Chapter Fourteen
Val and the others found themselves having a harder time than they thought they would. Sure, it was easy to catch up with Sarah (now Europa), but it was harder to actually get to her. As the Princess of Darkness, she had gained quite a bit of popularity. Val and the others found themselves having a harder time than they thought. Sure, it was easy to catch up with Europa, but actually getting to her was another thing entirely.
Gabriel had started the trend of change. Before Val had been captured, he had chosen to change his name from Gabriel ("Power of God") to Lucifer ("Bearer of Light"...err..."Darkness"). His new wife had followed suit rather quickly by changing her name to Europa ("Princess of Darkness"). Then, Europa changed herself. Drastically.
Gone was the Sarah-Sinead everyone knew. No more, was the spunky, blond-haired gray-eyed girl everyone in the New York Wiccan community knew and loved. After changing her name, Europa had her hair dyed black and cut off into long a pageboy. Her gray eyes were turned black, thanks to a permanent glamoury. Europa lost her jeans, t-shirts, and other teenage clothing for business suits, evening gowns, and long, flowing robes for special occasions...All in black, of course. Not only all this, but Europa began to keep slaves of some of the humans that tagged around after her. Lucifer and Europa began to tour the nation, as well, after she had imprisoned Val in the Ganzfield cocoon.
It began as small speaking events in grottos. These events grew and grew, until they filled whole convention centers and sometimes arenas. Finally, Lucifer stepped down from speaking. He saw that his wife had certain magic with the crowds, and he was positive that she'd do just as well, if he were only sitting nearby. And sometimes not even sitting in the vicinity. Europa held that much power and sway.
What Europa had was more than magic. Sure, she was the most powerful sorceress in the universe, being Morgead's wife, but Europa had natural magick as well. The mere sound of her soft, melodious voice, and one look at her beautiful body was enough to reel anyone in. It always did.
It was at one of these conferences, where Val finally caught up with Europa. Lucifer was out; making plans with some of his sergeants for the mission, leaving Europa alone in the hotel room. Her speaking event was not until later that night, so it happened that she was taking a rest. Val had mugged a guard outside, and took his clothing. This was how he had snuck upstairs to surprise Europa and to talk to her. It was the only was to do it. Forget the karmic consequences.
Europa turned around at the sound of the hotel room door slamming. She figured it was another guard, come to tell her that the Christians were rioting again. She would not be surprised if they were. Those Christians were a nasty bunch, always out to ruin her fun. She would smash them, someday. All of them. Europa was both shocked and startled when the guard turned around and she saw it was Val.
"Valentino!" she exclaimed.
"I was beginning to think I'd never get to you." He said in reply.
"How did you ever escape my prison?" Europa sneered.
"They let me out after two weeks or so. Said they had orders to."
"They who?"
"The same men that put me in."
Europa scowled. She had thought those men were trustworthy. Europa would have to punish them. Perhaps several weeks in the Ganzfield without oxygen would help. She was sorry to lose what were supposed to be fine men...But one had to make some sacrifices somewhere. And in this case, anywhere was also welcome. Including in her staff. They could "benefit" the most.
"Well, now that you're out and have come to see me, I suppose you have something you want to discuss with me, don't you?" Europa said, gesturing for Val to sit down.
"Do you know that your husband is plotting to take over the world?"
"And how is that?"
"Between your followers and Biological Warriors, he's got some massive plans."
"I grow weary of your fairytales, Valentino. Try coming to me with the truth, next time." She said, rising and heading for the door.
"All I say is true, Sarah."
"I told you to stop calling me Sarah!" Europa exclaimed, turning from the door.
"Admit it. You know that it's the truth."
"And what if it is?" she questioned. "Then I shall be Empress of all the world! My husband and I shall be more powerful than any deity any mortal can cook up!"
"After Lucifer becomes Emperor, he'll crush you like a fly, Europa." Val replied. "And if he doesn't, he'll make you into a mindless Biological Warrior and forget you ever existed!"
Europa turned beet red. "You make me sick, little man!"
She rose, clenching her hand into a fist. Val clawed at his throat, as Europa raised him into the air. When Europa grew tired of this, she loosened her grip and made a tossing motion. Val flew across the room, smacking into the wall hard enough to give him a concussion. Just then, Lucifer walked into the room.
