Barbatos looked at the
stone walls, high ceilings and the ambience of power and might. After centuries
of absence, he had brought the citadel of darkness back to Earth.
“We have returned,” he murmured
as he surveyed the elaborate architecture of his prized stronghold. The ancient
pillars holding up the high roofs were adorned by carvings of demons of all
sorts—goblins, familiar spirits, trolls, serpents, and demon lords.
It was an audacious enterprise,
an initiative meant to hurt the Angels and their human allies. It would be a
matter of time before they responded. He was not afraid of their reaction for
their response was the key objective of his entire scheme. They must come
for him.
“It is time for our next step.”
“I am ready, Master.”
Barbatos nodded. He had reached
the end of the corridor and turned into the landing that gave a complete view
of the extensive hall. The atmosphere was saturated with the din of the demonic
forms. They were waiting.
The haughty general of the
demons leaned over ledge to study the rows of demons, all armoured and ready.
From one end of the hall to another, there were thousands of familiar spirits
and goblins awaiting orders. At the front of the formation stood a weary Count
Raum, who had returned from his latest mission.
“Ivan?” Barbatos asked, his
lips barely moving.
“Lord Barbatos,” Count Raum bowed.
“The siblings are estranged in the woods. My legions are ready.”
Barbatos was indifferent but it
belied the urgency in him. The siblings, kinglings whose existence will be an
obstacle to his schemes must be captured.
“Your legions looked impressive.”
Count Raum bowed in thanks.
Barbatos leaned forward. “However
check your complacency, Count.”
Raum cranked his neck in
surprise.
Barbatos nodded and asked, “The
Guardian Angels have been alerted by the spate of violence.”
“I am ready for them, my lord.”
Barbatos smiled in approval “I
need a victory. A victory over them will boost the spirits of our legions.”
“My lord, I will not fail you.”
“Live up to your promise.”
Count Raum obeyed and raised a
battle horn, and blew in earnest. A deep and rousing drone pervaded through the
hall. Instantly, the hordes of demons responded with in a chorus of gruesome
grunts and snorts, and stomped the ground in a cacophony of war cries.
The main doors, which rose to
the height of the ceiling, creaked wide.Within minutes, an unruly army of
demons of all denomination had filed out of the hall into the darkness of the
woods. After the last demon soldier had exited, Eberhard asked, “My lord?”
“Patience , my friend. I sensed the thirst for blood in you .”
“Do not leave me idle, my Lord.”
“You will not be, I assure you.
An important task awaits you.”
Eberhard dropped to his knees again,
like a canine, cursed with the insatiable hunger for blood, begging for the
chance to hunt.
“Master.”
“You remember the siblings I
told you about.”
Eberhard nodded.
The Duke of Demons neared and whispered.
Once he was done, Barbatos waved a dismissive gesture. “Eberhard, I want them
alive.”
Chapter
12
Rendezvous
Maganus sucked deeply on his
smoking pipe and looked at Gwyneth. “What is next?”
“I wish I knew.”
Maganus nodded. “You are always
more sensitive.” He exhaled and blew circles of smoke into the air. “We were
caught unprepared, Gwyneth. There were no signs that they were coming.
They are going to leave us backpedaling again.”
She looked at her feet where
the heels are hived up, to show their predisposition to be on the defensive in
their tussle with the Demons. The Angels would never act first to preempt, be
it to engage or destroy the Demons. They were only trained to respond, after
the Demons had already acted. The Angels were built that way. Aggression to
preempt evil was an act of evil in itself.
“The Demons never change.”
Gwyneth murmured. “Stealth their hallmark and discretion
stone walls, high ceilings and the ambience of power and might. After centuries
of absence, he had brought the citadel of darkness back to Earth.
“We have returned,” he murmured
as he surveyed the elaborate architecture of his prized stronghold. The ancient
pillars holding up the high roofs were adorned by carvings of demons of all
sorts—goblins, familiar spirits, trolls, serpents, and demon lords.
It was an audacious enterprise,
an initiative meant to hurt the Angels and their human allies. It would be a
matter of time before they responded. He was not afraid of their reaction for
their response was the key objective of his entire scheme. They must come
for him.
“It is time for our next step.”
“I am ready, Master.”
Barbatos nodded. He had reached
the end of the corridor and turned into the landing that gave a complete view
of the extensive hall. The atmosphere was saturated with the din of the demonic
forms. They were waiting.
The haughty general of the
demons leaned over ledge to study the rows of demons, all armoured and ready.
From one end of the hall to another, there were thousands of familiar spirits
and goblins awaiting orders. At the front of the formation stood a weary Count
Raum, who had returned from his latest mission.
“Ivan?” Barbatos asked, his
lips barely moving.
“Lord Barbatos,” Count Raum bowed.
“The siblings are estranged in the woods. My legions are ready.”
Barbatos was indifferent but it
belied the urgency in him. The siblings, kinglings whose existence will be an
obstacle to his schemes must be captured.
“Your legions looked impressive.”
Count Raum bowed in thanks.
Barbatos leaned forward. “However
check your complacency, Count.”
Raum cranked his neck in
surprise.
Barbatos nodded and asked, “The
Guardian Angels have been alerted by the spate of violence.”
“I am ready for them, my lord.”
Barbatos smiled in approval “I
need a victory. A victory over them will boost the spirits of our legions.”
“My lord, I will not fail you.”
“Live up to your promise.”
Count Raum obeyed and raised a
battle horn, and blew in earnest. A deep and rousing drone pervaded through the
hall. Instantly, the hordes of demons responded with in a chorus of gruesome
grunts and snorts, and stomped the ground in a cacophony of war cries.
The main doors, which rose to
the height of the ceiling, creaked wide.Within minutes, an unruly army of
demons of all denomination had filed out of the hall into the darkness of the
woods. After the last demon soldier had exited, Eberhard asked, “My lord?”
“Patience , my friend. I sensed the thirst for blood in you .”
“Do not leave me idle, my Lord.”
“You will not be, I assure you.
An important task awaits you.”
Eberhard dropped to his knees again,
like a canine, cursed with the insatiable hunger for blood, begging for the
chance to hunt.
“Master.”
“You remember the siblings I
told you about.”
Eberhard nodded.
The Duke of Demons neared and whispered.
Once he was done, Barbatos waved a dismissive gesture. “Eberhard, I want them
alive.”
Chapter
12
Rendezvous
Maganus sucked deeply on his
smoking pipe and looked at Gwyneth. “What is next?”
“I wish I knew.”
Maganus nodded. “You are always
more sensitive.” He exhaled and blew circles of smoke into the air. “We were
caught unprepared, Gwyneth. There were no signs that they were coming.
They are going to leave us backpedaling again.”
She looked at her feet where
the heels are hived up, to show their predisposition to be on the defensive in
their tussle with the Demons. The Angels would never act first to preempt, be
it to engage or destroy the Demons. They were only trained to respond, after
the Demons had already acted. The Angels were built that way. Aggression to
preempt evil was an act of evil in itself.
“The Demons never change.”
Gwyneth murmured. “Stealth their hallmark and discretion
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