Adaezal Kize sat contemplatively on a pew in the empty Cathedral, its grand silence matching its architecture, its endless echoes and penitent unease was enough to make anyone feel the weight of guilt on their shoulders.
Anyone except Adaezal.
God didn't watch the human race as a man doesn't watch the comings and goings of the insects in his yard. God long abandoned men to their fates, and it was only men now that had the power to change anything. Adaezal cared not for his peers remarks or opinions of him. He didn't have to be friends with them, only work alongside them, and even then that was a rare occurrence.
Inquisitors tended to work alone.
From the outset Inquisitors looked little different from regular people, some seemed a little more monastic than others, but most passed off as simply religious civilians. Underneath this however, each one was a Warrior Priest of the Ordos Inquisitores, The Vaticans Paranormal Investigation and Purification unit. They were small in number but each one trained to the extremes of human capabilities. Most fought using holy weapons and firearms, only a few dabbling in magic and sorcery to enhance their abilities. Most of the Inquisitors, and indeed the Vatican itself, Frowned upon such dabblings, viewing their use as unnecessary at best and heretical at worst. No surprise then, that Azaezal was the most proficient magic user in the Ordos Inquisitores, and even that wasn't saying much. He was mediocre at best at using the runic magic he enhanced his body and weapons with.
Footsteps brought him out of his reverie, their click-clacking along the stone floor echoing in the grand cathedral and shattering the holy silence.
"Brother Kize," A voice said, its deep tenor and authoritative tone marking him as only one man, for few knew Kizes name, let alone his position, "Cardinal Jeremiah has requested your presence in his study."
"You say it as if I have the option of refusing, Brother Lukas." Kize said without turning, not needing to see the short portly father looking disapprovingly at him to know his disrespect was well heard.
"You know Kize, you are a terrible priest." Lukas said, his jowls wiggling.
"And you are a terrible Secretary Lukas," Kize said, rising from his pew and walking past Lukas towards the side door that would lead him down the winding passageway, through the secret door, and into the hidden underground base of the Inquisitors, "But at least I'm good at my job."
Lukas said nothing as Kize made his way down the isle.
"You called for me Cardinal?" Kize said as he entered the subterranean office. It was quite unlike any other building in the cathedral, and was certainly not one that was expected to be commanded by a Cardinal. Screens dotted the stone walls, displaying various readouts and events around the globe, the desk in the centre of it all was covered in high piles of paperwork and office detritus. Behind the desk sat a small bespectacled man in a cardinals robes, his thinning grey hair covered by a zuchetto that sat just slightly off centre on his head.
He didn't even look up from his paperwork as Kize entered, "I see you haven't gotten any better at knocking, my son."
"Perish the thought Father," He said unsmiling, "I simply thought the matter was one of urgency, otherwise you wouldn't have sent Brother Lukas to come and fetch me."
"Manners my son, defy all urgency," Cardinal Jeremiah said looking up from his work for the first time, his sunken, tired eyes sparkling with a fierce intelligence, "Now, why I called you here." He swivelled in his chair and pressed a button on a remote, The large screen behind him lighting up to a picture of a young woman with dark brown hair and pretty eyes, the picture one of her walking down a city street, taken from a distance. "This is Scarlet Van Hellsing, youngest daughter of the Van Hellsing Family, approximately eighteen hours ago she was kidnapped as she returned from her studies in Japan."
"Forgive me father, but isn't this a job better suited for the Hellsing Family to deal with personally?" Kize, said, not liking where this mission briefing was going.
"I have been instructed by my superiors that we are to 'rescue' Miss Hellsing and protect her untill such a time that she can be collected by her parents." Jeremiah removed his spectacles, cleaning them on a silk cloth, a nervous tick Kize had noticed over the years.
"So we are kidnapping her back from her kidnappers?" Kize said, clearly unimpressed.
"I don't like this any more than you do Kize, but we serve the Church in all things, even this. Now, here is your mission briefing," He said, pushing forward a file with the inquisitorial seal pressed upon it, "An olive branch from The Spiders, They thought it would be better if we handled this uncomfortable situation."
"More like they just don't want to earn the ire of the Van Hellsing family." Kize retorted.
"Yes well the spider doesn't trifle with the sparrow," Jeremiah said returning to his paperwork, "He leaves that to the Hawk."
Kize picked up the file and bowed to the Cardinal.
"God speed my son." Jeremiah said as he shuffled through his notes.
"God has abandoned us father," Kize said, turning to leave, "The only speed we have now is that we build ourselves."