"What's going on here?" Lucifer demanded.
Europa turned toward her husband. "This man...He mugged one of our guards, put the uniform on, and snuck up here to lie to me! He's saying that once you take over the world, you'll have no more use for me and crush me like a bug!"
"Well, I wouldn't say that..." Lucifer trailed off.
"So what Valentino says is true!" Europa exclaimed. "When you become Emperor over the world, you're going to make me into a Biological Warrior, modify my mind, and then throw me into the warrior heap, to be forgotten about within a day!"
"Now sweetie, just calm down..."
"Don't you 'sweetie' me, you slime bag!"
That was the last straw for Lucifer. "I'm not going to do anything with you, Europa. When I become Emperor, you will be Empress right by my side. Nothing can change that."
"If you say so." Was the reply.
Lucifer turned toward Val. "In fact, the only person in this room who is going to be made into a Biological Warrior is you Valentino. With all the shit you've been feeding to my wife, and all the trouble you've been causing, you deserve to have your memory modified and to be forgotten about."
As if requested, a few guards came into the room. They stood silently by, ever nearing Val. It was scaring him. Because once they hauled Val away, he would be no more. They would take him to the medical center, get his memory modified and undergo The Change. No more trouble from Val Valentino, ever.
"May I have one request before I go?"
"That being?" Lucifer asked.
"I want one kiss, on the lips, from your wife."
Lucifer looked toward Europa. It was her desision, and hers only. Europa did not mind, however. A kiss held such quaint simplicity. She gave a minute nod, giving him permission. Lucifer looked back at Val.
"You may have one kiss."
Valentino stepped forward and looked up at Europa. Her endless black eyes were deeper than his. They held too much evil. It was also too much for her father to see. Suddenly, he grabbed her in a major kiss. That was all that was needed to break the spell that Lucifer had put on Europa. She was now back to being Sarah.
"Ready to go, Europa my dear?"
Sarah looked at Gabriel. "Not on your life!"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm done playing your little Satanist games. I'm back to being Sarah."
With that, Sarah fled through the door that the guards had been stupid enough to leave open. Val was startled, but followed soon after. This time, Val would live. And this time only. Next time, he might not be so lucky.
Val and the others found themselves having a harder time than they thought they would. Sure, it was easy to catch up with Sarah (now Europa), but it was harder to actually get to her. As the Princess of Darkness, she had gained quite a bit of popularity. Val and the others found themselves having a harder time than they thought. Sure, it was easy to catch up with Europa, but actually getting to her was another thing entirely.
Gabriel had started the trend of change. Before Val had been captured, he had chosen to change his name from Gabriel ("Power of God") to Lucifer ("Bearer of Light"...err..."Darkness"). His new wife had followed suit rather quickly by changing her name to Europa ("Princess of Darkness"). Then, Europa changed herself. Drastically.
Gone was the Sarah-Sinead everyone knew. No more, was the spunky, blond-haired gray-eyed girl everyone in the New York Wiccan community knew and loved. After changing her name, Europa had her hair dyed black and cut off into long a pageboy. Her gray eyes were turned black, thanks to a permanent glamoury. Europa lost her jeans, t-shirts, and other teenage clothing for business suits, evening gowns, and long, flowing robes for special occasions...All in black, of course. Not only all this, but Europa began to keep slaves of some of the humans that tagged around after her. Lucifer and Europa began to tour the nation, as well, after she had imprisoned Val in the Ganzfield cocoon.
It began as small speaking events in grottos. These events grew and grew, until they filled whole convention centers and sometimes arenas. Finally, Lucifer stepped down from speaking. He saw that his wife had certain magic with the crowds, and he was positive that she'd do just as well, if he were only sitting nearby. And sometimes not even sitting in the vicinity. Europa held that much power and sway.
What Europa had was more than magic. Sure, she was the most powerful sorceress in the universe, being Morgead's wife, but Europa had natural magick as well. The mere sound of her soft, melodious voice, and one look at her beautiful body was enough to reel anyone in. It always did.
It was at one of these conferences, where Val finally caught up with Europa. Lucifer was out; making plans with some of his sergeants for the mission, leaving Europa alone in the hotel room. Her speaking event was not until later that night, so it happened that she was taking a rest. Val had mugged a guard outside, and took his clothing. This was how he had snuck upstairs to surprise Europa and to talk to her. It was the only was to do it. Forget the karmic consequences.
