Chapter 13
5:19 PM - Beltane
When Monica opened her eyes she was surprised to find that she was alone. She was in a small enclosure, lying sprawled on a mattress on the floor. Her head ached, and she could still smell the lingering traces of chloroform. She gingerly got to her feet, swaying groggily until she found the solid comfort of a wall. She had no idea how she came to be here. The last thing she remembered was being startled at the sudden reflection of two blonde women in the mirror in the ladies room. Then – nothing. She looked around the door-less room for any sign of escape. No windows and no door. Just great. She slumped back down to the floor and hugged her knees.
6:00 PM
Temple of Priapus and Ayana
They were ready. All that had to be done now was to prepare the sacrifice. Daniel picked up a syringe of pink liquid. "I'll need someone to hold her." He said.
"I'll do it." Justin offered, following Daniel into the enclosure.
Monica was stunned to see a doorway suddenly appear in the middle of the wall. Her heart thudded painfully against her ribcage when she noticed the syringe. "No." she objected.
"Yes." Daniel smiled, and waited as Justin overpowered her before he pushed the needle into her arm.
She gasped as the beginnings of a fiery heat coursed through her veins.
"It will be easier if you don't fight it."
"Fuck you!" she shouted, and then groaned as her legs gave way beneath her.
"Oh I will. We all will."
"What did you give me?" she breathed.
Daniel waved Justin out of the room. "Just a little something that we developed to make you a better respondent. Believe me, you'll be the better for it."
"I. . .Why are you doing this?"
"Why? You know why. To live. To survive. Other men must wither and die, but why should we? We honour our God and he bestows his blessing upon us."
"How many. . ."
"Have tasted the gift of Priapus? Too many to count. But that's of little consequence to you now."
"My partner will find you."
Daniel laughed. "I don't think so. But he might find you."
"What do yo mean?"
"A curious little side effect of the drug I gave you – Fiona thinks it's some sort of coping mechanism, but I'm a believer that it's yet another blessing of Priapus. You'll see the person from your deepest, most secret fantasy, and you'll beg him to take you any way he pleases." He paused for a moment. "I'll be looking forward to seeing who that is."
Monica closed her eyes. That explained John's presence in her dream. But it wouldn't be John – not really. She had to remember that. Had to keep that thought firmly planted in her mind. Whatever happened – it wouldn't be John.
"You can tell yourself that now. But wait until the drug takes affect. You'll see what you want to see. And you'll feel everything."
She whipped her head up in surprise, and saw the mocking face leering down at her. "Don't be silly, I can't read minds. But your face is so very transparent. Now just relax and let the drug work. I'll be back for you in a little while."
6:45 PM
Winfield house – Beltane
The house was crawling with agents. They had checked every room once, twice, three times, and found nothing. No evidence that Monica had ever been there. No evidence that any of the cultists had lived there. A big fat nothing.
John punched the wall in frustration. Time was running out. He had to find her. He couldn't live with himself if he failed her too.
5:19 PM - Beltane
When Monica opened her eyes she was surprised to find that she was alone. She was in a small enclosure, lying sprawled on a mattress on the floor. Her head ached, and she could still smell the lingering traces of chloroform. She gingerly got to her feet, swaying groggily until she found the solid comfort of a wall. She had no idea how she came to be here. The last thing she remembered was being startled at the sudden reflection of two blonde women in the mirror in the ladies room. Then – nothing. She looked around the door-less room for any sign of escape. No windows and no door. Just great. She slumped back down to the floor and hugged her knees.
6:00 PM
Temple of Priapus and Ayana
They were ready. All that had to be done now was to prepare the sacrifice. Daniel picked up a syringe of pink liquid. "I'll need someone to hold her." He said.
"I'll do it." Justin offered, following Daniel into the enclosure.
Monica was stunned to see a doorway suddenly appear in the middle of the wall. Her heart thudded painfully against her ribcage when she noticed the syringe. "No." she objected.
"Yes." Daniel smiled, and waited as Justin overpowered her before he pushed the needle into her arm.
She gasped as the beginnings of a fiery heat coursed through her veins.
"It will be easier if you don't fight it."
"Fuck you!" she shouted, and then groaned as her legs gave way beneath her.
"Oh I will. We all will."
"What did you give me?" she breathed.
Daniel waved Justin out of the room. "Just a little something that we developed to make you a better respondent. Believe me, you'll be the better for it."
"I. . .Why are you doing this?"
"Why? You know why. To live. To survive. Other men must wither and die, but why should we? We honour our God and he bestows his blessing upon us."
"How many. . ."
"Have tasted the gift of Priapus? Too many to count. But that's of little consequence to you now."
"My partner will find you."
Daniel laughed. "I don't think so. But he might find you."
"What do yo mean?"
"A curious little side effect of the drug I gave you – Fiona thinks it's some sort of coping mechanism, but I'm a believer that it's yet another blessing of Priapus. You'll see the person from your deepest, most secret fantasy, and you'll beg him to take you any way he pleases." He paused for a moment. "I'll be looking forward to seeing who that is."
Monica closed her eyes. That explained John's presence in her dream. But it wouldn't be John – not really. She had to remember that. Had to keep that thought firmly planted in her mind. Whatever happened – it wouldn't be John.
"You can tell yourself that now. But wait until the drug takes affect. You'll see what you want to see. And you'll feel everything."
She whipped her head up in surprise, and saw the mocking face leering down at her. "Don't be silly, I can't read minds. But your face is so very transparent. Now just relax and let the drug work. I'll be back for you in a little while."
6:45 PM
Winfield house – Beltane
The house was crawling with agents. They had checked every room once, twice, three times, and found nothing. No evidence that Monica had ever been there. No evidence that any of the cultists had lived there. A big fat nothing.
John punched the wall in frustration. Time was running out. He had to find her. He couldn't live with himself if he failed her too.