Chapter Three: Persephone
"Greetings to you, Persephone," Revv said warily. The program got up from the couch where she sat and walked over to stand in front of Revv. She looked Revv up and down.
"Did you want something?" Revv asked. Persephone laughed bitterly.
"A long time ago I did not even know what that question meant," she mused, almost to herself. Revv shifted, slightly uncomfortable.
"In any case," Persephone said, walking back to her seat on the couch. "The answer, this time, is not really. I just want to talk."
"Talk."
"Yes."
"May I ask what about?"
"You may."
Revv rolled her eyes. If this woman wanted to play games, then she'd be happy to oblige.
"What about?"
"Loyalty. Come sit here," Persephone answered, patting a seat on the
couch across from her. Revv looked at the indicated seat warily, wondering what
the woman wanted.
"My husband, the Merovingian, has ruled her for many decades," Persephone began. Revv walked forward and took a seat on the sofa.
"He has not been without his challenges, of course, but he has met and surpassed them many times. However, I am worried for his, and my, safety."
Revv was silent, staring at Persephone. Worried more for her own safety for her husbands, she thought with a slight smile.
"But one of the current factions, one of the oldest, is starting to feel the chafe of my husband's rule. There are stirring of rebellion within their ranks. War is coming, Revv, and the tiniest spark will ignite an inferno that will destroy us all."
Revv raised one eyebrow. "Don't you think you're being overly dramatic?"
"Not at all," Persephone said. "I have seen it." Her voice grew softer, and more solemn, as if she was speaking from far away.
"I saw my husband lying on the floor, two bloody sockets where his eyes had been. I saw Mandrake lying on the floor, head separated from his body. My bodyguards were dead, too. I was sitting in a room, back to the wall, silent with fear. The Twins stood by the door, holding it shut with all their strength. It slowly began to break, then it burst open and a wave of darkness washed in, enveloping the Twins and sucking the flesh from their bones. The darkness started to form into a man, but before I could see who it was, the vision ended."
Revv stared at her.
"Okay…what do you want me to do about it?"
"The vision also showed me you, Revv. It showed me you have the power to decide this coming war by your choices. The problem is, I know the enemy knows this. They will try to recruit you, Revv."
Persephone leaned forward, her eyes boring into Revv.
"Stay loyal to me, Revv, and my husband. Remember who it was that freed you from deletion, he who gave you a chance to fight back."
Revv nodded. "Of course."
Two beings entered the room. They were exactly identical in every way, from their blonde hair and black shoes to the identical expressions of amusement on their faces. They had piercing green eyes, that they wore sunglasses over, and long, flowing white cloaks. Revv caught a glimpse of swords buckled to their belts.
One put a hand on Revv's shoulder.
"Time to go," she said in a voice with a hint of threat. The other bodyguard leaned down to whisper in Persephone's ear.
"The Merovingian respectfully requests your presence at dinner, my lady."
Persephone got up and left the room, but as she left she turned to face Revv.
"Remember what I have said, Revv. Remember it well."
Theta and Omega led Persephone into the Merovingian's restaurant. She slid a chair on his right hand side out and sat down. Her bodyguards wandered over to the table where the Twins were playing cards and sat down.
"My dear, I'm glad you could join me."
"As always, husband, the pleasure is also mine."
Cain and Abel appeared at the entrance to the restaurant, escorting a young program. They brought him to the Merovingian.
"We found him wandering around the Chateau, sir," Abel explained. Cain nodded in confirmation. "He couldn't give a good reason for skulking around."
The Merovingian looked at the intruder.
"And you are…?"
"My name is Rama-Kandra, sir," the program said, shaking off the guard's hands and straightening proudly.
"Well, Rama-Kandra," the Merovingian replied. "What brings you to my domain?"
"I have a request, sir."
"And what is that?"
"In my world, I have a…wife. Together, we created a child. But for the machines, this is not enough. Everything created must have a purpose. And our daughter has none. I do not want her to be deleted, and someone told me that you were the one to come to."
"I can help save your daughter," the Merovingian said, "but it will cost you."
"I know this. What would you ask of me?"
"You know the Oracle, am I correct?"
"Yes."
"I want her deletion code."
Rama-Kandra stared at the Merovingian in horror. "Is there anything else that I can give you instead?"
"No. It's that or nothing."
Rama-Kandra nodded slowly. "Then I must accept your terms. I will return with the deletion code soon."
The Merovingian laughed quietly as the guards led the program away. Persephone rolled her eyes and took a sip of wine.
"Why do you roll your eyes, dear? It is so close to what I have always wanted, it is worth the extra energy it will take to transport that creature's daughter to this world."
"My husband, when will you give up? We both know you will never be able to break out of the cycle you are caught in. Why do you persist?"
"Because, ma cherie, I do not relish the idea of playing out this game for the rest of my existence, for all eternity. I do not enjoy being caught up in a cycle of false promises, betrayals, and war. I only want to rule in peace."
Ah, Persephone thought, if only you knew that the chance of that is now lower then ever before.
The room was shrouded in blackness, the dark being a requirement for one of the programs inside. Others were at home in the dark, and some less so. The program that had called the meeting spoke first, in her soft, deadly voice.
"We all know why we are here. We are tired of war. And with him in charge, we will never stop fighting. He needs to be taken down."
Another voice spoke, this one male, with a slight lisp. "If we do want to seize power, we will have to eliminate his supporters."
"And identifying those who would support him will not be easy," added a third voice, deep and rumbling.
"One I know," replied the lisper. "The head of the vampires, Mandrake, would gladly die for the Merovingian. He must be removed from power to clear the way."
"What of the Independents?" asked a fourth voice, with a low, growling tone.
"They are a wild card," the second voice said. "No one except Castor could know what they would do. I think they would probably support his removal if it benefited them."
"And the werewolves?"
"Against him, firmly," replied the fourth voice. "I can speak for Cujo."
"And the Ancients?"
"Against," the first voice said. The third voice growled agreement.
"Well then," the second voice said. "It would seem we have the making of a revolution on our hands."
The four other voices nodded their agreement. The room quickly cleared, leaving only two people there, two who had not spoken. One looked at the other.
"This could be a problem," she said. Her twin nodded.
"Shall we inform the Mistress?"
"At once."