Dead of Night: Where The Dead Lie

Oleander's funeral was a surreal affair, most who attended found themselves weeping at the sudden and unexplained loss of the church's figurehead. Nuns and priests, holding back silent tears as they stood strong by the front rows. Groups of devout followers and a collection of Oleander's favourite hookups intermingling their grievances. Even Cherubun and Envies found their way to the church to pay their respects. This was truly a somber day. 

Darlet wasn't asked to perform or do anything in particular for the church today. He wasn't the type to get overtly sentimental, but he came out of respect for the church. For everything they had done for him in his earlier years. It was Oleander who allowed him to find solid ground, and to meet some good people that would give him the chance to live his best life. He owed them at least this much, he owed Oleander for giving him that opportunity.

Darlet hated crying, so he tried his hardest to find things to keep his mind off of the elephant in the room. Instead, he looked for familiar faces. Perhaps talking to someone could help lighten the load. He spotted a softly glowing halo paired up next to green envy horns. Slipping between mourners and pews, he found himself staring at Dove and Jackal. They spoke seriously to a silver haired man in a long coat, someone he'd never seen before. The man met his eyes, and a hard expression fell on his face before he spoke one last time to Jackal. Then, the man disappeared into the back of the church. 

Jackal noticed Darlet after, smiling wearily and waving him over. "Hey. How you holding up?" She knew that the answer was probably bad, but who would feel good during a funeral like this. Closed casket, mysterious circumstances, the fact that he was alive in the back with a chair leg shoved in his chest. It was a shit show, and she had to act like nothing was going on. Dove held her hand tight, a worried grimace twisting her beautiful features. 

Darlet clawed at the back of his neck, nervously adjusting the restraints he wore as an accessory. Now feeling them somewhat choking. "I dunno. This whole situation sucks. And I'm gonna be honest. There is a lot more going on in my mind than just the funeral. This whole month has been fucking weird." He looked at the door behind the two of them. "Your uh. I don't know. That guy you were just talking to. I've never seen him around before. Who's he? One of yours?" He motions a hand to Jackal. Considering that she is hosting the Envy support group, it was plausible that she would be the one to introduce new Envies into the community. Although bringing them to the church was a bold move.

Jackal wondered what she should say. 'He's the vampire Hunter' wouldn't cut it. They were trying to keep as many innocent people out of this as they could. As much as she trusted Darlet, she didn't want him to know any more than he had to. Dove seemed to catch onto her hesitancy, speaking up first. "He is a detective. He is looking into Oleander's death, trying to figure out anything that could explain what happened so they know what to tell the public." Dove gave a solemn smile after, hoping that was an acceptable answer.

Darlet's face darkened, his eyes looking to the ground for a few seconds to assess things. "Tell him to give up. There's no point looking too deeply into things like this. He is going to get hurt, or worse, and he wouldn't be the first nosy prick to eat shit if he did." He'd gotten the run down from Jousah, the suspicious disappearances being possibly linked to a powerful demon. Irvyll talking to some source pertaining to information that could solve the case. His name being dropped for a potential clue. The whole situation left a sour taste in his mouth. He felt personally involved in Oleander's death, and he didn't even know what the fuck was going on. 

Jackal tried to speak, but was abruptly cut off by organs playing over the cries and chatter of the church. The eulogy was starting. Darlet gave a long look to both of them before turning and disappearing back into the crowd. Mercy took to the lectern. All at once the organs stopped, and everyone was seated. Mercy stood at the front of the crowd. A sea of faces, the church was more full than any holiday service or sinners day party had ever gotten it. It was almost claustrophobic, not that anyone cared about comfort. Today was an uncomfortable day. 

Mercy got ready to speak. How they'd been holding themselves together at this point was astonishing. That solidarity was the only thing holding their fellow clergy together, lest they all burst into uproarious wailing. "Oleander was someone that thoroughly believed in the good of people. That our sins and our vices should be used for pleasure, and to bring joy. I know the pain that we feel is endless. Without him here, without his guidance, and without his tender touch." They turned to look at the casket set up behind them. Holding a shaking hand out to reach for it, but falling just short. "Father Oleander loved us all. Even so far away, his love and radiance will forever live inside of us. It is our duty to spread his love unto others, as is his imparting message." 

