After Patrick Beaumont's daughter was healed, the atmosphere inside the parish transformed completely.
The fear remained but now it was mixed with hunger.
Everyone who stepped before the altar carried desires buried deep within themselves and Damian granted requests one after another throughout the night while the violet flames burned endlessly across the church walls.
One man requested healing for his failing lungs, another wanted protection from an investigation threatening to destroy his business empire.
Each request revealed something ugly beneath polished appearances. These powerful people arrived dressed as elites, yet before the throne, they all looked desperate.
And Damian realized something amusing.
The higher people climbed in society, the more terrified they became of losing what they had gained.
By the time the final person left the parish, dawn was already approaching. The clock resting high above the entrance quietly read 4 AM.