Europa turned around at the sound of the hotel room door slamming. She figured it was another guard, come to tell her that the Christians were rioting again. She would not be surprised if they were. Those Christians were a nasty bunch, always out to ruin her fun. She would smash them, someday. All of them. Europa was both shocked and startled when the guard turned around and she saw it was Val.
"Valentino!" she exclaimed.
"I was beginning to think I'd never get to you." He said in reply.
"How did you ever escape my prison?" Europa sneered.
"They let me out after two weeks or so. Said they had orders to."
"They who?"
"The same men that put me in."
Europa scowled. She had thought those men were trustworthy. Europa would have to punish them. Perhaps several weeks in the Ganzfield without oxygen would help. She was sorry to lose what were supposed to be fine men...But one had to make some sacrifices somewhere. And in this case, anywhere was also welcome. Including in her staff. They could "benefit" the most.
"Well, now that you're out and have come to see me, I suppose you have something you want to discuss with me, don't you?" Europa said, gesturing for Val to sit down.
"Do you know that your husband is plotting to take over the world?"
"And how is that?"
"Between your followers and Biological Warriors, he's got some massive plans."
"I grow weary of your fairytales, Valentino. Try coming to me with the truth, next time." She said, rising and heading for the door.
"All I say is true, Sarah."
"I told you to stop calling me Sarah!" Europa exclaimed, turning from the door.
"Admit it. You know that it's the truth."
"And what if it is?" she questioned. "Then I shall be Empress of all the world! My husband and I shall be more powerful than any deity any mortal can cook up!"
"After Lucifer becomes Emperor, he'll crush you like a fly, Europa." Val replied. "And if he doesn't, he'll make you into a mindless Biological Warrior and forget you ever existed!"
Europa turned beet red. "You make me sick, little man!"
She rose, clenching her hand into a fist. Val clawed at his throat, as Europa raised him into the air. When Europa grew tired of this, she loosened her grip and made a tossing motion. Val flew across the room, smacking into the wall hard enough to give him a concussion. Just then, Lucifer walked into the room.
"What's going on here?" Lucifer demanded.
Europa turned toward her husband. "This man...He mugged one of our guards, put the uniform on, and snuck up here to lie to me! He's saying that once you take over the world, you'll have no more use for me and crush me like a bug!"
"Well, I wouldn't say that..." Lucifer trailed off.
"So what Valentino says is true!" Europa exclaimed. "When you become Emperor over the world, you're going to make me into a Biological Warrior, modify my mind, and then throw me into the warrior heap, to be forgotten about within a day!"
"Now sweetie, just calm down..."
"Don't you 'sweetie' me, you slime bag!"
That was the last straw for Lucifer. "I'm not going to do anything with you, Europa. When I become Emperor, you will be Empress right by my side. Nothing can change that."
"If you say so." Was the reply.
Lucifer turned toward Val. "In fact, the only person in this room who is going to be made into a Biological Warrior is you Valentino. With all the shit you've been feeding to my wife, and all the trouble you've been causing, you deserve to have your memory modified and to be forgotten about."
As if requested, a few guards came into the room. They stood silently by, ever nearing Val. It was scaring him. Because once they hauled Val away, he would be no more. They would take him to the medical center, get his memory modified and undergo The Change. No more trouble from Val Valentino, ever.
"May I have one request before I go?"
"That being?" Lucifer asked.
"I want one kiss, on the lips, from your wife."
Lucifer looked toward Europa. It was her desision, and hers only. Europa did not mind, however. A kiss held such quaint simplicity. She gave a minute nod, giving him permission. Lucifer looked back at Val.
"You may have one kiss."
Valentino stepped forward and looked up at Europa. Her endless black eyes were deeper than his. They held too much evil. It was also too much for her father to see. Suddenly, he grabbed her in a major kiss. That was all that was needed to break the spell that Lucifer had put on Europa. She was now back to being Sarah.
"Ready to go, Europa my dear?"
Sarah looked at Gabriel. "Not on your life!"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm done playing your little Satanist games. I'm back to being Sarah."
With that, Sarah fled through the door that the guards had been stupid enough to leave open. Val was startled, but followed soon after. This time, Val would live. And this time only. Next time, he might not be so lucky.