Julian followed Nancy into the kitchen where her laptop balanced on the table that evening. She sat in front of it and pulled a chair beside her, inviting Julian to sit. He obliged and she clicked on the mouse. A page was shown on the internet. It contained several diagrams, but the one that caught Julian's eye was the symbol. The very evil piece of art he had become acquainted with. However, there was no number with it.
"Julian, everything that you've experienced recently has its roots connected in one place. " Nancy said, adjusting her glasses with her index finger.
She pointed to an article beneath the diagram of the symbol.
"According to this article, this symbol is the alchemic symbol of death. This all started seven hundred years ago in Valencia, Spain. A dark and powerful priestess by the name of Malorca conducted a ritual in which seven hundred men were to be killed and sacrificed to open a kind of gateway for the demoness, Meriah." Nancy said, pausing to scroll down a bit.
"Meriah was displeased as she hated the fact that man was created first, meaning he was the dominant specie," Nancy continued. "If Malorca had succeeded in opening the gateway, Meriah would come to earth and wipe out all men, leaving only the women."
"But she didn't." Julian said, his voice filled with disgust.
"Apparently," Nancy chuckled softly. "And it's because of one person. A Thalatian."
"Thalatian?" Julian squinted his eyes at the screen.
"Yeah," Nancy nodded. " A powerful warrior. He bore the mark of the eagle talon on his lower waist. The high priestess had captured and rounded up the men in a plain field. Just as she was about to slaughter them, the Thalatian intervened and murdered her using a very powerful and unique sword. It was silver and the handle was made of eagle talons."
Julian's eyes suddenly went wide as he remembered the family heirloom he had at his old house. The sword which his father warned him never to play with. He hoped this story wasn't heading to where he was thinking.
"After murdering Malorca, " Nancy continued. "The Thalatian burnt her corpse, and the seven hundred men were free. The demoness was very furious. As punishment for her failure, Malorca was forced by the demoness to reincarnate once every century to kill seven men until the seven hundred were complete. The seven men were comprised of six sinners and a descendant of the Thalatian. The Thalatian however, paranoid and anticipating any more future occurrences similar to what he faced, kept his sword within his household, warning them never to let it out of their home. The sword was passed down from generations till present."
"Nancy." Julian said, standing abruptly. He lifted his shirt. There was a small birthmark on his pectoral. It was shaped like a claw.
"I have a silver sword at home. My family home." Julian said.
Nancy stared at him without a word. She shook her head as everything came into place.
"The story doesn't end yet," She turned her attention to the screen. "Since the time of her death, Malorca reincarnated once every century and murdered seven men including the descendants of the Thalatian. Before every man was killed, she would place a symbol of death on their body as a means of a target. The only people who could see it were her—"
"And the descendants of the Thalatian." Julian finished, glaring at the floor in front of him. It was now making sense.
Nancy paused to stare at him. Worry crossed her face as she watched his hands shake uncontrollably. She turned to the laptop again and continued reading.
"No one knew what Malorca looked like. But the last Thalatian that was slain a century ago had a close description. Before his dying breath, he described her as a woman with hair as red as scarlet, eyes as blue as the ocean and fair skin which had the mark of a purple serpent."
Julian nearly lost his footing on hearing the last statement. His heartbeat tripled as he remembered only one woman that fit that description.
"Loretta." He muttered.
"What?" Nancy turned to face him.
"The parapsychologist," He faced her. "Dr Loretta Torres is Malorca."
Nancy stood up abruptly in shock.
"Are you serious?" She asked.
Julian nodded. He remembered that fateful night after the date. When the parapsychologist had seduced him. He remembered the serpent tattoo on her torso when she pulled up her shirt. It was all a ruse. She never wanted to help him. The whole thing was just a facade.
Julian let out a cry of fury, screaming obscenities. He punched the wall, startling Nancy. She recovered quickly from her shock and moved closer to him, putting a hand over his shoulder as he leaned his head against the wall.
"It was all a lie," He snarled, his voice trembling with rage. "She knew what I was. She knew I was a Thalatian. All the advice she gave was just to keep me distracted while she slaughtered the first six men. Then she would come for me. "
"Julian," Nancy said. "How many men have been killed?"
"Five," He replied. "Sam, Mr. Wyatt, the man who robbed me, the priest Randal brought to my house and, most recently, the mayor."
"Then she hasn't won yet." Nancy said, rubbing his shoulder softly. She placed her hand on his other shoulder and spun him, so he faced her.
"There's still hope," She continued. "We still have the time to find a way to beat her. You are the key to her destruction, and you will beat her. I know you will."
"Nancy." Julian said softly.
Those were the only words that escaped his lips. His gaze softened as he caressed her face. Nancy placed her hand over his and stared at him. The tense atmosphere changed as her blue eyes met his green ones. Like it was orchestrated, they leaned forwards and joined their lips together.
Julian wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. For the first time in days, this felt right. He felt at home as he enjoyed her warmth. Nancy wrapped her hands around his neck. She had to be sure she was not dreaming. The only person she had feelings for was kissing her at the moment. She inwardly chuckled at the thought of calling it a fairytale. A fairytale of two childhood friends growing up and falling in love. What were the odds?
They soon pulled away from each other, breathing heavily. Nancy took off her glasses. eyes dilated as she held Julian by the hand and led him to her bedroom. Julian knew what that look meant. She had only one thing in mind. And he would be a fool to object.