Chapter 24
Within hours of the suicide bombing the local news networks were running two statements. One was from the bomber, a teen named Sheila Martini. Sheila had released a recording on the internet only minutes before her death.
Sheila: I am proud to give my life for lord Satan and join my sister Marcie in Hell. The Christian preachers attempt to stop us. This is in retaliation for their attack on the "Magick shop." Any further retaliation will be met with acts of terror by those loyal to the eternal king of Hell.
Shortly after this the networks aired a live statement denouncing the bombing. Some viewers expected Caleb, or possibly Rupert Giles, saying he didn't want his store used as an excuse for violence. But this statement came from Internuntius Caligo. His lawyer Lindsay Mcdonald was there, probably to make sure he didn't say anything incriminating.
Caligo: I offer my sincere sympathies to the families of the victims of this horrible tragedy, and all those traumatized by these murders. It was never my intention to inspire the murder of innocents. I have preached in the name of my God, Satan. If this has in any way inspired these murders, I am sorry. I denounce the killing of all innocents, whether they are done in the name of my god, or the christian god.
Some saw Caligo's statement and believed it was a pretext, a way to avoid being charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Others wondered, what if Caligo didn't have control over every satanic murder. Some wondered if he might be sincere. A satanic preacher denouncing murder, that was a new one.