A moan of agony left a nun in the front row, the others around her holding her shoulders to comfort her. "He was too sexy to die!" The nuns sadly nodded along, sharing the sentiment with their sister. A few snickers came from the further back rows, but they were quickly silenced before Mercy continued the eulogy.

"Sadly I cannot tell the stories of his life. But I know he touched all of us in his own way. Showing us kindness, compassion, both tough and sensual love. While we cannot see him in this sorrowful time, I welcome you all to pay your final respects before you go. I am sure he would love to hear how much you will miss him, as I'm sure he is looking upon us even now." Mercy bows their head briefly, before hurriedly walking off of the stage. The flood gates opened almost immediately, and a line formed to see the closed casket one last time.

Darlet wasn't interested in talking to a casket. He had already said everything he needed to when Oleander was alive, he didn't need his repeated thanks. He wasn't sure exactly what he wanted from today, but it felt like he was walking in a haze ever since his conversation with Jackal and Dove. He'd almost contemplated leaving when he spotted him again. The silver haired man, this time sitting alone in a corner reading from a book. He approached, his quick strides earning the attention of the man as he closed his book and settled it into a pouch on his hip. "Do you know what happened to him?”

Silver shook his head. "No. Oleander's death is-”

"Not fucking Oleander!" Darlet snapped. Silver was taken back by this outburst, but then a horrified look washed over him. "Irvyll. I know it was you he talked to. You made it obvious with that look you gave me earlier. You were his fucking source. Well now he is gone. Nobody can get in contact with him and he hasn't been home in days." His hands shook, his teeth were bared so tightly that he could taste blood in his mouth. 

Silver put his fingers to his temples. "God. I should have looked..." He'd only had the time in that basement to find Oleander. He didn't get a good look at any of the others trapped down there. "I am truly sorry. I wasn't aware. I figured he'd just chickened out, I didn't-" his words caught in his throat. He regretted sending Irvyll out. He was aware of the risks, and properly equipping someone for this task was the least he could do. He'd essentially sent that man to his own demise. 

"You think it's demons. Or what? Do you even know what's going on?" Darlet spat out the words like he wanted to say or do something much worse. Only thinking better of it due to his surroundings. "I want to know why I was brought up, and why you or him even think it's demons in the first place." 

"Zagan. To be exact. Not just any demon, but one responsible for creating an epidemic that has plagued Burrowgatory for its entire history. An issue that, if I'm honest, I don't think should be brought up among prying eyes." Silver moved from the corner, dragging Darlet to a door, the same one he'd entered before the eulogy. "I don't want you to act on this. But these disappearances are the work of Vampires."

Darlet was stupefied. What in the world was this guy on? Vampires, sure he'd seen horror movies and read stories about blood drinking creatures. But there was no way in hell that some kind of vampire outbreak just took out the head priest. "Yeah. Well then why is Oleander dead? Shouldn't he turn into a vampire or something? That's how that works right?" 

Silver looked around anxiously for a moment before speaking again. "Why do you think this was a closed casket? He isn't in there. We have him tied up so he cannot attack others. We are trying to cure him." He spoke with a sense of grave seriousness. He hated that he was divulging this information against Mercy's wishes, but it would do more harm than good to withhold this from someone he put under the spotlight. 

It was all making sense. Not perfect sense, but the questions were too many to answer at a time like this. Darlet looked up to Silver again. "What... Do I do about this? Why did you want to know more about Mr. Lied. I don't know what I can tell you. But, I can try to help. I just want to make sure Irvyll is okay. I don't know what to tell Arrie." He slumped, defeated. All of the rage and resentment he built up in those few moments were swatted out of his hands by a case of rapid vampirism. 

It was saddening, seeing this man he'd only known of briefly looking so defeated. "Well. We could just talk. My name is Silver. I'm aware that you and Jackal are good friends. I just want to understand the capabilities of demons, what they can do and how their powers influence our kind. Is that okay?" Silver put a hand on Darlet's shoulder, squeezing it gently. 

Darlet gave a slight nod and wiped away freshly welled tears. "Okay... Yeah, I can tell you what I know."