Melandra, keep you in
ignorance. A child with such knowledge would be a dangerous thing.
The Grigori might have sniffed you out, contaminated you.’
Melandra shivered, remembering
all the hours she had spent alone as a young girl, and the tall,
sinister shadows that might have waited for her in the tangled
corners of her garden play-grounds.
Fox touched her hand. ‘Have no
doubt that the man you must kill is Azazel. In the flesh. He has
been reborn, not under another name, but his own. At least...’ He
paused. ‘He uses another form of his name: Shemyaza.’
At the sound of the word, a
strange charge volted through Melandra’s body. She felt both
revolted and thrilled, and then sickened by the response. Perhaps
Nathaniel was right about this fallen angel’s influence over
womankind. It was important to remember her purpose; she was an
assassin, an expert. She swallowed. ‘What do you know of him?’
‘He is at present in England.
God willing, you might accomplish your mission there. In
London.’
‘How do you know of him?’
‘That is not for you to know,
my child.’ Nathaniel grinned. ‘Our sources of information must
necessarily remain secret, but rest assured that the data has been
verified.’
‘Is he in hiding?’
‘Not totally. He walks among
humanity. Only those with eyes to see could tell he is not a man.
You will go to London tonight, and will be given instructions on
how to find him. Then, you must do your work as cleanly and
discreetly as possible.’
Melandra desperately needed a
cigarette. ‘It seems... too easy.’
‘He might become aware of you
and flee. You may have to follow him.’
‘I see.’ This seemed more
likely, and also the unspoken possibility that he might kill her
first. ‘How dangerous is he?’
Nathaniel laughed. ‘More than
you can ever imagine. You must be clever, but remember that the
spirit of the Lord is ever within you and will shield you with the
wings of holy angels. Azazel’s aim is to return to the sacred lands
of his ancestors. Eden. That is where he will want to build his
vile empire. His followers are already preparing the way. You have
only to examine the situation in the Middle East to appreciate
that.’
‘They are Islamic countries,’
Melandra said. ‘Are you implying that Islam follows the
Scapegoat.’
Fox shook his head. ‘Not at
all. It is the secret societies concealed in those lands. A dark
star has arisen in the east, a dictator who wishes to restore the
glory of the Grigori. He worships fire and is undoubtedly one of
Azazel’s creatures. The situation there is very precarious. The
pagan aspect of the Scapegoat has encouraged the belief that the
land of the idolaters, Egypt, is the site of the New Age. Foolish
followers of this creed, unaware of the seductive evil behind their
beliefs, wish to flock there and reclaim what they see as their
lost heritage. Naturally, this has caused some concern among the
native population, and fundamentalists are prepared to take extreme
measures. Already the West is talking in terms of sending in
peace-keeping forces. We do not wish that to happen. Ridding the
world of the figure-head of this movement will stem the rising tide
of devil-worship that grips the minds of the impressionable. You
must appreciate, Melandra, how vital your task is.’
Melandra again found it hard to
take in what she was being told. It all seemed too unreal. Surely
Fox was blaming Middle Eastern political troubles on what was
essentially a fantasy? She could not believe that the Scapegoat,
literally the Devil, was incarnate in the world. It seemed like
paranoia to her. Yet, if they wanted her to kill a man for them,
she would do it. He was undoubtedly just some little tin-pot New
Age guru, spouting heresies to impress the young.
‘Do not under-estimate your
adversary,’ Fox said in a silky voice, as if he could read her
mind.
‘I...’ Melandra began to speak,
but before she could muster any words, the lights in the room
ignorance. A child with such knowledge would be a dangerous thing.
The Grigori might have sniffed you out, contaminated you.’
Melandra shivered, remembering
all the hours she had spent alone as a young girl, and the tall,
sinister shadows that might have waited for her in the tangled
corners of her garden play-grounds.
Fox touched her hand. ‘Have no
doubt that the man you must kill is Azazel. In the flesh. He has
been reborn, not under another name, but his own. At least...’ He
paused. ‘He uses another form of his name: Shemyaza.’
At the sound of the word, a
strange charge volted through Melandra’s body. She felt both
revolted and thrilled, and then sickened by the response. Perhaps
Nathaniel was right about this fallen angel’s influence over
womankind. It was important to remember her purpose; she was an
assassin, an expert. She swallowed. ‘What do you know of him?’
‘He is at present in England.
God willing, you might accomplish your mission there. In
London.’
‘How do you know of him?’
‘That is not for you to know,
my child.’ Nathaniel grinned. ‘Our sources of information must
necessarily remain secret, but rest assured that the data has been
verified.’
‘Is he in hiding?’
‘Not totally. He walks among
humanity. Only those with eyes to see could tell he is not a man.
You will go to London tonight, and will be given instructions on
how to find him. Then, you must do your work as cleanly and
discreetly as possible.’
Melandra desperately needed a
cigarette. ‘It seems... too easy.’
‘He might become aware of you
and flee. You may have to follow him.’
‘I see.’ This seemed more
likely, and also the unspoken possibility that he might kill her
first. ‘How dangerous is he?’
Nathaniel laughed. ‘More than
you can ever imagine. You must be clever, but remember that the
spirit of the Lord is ever within you and will shield you with the
wings of holy angels. Azazel’s aim is to return to the sacred lands
of his ancestors. Eden. That is where he will want to build his
vile empire. His followers are already preparing the way. You have
only to examine the situation in the Middle East to appreciate
that.’
‘They are Islamic countries,’
Melandra said. ‘Are you implying that Islam follows the
Scapegoat.’
Fox shook his head. ‘Not at
all. It is the secret societies concealed in those lands. A dark
star has arisen in the east, a dictator who wishes to restore the
glory of the Grigori. He worships fire and is undoubtedly one of
Azazel’s creatures. The situation there is very precarious. The
pagan aspect of the Scapegoat has encouraged the belief that the
land of the idolaters, Egypt, is the site of the New Age. Foolish
followers of this creed, unaware of the seductive evil behind their
beliefs, wish to flock there and reclaim what they see as their
lost heritage. Naturally, this has caused some concern among the
native population, and fundamentalists are prepared to take extreme
measures. Already the West is talking in terms of sending in
peace-keeping forces. We do not wish that to happen. Ridding the
world of the figure-head of this movement will stem the rising tide
of devil-worship that grips the minds of the impressionable. You
must appreciate, Melandra, how vital your task is.’
Melandra again found it hard to
take in what she was being told. It all seemed too unreal. Surely
Fox was blaming Middle Eastern political troubles on what was
essentially a fantasy? She could not believe that the Scapegoat,
literally the Devil, was incarnate in the world. It seemed like
paranoia to her. Yet, if they wanted her to kill a man for them,
she would do it. He was undoubtedly just some little tin-pot New
Age guru, spouting heresies to impress the young.
‘Do not under-estimate your
adversary,’ Fox said in a silky voice, as if he could read her
mind.
‘I...’ Melandra began to speak,
but before she could muster any words, the lights in the room
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