Vincent's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Vincent walked into the town square with the great sword still strapped to his back. He had come to hunt a demon, as he always did. Killing demons was his only work, even when they crawled back from the grave and forced him to kill them twice. A crowd had gathered around the tall wooden gallows. A priest stood on its base, voice sharp and rising. He held up a wooden cross stained with dark red streaks. "This blood," the priest shouted, "was spilled by the heretic who walks among you!" Fingers pointed at Vincent. The priest's monastery loomed behind the square, its spires casting long shadows over the people. Vincent saw the fear in their faces. If he spoke, they would not listen. If he ran, they would hunt him before he could hunt the demon. A black cat slid out from under the gallows. Green eyes flashed at Vincent, then darted toward a narrow gap between buildings. Vincent followed without a word. The crowd surged after the priest's shouts, but the cat led Vincent through tight alleys until the voices faded behind him. Vincent stopped at the edge of the woods. The cat sat and watched him. He had escaped the noose, but the town was closed to him now. The demon he came to kill was still out there, and he would have to hunt it alone, hidden, with every door in the village shut against him.