Saturday, August 7
Armand stood with his back to his home's balcony. He could hear the commotion outside and prepped himself for the speech he was about to give. He had called a meeting today so he could update his followers on his progress. He hated to keep them in the dark, he wanted to assure them that they could trust him with his power and plans, that if they followed and supported him, that there was something in it for them if they only listened to him.
He breathed deep and readied himself to show the charismatic leader that he was. He tried not to think of Penny and banish all benevolent feelings. He must be true to himself, the Necromancer, and true to his followers. He turned and faced the open door.
"Showtime," he said to himself.
He walked onto the balcony and into the light and beheld the 100s of demons, warlocks, and other dark beings before him. They were gathered in the street where his mansion occupied, milling about like cattle in a pen.
"The Necromancer!" shouted someone in the crowd. And with that the crowd grew into a rabble. Armand gave them a smug grin, soaking all the energy that radiated from them as they rallied for him. He rose both his hands in the air, gesturing for quiet. A hush fell over them all.
"My friends," he called to them all, "Did I not promise to deliver us from under the shadow CAST BY THE LIGHT?!" They cheered, shaking the very foundation of his mansion. "Yes, I promised you that I would gather enough power to overcome the strongest family of witches, and I will have you know that I have gained access to their lives. I have gained their trust, and the future which was forseen will soon be upon us. Yes, I said that it would not be in one year, maybe not even two, but we have our foot in the door. We are on the inside!" Again, cheers.
"Damn the Warrens!" shouted someone. Shouts of agreement rose and cries for vengeance were declared. This thought made Armand a little squeamish; he would happily destroy the rest of the family, but not Penny. No, never Penny. Were they suspicious of him? He had not told them the specifics of his plan, only that he was going to befriend them so he could be a present for the wiccaning. Had anyone seen him and Penny, would they find his ruse (which really wasn't a ruse…) too convincing?
He hushed the crowd again. "Yes, damn the Warrens. But not just yet," he said slowly. "They are instrumental in their own demise, the girl Penny-Penelope-is key to my plan. It is for her child that the wiccaning will be called. Patience my friends, patience. Simply know this: The plan is in motion. Our foot is in the door, the witches suspect nothing. The world of the witches call themselves "light," they call themselves "good," but is it not the light which casts the shadow of darkness?! The shadow in which we are forced to "coexist," in which we cower? I assure you of this, no longer will we be in their shadow. With patience, time, and cunning, we will crawl from this shadow and overturn the order which calls themselves light. Stick with me, my friends, and we shall see that darkness is the greatest power of all!"
He stretched his palms out toward the ravenous crowd whose whoops and hollers extended much farther than the street which they occupied. Armand himself gave a victorious yell skyward. With that, he bowed and disappeared back into his house. He felt energized and sat in a luxuriant chair. He waved his hand over the small table next to it and a glass of wine and wineglass materialized. A simple summoning spell.
He poured the liquid red as blood into his class and let out a low, malevolent chuckle. The way of the light was so naïve, they were so easily manipulated by a smile and handshake. He walked over to the mirror on the wall and looked at himself.
He wondered how the Johnsons had accepted him so easily as a companion for their daughter. He looked around 24 or 26, but they trusted him.
And there was that feeling of guilt which was unfamiliar until of late. He had a fondness towards Penny's parents, it would be a shame to see them go eventually. After all, they would have to go. But, he would not think about that now, he would simply focus on the lovely Penny and their time together. Who said she didn't have to join him?
There was a thought. She was so pure, so beautiful, he couldn't ever imagine her turning to the dark side. But, she cared for him and he for her, wasn't that enough to sway her thoughts and ideas? He felt the wine begin to relax his body, but his mind was energized as he became determined: he would come out of this with Penny alive. She would join him, he didn't know how, whether it was through spells on the mind or through some miraculous convincing he didn't care; she would be his. He would have to give her up to Allen, but he would stay connected to her, he would save her, and after he destroyed the Warren line and created his revolution, they would be together.
For now, it was a matter of placid domesticity. He didn't mind this, getting time to be with Penny and enjoy their relationship. It was the family and keeping his cover that worried him. But it didn't matter, he was ready; even if it was going to take years he would bring demons crawling from the shadow of the light, to power and no witch powerful enough to stop him would be alive.
"…Except Penny…" whispered the back of his mind.
Just another day in the life of a powerful leader of the underworld. I figured Armand would have lots of followers. Just look at the devotion with which Skreet followed him. And, I figured this wouldn't be a task he would undertake by himself. I think yes, Armand is interested in overthrowing witches. He wants power, craves life, he wants to do whatever he wants; he can't do that with a bunch of witches forcing him to follow rules. Why do any demons or Warlocks go after anything in all of the show? Power. The freedom to do what they want.