Chapter Two
6:00pm
Satan's associates were spread out in their plush and luxurious sanctuary. Mandy sat in his office doing paperwork, while Gabriel enjoyed a cocktail in the Commune and Val took a shower. As each one did their separate thing, they thought of what was on the road ahead. Mandy didn't mind the paperwork, even though he did it almost every day. Gabriel always had his cocktail at six. If he didn't, it would be a rough night for the Compound's staff. The warm shower caressed Val's body, as he thought of years past. The intercom beeped in Mandy's office.
"Mr. Francisco?"
"Yes, ConcepsÃon?"
"Mr. Kinkade is out of the shower."
"Thank you, ConcepsÃon."
Mandy put his papers away and departed. It was time for a meeting. Sarah-Sinead would be turning 21 soon, and they needed to make plans. And of course, Morgead would want them to start getting down to work. Everything had to go flawlessly.
The intercom beeped in the bathroom. What now? Couldn't he even take a shower in peace? Sighing, Val hit the button.
"Mr. Kinkade?"
"What's up, Cheeta?"
"Mr. Francisco and Mr. Kiernan wish to see you in the Commune after you're dressed.
"Thanks, Cheeta."
A while later, the three men sat around the Commune, drinks in hand. They were all dressed in black, freshly shaven and well kept. No one would mess with them. Not now, not ever. They would be moving in on Sarah-Sinead Fairchild soon. And Morgead would be coming soon.
"I've talked with Morgead." Gabriel said simply.
Val and Mandy suddenly perked up. News from Morgead? Anything concerning their master was well worth listening to. Especially, with the time to take Sarah-Sinead at hand.
"And?" Mandy prompted.
"The conditions are ripe for our project."
"We cannot forget our opposition." Val added.
"What opposition?" Mandy questioned.
"Don't tell me you two have been ignoring the signs."
"What signs?" Gabriel responded.
"A coven of Witches has happened onto our plans. The Maiden and High Priestess are both gifted with the Sight, so they know what the others cannot see with a crystal ball nor Tarot, nor any sort of method of discovering the future."
"I'm sure Morgead will guide us." Mandy said, shrugging.
"Meanwhile, we'll continue as planned." Gabriel added.
Later, Val sat alone in his chamber. Why had he agreed to be a Satanist? What had Morgead offered him, which he could not refuse? Even normal people would not be lured in, just by the offer of membership in the group of men that were closest to Morgead himself.
The others? That explanation was easy. Mandy had done drugs and screwed himself up, out of range of the public eye. Morgead lured him in with the promise of free drugs and a chance to snap up a valuable position in an often-admired group. As for Gabriel, he was tired of being Catholic, and rebelled, first by going to church drunk and high on Ecstasy, then by not going to church at all. In fact, Morgead found Gabriel at a rave, high from huffing and too much E. Suddenly, Satanism, tons of raves and a position close to the one being the Catholics hated the most was the best way out of his old life. Val? He was just a simple, middle-aged man who had broken a few of the top rules of the magician's code. He was a Witch really, and had no interest in drinking, drugs or a position close to one of the most hated and feared beings known to human kind.
Truthfully, Val hoped the Witches would best Gabriel and Mandy. They deserved it. Meanwhile, behind Morgead's back, Val would return to the Goddess and God. Perhaps he could convince the coven's High Priestess that they were on the same side, and that he could help them.
Val lay back on his bed, smiling. Even if he did not defect back to the Goddess, seven against three were not good odds, no matter who was backing you. Mandy, Gabriel and Morgead would be shown up by the Witches, no matter what stunts Morgead had Mandy and Gabriel pull.
6:00pm
Satan's associates were spread out in their plush and luxurious sanctuary. Mandy sat in his office doing paperwork, while Gabriel enjoyed a cocktail in the Commune and Val took a shower. As each one did their separate thing, they thought of what was on the road ahead. Mandy didn't mind the paperwork, even though he did it almost every day. Gabriel always had his cocktail at six. If he didn't, it would be a rough night for the Compound's staff. The warm shower caressed Val's body, as he thought of years past. The intercom beeped in Mandy's office.
"Mr. Francisco?"
"Yes, ConcepsÃon?"
"Mr. Kinkade is out of the shower."
"Thank you, ConcepsÃon."
Mandy put his papers away and departed. It was time for a meeting. Sarah-Sinead would be turning 21 soon, and they needed to make plans. And of course, Morgead would want them to start getting down to work. Everything had to go flawlessly.
The intercom beeped in the bathroom. What now? Couldn't he even take a shower in peace? Sighing, Val hit the button.
"Mr. Kinkade?"
"What's up, Cheeta?"
"Mr. Francisco and Mr. Kiernan wish to see you in the Commune after you're dressed.
"Thanks, Cheeta."
A while later, the three men sat around the Commune, drinks in hand. They were all dressed in black, freshly shaven and well kept. No one would mess with them. Not now, not ever. They would be moving in on Sarah-Sinead Fairchild soon. And Morgead would be coming soon.
"I've talked with Morgead." Gabriel said simply.
Val and Mandy suddenly perked up. News from Morgead? Anything concerning their master was well worth listening to. Especially, with the time to take Sarah-Sinead at hand.
"And?" Mandy prompted.
"The conditions are ripe for our project."
"We cannot forget our opposition." Val added.
"What opposition?" Mandy questioned.
"Don't tell me you two have been ignoring the signs."
"What signs?" Gabriel responded.
"A coven of Witches has happened onto our plans. The Maiden and High Priestess are both gifted with the Sight, so they know what the others cannot see with a crystal ball nor Tarot, nor any sort of method of discovering the future."
"I'm sure Morgead will guide us." Mandy said, shrugging.
"Meanwhile, we'll continue as planned." Gabriel added.
Later, Val sat alone in his chamber. Why had he agreed to be a Satanist? What had Morgead offered him, which he could not refuse? Even normal people would not be lured in, just by the offer of membership in the group of men that were closest to Morgead himself.
The others? That explanation was easy. Mandy had done drugs and screwed himself up, out of range of the public eye. Morgead lured him in with the promise of free drugs and a chance to snap up a valuable position in an often-admired group. As for Gabriel, he was tired of being Catholic, and rebelled, first by going to church drunk and high on Ecstasy, then by not going to church at all. In fact, Morgead found Gabriel at a rave, high from huffing and too much E. Suddenly, Satanism, tons of raves and a position close to the one being the Catholics hated the most was the best way out of his old life. Val? He was just a simple, middle-aged man who had broken a few of the top rules of the magician's code. He was a Witch really, and had no interest in drinking, drugs or a position close to one of the most hated and feared beings known to human kind.
Truthfully, Val hoped the Witches would best Gabriel and Mandy. They deserved it. Meanwhile, behind Morgead's back, Val would return to the Goddess and God. Perhaps he could convince the coven's High Priestess that they were on the same side, and that he could help them.
Val lay back on his bed, smiling. Even if he did not defect back to the Goddess, seven against three were not good odds, no matter who was backing you. Mandy, Gabriel and Morgead would be shown up by the Witches, no matter what stunts Morgead had Mandy and Gabriel pull.