The Guardian

Day and night, I watch over the cathedral. I peek beyond the edge of its wall and stare down at the congregation as they enter and exit the cathedral’s double doors. Some cower in fear of me, some watch me in awe, but most ignore me, just another aspect of the cathedral’s architecture less significant than its mighty spires. If only they knew what I had done for this world…

I once protected mankind from demons—the likes of Beelzebub and Lucifer himself. But where did my loyalty get me? A permanent position frozen in stone atop this Gothic monument to fraudulent faith.

Every day, I see sin inside and outside the walls of this cathedral: thieves, abusers, rapists, murderers. Yet here I crouch, only witness to these crimes, unable to stop them. My blood boils as innocent lives are ruined.

But this won’t be my fate for long.

I can hear her calling for me. With each cry for my help, I can feel my joints loosen. With each ingredient she drops into the potion, another stony fleck falls from my body. With each word of her chant, I am closer and closer to it—true freedom.

I am reborn.

I am vengeance.