Demandin' stuff really works, so big ups to Raya Halliwell for giving not one, but TWO reviews! For such a feat, I'm workin' overtime on this story. And if y'all have any suggestions about where my series should go in the future, feel free!
"He has failed us," Mastiphal said, staring into the mysterious mist that floated in the midst of the pentagram-shaped table. "He obviously cannot handle a simple task of killing three young and inexperienced witches."
"They were not alone," Ardad said, pointing into the mist, where Lauren and Erik's faces appeared. "They had help."
"The parents of the Complete?" Tenebrion assumed. "This is a big inconvenience. If they continue to guide their children, the convergence will definitely take place."
"Perhaps there is another way to prevent it," Andras suggested. "There must be."
"No," Anamalech said, gritting his teeth. "We all know that a convergence is one particular moment that is the beginning of a chain of smaller events that eventually leads to a major event."
"It seems," Mastiphal added, "that the major event in this case is the fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Complete."
"Which means our end," Tenebrion concluded. "We must prevent that at all costs. We should kill their parents before they cause us any more harm."
"Agreed," Ardad said. "The young witches will never know about them and as such, they will be extremely vulnerable."
"Our window of opportunity grows smaller," Anamalech said, pointing into the mist. The images of James, Matthew, and Wesley replaced those of Erik and Lauren. "They have found their Book of Light. While they do not yet understand its power, their bond still grows stronger by the minute."
"That bond," Andras continued, "will unite them with the Book and their powers."
"Alone, they are ignorant of the Craft," Mastiphal said. "Killing the parents will prevent them from learning what they need to know."
Mastiphal waved his right arm and a very large demon materialized into the room. He was at least seven feet tall and had pale green skin that was so tough that it resembled armor. On his back rested one horn, reaching out two feet behind him. His face had a look that could bring sheer terror to a person. In his hands was an oversized axe, strong enough to cut through steel as if it were paper.
His name was Astaroth. He was the Council's demonic assassin, only summoned for the most important assignments. In addition to the axe as a weapon, Astaroth possessed the strength of fifty of the strongest men in the world. Moreover, his armor-like skin provided an extra defense, making him almost impossible to defeat. After all, he had never been beaten before. His incredible strength and power came from his axe, which he called Wrath. He had the ability to summon Wrath and it would magically attract itself to him, as if they were both magnetic polar opposites.
"The Council," Astaroth said, bowing as deeply as he could as he recognized who had called him.
"Astaroth," Tenebrion said, "we have summoned you here for perhaps one of the most important assignments you will ever have."
"If not the most important," Ardad added.
"I understand," Astaroth said, still bowing. "I live to serve the Council in any way."
"Behold the mist," Andras said as he pointed to the mist.
"Dammit, Erik!" Lauren shouted. "I thought we weren't gonna do this anymore!"
"Don't try to play the sympathy game with me," Erik replied. "It won't work."
"We were separated!" she exclaimed. "He just happened to be there. You don't understand."
"Understand?" Erik repeated. "I don't understand? Damn right I don't understand! I don't understand how you could do such a thing like that! I don't understand how you could take our love for granted!"
"Things were hard!" Lauren shouted back. She was starting to lose her voice from yelling so much. "It happened so long ago! I was young and stupid! But didn't we make it through that? Didn't we promise each other that everything would be alright afterwards?"
Erik was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Growling under his breath, he went to open it. Both he and Lauren were surprised when James, Matthew, and Wesley stood on the other side.
"We've been knocking for ten minutes," Wesley said. "I think all the yelling tuned us out."
"Come in, come in!" Lauren said, running to the door. She pulled the three students inside and closed the door.
"What happened there?" Matthew asked, pointing to the large scorch mark on the wall.
"Fireball," Erik said, sitting down. "So, what brings y'all here? I seem to remember y'all not wanting anything to do with us."
"Sarcasm aside," Wesley said, "something happened when we got back to school. The book went all crazy after we read something."
"We want to know what's going on," James said. "We need to know."
Interesting, huh? Comin' up: James, Matthew, and Wesley finally find out what the deal is. But can they stop the evil that's coming after them even as you read these words? Hurry up and click that 'next chapter' button before it's too late! And send me some more reviews! I really, really, sincerely appreciate them!