serpent looked at the man closer. - "You've not aged a day since."
"Ho-o. Look at you hitting on me, old snake. Though," - Father Anastasiy looked the man up and down, then looked back into his eyes with a smirk. - "I see you grabbed yourself a fine young man yourself. Were you trying hard for me, is that it?"
"Still audacious." - Serpent let out an annoyed tone.
"Hmm? Came to get back to your old vices or did you come to feel me up again?" - Father Anastasiy kept on pushing it.
Serpent grabbed Anastasiy's throat with his hand, pulling in close, his breath on the priest's face.
"You still have what belongs to me." - Serpent let out.
"Oh," - Anastasiy let out with a smirk. - "You are willing to do anything to get it back, is that it?"
Serpent shoved the priest to the wall, pinning him on the spot.
"I wonder where your jokes end." - Serpents' patience was waning.
"Maybe when I am in the bedroom," - Anastasiy licked his lips, - "when I'm making sure you don't repeat the mistakes of your sinful youth?"
The Serpent threw the priest on the floor, standing there in absolute disgust.
"Filthy, audacious human." - Serpent growled.
"Slimy old snake." - Anastasiy let out, as he got up. - "Let one out, maybe that'll help. You seem all pent-up over the millenia. Have you not used the body you got as intended? Want me to teach you?"
"You! The likes of you is how they all come running to me in the end! Deeply in their sins and vices, moaning in pleasure, drowning in gluttony." - Serpent said.
"I can teach you." - Anastasiy walked over and grabbed the Serpent by the groin.
"Let go of me, filth." - Serpents' disgusted tone was mixed with absolute fury.
Father Anastasiy grabbed the man by the face with his free hand, pulling the Serpent close to his face, then kissing him.
Serpent growled in displeasure, yet a bite on the lips made him wince, opening it up for a deeper kiss with the priest.
It did not take long for the boner to stand strong, pushing right against the priest's hand, as he held it through the pants.
"I won't be gentle, I promise you that." - Anastasiy let go of the Serpent for a moment, then took his hand and pulled him to his room on the far side of the Cathedral.
The night was lengthy. The promise which the priest made was indeed as he delivered.
In the morning the serpent lay in bed, exhausted, catching his breath, whilst Anastasiy dressed.
"You'll stay with me here. I'll make sure you don't prance around like a savage." - The priest turned to look at the Serpent on the bed with satisfaction. - "Brother Lev. That's what you'll be called from now on. Keep that in mind."
Once dressed, he came over to the serpent, pulled his face up and once more kissed him deeply.
"I'll bring the breakfast, darlin'." - Said Anastasiy and walked out of the room.
There were tries that Serpent went to lengths to execute. All to regain his strength and influence. Though - all of them were futile. Father Anastasiy was a damn anomaly in Serpent's understanding. Not aging, not changing, the damn holy power growing by the year.
Years went by, though Serpent worked as the Brother Lev under Father Anastasiy in the Cathedral, he tried his ways every now and again to redeem the power. Though all the times tried - were met with utter loss in the hands of the priest. Eventually Serpent just agreed with himself that the darn priest is a damn deity itself, as greedy, as lustful, as endlessly irredeemable as him.
No matter the attempts to kill the priest, poison, torture, anything - nothing worked on the damned thing. Not a single thing.
"I know you're insane, but boy am I always in awe at how far you take it." - Father Simeon said, as he sat in the reception room.
"Oh come on, he's under my constant supervision." - Father Anastasiy replied.
"That… Yes. Ehh… You'll have to take him with you for a few decades, so that the people stop their guesses here. Maybe after 70-80 years we'll summon you back to this Cathedral. Though your travels with such a damn being next to you is a bit… Ugh.." - Simeon was having headaches from this whole ordeal of having a damn Serpent as a saint brother of the church.
"Well, then again, I was bored for so many years. Now I have a playmate." - Anastasiy smiled.
"You're as incredible as when I was in my teen years. Guess my grandfathers and those before me knew what they were doing, keeping the Archangel bound to human form." - Simeon rolled his eyes. - "There'll be new ones selected and appointed to you soon. Be nice to them."
"I always am." - Anastasiy smirked.
"I mean it this time." - Simeon gave the last updates and left.
Anastasiy walked back into his room, where he left the tied up Serpent longing.
"You sure are in for it now." - Anastasiy walked in, closing the door behind himself. - "They'll have a mass now, with all that joyous singing of godly praises." - He leaned in closer to the Serpent. - "All that to cover the moans of your pleasure, my dear."
The relationship these two had were the secret held by the Church in order to keep the people safe.
To never repeat the mistake of bound souls at such scale again.